Vegetable Garden 2016

[TheGardener]

Here in New England it is time to plant cool weather veggies, like lettuce, peas, etc., before the ground heats up. I usually plant other vegetables, like tomatoes before Memorial Day. For the past 2 years, I think that was early, because we got hit with cool weather at the time. It stunted the growth of my plants. But it is suppose to be a hotter summer, so I might keep that schedule.

I have a 9x19 foot plot in a community organic gardener. This is my fifth year with this plot. I'm hoping this will be best year yet.

Ten days back I sent a soil sample to our state's lab. Costs $15. Hopefully I'll get the results back soon.

Today I started soil prep by weeding and mixing in some organic compost. Going heavier on adding compost this year, mostly because it was donated. The weeding was easy, because I did a good job last fall.

In the past I've mixed in bone meal and lime into the soil. When I receive back the lab results, I'll decide what to mix in.

I have pea seeds from last season that I dried out in the garden. I also purchased some packages. I'll post those details, as I start planting.

What are you up to with your vegetable garden?

 

[NetWareHead]

Im in Manchester NH, where are you? Im also going to plant my cool weather stuff this week: Spinach, arugala, red leaf luttuce. Red & yellow onions, garlic and leeks. Kale, brussel sprouts and cabbage. I am going to plant carrots and radishes this year too but forget if those are cool weather or should wait for warm.


I have a huge compost pile as well as a rotating composter that receives all of my kitchen waste. All of it is going into the garden to be tilled into the soil.


I had covered with a heavy layer of mulch the asparagus bed and strawberries. Going to use a leaf blower to blow allof that off and let them start soaking in sunlight. I also have seen my rhubarb start coming in. Oregano has some growth on it too. And the catnip as usual has spread WAY beyond its boundaries and managed to seed itself in no less than 9 additional places.

I find that catnip makes a great animal deterrent. Not only do our cats hang out in the garden but we attract all of the neighboring cats as well. My other gardening buddies complain of tomatoes etc... with one bite taken out of them and discarded on the earth; presumably from squirrels. I rarely see that with all of the cats around.

 

[TheGardener]

Live in the Boston area, so we have pretty much the same weather.

Speaking of herbs over growing boundaries, I just dug up 99% of my lemon thyme. I planted this from a 4 inch pot 2 years back. Before digging it up, it occupied more than 4 to 5 sq feet. It only stopped because of a pine mulch path. Herbs are great, but they also weeds. The thyme surrounded my tarragon, which I thought was chocked off. Today I found tarragon roots that were alive with shoots. I moved this to the opposite end of the garden, so it has a chance to thrive.

Years ago I tried growing strawberries, but only got a handful of fruit. Of course they were delicious. The bigger negative were all the weeds that grew between the strawberry runners, Decided that they were more work than it was worth. I buy my strawberries by the quart from a farm every June.

We have a deer fence to keep four legged predators away. But some rabbits, squirrels and birds still managed to get in. If I lose 2% of my tomatoes, I'm okay with that. Grew San Marzano variety, which makes the best sauce. Also had Washington cherries, which are 3 to 4 times larger than regular cherry tomatoes. Also had Big Beef, which did just okay. Last year was the 1st in 5, that the rabbits didn't get to my carrot tops.

Love having an organic vegetable garden. Last year I tried for the first time some oriental eggplant, which yielded a very good crop. Grew yellow peppers, but the prior year's was better. Peas were excellent. Also tried potatoes for the first time. I didn't have high expectations, but if anything, got too much.

This year should be a hotter summer. Good for tomatoes. They may be smaller, but should be tastier.