I am intrigued and would be interested in pictures as the year progresses.We’re trying a straw bale garden. Amazing the amount of heat inside the bales after conditioning them
I am intrigued and would be interested in pictures as the year progresses.We’re trying a straw bale garden. Amazing the amount of heat inside the bales after conditioning them
Zone 5A. I planted different lettuces and spinach on April 8. I usually harvest early (cut and come again) and don't wait for heads to form. I've got a lot of greens to eat...doing really well this past week. I planted onions mid April and just planted my tomatoes two days ago.
Speaking of tomatoes what is the best way to plant them? I trimmed off most of the branches and buried them pretty deep but a good six inches of the plant still remained above ground. The tag in the pot said only leave 1 inch exposed. I thought that was weird. I didn't plant them for about 10 days after I bought them and they did grow a lot from when I brought them home. Perhaps those were directions for when the plant is very small.
Not sure what else I am planting this year. I have no luck with melons though my son wants me to plant them every year. I may try some winter squash and sunflowers (for aesthetics). Last year a storm came through and flattened all my onions so I harvested them early July. Hopefully they can stay upright a bit longer this year. I am looking for something else to plant that the family will like. They are picky.
My car share partner was telling me about planting tomatoes sideways. Maybe that is a University of Iowa thing?I just watched insta stories from my indie grower on this topic last night! She lays her tomatoes out on their side the night before (need to be in fairly small containers for this to work) and trenches them. I'd never heard of it before but I may try it - here's an article that explains it better than what I was trying to type.
Planting Tomatoes Sideways: How Growing in a Trench Results in Bigger Healthier Plants
Have your tomato starts gotten too tall before you can transplant them? Here's a technique that many seasoned gardeners have in their bag of tricks: Planting a tomato sideways in a trench (or trough) to save your back from digging AND improve the overall health and vigor of your plant.www.gardenbetty.com
My car share partner was telling me about planting tomatoes sideways. Maybe that is a University of Iowa thing?
We’re trying a straw bale garden. Amazing the amount of heat inside the bales after conditioning them
Not surprised. I remember my dad going in the barn to check the stored hay & straw and talk of barn fires happening. And a few times the local fire department would get called out to a (round) bale fire.
What's the trick to snap peas? I've tried these and it never works.Bump time! We got moved to zone 5A by the USDA and even though the frost date is now 5/7, I actually don't see frost in our forecast. Highs are still normal but lows are looking mild.
I started 50 milk jugs outdoors with annual seeds end of March to last weekend and with the warmer temps this week, many are sprouting which is fun! I spend a small fortune in annuals each year so this is a low cost experiment to see if I can do some on my own.
Planted the first of the garden yesterday -multiple spinach types, carrot types, one lettuce, arugula, snap peas, and trying out green onions and radishes this year. Need to do potatoes yet and the spring garden planting should be set.
What didn't work? I plant both spring and fall snap peas and have good luck. Most varieties need some type of trellis although I just planted one yesterday that supposedly only gets 2 feet tall and does not need support. Last year I planted my fall crop around Aug 1st and the snap peas were great.What's the trick to snap peas? I've tried these and it never works.
Both times I tried, I believe part of the issue was them being crowded by other plants. However, the second time, they weren't that crowded and they never produced hardly anything. Do they transfer easily? I may try that bush variety.What didn't work? I plant both spring and fall snap peas and have good luck. Most varieties need some type of trellis although I just planted one yesterday that supposedly only gets 2 feet tall and does not need support. Last year I planted my fall crop around Aug 1st and the snap peas were great.
What's growing? 1800 calibrachoa at our place.
Almost ready to send them out the door!
View attachment 127322 View attachment 127323
Both times I tried, I believe part of the issue was them being crowded by other plants. However, the second time, they weren't that crowded and they never produced hardly anything. Do they transfer easily? I may try that bush variety.
I've never tried transplanting peas.Both times I tried, I believe part of the issue was them being crowded by other plants. However, the second time, they weren't that crowded and they never produced hardly anything. Do they transfer easily? I may try that bush variety.