Our early spring has benefited the vegetable garden. Le potager is almost a whole month ahead of where we usually are plantwise.
I planted our seed potatoes on St. Paddy's Day, a tradition that makes it easy to remember when I planted. This year we'll be trying Cal White and Kennebec taters. I wanted to plant last year's winner--the Peter Wilcox--and although I couldn't find them as seed potatoes I had a few marble-sized Wilcoxians left from last year's harvest that I planted.
Pretty much all our veggies go in raised beds in our climate because of our year-round cold nights, but the potatoes go the raised route for ease of harvest. I'm trying a straw mulch system this year...once the seed potatoes sprouted and reached the top of the bottom boards, I piled on compost and raised the bed with a second set of boards. Within a week they were well above the six inch boards so I added yet another set of boards and more compost/cherry blossom drop/straw. As you can see, they've flourished and I think I'll add one more layer and then leave them alone. Theoretically we should be able to (easily) harvest a (bumper) crop of potatoes from the organic layers I added on top of the soil. I wasn't diligent last year about adding layers but I did notice that I did get a decent crop from what I did layer and I didn't have to dig much to harvest them.
We usually have good luck with our Sugar Snap peas but this year they were dug up within a few days by the Golden Retriever who seems to enjoy digging more than I'd like. At least I could tell they were germinating. I just tucked them back in, watered them and crossed my fingers. Because I do love those pods in our salads well into summer! Most of them made it and I had enough extra seed to replant the little corner that didn't. With three (completely accidental) planting dates, we'll have an extended season for peas this year.
It's not like the peas need the added protection from the row cover since they like our cool springtimes, but I had the time to sew a custom cover to fit the PVC frame so I did. Protection from the marauding Golden was a bonus.
I wanted to get some sweet onions again since our crop last year was my most successful try at onions yet. I settled for Stuttgartner which sound delicious. At least they look happy in their new home. Although it looks a bit like a jail with the hardware cloth protecting it from chickens and Golden retrievers.
I planted a package of Black Seeded Simpson lettuce back in late March. It's not fancy, but I didn't get the germination from my Farmers Market blend that I wanted due to a dry winter, so I went with what I could easily get and knew would do well. Sometimes it's better to just go for the sure thing. However the fates seemed to be against any lettuce harvest since Miss Golden Retriever (who else) dug a very deep hole in the lettuce plot as well. Lettuce needs light to germinate and who know how many seeds were left anywhere near the surface. Watering and hoping didn't do any good.
As it turns out, the dog paws left just enough plants that we've actually already harvest three good salads with no end in sight. There's nothing quite as tenderly delicious as home-grown lettuce!
Without a full bed of lettuce I had room for an experiment. I'm gambling (I live in Nevada, after all) and planted a first crop of Blue Lake Bush beans in the blank spaces. It's waaay too early but I have the row cover and if the weather stays as warm as it has, we'll be harvesting quicker than usual. I'll be planting French filet green beans and some pole beans too as the season rolls along.
This year I wanted to grow Sunsugar or Sungold tomatoes, or Santas, all of which get good reviews for flavor. But do you think I could find the seeds anywhere in this town? I'm not into mail order...but maybe next year. Anyway, the Romas (beloved of my son) are in as well as a giant Red Cherry tomato and we're seeing true leaves so they're ready to transplant.
I did find a packet of Black Cherry tomatoes (at the feed store--go figure) which are described as having intense flavor so I'm hoping they germinate as nicely and live up to their advance advertising!
I can hardly wait to start some zucchini and more beans. And see if the pumpkin seeds I saved from the minis last fall will germinate and give me a fall decorating bonus.
Be (INSPIRE)d,
Tuesday Garden Party time!
Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home too.
I planted our seed potatoes on St. Paddy's Day, a tradition that makes it easy to remember when I planted. This year we'll be trying Cal White and Kennebec taters. I wanted to plant last year's winner--the Peter Wilcox--and although I couldn't find them as seed potatoes I had a few marble-sized Wilcoxians left from last year's harvest that I planted.
Pretty much all our veggies go in raised beds in our climate because of our year-round cold nights, but the potatoes go the raised route for ease of harvest. I'm trying a straw mulch system this year...once the seed potatoes sprouted and reached the top of the bottom boards, I piled on compost and raised the bed with a second set of boards. Within a week they were well above the six inch boards so I added yet another set of boards and more compost/cherry blossom drop/straw. As you can see, they've flourished and I think I'll add one more layer and then leave them alone. Theoretically we should be able to (easily) harvest a (bumper) crop of potatoes from the organic layers I added on top of the soil. I wasn't diligent last year about adding layers but I did notice that I did get a decent crop from what I did layer and I didn't have to dig much to harvest them.
We usually have good luck with our Sugar Snap peas but this year they were dug up within a few days by the Golden Retriever who seems to enjoy digging more than I'd like. At least I could tell they were germinating. I just tucked them back in, watered them and crossed my fingers. Because I do love those pods in our salads well into summer! Most of them made it and I had enough extra seed to replant the little corner that didn't. With three (completely accidental) planting dates, we'll have an extended season for peas this year.
It's not like the peas need the added protection from the row cover since they like our cool springtimes, but I had the time to sew a custom cover to fit the PVC frame so I did. Protection from the marauding Golden was a bonus.
I wanted to get some sweet onions again since our crop last year was my most successful try at onions yet. I settled for Stuttgartner which sound delicious. At least they look happy in their new home. Although it looks a bit like a jail with the hardware cloth protecting it from chickens and Golden retrievers.
I planted a package of Black Seeded Simpson lettuce back in late March. It's not fancy, but I didn't get the germination from my Farmers Market blend that I wanted due to a dry winter, so I went with what I could easily get and knew would do well. Sometimes it's better to just go for the sure thing. However the fates seemed to be against any lettuce harvest since Miss Golden Retriever (who else) dug a very deep hole in the lettuce plot as well. Lettuce needs light to germinate and who know how many seeds were left anywhere near the surface. Watering and hoping didn't do any good.
As it turns out, the dog paws left just enough plants that we've actually already harvest three good salads with no end in sight. There's nothing quite as tenderly delicious as home-grown lettuce!
Without a full bed of lettuce I had room for an experiment. I'm gambling (I live in Nevada, after all) and planted a first crop of Blue Lake Bush beans in the blank spaces. It's waaay too early but I have the row cover and if the weather stays as warm as it has, we'll be harvesting quicker than usual. I'll be planting French filet green beans and some pole beans too as the season rolls along.
This year I wanted to grow Sunsugar or Sungold tomatoes, or Santas, all of which get good reviews for flavor. But do you think I could find the seeds anywhere in this town? I'm not into mail order...but maybe next year. Anyway, the Romas (beloved of my son) are in as well as a giant Red Cherry tomato and we're seeing true leaves so they're ready to transplant.
I did find a packet of Black Cherry tomatoes (at the feed store--go figure) which are described as having intense flavor so I'm hoping they germinate as nicely and live up to their advance advertising!
I can hardly wait to start some zucchini and more beans. And see if the pumpkin seeds I saved from the minis last fall will germinate and give me a fall decorating bonus.
Be (INSPIRE)d,
Tuesday Garden Party time!
Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home too.
well look at you all busy bee in the garden! We are just starting to get things in the ground here...using Mother's day as my safe to plant clock. We grew the little black cherry tomatoes last year without much success but the few we had were delish. Last year was pretty much a bust with the crazy weather and water restrictions so we are keeping everything crossed for a good crop this year.
ReplyDeleteOur short growing season always makes tomatoes a challenge but usually the little guys ripen before the frost hits. So far this year looks good with the warm spring. I'm keeping my fingers crossed!
DeleteYou use Mom's Day, around here we say it's safe when the snow is off Peavine. Of course, which snowfall is anybody's guess!
Wow you have been busy in the garden...what a wonderful crop you will have. We planted some tomatoes vines and a berry vine. Its fun to watch them grow.
ReplyDeleteHave a sweet day, Elizabeth
I'm pondering replacing some strawberries with cane berries, Elizabeth--I have some golden raspberries already, but maybe some blackberries? Thorny but so very delicious!
DeleteSounds as if your dog enjoys gardening! : )
ReplyDeleteI have two dogs and mostly worry about them stepping on things...once I get the tomato stakes in that seems to discourage them. My main concern about digging early on is the little neighborhood squirrels..I feed them all winter so they feel quite at home. Last year I googled about that problem and saw a suggestion to discourage them with plastic forks and it worked! :)
Well, the Golden enjoys digging holes, for sure! Our border collie loves it when I dig holes so she can drop her ball in it--she knows that I HAVE to throw it for her before I can dig or plant more. Silly/smart girl!
DeleteI'm excited to see your potato system. My husband built me something similar a few years a back. I never used it. I was intimidated and darn it if he did not screw the screws in so tight, I couldn't remove the boards. He fixed it for me this past winter and I am using it now for my potatoes. It is similar to yours but you are ahead of me, time-wise, I think, so its good to see things are still going well!! Let's keep our fingers crossed until its time to remove the bottom boards and see what's growing!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your potatoes too! Waiting to see what we uncover when it's harvest time is hard, but that's all part of the fun too--treasure hunt, gardener style!
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