We've had an unusually nice spring this year. Most years there are just a couple of weeks, if that, of cool enough warm enough weather to really enjoy and then it turns straight to hot. (SE Illinois) It has been quite wet though and I think the cool wet weather has slowed the garden just a bit.
Finally have baby yellow squash starting.
My compost is starting to build
back up. I expanded this year and used up all I had. Keeping it turned kills of the seeds from weeds mixes the wet and dry spots to help move it along faster.
Some years
I have gotten the best volunteer veggies from around the edges. Last year I had enough Tomatillos for a couple batches of salsa.
I let the grass grow between the rows and just weed eat before it goes to seed. This way even when it has rained I can go right out in it without tromping through mud. By mid summer the grass I have cut works like a mulch and I have to cut it less and less.
I love the wild things that come up by themselves. In early spring there is an abundance of Dandelion for that very first salad. This picture is Dill and Borage. It's everywhere! I dig a few of the Borage plants and relocate or share and just let the others go. So pretty and good for the bees.
Peas didn't really take off this year. Planted them on St. Patricks day and I guess they were just not impressed with the weather or were just a little too old. There are enough I can snack on while I garden though so it's all good. Between them I planted Lufa Gourds. By the time the heat hits and the peas give up they should grow up the trellis.
I started almost all my seeds inside in February and March from the seeds I have had for years. Every year I have some left, and every year I get too excited and order more... This year I decided not to order any and grow what I already had. The germination rate goes down with age but I had really good success and will just fill in the weak spots with flowers and buy what I lack from the farmers market. This year I have about $45 dollars in the whole garden.
My Zucchini caught a chill early on
but is coming out of it and starting to flower although the plants are much smaller than normal for this time of year.
The Cucumbers
that I started inside had an unfortunate camping trip outside when I was trying to harden them off and did not survive. I decided to just wait till the weather picked up and started these where they are. Looking good now.
Yukon Gold and Red potatoes starting to bloom. Funny how something as simple as a potato can have such a pretty little flower.
Rainbow Card.
Came up a bit sparse but yumm!
I planted Cherokee Purple, Orange Amish Paste, German Pink and some Cherry tomatoes this year. I absolutely love the all the colors and different textures and tastes. I make a lot of spaghetti sauce and when all mixed together they just can't be beat by any store brand.
Cattle panels
make for a great trellis and are a one time investment. I weave the plants though or clip and tie as they need support.
My first little 'maters!
This is the
patch of Horseradish that I showed how to transplant a while back. Going strong. And I recently found out you can eat the leaves. Loved and grown this stuff for years and had no idea!
Hot peppers are perking up.
Two T Post and a cattle panel (and one very handy multi-purpose post driver, lol)
make a great trellis for beans, cukes, gourds and anything else that want to vine. Besides that it looks really pretty when things get going and you have these covered walk ways spread around the garden.
This one
is for my Scarlet Runner Beans. This is the first time I have grown them. Bought the seed last year and didn't get them planted. I've read that very young they are like a Lima Bean and later are a great large dry bean.
By setting the T Posts just deep enough to be stable they are super easy to move. Next year this row may be peppers or squash. Crop rotation and air circulation makes a huge difference in controlling pests and disease. Also a diverse planting environment. By allowing beneficial "weeds" and flowers to grow along with your veggies good insects are drawn in and the bad ones are easier to control. Around the outside of the garden I have planted Jerusalem Artichoke, and roses so far. Throughout the rest of the yard there is Honeysuckle, Herbs for my kitchen, Comfrey and a lot of other odds and ends. When we mow, it's set on the highest notch. By leaving the grass longer we allow it to thrive and smother out the weeds on it's own and it leaves more of the clover tops and things like wild Violets.
I you are interested in my garden here are a few of the other blogs that I have shared on getting to this point.
