Mine has been up and down…the weather has been anything but stable…covering, uncovering, planting, re-planting, attempting to harden-off young plants, though not too soon as we’ve had such cold, wet weather – though tomorrow the forecast is calling for 80+ degrees! What?
Todays weather was extraordinary! So while Finn napped I quickly planted nasturtiums and zinnias outside and started to transplant leeks, but the nap did not last long enough…there is always tomorrow and tomorrow will be sunny again…thankfully!
Here’s a glimpse at what is growing…
baby lettuce
more baby lettuce
aka mesclun mix
baby spinach
close-up baby spinach
young kale
swiss chard beginnings
tomato plants
cucumbers in waiting
Every garden needs a scarecrow, right? Hat and flannel, from the dump, of course…
Unfortunately, too many of these have made their way into the garden…too many – where do they all come from?
first harvest
The first harvest of spinach was such a treat! It was a small harvest, but oh so appreciated…there’s nothing like picking veggies, out of your own garden, and then using them, immediately!
So much work, though so worth it…don’t have enough space for a backyard garden? Try container gardening…especially for the more expensive vegetables and herbs like tomatoes and basil. One plant can yield so much, why not give it a try?
Though, I must admit, I’ve had no luck with my red onions. I started them, in the ground, from seed and they never germinated… I’ve never grown onions before and this year, it seems I won’t be either…any suggestions?
Just because something doesn’t go according to plan the first time, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try again. Gardening is so much about trial and error and learning from others, why not start now? You can grow incredible vegetables and save money – all the while knowing what is in your food as well as where it came from…you can’t put a price on that.
enjoy and happy gardening!
Your seedlings look great and I love the scarecrow! I have a whole new appreciation for salad ever since I started growing lettuce. I start my onions indoors really early (late January or early February) and then transplant them out in early spring. I’ve always had terrible luck with cucumbers but I’m going to give them another try. Any tips?
Thanks! Finn helped with the scarecrow…yes, it’s so nice to have fresh greens again, I agree! Thanks for the info. about the red onions – I did try them indoors earlier this year (late March), but no luck there either. I actually tried twice before trying outdoors…the seeds are new and organic and from a reputable source, so not sure what I’m doing wrong, but will keep trying.
I start my cucumbers indoors, usually early April and then transplant outdoors once warm enough. For here that means mid June, usually – we’ll see what happens this year! I’m excited to try and pickle my cucumbers this year…hoping to have the time, any suggestions (links to) for one of your recipes?
That’s so strange that your onions never sprouted. Last year my cucumbers were looking good and then they suddenly just died. I’m trying a different variety this year and hoping to have better luck. Here’s my pickle recipe: http://forgottenpickles.com/2012/08/18/full-sours/
Thank you!
So you didn’t get snow this holiday? How strange the weather has been. I can see tomato sandwiches hanging from those little plants. Gardeners have vision!!
No, we didn’t get snow – Thankfully not! We’re still burning a nightly fire, to keep the chill at bay, but snow on the ground would have sent me over the edge! Though I do know Vermont did get snow – crazy, but not unheard of…good ‘ole New England weather!
Yes, tomato sandwiches, I agree…and oh so much more! (: I like your comment about gardeners…thank you!
I think you need to start your onions indoor the same time you start your leeks. I get my onion seedlings from Locust Grove if there is a surplus. Some years there is nothing, this year I got lucky.
Thank you Norma. I did try starting seeds inside, in late March – no luck! I will try again next year. Hopefully my leeks will make the transplant, they’ve been yearning to get out of their pots…glad to hear you lucked out with onions this year! Yeah for onions!!
This year is the first year I tried onion from seed and they have germinated outside; in saying that the main crop of 400+ is grown from onion ‘sets’ (part grown onions from the previous year I think)
Good luck with the rest, it’s looking good and healthy.
WOW – 400+ Incredible! I’ve read about onion sets and it sounds like I may have more luck with that route than seed, but I’m going to try one more planting, from seed, and see what happens…thank you for the encouragement! Our weather has been crazy, I hope I get some veggies this year! My spinach already started to bolt after our three days of 90+ weather, following 50 degree weather…poor veggies are so confused!