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In The Garden  |
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In The Garden |
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In the Greenhouse and Garden
As you can see, there are a few greens that are trying to make it through this cold weather. I used row cover on the mustard, senposai and rape, but left the kale and collards to fend for themselves. the hardest hit were the mustard. I was able to harvest some for last Saturday's market, but time will tell for next week. I did manage to get my garlic in on time and tiny green shoots are now hiding under the snow. I have been pouring over seed catalogs the last few days, looking forward to spring!
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Seed Starting Dates Growing conditions for Balltown Bee Farm: - Elevation 1,700-feet - Southerly-facing slope - Last frost date May 10; first frost date Oct. 10 In greenhouse or under grow lights (average starting dates), plus transplanting and seed-starting dates outside: Second week January - First round cabbage, broccoli (can start inside to save fuel costs, move to greenhouse after germinated and growing) Last week January - Second round cabbage, broccoli (can continue planting in greenhouse through February as needed) - Peppers (can continue into February as needed, helps germination to start on a heating mat. Must be transplanted into continually bigger containers in greenhouse) - Artichokes First week February - Leeks - Head lettuces such as Buttercrunch, Tom Thumb - Chives, thyme, other herbs (continue planting through February, March as needed) Second or third week February - Parsley In garden toward end of February, first week March weather permitting Be prepared to cover transplants when temps threaten to drop below 20 degrees!! - Transplant lettuce, broccoli and cabbage into garden - Direct seed leaf lettuce, snow peas, English peas, carrots, boc choi, onion sets, spinach, radishes, beets First week March - Start tomatoes in greenhouse (Must be transplanted into continually bigger containers in greenhouse) - Start eggplant (in moist paper towels tucked into ventilated plastic sandwich bag in warm place in house, when germinated plant as usual in greenhouse) Second week March - Plant potatoes in garden (these are for new potatoes) - Direct seed kohlrabi - In greenhouse, marigolds, zinnias, ageratum April Continue transplanting in greenhouse, direct seed in garden: - Succession beets, onion sets (for green onions), radishes, podding radish. - Direct seed cilantro, pole or bush beans, first planting of soybeans for edamame, sweet corn when soil warm (old-timers planted early corn when the dogwood blooms). Early to mid May - Plant leek transplants - Direct seed okra - Direct seed basil, can plant later as well to have with tomatoes - Succession soybeans, beets, onion sets, radish, podding radish - Direct seed summer squash, cucumbers, cantaloupe, watermelon, pumpkin - Transplant tomatoes, eggplants and peppers as weather permits - Direct seed red noodle beans Mid to late May - Direct seed winter squash, spaghetti and butternut (don’t hurry, remember these are for storage) - Under row cover, grow succession plantings of summer ‘lettuce’ mix: suggest, mizuna, kale, collards, tatsoi, red giant mustard, arugula. Use as cut-and-come again, harvest immature for raw salads. Replant short row every two weeks or so for summer use. - Plant sweet potato slips - Plant chard, if haven’t already, also Malabar spinach, dill. Early to mid June - Start Brussels sprouts for fall transplants in now-shaded greenhouse - Succession soybeans, beets, onion sets, podding radish, summer lettuce mix - Plant more sweet corn, can keep planting up to July 4 and will make. Also, true for cucumbers, soybeans, summer squash. End June to early July - Sow in greenhouse or other shaded spot, broccoli and cabbage for fall planting Mid July - Direct seed rutabaga and beets in garden - Start fall lettuces for transplants - Transplant Brussels sprouts when ready to garden Late July to early August - Transplant broccoli and cabbage when ready to garden Early to mid August - Direct seed kale, collards Mid August to Sept. 1 - Direct seed turnips for roots, turnips for tops, rape, mustards. Late August - Direct seed black Spanish radish, daikon, Chinese cabbage, scallions, mizuna, tatsoi, beet (for tops), chard, spinach, arugula. - Seed more lettuce for transplants, start in cool place. September - Direct seed Cherry Belle radishes, carrots, transplant first round lettuces to garden. October - Plant mache, claytonia, minutina. Replant tatsoi, mizuna, etc. for cut-and-come again. Transplant lettuces to garden under row cover. November - Plant garlic bulbs. Keep planting Asian greens as spaces open. December - January - Plant Asian greens. Spinach. Lettuce transplants.
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