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In The Garden  |
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In The Garden |
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In the Greenhouse and Garden this week: The bugs are here. I've had to use an organic spray more times than I'd like to knock them back - Mexican bean beetles, flea beetles and cucumber beetles have been my biggest problem. Naturalite, with the active ingredient Spinosad, has been my choice so far this year. I try to spray late in the day to minimize drift. Spinosad is bad for good insects, including bees, but it breaks down quickly. Weeds are also becoming an issue, as it always does this time of year. All you can do is get the hoe out and go to work. I actually don't mind weeding - I like a neat garden.
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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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