Beds 1 to 3We have had a long stretch of warm weather here and it is forecast to go on for about another week. Yesterday it got up to 89F which is about 20F above the average for this time of year. I'm hoping today we don't get quite as high as yesterday. 70Fs would be really nice. In addition we haven't been getting our usual rain. We have had maybe an eighth of an inch in two weeks. So I found the sprinkler and watered the garden. Even with that, the poor Asian greens looked a bit wilty in the afternoon heat.
Beds 3 to 8Since it has been so warm recently the soil has gotten hot. Usually I don't sow corn until mid May as germination in cold soil is iffy. Well the soil is not cold at all. So I soaked some seed overnight and planted it yesterday afternoon. I only planted one bed - Bed 3W. I have two open right now and five total will get planted once the other crops have been picked (spinach and baby Asian greens). I figure the next one will get planted in a week or two. I want the last set of corn to be planted in mid June. My mom is visiting in August and loves corn. I think that last planting will be ready when she is here. I've got my fingers crossed.
I always do a two sisters planting with corn. The other is squash. I put the seed in a container to sprout indoors and once it does I'll plant it outside. This patch will get some Upper Ground Sweet Potato Squash. It gives large squash that looks a bit like a pumpkin. I'm hoping I like it. Like all squash I plant it is a C. moschata so it is resistant to the vine borer. Supposedly the vines are pretty aggressive. I'll see if I can keep it in bounds and see if it plays nicely enough under the corn with the butternut that will be planted at the other end when I plant up Bed 3E. Waltham butternuts do very well here. Squashes for me have to be able to grow under the corn and thrive, or they aren't worth it. They have to produce before it gets too cold. Our season isn't all that warm or long compared to the south or farther inland. They have to store well. They have to taste good. And the yield can't be low. I've got my fingers crossed with the two squashes that I'm trialing this year.
Circle gardenI noticed that the cilantro isn't coming up much this year. Usually it just volunteers for me. It didn't set enough seed last year I think. So I was out and sowing some in the flower bed near the driveway. I use a lot of cilantro over the year and a decent amount of coriander. So I need to get some plants up and going. It is late for it though. I doubt I'll get much of a leaf harvest especially if the weather stays hot. But even if I only get seed that would be something.
In addition I put in the second succession of peas. I'm just growing them for pea sprouts or I would have put them in ages ago. My first sowing is growing really slowly this year. The row cover next to it is really blocking the light. Except in the morning and late afternoon the light has to get through two layers of it to get to the peas. The peas aren't in a row cover, just behind it. Next year I ought to put them at the other end of the bed so they will grow better.
It is warm here too with no rain. Your garden is looking good. I'm pleased with my lettuces and spinach this year. So far voles have not found second seeding of peas. I still need to take the dirt from the beds where the voles were and put down hardware cloth to keep them from accessing the plants. It's on the list to do which is several pages long!
ReplyDeleteI'll be following your lead on the corn & squash planting, using the Waltham butternut squash.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to get my corn in the ground too as it has been equally hot here, but the bed is not finished yet, so that will have to wait. I'm hoping to get all the beds finished by the end of the weekend - If I'm lucky and the weather cooperates, I'll be sowing some corn next week.
It got to 89F here yesterday too, and it's 87F right now, so today looks like another hot one. I don't plant corn here, but I did sow my bush beans this morning. It's supposed to to cool off to normal temps next week, which should be in the low 70's.
ReplyDeleteWe still have cool weather, and lots of wind. When you are a gardener you can't help being very conscious of the weather, and the light conditions! My Runner Beans have germinated now, so I am going to have to get on and erect the support-system for them.
ReplyDeleteSo hot here! And a few more days of it. I'm having a hard time hardening off plants in the heat, they keep wilting so quickly. I had such a miserable time with my 3 sisters plan last year but will try it one more time in another spot. Your gardens all look so lush despite the heat!
ReplyDeleteThe exact same thing is happening with my peas! :( My daughter planted a few peas in full sun & hers are blooming like crazy! Mine are showing no signs of flowering. you live, you learn...if you know what's good for you, you write it down so you'll remember for next year!
ReplyDeleteHere in southern Virginia the sudden change from cold to summer-like heat has my onions bolting. But all in all the conditions have been good (once we were able to work the ground). We were delayed in the early spring but things are starting to come in strong now. Hoping for a great gardening year!
ReplyDeleteCoriander (your cilantro) doesn't grow very well for us as it seems to run to seed quickly.
ReplyDeleteNothing like summer here - it;s hard to believe that you had an horrendous winter when ours was mild and now you have lovely weather when we are having wind and rain.
I agree about temperature...70 would be perfect! It's been 80 or higher here lately, and I went from "ground too frozen to put in fence posts" to "too hot to drag 16-foot fence panels around" overnight! Feeling the pressure to get the big garden underway this week. And must decide where to put a block of corn this year...thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteWow 89!! We have had the polar opposite of you. We have had 50's & 60's and more rain than I have seen in a long time. I hope it helps with our drought for the summer!!
ReplyDeleteI just love looking at your garden. Our temps have been similar and no rain! I got my popcorn in the ground and plan to try peanuts for a companion. That will be a first for me. Your post reminded me that last year someone gave me some sweet potato squash, I need to try that.
ReplyDeleteYour garden is looking great. The sudden onslaught of heat and drought is not atypical of New England springs but is hard for we gardeners to deal with. My rapiini is bolting and I wonder if I will get any spinach. And you have me thinking, maybe it's time to plant the beans.
ReplyDeleteYour garden is really coming together now. I love watching it mature!
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