GARDEN4US

Do we dare even think it? Could it really be? Has spring come to stay – or will it be its usual fickle self. If you have lived in our little four letter state for very long, you know it will be the latter. Our weather, well they have several sayings about it, like: wait 15 minutes, it’ll change……listen to the birds, they quiet before a storm,….or pay attention to the caterpillars, they go to ground when its going to snow…..or watch the horses, they always get frisky just before a rain. Superstition, nonsense or general weather lore….from what I’ve witnessed – they all have some credence. Common references, including but not limited to the Farmers Almanac are general guidelines – you have to add your own lore from your local gardening experts. Check the information from Utah State University, Utah Water Conservancy – they can save you time and money.

laying in hoses

Two days later!

Does goofy spring weather deter us gardening types??? Absolutely not! My own progress this year, the raised vegetables beds are amended and tilled for planting. I have managed to stick to my gardening plot/plan (companion plantings considered) and lay the soaker hoses accordingly. Double lines for those water thirsty types, single lines for those that like it hot! Planning better for early and late plantings in consideration. The use of soaker hose does quite well under weed block (I really don’t like to weed) and grass clippings on top of the weed block as the summer goes along helps both the water retention and nitrogen.

We’re going to try two new things this year, a lacinato (or black) kale and a romanesco broccoli. I’ve heard that broccoli doesn’t do well and tends to get buggy so I’m going to have some hot pepper spray ready for those and the bean starts. I’ve found that the hot pepper oil spray works really well against billbugs “mowing” the bean starts every night. Got the weed block stapled down and planted the cold tolerant crops today – lettuce, radish, snow peas, mesclun and green beans. I know, I know – the green beans are really chancy this early, but they are in a raised bed and I can buffer (with straw) and cover (with tarp) in case of last minute snow. As long as we don’t have a really hard freeze they should make it…right??? Don’t you love gardeners – they are the ultimate optimists.

Garlic babies!

The good news is the garlic I planted last fall (33 cloves) have all come up!!! 100% return – WAHHHOOOO! The stalks above the ground are about 5″ high and seem to be really happy. I have had to cover them twice since they came up, but they have come up through the straw/mulch of last season, so they are really quite well protected yet.
Got all the seeds I need – will be planting snap peas, cucumbers, additional carrots to the “patch” after the frosts have passed. I do buy starts for my tomatoes, peppers and eggplant. The cages for the three eggplant and five types of peppers (med round tomato cages) are strategically placed and ready. I find that cages are really helpful to both eggplant and peppers for our summer storms and wind that precedes them. If your garden has a prevalent southern winds, you may find the cages handy also. They allow a more structured growth and allow better pruning access and later, better picking access.

General recommendations from the farmers almanac for April 2010 are such:

11th-13th Favorable days for planting root crops, very good for vine crops. Set strawberry plants.
14th-15th Poor Planting Days.
16th-17th Favorable For planting beans, corn, tomatoes, peppers.
18th-19th Poor Planting Days
20th-21st Best days for planting bean, corn, peppers, tomatoes. Plant seeds. Start flower gardens.
22nd-25th Weed, pest management days.
26th-28th Good for planting corn, melons, squash, tomatoes. Sow grain, hay & fodder
28th Favorable for planting root crops.
29th-30th Plant beets, carrots, radishes, turnips. Also cabbage, cauliflower, 2nd lettuces, kale, celery – leafy vegetables ok.

Looks like I’m waiting until May 4-5th to put in my red onion sets – I halved an eighty set with a friend as red onions don’t store as well as yellow or white and 40 onions is plenty of red’s for our summer cooking. I should probably plant yellows but they are so available and locally grown that it is not really good money sense to grow in precious raised bed space. Although leeks are a great alternative to onions, not as sharp in taste, easily grown (year round…yes even here) and while easier on the gastro system than onions….consider a patch of leeks for your garden. If you want a bit more information about Leeks – click here.