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Month: May 2020

Garden Alert

Garden Alert

Protect your young transplants If you ambitiously got your tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, or basil transplanted during this recent warm spell, congratulations, but you may want to give them some protection from the cold spell forecast for Saturday, Sunday, & Monday nights.  Temperatures in the low 40s and upper 30s probably won’t kill those plants but it can cause a serious set back and damage to exposed young leaves.  Since plants grow mostly at night and chilly night temperatures (below 45F)…

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At Last, Transplant Time

At Last, Transplant Time

The end of May has brought almost ideal gardening weather, what a welcome change!  Although it’s been a bit dry for Vermont spring, it looks like a great time to get all those ready-to-go plants into their new homes for the summer.  It’s still a little early for some heat loving plants like basil, tomatoes, beans, artichokes, okra, & peppers, but almost everything else can move out.  Some adventuresome gardeners have already planted out their tomatoes and they might do…

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May Planting Notes II: What Can We Plant Now?

May Planting Notes II: What Can We Plant Now?

We have a welcome break in the weather and early planting can begin.  Some ambitious gardeners already have put in peas, onion sets, greens, and carrots.  It’s time to go ahead with early herbs & vegetables but be careful not to get ahead of the season just yet and don’t work that soil if it’s still very wet.  Here is a list of what can be safely sown now, how to get the best germination of seeds in cool soil,…

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Transplant Time is Coming, Are Your Plants Ready?

Transplant Time is Coming, Are Your Plants Ready?

Whether you grow your own seedlings (Congratulations!) or buy your garden plants, they will need some preparation for the transition out to the “real world”.  There are big differences between indoors (house or greenhouse) and the tough world outside and plants need a little help to adapt to those hard conditions outside.  This process is called “hardening off” and it is easy if you follow these basic steps.  Hardening off is a stressful transition for plants because they have to…

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Vermont Spring? Cold Protection!

Vermont Spring? Cold Protection!

Vermont spring can be a challenge but there are a couple easy ways to prevent early plant damage on cold nights.  Sunny warm days tend to be followed by clear, still, cold nights when frost damage occurs.  Cloudy, windy nights bring chance of freezing. Either way we need to protect our early plantings and strawberries. Experienced gardeners have used simple cold frames for years as they are a great way to get an early start while providing needed protection for…

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May Planting Notes

May Planting Notes

Sunny, warmer days in Zones 4 & 5 make the garden real in early May.  While there are several plants that can be seeded outdoors now, don’t be tempted to start working your soil if it is still wet.  If you still insist on tilling your garden (I do not) it is very important to wait until the soil has drained and dried enough to be crumbly, not gooey or sticky.  If you have raised beds (see previous article) you…

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