Rain or shine, our gardens are now heading into the home stretch with tomatoes and peppers leading the way! Weather has not been good for some veggies and flowers this summer, so disappointments are part of the game. Tomatoes and peppers are really sub-tropical plants and don’t know that winter is coming so they are still trying to grow as though they have many months ahead. We know better and there are several things we can do right now to…
After all these rains it’s a great feeling to see your garden in full maturity and producing an abundance of veggies, herbs, flowers, and soon to be harvested potatoes, onions, carrots, beets, turnips, and more. It’s the reward that a hard-working gardener deserves and should enjoy this time of year. Harvesting is key to good production, the more you pick the more you get! Leaving fruits on plants to get over-ripe or go to seed tells the plants its job…
We are in peak garden season and there’s a lot happening out there. While you enjoy some satisfying harvests and flowers stay alert to new pests showing up now so we can prevent serious damage. There are some great things that can be planted now too. Garlic harvest is almost here so let’s look at the best way to harvest, cure, and select next year’s crop? Weeds are growing too and it’s important to prevent them from producing seed that…
Garden planting and transplanting is now in full swing and everything we want to grow can be planted out from now on. It’s even not too late for planting of favorites like tomato & pepper plants, squashes, potatoes, onion sets, or greens. But one question remains, which plants make good garden companions and which do not? Plants affect their neighbors and the soil so we should try to place compatible or non-competitive plants near each other when possible. A similar…
The beginning of June brings better gardening weather, what a welcome change! Although it’s been a bit dry for Vermont spring, recent rains have created a great time to get some plants into their outdoor homes for the summer. Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, onions, and more salad greens can move out now but it’s still a little early for heat loving plants like basil, tomatoes, beans, cucumbers, squash, okra, & peppers. Annual flowers like geraniums, petunias, marigolds, nasturtiums, and sweet peas…
Sunny, warmer days make the garden real in mid-May. While there are many garden plants that can be seeded outdoors now, don’t be tempted to start working your soil if it is still wet. If you insist on tilling your garden it is very important to wait until the soil has drained and dried enough to be crumbly, not gooey or sticky. I do not till my garden soil because it’s a very damaging & unnecessary practice. If you have…
There are so many advantages to growing in raised beds we really should consider them for any garden. Whether you are beginning a new garden or wish to improve an established garden, raised beds will make your garden more productive, more convenient, and are less work in the long run (no tilling, ever!). Furthermore, raised beds do very well in the hilly, rocky, weedy, cool, wet, northern New England conditions. Let’s look at the specific benefits and explore a couple…
We’re finally getting to the time of year when we can plant some things into the ground. Some things can go in early, other things need to wait for warmer days. How do we know what to plant when? Most soil is still too wet to dig or till unless you have raised beds. This week let’s look at several ways to help determine when it’s best to plant seeds or put out transplants. Frost Free Dates. Most plants can’t…
April is National Garden Month so I’d like to write about starting a garden and the planning and choices that requires. Most basically “What should I grow?” depends on what you want to eat or to see in your yard, and the kind of work you can do. Soil & climate conditions in Vermont place some limits on our choices too. No bananas, oranges, or mangoes, but we do have a wide selection of great fruits, vegetables, and flowers that…
Despite this week’s chilly nights, spring is officially here and gardening season has begun! New birds and wildflowers are appearing almost daily while rhubarb and daffodils have come to life. The previous article described some early pruning and fruit tree protection techniques that should be done and it’s still a good time for those important tasks. In this week’s topic, starting your own garden plants from seed assures you get better varieties and it’s very satisfying to grow your own…