Autumn has officially begun and Jack Frost isn’t far away. Many gardens are already showing signs of leaf loss on squash, cukes, peppers, tomatoes, and basil. These are among the most susceptible plants. Good News, there are a few easy precautions we can take to protect our favorite plants and extend the gardening season to get a little more out of our summer long efforts. It’s also the best time to begin improving the soil for next year’s garden so…
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…
Jack Frost visited this week and the first damaging frosts of the season are upon us. Many gardens are already showing signs of leaf injury on squash, cukes, peppers, tomatoes, and basil. These are among the most susceptible plants. Even if you escaped the first frost there is a second round in the forecast and it will be more serious with 3 cold nights near 30 F Friday, Saturday, & Sunday. Good News, there are a few easy precautions we…
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)…
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…
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,…