I love May. May is the month that it finally turns warm. May is the first month I come in with dirt on my hands. May is the month when all the planning and prep start to pay off.
A lot of plants have taken off and moved locations since my last post about onions. At that time, only some onions were out in the garden. We still had the heater in the greenhouse, sheltering most of our seedlings. In fact, due to the long bouts of cold, the heater wasn't completely shut down until this week. But, if the forecasts are correct, we have made it to warm weather!
An update on how things have changed in the past month:
A lot of plants have taken off and moved locations since my last post about onions. At that time, only some onions were out in the garden. We still had the heater in the greenhouse, sheltering most of our seedlings. In fact, due to the long bouts of cold, the heater wasn't completely shut down until this week. But, if the forecasts are correct, we have made it to warm weather!
An update on how things have changed in the past month:
1. GREENS! We have successfully sown various types of the greens and they have been thriving in this cool spring weather. With a little more maturity, I expect us to be eating greens out of the garden within 2 weeks. Pictured above are a sampling of the greens in the garden boxes right now.
(Butterhead Lettuce, Arugula, Red Romain, Spinach, Swiss Chard, Tuscan Kale, Curley Kale, Cabbage)
2. PEAS and CARROTS. Both regular garden peas and sugar snap peas have started climbing the pea trellis. Once these get going, it seems like they grow an inch a day and will be producing food before I know it. At the base of the peas, I have planted carrots taking up the rest of the 5x5 box. Peas and carrots traditionally are great mates on the dinner plate, and as it turns out are great companions for growing in the same location as well. I am looking forward to a lot of stir fry very soon!
2. PEAS and CARROTS. Both regular garden peas and sugar snap peas have started climbing the pea trellis. Once these get going, it seems like they grow an inch a day and will be producing food before I know it. At the base of the peas, I have planted carrots taking up the rest of the 5x5 box. Peas and carrots traditionally are great mates on the dinner plate, and as it turns out are great companions for growing in the same location as well. I am looking forward to a lot of stir fry very soon!
3. POTATOES. Both red potatoes and sweet potatoes are in the ground and thriving. A post will follow relatively soon about planting and growing potatoes. Historically, Long Island used to be mostly potato farms. They love our sandy soil. We have done really well with them in the past, and I hope we will have another great year. Pictured below you will see the first leaves rising out of the trench. These leaves will soon be covered over so that the root structure will get larger. The deeper the root structure, the more room it has for potatoes to produce!
4. "ITALIAN GARDEN" - Our Tomatoes, Bell Peppers and standard herbs like Basil, Oregano, Thyme and Parsley have been planted, caged, and are doing well. This year for tomatoes we have 1 large brandywine heirloom (from last year's seeds), 5 Beefstake variety and 2 Cherries. Two years in a row our tomatoes have been rather pathetic. I have done a lot of reading, moved their location and chosen different varieties. Hoping for a better outcome this year! I have big dreams of canning my own sauce and diced tomatoes with them. The Bell Peppers are a California Wonder variety. It look a long time for them to grow in the greenhouse, but have tripled in size over the past 2 weeks.
5. BROCCOLI, CABBAGE, BRUSSELS SPROUTS, GARLIC, EDAMAME, BEETS - All in the ground and doing well, but no exciting pictures (yet).
6. GREENHOUSE PLANTS: Currently in the greenhouse we have a lot of hot weather vegetables still waiting to get larger and for the weather to be warmer. Currently sprouted: Cantaloup, Watermelon, Zucchini, Yellow Squash, Spaghetti Squash, Butternut Squash, Eggplant, Hot Peppers, Annual and Perennial Flowers. We also have obtained (thanks to my in-laws), new strawberry plants for the greenhouse gutters. Last year it got too hot in the greenhouse one day and they were "cooked" until they were crispy. Now, we have a window to provide cross ventilation. It seems to be making a difference and the plants are starting to flower.
5. BROCCOLI, CABBAGE, BRUSSELS SPROUTS, GARLIC, EDAMAME, BEETS - All in the ground and doing well, but no exciting pictures (yet).
6. GREENHOUSE PLANTS: Currently in the greenhouse we have a lot of hot weather vegetables still waiting to get larger and for the weather to be warmer. Currently sprouted: Cantaloup, Watermelon, Zucchini, Yellow Squash, Spaghetti Squash, Butternut Squash, Eggplant, Hot Peppers, Annual and Perennial Flowers. We also have obtained (thanks to my in-laws), new strawberry plants for the greenhouse gutters. Last year it got too hot in the greenhouse one day and they were "cooked" until they were crispy. Now, we have a window to provide cross ventilation. It seems to be making a difference and the plants are starting to flower.
Thing are changing and growing so fast around here. That means a lot of work, but a lot of reward too.
Keep checking back for more updates soon!