First harvest

Well, the only casualty from that frost was one basil plant. I had it covered, but it still turned black and died. Other than that, everything else survived.

As of today, the garden is fully planted -- every square is occupied. I transplanted my peppers, squash and cucumbers, as well as direct sowed more carrots, radishes and cilantro. I also planted some cucumber seeds in my pea squares because I read somewhere that by the time the cucs needs the trellis, the peas are finished. I'm experimenting with that this year, since it would maximize the space and trellis usage if it works.

Harvested our first crops today -- 6 radishes and enough lettuce for 3 servings of salad. I forgot how much better homegrown lettuce tastes versus store-bought lettuce.

I'm still trying to figure out what to do about staking my front-row tomatoes as well as my cucs and squash. They want $2.50/ea. for basic wooden garden stakes at the store. And since I'd need about 15, I'm trying to figure out a free or cheap way to stake the remaining plants. I'd build more of my EMT trellises, but the plants in question are pretty close to their northern neighbors, and I was hoping to go with something smaller and simpler to avoid shade issues. I'll keep thinking. Still another couple weeks before anything is large enough to need the trellis.

Leafminers having a field day with my spinach again this year. Tried covering them with cheese cloth, but the birds destroyed that (I guess trying to use it for nest material). I just hope they leave enough alone for use to actually eat some spinach.

Overview:


Lettuce, spinach, carrots, onions, broc, parsley, tomatoes:


Radishes, bell peppers, jalapeno peppers, beets, squash, cauli, carrots, peas, beans:

Frost warning

It's been a couple days of strong winds and tonight we have a frost warning in effect, with overnight lows perhaps around 30 degrees. I ran out to Home Depot this afternoon and got a couple 1/2" PVC and some plastic and rigged up a makeshift cover for my tomatoes. I knew I was putting them out a bit early, but they were really suffering inside so I didn't have much choice. Hopefully my setup will survive.

The leafminers, my early nemesis, has returned. I keep finding their eggs under nearly every spinach leaf. I may have to cover those squares with bug netting or something this year.

Other than that, things are looking good. The carrots and beets have sprouted outside. Started my squash (which has sprouted) and cucumbers inside. My indoor-started cucs all shriveled up and died after transplanting last year, but I'll try again. I can always direct sow if these fail too.

Peas, cauliflower, radishes, beets...


Makeshift frost cover, onions, broccoli, lettuce, spinach...

Beets, turnips, carrots, radishes....

It's too hot and I'm too lazy to take any pics today, but things are progressing nicely in the garden. Direct-sowed some more lettuce, radishes, carrots, turnips, chives and beets, and had my tomatoes and peppers out in the sun this weekend.

The tomatoes are getting really big, really fast. Too fast, in fact. They're beginning to outgrow my light setup. I think I may have to chance it and set them out early this week. There is no frost in the long-range forecast and I'm confident I could get them covered in time if a frost did spring up.

I'm trying some summer squash this year. I initially bought a pack of bush variety, but changed my mind and got a vining type and will try to go vertical with them.