May 27, 2020

Gardening Between Raindrops

I'm guessing most folks will agree that it's been a strange spring. When the trees leafed out early, I thought summer was right around the corner. Not so. We've had a few warm days, but mostly it's been rainy and cool. It was so damp and chilly last week that we started a fire in the woodstove one evening, something we've never done in May before!

As my blog post title suggests, gardening has been sporadic because of the rain. Still, I'm getting things done. Another thing that's strange, is that everything seems slow to germinate and slow to grow. I thought it was just me, but we bought some hay last week and the farmer mentioned how slow-growing everything has been. But slow or not, here's what's happening in my garden.

I still have a few things from my fall and winter garden.

Fava beans and lettuce. This is the first time I've grown favas.
They are a lot of work to prepare, but they are very good to eat.

That's the lettuce I mentioned in my "Ricotta Ranch Dressing" blog post.
Now that I figured out a salad dressing, it's decided to bolt! Oh well, lol.

Multiplier onions ready to harvest.

They are smaller than globe onions, but they do better for me than globes.

A few beets, volunteer potatoes, and horseradish. I thought I dug
all the horseradish root out last fall, but it's come back with vigor!

In the other end of that same bed, volunteer tomato
and a bunch of violets. All volunteers get to stay.

The winter wheat was also planted last fall and is beginning to turn yellow.
We're just hoping we get a string of nice days when it's time to harvest it!

March-planted snow peas are in full bloom. No pea pods yet.
The flowers in the background are collards, radishes, & turnips.

Also blooming, April-planted bush beans. These had severe
insect damage when first sprouting. The survivors look good.

I also planted three hills of watermelon last month. 

And these, Tatume summer squash. The seed was saved from 2013, so I
wasn't sure of viability. I dumped a bunch in two hills and it's growing well!

April-sown cucumbers.

I started tomato seeds early in April as well. I planted saved seed and Matt's Wild Cherry tomato to grow on my front porch trellis. Of that first planting of the Matt's, only one seed grew. I reseeded my little pots with the rest of the seed and transplanted the one.

First Matt's Wild Cherry tomato transplant.The picnic fly
dome is to keep the cats from using this spot as a litter box! 

A couple more from the second planting are sprouting, so I should get three plants from one package of seed.

This month (also in between raindrops) I've planted corn, okra, summer lettuce, borage, Swiss chard, calendula, dill, sweet basil, marigolds, pumpkins, peanuts, amaranth, black turtle beans, and more cucumbers and tomatoes. Dan planted sunflowers and potatoes. Also, I've been transplanting my tomato starts, but my sweet potato slips have been slow to grow. Still to transplant—sweet peppers, cayenne, and tomatoes as the seedlings get big enough. Still to harvest—garlic. Soon, I should have pictures of all that to show you.

How about you? Is the weather letting you garden?

38 comments:

Boud said...

My own gardening is a few pots. But the local farm where I get my vegetables opened with asparagus two weeks late and a very slow harvest. Excellent asp. though. Smaller quantities daily than previous years. So, this is central NJ, I think spring may be slow all over.

daisy g said...

Nothing keeps me out of the garden! Even with the persistent rain, tasks are completed.

Your bolting lettuce allows you the perfect opportunity to save seeds for next year!

Looks like your garden is full of volunteers. Aren't you blessed?!

Enjoy the glorious rain!

Michelle said...

I have some sprouting sweet potatoes (yams). I've never grown any before; can I cut them up and plant them like regular potatoes, or do I need to do more first?

Leigh said...

Boud, that's interesting about the asparagus. Plants must want better conditions to be abundant! Nice to hear you keep a small container garden.

Daisy, this lettuce is certainly a keeper! It's held up really well in cold weather and still hasn't gotten bitter as temps go up. And yes, I am very blessed to have so many volunteers! They always seem to do better, don't they?

Michelle, that's great! I usually pull the sprouts (slips) off and put them in another jar of water. They'll start to grow roots and then they're ready to transplant. :) You can get an almost endless number of slips this way.

Michelle said...

Thanks for the info! Do you think it's too late to start slips for planting later? Our season is relatively short here.

Leigh said...

Michelle, it never hurts to experiment! You may get smaller yams, but something is better than nothing!

Ed said...

We've had a slow start too. Cold and lots of sunless days, both unusual for this time of year. Our salad greens are just a couple inches tall and normally they are starting to bolt this time of year. I'm guessing it might be a bit bitter when it does get tall enough to start harvesting some of it. I've never had that happen before in all my decades.

SmartAlex said...

well at last its stopped snowing here, to answer your question. We're in a brief heat wave now, so everything is finally beginning to grow like gangbusters. I saw a field of hay down yesterday on the way home. So few people around here bale hay anymore, I've forgotten what the timing should be. Also, I haven't seen a field of corn put in yet either despite the good weather and dry ground early on.

Mama Pea said...

Your plants all look good but small for when they were started. Isn't that strange that the growth of gardens and crops seems to be slow in your area this year.

We finally got rain over night last night. Three-quarters of an inch by our rain gauge, and with a sunny day today I think everything -- grass, leaves on trees, things in the garden really popped. Nothing like natural rain . . . unless of course you get too much of it! Why can't it all be evened out??

Toirdhealbheach Beucail said...

Leigh, overall things are going well. The seed onions did nothing for me (I do not know why I still try). The warm weather stuff - beans, sweet potatoes, black eyed peas, pepper - are doing great. We are still having a decent amount of rain, which helps with the water bill - I have not really had to seriously water beyond one or two days to date.

Leigh said...

Ed, I would have thought you were far enough north to be able to grow lettuce for a good part of the summer! The Farmers' Almanac predicts we'll have a cooler and rainier summer than normal. Maybe we should start wondering if the grand solar minimum people are correct.

SmartAlex, snow! That will put a damper on growing. I haven't seen much corn yet, either, come to think of it. Nice to know you've got good haying weather. Here, there haven't been enough nice days in a row.

Mama Pea, I thought everything was small as well. According to the number of days till harvest on the seed packages, we're way behind! So glad to hear you got some rain. 3/4 isn't much, but if the sun doesn't evaporate it right out of the ground, it should serve well. I agree about natural rain!

TB, I'm glad to hear your garden is doing well! Odd about the onions. I've had a couple of things that have been no-shows as well. I'm guessing you don't collect rainwater for the garden? That helps our water bill tremendously.

Cockeyed Jo said...

Our garden is n track, it's me that's late.

Leigh said...

Jo, lol. That sounds very familiar. :)

Yvie said...

Our garden is inching along slowly. We had it planted on a beautiful day, and the following week it decided to deluge us with rain and drop down into the 20s and 30s again. So we replanted.....now it's a bit of a waiting game.

wyomingheart said...

Morning Leigh! Just came in from working in the garden, and for the most part, things look decent. The sugar snaps are up about a foot, and the beans are up about a foot in a half. My entire row of celeriac, spinach, and yellow crooked neck squash are no shows, which were planted the same time as the beans and peas. The row of zucchini is only up about four leaves on each plant, so that has been slow too. We have had way more showers than we had last year at this time, but not downpours. It has allowed the plants better growth than using our hose water, which is treated. I was wondering if that tropical storm had any effect on your area, as it seemed to have a lot of rain. On a side note, we planted two rows of corn from a survival seed set, and three and a half weeks later, we got no sign of anything. Sure would be a shame if we were in need of good seed and relying on that! No worries, I replanted with peaches and cream! Have an awesome week!

Sam I Am...... said...

So glad to hear I am not alone. I noticed my tomato seedlings have been very slow to grow although my cherry tomato plants are big already. Very strange. Yes, I put the wood outside and I could have had several more fires in the house as it has been the coolest Spring I remember. Your garden looks great. I had squash bugs last year like crazy so not sure if I'll try that again....I find so many critters here that I never had up north...I have no idea why but it's a real battle here. The wheat looks awesome and your plant variety is fantastic! Enjoy the fruits of your labors!

Leigh said...

Yvie, I'm sorry to hear that! Spring planting is always such a risk. Hopefully, your second plantings will do well!

Wyomingheart, I'm so sorry to hear about your no-shows, but I have to admit that I'm a little relieved that I'm not the only one that's been happening to. Not that I want it to happen to any of us! Gardening seems to have become more challenging these days. And yes, we've had way too much rain. I think that's why Dan's potatoes haven't come up. I suspect they've rotted in the ground. :(

Sam, welcome to the club! I'm glad not to be alone in this either. And it isn't over yet!!!

Renee Nefe said...

My garden is doing pretty well...at least the plants that I bought and some of the kitchen seeds (seeds from veggies that I bought). I planted some seeds the other day...no sprouts yet. I am about to go and check on them again. There is some volunteer lettuce (is that even a thing?) that I am going to get some leaves off for my lunch today.
No hail yet, so that's always good. :D

Nancy In Boise said...

We had the rain in the cold too! it went from warm to cold to warm to cold. we had record rain last week over an inch in 1 day. it's finally warmed up into the mid-80s and upper 90s the next 3 days and a little bit cooler back to the 70s. we finished planning our vegetable garden on Memorial day so hopefully now we're just going to sit back and enjoy the show! You Garden always looks fabulous

Leigh said...

Renee, nice to hear no hail yet! Nice to hear about your volunteer lettuce too. Hopefully, the rest of your garden will thrive. I'll be interested in how your kitchen seeds do.

Nancy, thanks! We're still in rain so it's been hard to get back out there to do anything. I hope your summer garden show is glorious!

Toirdhealbheach Beucail said...

Leigh, I had to scrap my collection system (plastic trash can, collapsed under the weight) and have to reconfigure.

Leigh said...

TB, oh no! Well, at least there's been plenty of rain so you don't have to pay for it. Hopefully, you'll get something worked out before then.

tpals said...

It may have started slow, but your garden is looking very good to me. What a variety you have! I need to water today as the forecast rain went south.

Leigh said...

Tpals, you need to water! Seems so strange that some of us are having too much and some not enough. I'm hoping to finish my planting as soon as the mud abates. :)

Rain said...

Hi Leigh :) It's been cold at night here too, but we've been blessed with sunny days. I'm hoping to get a few seeds in this season but haven't found the time yet, I need to get on it! You've done so much and that wheat field looks great!!!

Henny Penny said...

You're right about the strange weather. Dan said this was the worst turkey season ever. It was warm back in February, but then cold, windy, and damp during turkey season and spring. Your vegetables are so pretty. I would love to grow lettuce but never have any luck with it.

Leigh said...

Rain, that would be great if you could, considering your recent move. Are your growing conditions going to be very different it NB?

Henny, I'm sorry to hear that about your lettuce! It's interesting that plants truly have their preferences, but they do.

Debby Riddle said...

We've had an early spring which we usually don't welcome because we really need rain throughout our short wet season, but it's still coming despite some crazy weather in the upper 90's! what's a plant to think?
I love Fava beans. They've become a seasonal treat. I like to use them in a ravioli filling. I used beans from the bulk bin at my co-op, not a good plan..very poor germination. Live and learn.
Debby

Leigh said...

Debby, what a great idea for the favas. Interesting that you used bulk beans for seed. Not a bad idea, really, even if you get less. At least you get some!

Rain said...

The growing conditions are a wee bit better it seems (for now), we have lots of sunny days. I think the growing season is probably about the same, but where we were before it was terribly humid and everything got moldy and rotten. The front of the house gets sun all day long. I'm thinking of raised beds in the front because there is so much room there. But...the soil is horrid. It's all rocky and gravelly...so I'm looking into getting bulk soil/compost delivered because I can't dig here. It's very cheap to buy it that way but because we're so far they all want to charge $100 for transport, eek. I'm hoping to find a cheaper option!!

Madness, Trouble, Squish and Milkbone said...

Yes, here in Georgia it’s also been a cool and wet Spring. What variety of watermelon are you growing?

Leigh said...

Cecilia, I planted Golden Glo watermelons from last year's saved seed. They did well and were really tasty!

Faith said...

Your garden looks wonderful. How do you know when to pull the onions? I experimented in the wee garden, they are growing. Is it harvested like garlic? Are their tell tales signs when to pull?

Leigh said...

Faith, I harvest them when the tops start turning brown. They tend to go dormant here in summer, so the ones I miss grow again in the fall. The best part is that if you save some to plant the following fall, you never have to buy buy onion sets again. :)

Katy said...

Leigh, I just want to comment on this even though it's an older post. I have been thinking for the last couple of months that this is the weirdest year I can remember -- everything is at least one month behind where it normally would be. I'm in SC (zone 8b) and normally lilies and dahlias blow up in early May and then they are done. I'm just NOW getting those flowers in abundance. But my cantaloupe vines are already ripening large fruit, so I know that it's not that summer is late... it's just that it's a LOT milder than usual.

Leigh said...

Katy, thanks for sharing. The cooler weather certainly does seem to make a difference, doesn't it?! Our sorghum-sudangrass usually comes up within a couple of days, but this year it's taken over a month! Very strange.

Chris said...

I wonder if the slow starts have something to do with the grand solar minimum? In winter, my plants in raised pots are still producing herbs and even some tomatoes. I'm just waiting for them to ripen, which seems to be taking ages. Winter in Australia, is more like spring in the Northern Hemisphere. Low pest load, plants grow well and no disease! But run the risk of frosts. Doesn't happen often, but it can happen. Nice to see how your garden is growing, Leigh.

Leigh said...

Chris, I've wondered the same thing about the grand solar minimum, especially after reading what others have to say about their gardens. We had a long cool spring, but our temps are finally getting hot, so the garden has finally taken off.