Almost Time To Plant
Posted at 5:20 AM on May 6, 2009
by Dale Connelly
(33 Comments)
Radio Heartland has tickets to give away, to a concert at the Cedar Cultural Center with Roma di Luna and Pieta Brown on Friday, May 15th. Entries close at 1 pm today!
Remember our bold, optimistic promises about the gardens we would plant when winter finally cleared out and the soil was ready? The time is at hand!
How do I know? I don't.
But I read part of a University of Minnesota extension bulletin that said "Wait until danger of frost is past (mid-to-late May) before transplanting tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, and similar "warm season" crops." Mid-May is a week from Friday. So if I was the sort of person who did things in a timely manner, I would have everything I need already underway and the soil preparations would be complete. Ha!
The same bulletin says "cool season crops can be sewn early." "Crops such as lettuce, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and onions (can be sewn) immediately after preparing your garden plot." That suggests these things should be in the ground already. Unless you're like me. I usually prepare my garden plot on Memorial Day, and then only if there's nothing on television.
Is that too late to plant the cabbage?
This earnest and informative bulletin goes on to describe a lot of other busy, careful tasks, like "stretching a string tightly across the area where you want a furrow."
Straight lines seem to be important to serious gardeners, but that sounds like actual work - much too hard.
Maybe I'll drive the SUV down to Culver's for some ice cream instead.
But don't get the wrong idea. My garden is well along.
Here's a photo.
This is how it looks in my mind, anyway. Lush and green and growing great!
I built the mountains by hand and filled the fjord with a garden hose.
How about yours?
In case you're wondering, here are the planting commitments that were made lo those many weeks ago!
Amy in St. Paul - Asparagus, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, green beans, tomatoes, sunflowers.Barb in Blackhoof - Potatoes, onions, sweet dumpling squash, two kinds of carrots, two kinds of cukes, Swiss chard, tomatoes, gourds, apples, raspberries, blueberries, asparagus, collards, kale, weeds.
Barbara in Robbinsdale - Arugula, pears.
Bob in Anoka - Tomatoes (seeking the "perfect" tomato).
Cynthia in Mahtowa - Apples, asparagus, grapes, tomtoes, bees.
Don in West St. Paul - Lettuce, broccoli, cabbage Peppers eggplants carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, garlic chives.
Elinor - Tomatoes, sweet peas, rosemary.
Gail in Wisconsin - Tomatoes, lettuce and greens, spinach, cukes, beets, green beans, peas, squash, raspberries.
Jim - Shallots.
Joanne in Big Lake - Tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplants, lettuces, beans.
Julie - Onions, tomatoes, leaf lettuce, raspberries, asparagus.
Kate - Garlic, lettuce, peppers, popcorn, basil, chives, mint, dill, cilantro, parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme.
Kathy - Salsa Garden, chickens.
Kathy in Wisconsin - Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash, radishes, onions, lettuce, peas, beans, beets, cabbage, strawberries, blueberries, currants, pear and plum trees.
Marianne - Kohlrabi, Nankin cherries, chokecherries.
Mark - Tomatoes, carrots, lettuce, cilantro.
Michele - A few pots of flowers.
Mike from Mississippi - Zucchini.
MN in Mpls - Garlic chives, lemongrass, alpine strawberry.
Sherrilee - Impatiens, begonias, thunbergia, purple allysum, fuschia, pansies, nasturiums, rosemary, basil, chives, cilantro.
How is everybody doing?
Comments (33)
Morning. Lettuce, chard, spinach, pole beans and peas go into the side garden this weekend - they're all currently outgrowing their egg carton on the dining room windowsill. Three kinds of tomatoes, three kinds of peppers, basil, cilantro, rosemary and chives are in their starter pots in the garage - they will move in and out of the garage until later in May. All the flowers, many in baskets, are also living in the garage for another week or so.
I'd like to say thank you to this group, whose gardening talk earlier in the year encouraged me to get back to container gardening (big dogs make garden beds too risky). My daughter and I are excited about the summer and it's all thanks to you guys. You are the BEST!
Oh, Dale, you are a taskmaster. Your garden is so incredibly beautiful, I'll never be able to match it.
Did you make those mountains out of molehills?
Here's my report:
(Keeping in mind that I am at least two weeks behind the Twin Cities weather-wise)
Bees are due to arrive this weekend. Hives are ready to receive them, but I don't have back-up frames ready for major honey gathering season yet.
Asparagus isn't up yet. Nor are the jerusalem artichokes (sunchokes). Rhubarb is barely up.
Grapes have been checked and seem to have survived the winter. ,
Apple tree is alive, leaves still in bud. Crabapple tree produces annually, but the big apple tree is bi-annual and this should be an on-year. For the bees' sake, I hope there are flower buds also ready to burst open.
Tomtoes...well, I buy plants rather than start them. It's too early to put them out.
The herbs I wintered are out on the screen porch. This is the first week the nights have been above 32.
Goats are due to arrive sometime after Mother's Day...then cheese production begins.
Dale, I don't think that is a picture of your garden. Don't worry if you haven't done much planting or is it no planting? There is plenty of time to plant lots of things in a garden or maybe a few things in your case.
I do have my shallots planted. Actually I planted them last fall. Maybe you could plant some shallots. If you start getting ready now you should be able to get them in by fall.
Dale,
If cool weather crops should be sewn now, what size needle and thread should we use?
Nothing planted but strategy of hitting the Farmers' Market is well thought out. I figure since I'll never be able to grow the yummy Vietnamese egg rolls sold at the St PAul Market I should count on them for my lettuce, tomatoes, and kohlrabi too.
Happy planting organized and ambitious Heartlanders!
Mornin' Heartlanders -
I like the detour to Culver's, Dale, (turtle sundae, yes!) but need to get going on the veggies. The raspberries and rhubarb are coming up, but I need to get the raised bed filled with compost and soil. Got all my seeds and I've been reading their planting instructions. Will be going to the nurseries to find some low-acid tomato plants. Any recommendations, anyone?
Jim, I'm also thinking shallots. But first will try to meet my commitments to the RH community and myself. I've got the "ingredients", just need to put them all together. Thanks for the gentle push in that direction, Dale!
Good Morning RH,
The week after next, (school will be out!) I'll pot some annuals, a couple tomatoes, and replace the perennials that were lost to winter or rabbits. Heartlanders, please share your methods for bunny proofing your plants!
Would you please play something lively by Pert Near Sandstone to approach hump day with?
"Oh Brother, Where Art Thou" is hard to beat!
Tomatoes are all ready to go! Rosemary is cheating, since planting really means just buying a big shrub. I used to overwinter the rosemary but didn't have much luck with that the past couple of years. I better get moving on the sweet peas, since they seem to favor cool weather. These are modest goals I can meet! If only the rest of life's goals were so easy to achieve.
I have an unusual music request this morning... Earth, Wind, and Fire's cover of the Beatles' "Got To Get You into My Life". Thanks in advance should you be able to find a place for it.
Happy gardening, all!
Morning All,
Due to renting an apartment, I have resolved to just plant a couple of pepper plants and maybe a tomato plant or two in hanging pots. Neighbors, animals, and landlords are not too happy when it comes to gardens. I have never tried planting zucchini in a pot. Might be able to sneek it into a corner of the yard?
Anyways, lets all shine up our green thumbs and get to work. Just think, if everyone planted a few plants the oxygen created would save the world.
Dale and Mike, you played one of my favorite Dave Brubeck songs! One of the best concerts I ever went to was to the Dave Brubeck Quartet back in '75 or '76 at SIU-Carbondale. Absolutely wonderful and memorable. Great music lives on and on.
Off topic:
Yesterday at the end of the day we had a rain storm in our office...please play Johnny Cash's song about the water rising...hoping drying machines did their job over night. If it isn't I get a day off to work in the garden...
Oh! Thanks! I love that cover of the Beatles song!
My weeds and violets are already going great guns. Might buy some annuals to plant with Daughter - but that might be actual work...so maybe Daughter and I will just take a page from Dale and go for ice cream or frozen custard instead.
Greetings Heartlanders! Well, the garden is all set in the back of my mind, but in reality it's still an overgrown weed patch from last year's failed attempt.
Heirloom tomatoes should be coming in mail soon and then I'll start in earnest. Need to get my husband to till the garden first and get my Earth Boxes ready.
Yikes, I always forget how much work this involves. Culvers here I come!
Ah yes the garden; probably my favorite topic……I only wish I had more time to spend in it!
The lettuce went in on Sunday and 66 out of 80 tomatoes made it into larger pots. I have room for 27 plants 3 of each variety I planted. Beyond that whatever survives will be given away to neighbors and co-workers with gardens.
Gail, I bet I’ll have a few I could share with you if you like. But Gertens is one of my favorite garden centers if you’re looking for a good selection.
55 garlic plants are going strong.
I’m sorry I missed the Garden Song, I’ll look forward to hearing it in the re-broadcast.
Dale, since many of us are weekend gardeners I was going to ask to hear the Garden Song on Friday’s during the summer to get us going. What do you think?
Good Morning!
Radio Heartland is now a reminder service, how much more value can we possibly expect? I've just been sitting around drinking coffee but will be building the square foot garden box today or tomorrow with soil arriving over the weekend.
Dale, MPR must be treating you right if you afjord such a nice plot of land!
Have a Wonderful Wednesday everyone!
Isn't there a poem and song about "The Lady of Shallot"? :)
Well, the raised vegie bed is built but lacking dirt. We do own seeds. We may miss the cool crop season I think, but are enjoying Asparagus from the St. Paul Farmer's Market! Should pick up some spincach on Saturday...
True, Mark. I can't complain about the way I've been treated. But I've worked that land quite a bit.
Those distant mountains weren't purple when I started, they were gray. And dredging the inlet was arduous, believe me. That's why I didn't get around to planting asparagus!
All this talk about growing and planting just reminds me of my birthday today, which is a depressing thing. I hope I am a flower and not a weed. As far as a Birthday request, I would like to hear Blowing In the Wind, the Stevie Wonder version. Thank you,
Aaron
I didn't get in on the earlier list, but my daughter and I have a small garden. Last year we grew some tomatoes and a few carrots. This year, she's gotten some seeds started - lettuce has been added.
Also purchased a cool armillary/sundial plant stand for the backyard last Sunday.
Ah, yes, the garden. Hmmm, well! The pear tree is blossoming nicely, and the rhubarb has a nice start. We'll hopefully get the arugula in this week! There are a lot of little egg cartons on the back porch, and I THINK arugula is one of them. :) The good news is there are 2 tiny spears of asparagus, our first year.
Happy Gardening, Heartlanders, and I'll say Happy Mothers Day now as I'll be out of town end of week.
Thanks, Dale, for the "water rising" tunes. Just talked to manager and the drying machines are busy at work but far from finished so I get a day to play...oh, garden and other such work.
Have a good day y'all!
The only effective way I have found to keep the bunnies from demolishing my parsley is to grow it in a pot on the deck. However, that does not protect it from all wildlife. Just about every year I find one or more fat swallowtail caterpillars denuding the stems. So I plant more than I need because the butterflies are beautiful.
Yay! More Jeremy Messersmith! Thanks! I always think of my brother when I hear this song now (he's moved to the suberbs after living in St. Paul for years, haha).
I wish I could plant a garden. I live on the third floor of an apartment building...kind of hard to have a garden, haha. I am hoping to plant a pot of herbs (parsley, rosemary, etc.) as long as my neighbors and landlady don't mind :)
happy birthday, aaron-----not to worry, it's just another day! do something fun, throw caution to the wind, do something that makes you happy :-)
i've planted some pansies--very pretty, and watching the hostas unfurl, and the strawberries bloom....that's about it!
okay, adopting an intentional optimism for the day, despite provocations at work lately that drive me the other way--maybe i'll go get a tomato or two this weekend for container garden---other than that, it's flowers for me--pretty yellows, blues, whites and purples this year.
love the garden, dale---love ice cream more....
I've mostly met my committments. The chives (regular and garlic) are coming up in places I never expected to see them, but as they're always the first things you can harvest every year, they are welcome to do whatever they want. Carrots aren't in yet, and the cabbage is kinda marginal. But otherwise ...
I transplanted my tomatoes into bigger pots two days ago--42 varieties, a new personal record. Yes, this is insane, and no, I don't know what I'm going to do with them all. Maybe a competitive taste-off sometime around the end of August.
And I'm reluctantly coming to the conclusion that my blackberries didn't make it through the winter.
I've been waiting for the elementary school - garden center plant fundraiser to finish so I can get the gift card I bought. They just arrived today, so we'll go out soon to buy tomato plants and seeds and such.
Some asparagus is up (still no bumper crop there!) strawberry plants are green and starting to blossom (need to weed them!), took the old canes out of the raspberry patch over the weekend and I think we'll need to buy new blueberry plants. They don't seem to have survived the winter. And the cherry tree is blossoming nicely, so we should get enough for at least 2 tarts this year if we beat the birds to it! Last year we only got one! Enjoy the weather Heartlanders!
Can I cheat and talk about real farming vs. gardening? I can't grow a garden or keep an indoor plant alive for more than a few months*... but I do farm corn, soybeans, hay and oats.
Oats is planted and growing. Working on corn- soybeans will follow in another week or so.
Ben
*Well, I do OK with Sweet Corn; at least what I get before the raccoons and deer!
Dale, your fjord is a magnificent blue.
As for the denizens of my apartment windowbox:
Unlike me, the alpine strawberry doesn't like the warm weather much... berry yield has slowed. I did get 13 jellybean-sized berries in one picking in March.
The garlic chives are standing upright now instead of straggling over their neighbour! There is the hint of a chive flower... uh oh.
Had to get a new baby basil, the old one got enormous but is now just twiggy and leaflessly miserable-looking.
The lemongrass is full of bitey leaves, the stalks are getting thick around enough to use... maybe some stuffed roast chicken is in order.
Mill City Farmers Market opens this Saturday - hurray!
Glad to have such a variety of kinds of gardeners in our midst, even a real live farmer! Welcome, Ben!
Where is Barb in Blackhoof today? I miss her...
Thanks for the replay of the Duos concert this afternoon. Very nice!
I listen all day at work, and while I love this format, lately I find myself wondering if JASPER needs to expand its horizons. Case in point: "The Babysitter's Here" is a lovely song when one hears it occasionally, but it can get cloying after repeated playing several afternoons in a row. That's only one example - there are others. Maybe I'm just listening too much, but I seem to be developing a case of "deja entendu".
Thanks for the helpful critique, Joel.
We'll look at how Jasper is treating "The Babysitter's Here".
Could be he's in love.
- Become a Member
- Member Connect Accounts
- Leadership Circle
- Sustaining Members
- Member Discounts
- Become a Sponsor
- Tax Information
- Planned Giving
- Vehicle Donation
- Donate Stock
