Tuesday, March 23, 2010

I have been dreaming up some fun garden designs..

If you had to choose: "what would your favorite veggies from the garden be?"

Mine would be:

Beans

Beans

  • Sow seeds 1″ deep directly in garden after all danger of frost.
  • Spacing: four plants per sq. ft. for bush beans, six to eight plants per sq. ft. for pole beans
  • Plant second crop of bush beans (if needed) two weeks after first planting
  • Days to harvest: 50-80 days from seed, depending on variety. Not frost-hardy.
  • Hint: Add a legume inoculant when planting to increase vigor and yield.


Carrots

Carrots

  • Sow seeds in garden 1/4″ deep three weeks before last spring frost.
  • Spacing: Plant 30 seeds per sq. ft.; thin to 16 plants per sq. ft.
  • Replant six to eight weeks before fall frost for late crop.
  • Days to harvest: 55 to 70 days from seed. Frost-hardy.
  • Hint: Before planting, loosen soil to 12″; remove stones and add compost.


Brussels

Brussels Sprouts

  • Start seedlings 1/4″ deep indoors six weeks before last spring frost.
  • Transplant into garden soon after the last spring frost.
  • Spacing: one per sq. ft. Plant early season crops nearby to give Brussels sprouts more space later in season.
  • Very frost-hardy. Harvest after frost for best flavor.
  • Days to harvest: 90 to 110.
  • Hint: Cut off growing tip of plants a month before fall frost to get bigger sprouts.


Rosemary

Rosemary

  • Germination is poor and seeds must be very fresh, so buying potted plants is recommended. Plant outdoors only after all danger of frost. Grow in garden or in pot. Tender perennial.
  • Spacing: one plant per sq. ft.
  • Days to harvest: Leaves from first year plants can be picked sparingly by midsummer.
  • Hint: Do not allow rosemary to dry out completely. In cold climates, bring plant indoors and grow in sunny window during winter.
Learn more about Rosemary in our vegetable encyclopedia

Chives

Chives

  • Purchase a pot of chives or get a clump from a neighbor. Plant in garden anytime. Hardy perennial.
  • Spacing: one plant per sq. ft.
  • Days to harvest: Leaves can be harvested from early spring on – as soon as they are 6″ tall. Cutting promotes regrowth. Use flowers in salads.
  • Hint: Divide and pot up some chives in fall and bring indoors to grow on a sunny windowsill all winter.


Cilantro

Cilantro

  • Sow seeds directly in the garden around last frost date. Plant 1/4″ to 1/2″ deep. Cilantro goes to seed quickly, so plant more seeds every three weeks to ensure a constant supply.
  • Spacing: Sow 18 seeds per sq. ft.; thin to nine plants per sq. ft.
  • Days to harvest: 50 days for leaves, 90 days for seed harvest.
  • Hint: Do not fertilize. Harvest individual stems or cut back entire plant with scissors, leaving 1″ at base to regrow.


Arugula

Arugula

  • Sow seeds directly in garden, 1″ apart and 1/4″ deep, starting four weeks before last frost.
  • Spacing: Broadcast seed then thin to 16 per sq. ft.
  • Plant a new crop every two to three weeks until midsummer; sow again in late summer for fall harvest.
  • Days to harvest: 30 days to full-size leaves; small leaves are ready in 21 days. frost-hardy.
  • Hint: Fall crops are less bothered by flea beetles; cover spring crops with fabric to minimize damage


Beets

Beets

  • Sow seeds 1/2″ deep directly in garden five to six weeks before last frost.
  • Spacing: Plant seeds 18 per sq. ft., thin to nine plants
  • Plant more in midsummer for a fall harvest
  • Days to harvest: 45 to 60. Frost-hardy.
  • Hint: The longer you wait to harvest, the bigger the beets. Tops and thinnings are flavorful.


Bok

Bok Choi

  • Sow seeds indoors a month before the last frost.
  • Transplant into garden once nights stay above 50 degrees F. Cold will cause bolting.
  • Sow a fall crop in late summer, 10 to 12 weeks before first fall frost date.
  • Spacing: One plant per sq. ft. for full-size bok choi; two per sq. ft. for pak choi.
  • Days to harvest: 40 to 50 days, depending on variety.
  • Hint: Harvest 1″ above soil level with a sharp knife, then fertilize with liquid fish emulsion to stimulate regrowth.


Radishes

Radishes

  • Plant 1/2″ deep directly in garden four weeks before last frost or after soil reaches 45 degrees F.
  • Plant successive crops anywhere there is unused space in the garden.
  • Spacing: 16 plants per sq. ft.
  • Days to harvest: 21 to 28. Frost-hardy.
  • Hint: Harvest as soon as possible. Roots get woody when large.

Parsnips

Parsnips

  • Sow seeds directly in the garden in early spring. Plant 1/2″ deep.
  • Spacing: Sow 18 seeds per sq. ft.; thin to nine per sq. ft.
  • Days to harvest: 110 to 120 days; harvest in fall or leave in ground over winter and harvest early spring.
  • Hint: Wash hands after contact with leaf sap; it sometimes causes skin reaction.


Cucumbers

Cucumbers

  • Plant seeds indoors 1/2″ deep three weeks before last frost, or seed in garden after frost.
  • Transplant into garden after frost and when soil is 65 to 70 degrees F.
  • Spacing one per sq. ft. for bush type; two per sq. ft. for vining type.
  • Extend harvest with a second crop, planted two weeks later.
  • Days to harvest: 50 to 60 days after transplanting. Not frost-hardy.
  • Hint: Use row covers until flowering to keep off insects.


Basil

Basil

  • Plant seeds 1/4″ deep indoors six weeks before last frost; outdoors two weeks after last frost.
  • Transplant seedlings two to three weeks after last frost or when soil reaches 70 degrees F.
  • Replant if you have space and want more.
  • Spacing: two plants per sq. ft.
  • Days to harvest: 40-55 days from transplant. Harvest leaves as desired. Not frost-hardy.
  • Hint: Pinch stems early and often to stimulate branching and bushy growth.
Learn more about Basil in our vegetable encyclopedia

Hot

Hot peppers

  • Sow seeds indoors 12 to 14 weeks before last frost; warm soil improves germination.
  • Transplant when soil is at least 60 degrees F. and nights stay above 50.
  • Spacing: one plant per sq. ft.
  • Days to harvest: 50 to 90 days, depending on variety. Red color and full heat requires additional two to three weeks of ripening.
  • Hint: Dark stones around plants increases heat; use garden fabric (row covers) until flowering; water sparingly.


Tomatoes

Tomatoes

  • Plant seeds 1/4″ deep indoors, six to eight weeks before last frost
  • Transplant into garden one to two weeks after last frost or when soil reaches 65 degrees F.
  • Spacing: one plant per sq. ft. Grow early season crops nearby to allow more room later.
  • Days to harvest: 55 to 100 days from transplanting, depending on variety. Not frost-hardy
  • Hint: Remove lower leaves before planting and bury extra stem.


Oregano

Oregano

  • Purchase potted plant as seed-grown plants may not have good flavor. Hardy perennial.
  • Spacing: one plant per sq. ft.
  • Days to harvest: Leaves from first-year plants can be picked sparingly by midsummer.
  • Hint: Plants with white flowers have best-tasting leaves. Cull plants that revert to pink flowers.


Parsley

Parsley

  • Start seeds 1/4″ deep indoors 10 to 12 weeks before last frost.
  • Transplant seedlings into garden up to a month before last frost.
  • Spacing: two plants per sq. ft.
  • Edible all summer and into winter.
  • Biennial: plants will go to seed second year.
  • Days to harvest: 75. Begin harvesting foliage at any time. Very frost-hardy.
  • Hint: Parsley takes up to 21 days to germinate. Treat seeds with hot water before planting.


Kale

Kale

  • Sow seeds 1/2″ deep indoors eight weeks before last frost or in garden six weeks before last frost.
  • Transplant seedlings into garden up to six weeks before last frost. Very frost-hardy.
  • Spacing: two plants per sq. ft. Can be planted midsummer wherever early crops are removed.
  • Kale continues to grow and produce leaves until late fall.
  • Days to harvest: 60 days. Very frost-hardy.
  • Hint: Kale can be grown in part shade. It needs plenty of moisture, so mulch well.




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