What's Growing in the Garden

[Mike Hill]

Here in Middle Tennershoe - in locations not up on the Plateau - over the winter we get maybe a literal handful of "snows". Now our definition of snow will make many of you here on WB guffaw - but it is what it is. And then Spring shows up and then we get three PINK snows. First is when all the tulip magnolia blooms drop at one time. Second is now - when the flowering cherries drop their blooms. The third is coming up in a few weeks - when all the kwanzan flowering cherries drop their fluffy powderpuff blooms. That is the most spectacular. I'm just glad I live in a neighborhood that the spring snows are pink and not YELLOW!!!

This is a pic of the second pink snow behind out building.

 

[JerseyHighlander]

Here in Middle Tennershoe - in locations not up on the Plateau - over the winter we get maybe a literal handful of "snows". Now our definition of snow will make many of you here on WB guffaw - but it is what it is. And then Spring shows up and then we get three PINK snows. First is when all the tulip magnolia blooms drop at one time. Second is now - when the flowering cherries drop their blooms. The third is coming up in a few weeks - when all the kwanzan flowering cherries drop their fluffy powderpuff blooms. That is the most spectacular. I'm just glad I live in a neighborhood that the spring snows are pink and not YELLOW!!!

This is a pic of the second pink snow behind out building.

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You're having pink snow... we're still keeping a fire in the woodstove around the clock. The forest has that misty green look, like it's just waiting for somebody to say "Go!", but the weather keeps saying "keep your pants on".

I'm getting some cold weather veggy seeds in the ground. Hope you guys are prepping for empty supermarket shelves...

 

[trc65]

Not growing in the garden, but shivering in the cold frame waiting for warmer temps.

 

[Sprung]

I was going to start cleaning up the beds today, but then it started snowing. Yup, didn't happen today. We've got our seeds started in the basement, and I have a few more to get started. But it'll be a bit yet before planting happens.

 

[trc65]

We've only been in the 40's for the last couple weeks, and have had 6.5" rain in the last three weeks. Won't be any potatoes planted on Good Friday this year.

Been cleaning up landscaping beds, but haven't touched the garden yet. On the plus side the garlic is about 6" tall and the spinach planted last fall is greening up. Rhubarb is up, but no sign of any asparagus yet.

 

[Sprung]

We've had a pretty good amount of rain lately, but I'm not sure exactly how much.

Your mentioning garlic brings to mind a question. Is there any chance of success with garlic if I spring plant it? We still have a few bulb that were given to us in the fall. I didn't get to plant them because, when I had planned to plant them was when we were sick with covid. By the time I was well enough to even think about planting it, the beds were already frozen. I've read a little bit about spring planting garlic, but not enough to really know when or if it would be viable.

So, do I give it a try? Or realize that it's probably too late and just get some bulbs and make sure I plant in the fall?

 

[trc65]

I'd give it a go especially with your raised beds that will heat up more quickly. If the beds are thawed, plant them right away. They will grow at temps just barely above freezing. You'll get production, just not quite as large bulbs.

Don't know what you do for fertility, but the garlic likes a shot of readily available nitrogen at about emergence (40 #N/acre) and the same again about a month later. I use urea, but even a healthy dose of miracle grow (or other water dissolvable fert.) will work.

 

[trc65]

Here's a nice blossom, these are still living in the basement for now.

 

[Alan R McDaniel Jr]

It's been raining here every day....been kinda spotty though. Only rains anywhere I put the water hose.... We've had 3" of rain for the year.

Alan

 

[Sprung]

I'd give it a go especially with your raised beds that will heat up more quickly. If the beds are thawed, plant them right away. They will grow at temps just barely above freezing. You'll get production, just not quite as large bulbs.

Don't know what you do for fertility, but the garlic likes a shot of readily available nitrogen at about emergence (40 #N/acre) and the same again about a month later. I use urea, but even a healthy dose of miracle grow (or other water dissolvable fert.) will work.

Thanks, Tim - I'll give it a go and see what happens. Good to know about the nitrogen. This is only our third year gardening, so still so much to learn.

 

[djg]

We've only been in the 40's for the last couple weeks, and have had 6.5" rain in the last three weeks. Won't be any potatoes planted on Good Friday this year.

Been cleaning up landscaping beds, but haven't touched the garden yet. On the plus side the garlic is about 6" tall and the spinach planted last fall is greening up. Rhubarb is up, but no sign of any asparagus yet.

I missed a chance to till the garden before all the rain you mentioned. I thought I'd be too late to plant the potatoes as you suggested earlier. It will probably be Tuesday. You can plant (seeds) in the Fall and they survive over the Winter?

 

[2feathers Creative Making]

Thanks, Tim - I'll give it a go and see what happens. Good to know about the nitrogen. This is only our third year gardening, so still so much to learn.

Late snows give nitrogen to us for free. We are getting our free nitrogen this weekend.

 

[trc65]

I missed a chance to till the garden before all the rain you mentioned. I thought I'd be too late to plant the potatoes as you suggested earlier. It will probably be Tuesday. You can plant (seeds) in the Fall and they survive over the Winter?

Not the seeds, the spinach plants themselves will over winter. I seed them before it gets too cold in the fall, and as long as the plants get good growth before the ground freezes many will survive winter and give us fresh spinach before we can even till the ground.

 

[Wildthings]

@Mike Hill
My hydroponic setup is up and growing. cukes on the right planted 5 days ago. Zucchini on the left planted yesterday

 

[Mike Hill]

Rub it it. I was able to find a few barrels if I wanted them for free. But then I looked around to see if I have anyplace to put them, but I have less sunny places than I did a few years ago. - Guess trees keep growing!

 

[Mike Hill]

Oh, the JOY!

Been waiting 3 years for this! Not as long as for a Davidia involucrata tree to bloom (5 years down - 2 more years to wait)
Tree Peony

 

[Mike Hill]

I love me some Spring!

White Feathers Hosta with a little American Ginger intermingled


Celandine Poppy


Variegated Solomon Seal



Trillium just unfurled


Fig with breba figs

 

[Mike Hill]

You might get a prize (not promising) if someone can guess this one.

 

[2feathers Creative Making]

maybe I should give it a few. Neighbors are more likely to know what is growing next door so to speak.

 

[Mike Hill]

When my daughter got to toddler stage, I built her a playhouse. And because she loved anything pink, I planted her a pink dogwood next to the playhouse. It is one of my favorite flowers in the yard. It is very photogenic.