2021 Garden plans

This topic has 167 replies, 10 voices, and was last updated 3 years ago by Mike Nolan.

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March 10, 2021 at 5:57 pm #28980
Mike Nolan
Keymaster
Now that the beds are cleared out, we can start thinking about our garden plans for 2021. I'm still deciding what plants I want to try to start indoors. (I won't use the Aerogarden for that but I do have grow lights that should work well enough again this year.)

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March 10, 2021 at 6:26 pm #28981
chocomouse
Participant
I've bought my seeds, but I don't start any plants inside except herbs; I buy from local nurseries. My gardens, in the ground and raised planters on the deck, will be about the same as last year. I am, however, hoping to learn from some of my first-year-on-the-deck mistakes. We're still eating lettuces and spinach from under the grow lights, but the aerogarden is done 'til next fall.
March 10, 2021 at 7:05 pm #28984
BakerAunt
Participant
My husband has some spinach growing in a planter on the enclosed porch. He worked out that if he opens one window, and puts a frame he made over it with clear sheet plastic, he can get light and heat on it for a few hours when the sun is shining. He also started pepper plants this winter. Those will be transplanted to the garden. We have figured out that bell peppers do not have enough time to grow here if started from seed in the ground.

He also has some green onions, and we've cut some of the green part off and let it grow back.

He will be thinking of starting some tomato plants soon.
March 10, 2021 at 7:33 pm #28985
Mike Nolan
Keymaster
I'm still deciding about tomato plants, but need to get them started some time this month.
March 11, 2021 at 9:25 am #28986
Mike Nolan
Keymaster
I'm not sure how much longer we'll be getting lettuce from our Aerogarden, but I'm leaning towards starting more lettuce plants once the current plants stop producing. Even with the Aerogarden in a south-facing window, it is still more temperate inside in summer than in the yard.

I've got some cherry tomato pods that came with it, but we don't eat a lot of cherry tomatoes, and I think I'd rather grow lettuce and maybe some spinach. Besides, if the current lettuce plants keep producing for another month or two (the Aerogarden FAQ files suggest you can get up to about 5 months from lettuce and herbs), by the time we start getting cherry tomatoes it'll be close to the point where we get real tomatoes from our garden. The dill has grown well above the lights and bloomed, I'm curious to see if it sets seed.

I've grown cherry tomatoes in the garden a few times, we usually get overwhelmed with them, because it is hard to eat more than a handful a day. I have discovered that if you blanch them and freeze them, they work well in batches of stock.
March 11, 2021 at 8:32 pm #28990
Italiancook
Participant
Mike, I stalled on the Aerogarden after I read your son's caught aphids. I thought only outdoor plans could get those. I grew up in the country, but I'm now cityfied. I don't want critters to find their way into my home. But I'd sure love to have leaf lettuce.
March 11, 2021 at 9:24 pm #28993
Mike Nolan
Keymaster
I'm not sure what he did to get aphids, his Aerogarden is in his basement laundry room which does have an exterior door, maybe they came in that way?

Our house plants get a variety of bugs from time to time, too. We're going to have to be more careful watching them ourselves now because the guy who's been tending to our plants for the last 8 years or so passed away last month.
April 2, 2021 at 7:07 pm #29351
Mike Nolan
Keymaster
I got tomato plants started indoors today, 8 different varieties. I'll probably start another set of them in a week using a slightly different approach. (These were done in pellet pots, the next batch will be in peat pots with soil.
April 14, 2021 at 7:10 pm #29510
chocomouse
Participant
I worked in the flower beds again today, and got the rock garden all cleaned up and mulched. This is very early in the season to have this done, but it's been so dry (still in a drought from last summer) and warm this year that plants are coming up early. My husband has rototilled the garden, brought home a truck load of mulch, and will be getting a load of manure on Saturday. We are expecting snow tomorrow and Friday - a storm watch for a town about 30 miles south says they will be getting 12-18 inches of that white "poor man's manure". I've not seen any totals for us, but being near the river, we probably won't get much and it will all melt on Saturday.
April 14, 2021 at 7:14 pm #29511
Mike Nolan
Keymaster
I've got a lovely tray of tomato seedlings starting to put out their first true leaves. All but one of the 35 pots sprouted and that one might yet do something.
April 15, 2021 at 5:55 pm #29523
cwcdesign
Participant
Our garden is chugging along - squashes, tomatoes and peas(peas were planted a little late) all have flowers. We’ve been picking radishes already - rainbow, they’re fun. Arugula is going crazy and we have some Swiss chard, kale, lettuces and spinach going. Carrots are slow. Eggplants and beans are healthy. Will has taken the lead on the garden this year and it’s doing much better than last year. I think the raised beds help.
April 15, 2021 at 6:55 pm #29524
chocomouse
Participant
You are month(s) ahead of us; I'm hungry just reading your lists. It should start snowing here soon, and all day tomorrow. It won't hurt the daffodils, hyacinths, and other plants that are up.
April 15, 2021 at 8:38 pm #29525
cwcdesign
Participant
Chocomouse in July and August, when your garden is full, ours will be fried, Harvest should be great in June and early July. Will took a picture of a baby crook neck tonight.

My biggest problem is that My mind still thinks of northern garden time - that’s why we planted too late last year. But we certainly have summer 60’s weather right now so we’ll take it when we can. I really miss the daffodils!
April 20, 2021 at 10:58 am #29587
Mike Nolan
Keymaster
A number of the true leaves on my tomato plants are turning yellow.

I tried looking up what causes yellow leaves on new plants and these are the possible causes:

Too much light
Too little light
Too much water
Too little water
Too much fertilizer
Too little fertilizer

Gee, that was really a lot of help, wasn't it?
April 20, 2021 at 1:14 pm #29589
RiversideLen
Participant
Yeah, put it up on a wall and throw a dart at it.

Actually, if you review what you are doing you should be able to narrow it down.
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