plantings

[jlsgaladriel]

Musings on this summer's plantings, with an eye towards next summer! Comments and thoughts are welcome.

Tomatoes: this year I planted early girls, because I planted them late! This was the right decision, and they look as if they'll last into the fall. Do the same next year, but if planted earlier, supplement with late-season plants too.

Comments

[norwaygranny]

Soil, sunshine and water - these need to be right or nothing will grow. Check with a garden store for advice on this.
dish soap in a spray bottle is a good bug repellent.
leaves and straw are good mulch and improve the soil for the future.
Peas are cold weather plants - you can plant them as soon as the snow is off the ground.
Asparagus seeds aren't sold in MN, but the roots are - you could look for those. Blessings, Sara in Tundra Land

[webbnh]

As I understand it, asparagus, once established, returns of its own accord and even propagates. Perhaps your neighbor could spare some for you?

[jlsgaladriel]

I went looking for its seeds, and couldn't see any: I gather it needs to be pulled up by the roots? As they're hoping to sell, I'm sure they wouldn't be averse to letting me transplant a few!

Garden

[anonymous]

Jamie, when you soaked your broccoli, did you use salt? If not, then you may find that this does a much better job of getting rid of little critters than the soak and scrub regimen. Use a salt water soak, then rinse it well. It has always worked for me.

Asparagus has to go to seed, and the process takes time. Actually, I thing that the delicately feathered, bush-like plants are kind of attractive. You have to wait until they produce berries, which will contain the seeds. An established bed reseeds itself each year, as long as you let the last of your crop go to see. You don't even have to plant the seeds, as long as you have loose enough soil or healthy mulch for them to seed themselves in. Don't cut the plants down until the berries have fallen, or break the stalks over, so they will drop them as they die back.

Re: Garden

[jlsgaladriel]

Hmm, the salt is a good idea for the broccoli. I think the deal-breaker for me, though, was the spider's (or caterpillar's?) silk between some of the stalks. I just really, really didn't want to deal with it!

The asparagus is the neighbours', and they keep having it mowed down. They've gotten as far as that pretty feathered stage, but when I peered at the very small green discs on the feathers they were too small for me to identify as seeds. I suppose if I went out and grabbed a few plants and transplanted them to my yard, then they'd have the chance to grow through that berry stage!