Hot times in the garden

The last month has been warm and rainless. The first tomatoes are ripening. Slava was first, starting July 12. New Hampshire Surecrop was second. However, the Surecrop seeds were saved from last year, and I just learned that the variety is a hybrid. Oviously, theyhave not bred true since the original was a late variety with 5 inch fruits, whereas what I have now is early with 1.5 inch fruit – maybe reverted to wild mexican ancestor.
The dryness has suppressed weed germination, so the garden is nearly weed-free. Aggressive irrigation by flooding the paths between rows has promoted growth of the deeply rooted vegetables without germinating the weed seeds at the surface.
I have harvested about half of the potatoes. They are small because of the drought, but really healthy. The space vacated by harvested potatoes has been planted with root vegetables (carrot, parsnip, salsify, beets).
I have had a bumper crop of shelling peas, starting 2 weeks ago and continuing today.

Spring at last

Weather is warming at last, and a few days with minimal rainfall has the garden soil dry enough to till. Now have 100 tomatoes in gallon cans under cloches in the garden. 16 tomato plants, 5 cucumber plants and one melon plant are planted, through black plastic, under a cloche. Three days ago (Sat.) finally planted all the potatoes. Usually, this time of year, they all would be badly sprounted. This year, with the extended cold weather, they are just starting to sprout, and in perfect shape for planting.

Coldest April Ever

April has been one of the coldest on record. The last week has had the coldest temperatures ever recorded for the date, with many inches of snow each of the last 3 days. The “average date of last frost” was yesterday, but we are having freezing temperatures every night. Needless to say the garden is behind schedule. Even in the greenhouse, the pepper seedlinga all croaked. These were reseeded on April 6.

My planting dates

Vegetable Start plants this long before planting date Planting date 98294 area code Distance
between rowsc
Distance apart
in the row
Artichokes (globe) Crown pieces Aug.-Nov.
April-June
48-60″ 48-60″
Asparagus 1 year Feb.-March 60″ 12″
Beans (lima) not suitable May-June 12-24″ 4-6″ bush
12-24″ pole
Beans (snap) not suitable May-July 12-24″ 2-6″ bush
12-24″ pole
Beets not suitable March-June 12″ 1-2″
Broccoli 6 weeks Jan-July March-Aug. 12-24″ 12-24″
Brussels sprouts 6 weeks Mar.-June May-July 24″ 24″
Cabbage 6 weeks Mar.-May April-June 24″ 24″
Cantaloupes 4 weeks April May 48″ 48″
Carrots not suitable March-July 15 12″ 2″
Cauliflower 6 weeks Mar.-June 1 April-July 15 24″ 24″
Celery 9 weeks Jan. – May March-July 24″ 5″
Chard not suitable April-July 24″ 12 inches
Chinese cabbage 4 weeks July August 30″ 6″
Chives 6 weeks Feb.1 – April. 15 March-May Needs 4 sq ft Scatter
Corn (sweet) not suitable April-June 36″ 15″
Cucumbers (slicing) 4 weeks April-May May-June 48″ 24″
Cucumbers
(pickling)
4 weeks May-June 48″ 6-12″
Dill not suitable May 24″ 6-9″
Eggplants 9 weeks March May 24″ 24″
Endive 6 weeks Feb. -July 1 April-Aug. 15 12″ 10″
Garlic not suitable Sept.-Feb. 18″ 3″
Kale not suitable May-July 24″ 24″
Kohlrabi not suitable April-Aug. 15 24″ 3″
Leeks 4 weeks Feb. – April March-May 24″ 2″
Lettuce (head) 5 weeks Mar. – June April-July 12″ 12″
Lettuce (leaf) 5 weeks Mar. -June April-Aug. 12″ 6″
Okra 8 weeks not suitable 24″ 18″
Onions 10 weeks Jan.-Mar. Mar.-May 12″ 3″
Parsley 10 weeks Jan.-May Mar.-June 12″ 8″
Parsnips not suitable April-May 24″ 3″
Peas not suitable Feb.-May 36″ bush
48″ vine
2″
Peppers 10 weeks Mar.1-Apr.1 May-June 24″ 12-18″
Potatoes (sweet) 6 weeks not suitable 48″ 12″
Potatoes (white) not suitable April-June 30″ 12″
Pumpkins 4 weeks May May 72″ 48″
Radish not suitable March-Sept. 12″ 1″
Rhubarb Crown pieces March-April 48″ 36″
Rutabagas not suitable June-July 24″ 3″
Spinach not suitable April & Sept. 12″ 3″
Squash (summer) 4 weeks Apr.-May May-June 48″ 24″
Squash (winter) 4 weeks Apr. May 72″ 48″
Tomatoes 8 weeks Mar.- May 36-48″,
closer if
supported
24-36″
Turnips not suitable Apr.-Sept. 24″ 2″
Watermelons 4 weeks Apr. May 72″ 60″