*This was supposed to publish on May 5 so reference to any time goes from there. I have started to second seed some of the below, which I'll go over in the next few weeks as the whole vegetable garden goes in.
I have a row of lettuce in Plot C along with the Arugula, Swiss Chard & Scallions (or spring onions or bunching onions.) I purchased some started Romaine & Buttercrunch at Agway when I got the potatoes. I also purchased some other Red Leaf, Romaine & more Buttercrunch at a local greenhouse to my Mom that I'm going to put in amongst the tomatoes. Lettuce doesn't like heat... at all. The tomatoes will shield it some and keep it cool. Hopefully I can keep it growing a little longer. As lettuce starts to grow I either put grass clippings around it or hay to keep the ground a little cooler. I had gorgeous lettuce going last year that ended in disaster once the Groundhog found a way to get in... it still hurts to think about!
The seeds... for the past few years Mom & I have been growing Rocket Arugula from the company Franchi that I did some peas from. I've had enormous success with it. I usually start some in a planter by the house early. Then I put it in the ground. I cut back and let it keep growing. Last year I had it ALL season. I ended up planting a second row, but the first one kept coming back.
For Swiss Chard: a little tidbit I wasn't aware of in my first 2 years was that Swiss Chard & Spinach aren't compatible. The extent of the scientific side of this for me says that they likely suck the same nutrients out of the ground... if you want to know more you'll have to go look it up!!!! I also can't say that I've had enormous success with the Swiss Chard yet. Trying to figure that out this year. I purchased Bright Lights from John Scheepers. It's a different brand than I've done in hopes that maybe that will help it grow... hey, anything can help!
Next to the Swiss Chard & Arugula I put in a row of spring onions. I split the row between a random seed packet I got last year from Kew Royal Gardens and then a package from John Scheepers called Fukagawa, which is a bunching onion. The extent of the onions is going to be these and leeks. I've done others in the past few years, but I just don't think it's worth the effort when I can get them at the farmers market for cheap. I'd rather use the space for other stuff.
Back to the rest of the seeds of lettuce... most of it is stuff I'm reusing from years past. I did venture from this 'elite' seed place I've gone and purchased 2 packages of Burpee! I couldn't resist... we'll see. I'm sure they'll be fine. I picked red leaf and more romaine... Caesar salad anyone? From Botanical Interests I'm reusing a Mustard Green and Buttercrunch I purchased last last summer. From Franchi I have 2 packages of Mesclun that I'm trying and finally from Plant Harts Seeds I have Oakleaf. I'm sure I'm missing one, but you get the idea... obsessed with the lettuce. The thing about lettuce is that you do need to remember that it takes time to harvest & wash. All worth it in my opinion, but it's work.
The Carrots.... ah! I love them! There is a great article in the current Organic Gardening about planting Scarlet Nantes, a variety I have had huge success with in my heavy soil. I did not order a new pack this year, opting to change it up some, but I have last years pack and may end up putting some in. This year I chose 2 from John Scheepers, both supposedly will do well in my very heavy soil. Yaya, which is similar to the Nantes, and Yellowstone, which seemed to be able grow very easily. Along with those I'm going to back to another favorite: Cosmic Purple from High Mowing. I love the purple and I've had success with these. Someday I want to expand to add more color. Carrots are fairly easy to grow. I do pay attention to carrot flies and put a deterrent in - rosemary and marigolds work wonders. I've been growing rosemary in the middle of the carrots for a few years and haven't had any problems. The parsley worm can show up, but they're so pretty you hate to do anything. I move them to a different location.
Finally the spinach and herbs. I have NOT had success with spinach... well, minimally. It really does like the cold. I'm doing basic Regiment from John Scheepers this year. They say it's pretty easy. I'm paying more attention to my PH to see if that helps. This variety is supposedly bolt resistant, which is a problem I have when it starts to get warm. I'll post on how it's coming along.
For herbs I've put in Cilantro & Dill for now. Dill likes to go in in the cold weather. It's been hit or miss for me with dill. Sometimes I get lots, sometimes none. I'd like to be able to use my own in the pickles and I also just like dill.
As these items start to poke thru the ground and grow I'll post more pictures. The beets are coming in strong for now - let's hope that keeps up! I'm planning a round of fish fertilizer this week. I've never been good at it in the spring, but I'm changing my ways! I did buy an attachment for the hose which will hopefully encourage me to fertilize more. That should make it easier. Water and fertilizing really are the keys! I've been out watering every few days in this dry spring. It's so important to help the seeds germinate. All of this went in about 2 weeks ago so I'll be putting in the second round soon.
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