How does your garden grow?

[Oaktree]

Yesterday I planted potatoes, and it's been raining ever since.

Are you on the coast? Way too early to plant much of anything here except cool weather stuff like peas, lettuce & spinach, and even they didn't get planted until this past weekend.
Been such a cold, rainy spring. Asparagus is just starting to come up now, about 2 wks later than normal.

I usually hold off until mid-June for potatoes. Doesn't seem to affect yield but does deter the potato bugs somewhat.

 

[Jstpssng]

Are you on the coast? Way too early to plant much of anything here except cool weather stuff like peas, lettuce & spinach, and even they didn't get planted until this past weekend.
Been such a cold, rainy spring. Asparagus is just starting to come up now, about 2 wks later than normal.

I usually hold off until mid-June for potatoes. Doesn't seem to affect yield but does deter the potato bugs somewhat.

I usually do plant a little early, in part because that's when I seem to find the time. My peas have been in the ground 2 weeks and are just waiting for a little sunshine to bring them out.
I plant a short row this time of year from last year's leftovers for summer eating; there's nothing like fresh dug potatoes with a little butter and salt. :licking: I plant my main crop later using fresh seed potatoes for the same reason you mention, plus I feel they keep longer into the spring. I eat them right up until the day they go back into the ground.

One thing the most recent rain did was warm up the soil; it went from 42' on Sunday to 58' yesterday.

 

[dragoneggs]

50 degree nights is what my dad used to say about planting here in the PNW. We plant peas earlier though.

 

[goeduck]

A few years ago we started to have a problem with mummy berry in in our blueberry patch. One recommendation was spraying repeatedly throughout late winter to bud break in the spring. After consulting with my sister the successful commecial organic farmer, l found a much easier way to control it. I mulch the beds with a couple of inches of alder sawdust each year, this prevents the little fruiting body of the fungus that causes mummy berry from reaching the surface. The added advantage is that the sawdust creates the acid environment the blueberries like, I also started garden giant mushrooms in the sawdust and am getting more than I can use now!

Amazing how simple solutions like that are not publicized, they would not sell much spray if they were. :thumbsup:

 

[Molalla1]

50 degree nights is what my dad used to say about planting here in the PNW. We plant peas earlier though.

Better to just check soil temperature . . .

 

[dragoneggs]

Better to just check soil temperature . . .

Agreed. I just like the old school ways and says. Brings back childhood memories.

 

[goeduck]

Agreed. I just like the old school ways and says. Brings back childhood memories.

Same here. Easier to look at the thermometer outside when the dogs get me up at 3 AM to piddle. :thumbsup:

Having said that I would like to have a soil moisture meter. I am guessing they register temperature as well? But I cannot guarantee that at that time of day I will be able to retain the (3 AM) readings In the morning. :confused3:

Maybe after coffee, strong coffee. I am known for making coffee that pours like molasses :

 

[robbyr]

You should be able to float a horseshoe in good strong coffee. Right?

 

[Jstpssng]

I just use a simple $4.00 probe thermometer to check soil temperature. It only goes 4” into the ground but that’s deeper than my seeds lay anyhow.

 

[goeduck]

You should be able to float a horseshoe in good strong coffee. Right?

Yes, if your coffee consists of moist coffee grounds the horseshoe will sit on top nicely. Good and strong. You just need a BIG cup to get that horseshoe on top.