Dreaming of Spring Gardening in the Middle of a Wisconsin winter part 2

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I did 6 tomatoes last year and it was wayyy too much (I'm only interested in eating fresh, not canning). So I decided to only do 3 this year, which also coincides with the number of good tomato cages I have.

Pretty busy morning clearing roots out of a raised bed, then amending it. Seeded carrots and oyster leaf, along with cabbage and cauliflower (I had tried starting indoors but they didn't do well, so figured I'd try direct seeding). Also put out the basil and celery starts to start hardening them to outdoors.

Down to one last raised bed to clear out (waiting on that one because it still has perfectly edible kale in it, so I don't want to pull it and waste it).

3-4 tomato plants does yield enough for fresh eating. We throw a bunch to the birds too. So I grow a few extra.

You must be warmer? What zone? They are predicting a snow storm here next Monday. 8-12 inches. Shouldn't stay too long, but slows me down here. I'm eager to get gardening.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Bought ‪more vegetables..... like I don’t have enough right!?

4 different kinds of potatoes, garlic, red onions, and sweet onions, all those started bud thingies, and then 2 different kinds of carrot seeds.

Note how I got multiple of some things again.... remember when I said I was indecisive???

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I buy multiple of seeds too. I bought a bunch at the Tractor supply today. I forgot peas. I grow those for my parrot.

 

[ShrekDawg]

I direct seed most vegetables. I only start tomatoes, and peppers if I'm growing them.

Plant your cold crops first, generally as soon as your ground is thawed, and soil temperatures are 50 or above. Things like radish, lettuce, peas, stuff like that.

Than your warm season crops after all risks of frost has passed. Cucumbers, beans, squash, melons, and your started stuff.

That's how I do it.

Yeah, that’s what I usually do too or at least for the peppers, tomatoes, and eggplant, never started anything else. Last year I bought started plants for the beans, cucumbers, peas, and squash as well as an eggplant and some peppers, because I started so late lol but the peas and squash died.

Anyway, usually start only a few things but I thought maybe I’d get a head start since I’m planting the other stuff so late.

Although cucumbers and squash usually grows insanely fast so maybe not necessary haha

Idk if I should waste trays and soil. I just really want to start more stuff than I have started

I should probably put the peas in the ground... been warm enough for a little while, spring is super early this year, but my garden is nowhere near ready yet. maybe I should work on it tomorrow haha

I’m thinking I’m going to do the lettuce in pots. Bought a bunch of cool plastic window box type things for them since I figure it will hold more and they probably don’t need to be super deep. Think they’re like two feet long and I’m not sure how deep.

Got a bunch of potting soil too and some plastic lids/tray things to start the onion seeds. Not sure where or how I’ll start the bud ones?

And not sure where I’ll grow the potatoes haha

Beets can be in a container right? Thinking I might do a lot of containers this year haha

 

[ShrekDawg]

Actually wait. I have also grown lettuce and herbs before too so I guess I have started other stuff before haha but nothing major.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Are you talking onion sets? Or bulbs? Seed onions can take a while.

 

[ShrekDawg]

I buy multiple of seeds too. I bought a bunch at the Tractor supply today. I forgot peas. I grow those for my parrot.

I have so many multiples haha was shocked when I was going through my seeds the other day Cause I buy different brands to try or whatever other reason lol in this case, they had 4 different kinds of potatoes (red, white, Yukon gold, and gold rush) and I couldn’t decide and they’re all good for different things so get them all right!? same for the onions.... have yellow so get red and sweet.

And Tractor Supply is where I got my yellow onion seeds a couple weeks ago haha

I bet she loves the peas

I could always mail you some

 

[ShrekDawg]

Are you talking onion sets? Or bulbs? Seed onions can take a while.

I’m not sure I’ll take a picture and you can tell me? LOL

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Onions can be planted very early. Any that escape harvest will winter over here and grow the next year.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Onions can be planted very early. Any that escape harvest will winter over here and grow the next year.

That’s good to know!! Thank you! Do you think I should put them in the ground or in containers or?