What did you do in the garden today?

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

I’ve not had any luck with bok choi either. So sad, I really like it. I planted just a little mustard this year under the grape arbors and it’s doing very well up there. I really enjoy using it on the few late season blt’s. I use it in place of lettuce. Quite tasty. I’m looking forward to planting a lot more next year. And even better, Bambi and family hasn’t messed with the grapevines with the mustard, oregano and lavender planted next to them.

 

[Farmer13]

I love Baker Creek for seeds. I have not had great luck with Bok Choy and related greens. I need to try them again in a different spot, I think.

The trick is to cut a V trough & fill with sterile soil, then seed direct when the night time temps go down to the 60s & 70s. When your seeds sprout you know what they look like & you get a jump on the weeds.

We have harvested these types greens with snow on them in Dec, they were sweet as sugar. Cole plants eg. cabbage, broccoli, will burn out way before the Oriental greens will during extreme cold. If you cover them with a few layers of Cover cloth you can go way into the winter.

 

[Jenbirdee]

i looked at it and rejoiced to see the little yellow flowers, starting to bloom on my Jerusalem. Artichokes finally!

 

[gtaus]

We have been growing these type cold weather plants from the mustard family for many years.
https://www.rareseeds.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=TATSOI+GREENS

Thanks for the link. I'll be looking into that Bok Choy. I think I bought some seeds but never used them this year. I'm really disorganized when it comes to seeds. But I bought a storage case to put all the seeds in one place and to get them organized.

Speaking of which, to anyone out there, what is the best way to organize your seed collection? I had my seeds sorted out by year, but I can see that is not a very good system. Don't know if I should sort them by category of food, by name, or whatever...? Maybe by planting or seed starting dates? So many options, so little knowledge.

 

[gtaus]

We have harvested these types greens with snow on them in Dec, they were sweet as sugar. Cole plants eg. cabbage, broccoli, will burn out way before the Oriental greens will during extreme cold. If you cover them with a few layers of Cover cloth you can go way into the winter.

I don't know where you live, but our nights are getting down to the high 40's F every night right now. I was wondering if I could plant some cold weather seeds in a raised bed, and then put a frame cover over them to extend the growing season? I have some 2X2 frames with chicken wire on them to keep out the rabbits. I was thinking I could easily staple some plastic over the wire and make it into a mini greenhouse, cold box, or whatever they are called. Also, using that type of cover on the raised bed, maybe I could also start some plants outside earlier in the spring.

Anyways, your post got me thinking I should pull out the tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers in the raised beds because they appear to be all done for the year. Would there be enough time and sunlight left in the year to plant some cool weather greens? Again, I live in Zone 3b so we have until the end of October before we typcially get snow for the winter.

 

[Sally PB]

Speaking of which, to anyone out there, what is the best way to organize your seed collection? I had my seeds sorted out by year, but I can see that is not a very good system. Don't know if I should sort them by category of food, by name, or whatever...? Maybe by planting or seed starting dates? So many options, so little knowledge.

I sort mine into categories by type of crop.
Greens = spinach, lettuces, Bok Choy, etc.
Beans
Peas
Tomatoes
Peppers
Squash
Melons
Etc.

I put each type of crop into a quart sized ziploc bag, and write on the bag what's inside, ie, "tomatoes." Then the bags of seeds that are planted about the same time, eg, tomatoes and peppers, are put into a gallon ziploc bag.

The usual grouping is something like this, somewhat in order of planting:
Tomatoes, peppers, luffa (all need really long seasons and I start them early in the green house)
Squash and melons (nearly as long, but they can get planted a week or so later)
Greens and Peas (get planted early, but outside, as they can withstand cold temps)
Beans (tender, but planted directly in the ground)

You'd think you could just look at a clear ziploc and know what's inside, but some of my seeds are ones I've saved, so they're in little beige envelopes and don't have pictures on them.

Here's something that I find invaluable: WRITE STUFF DOWN. When did I plant the tomatoes....? uh... Which pots are what variety? LABEL the pots!!! Which variety of tomato didn't sprout, so I need to replant...?

 

[jerryse]

I’ve not had any luck with bok choi either. So sad, I really like it. I planted just a little mustard this year under the grape arbors and it’s doing very well up there. I really enjoy using it on the few late season blt’s. I use it in place of lettuce. Quite tasty. I’m looking forward to planting a lot more next year. And even better, Bambi and family hasn’t messed with the grapevines with the mustard, oregano and lavender planted next to them.

The mustard family grow best in the fall. They will bolt to seed on lengthening daylight. Bok Choi is in the mustard family.

 

[TJAnonymous]

That's exactly what I thought I would do. Unfortunately, all the stores have sent back their seeds from this year. Nothing on the racks! Where do you get your seeds for pennies at this time of year? I would like to snatch up some seeds for next year.

I pick them up from TSC and the Dollar store just last weekend. Sometimes they have them at the farmers co-op (feed store) too.

Edited to add - TSC had a bunch of garden stuff (planters, fertilizer, tools, etc) on clearance this weekend along with seeds.

 

[fuzzi]

Picked 4 tomatoes, just starting to blush.

Can you see the carrot seedlings?

The turnips have their second set of leaves.

I had excellent results starting my tomato plants inside the house this year, 8 weeks before my last frost date, which was something like the 29th of May. On nice days, I would start to take my plants outside for hardening off during the daytime.

I watched a YouTube that discussed what happens if you try to set out your tomato plants too early. If they don't killed by a late frost, they might get severely stunted in their growth. Bottom line, the recommendation was just to wait until your average last frost date has passed and then transplant your starts.

Also, probably in that same video, it mentioned that peppers should not be put out into the garden until 2 weeks after your average last frost date. So, this year I waited until mid-June to transplant my peppers. It was the best year ever for my peppers, but I think a lot of that also had to do with my new raised beds with fresh topsoil and compost.

In my gardening experience I have found that setting out tomatoes or peppers or eggplant before the weather warms doesn't make them grow faster. They just don't do much growing in cooler weather, so while using the last frost date is good, I also consider the weather and plant when the soil warms.

I love Baker Creek for seeds.

This

I bought seeds from this company for the first time this year, was VERY pleased with the results. Maybe they still have seeds?

Speaking of which, to anyone out there, what is the best way to organize your seed collection? I had my seeds sorted out by year, but I can see that is not a very good system. Don't know if I should sort them by category of food, by name, or whatever...? Maybe by planting or seed starting dates? So many options, so little knowledge.

Right now I have mine in pickle jars!

I have one jar full of bean seeds with "beans" written on the top. I have another jar with "squash", a third with "herbs", fourth with "flowers", and one more with cooler weather seeds such as carrots, but unlabeled. I keep them in a plastic tote. Highly scientific and organized!

I like using glass jars with metal lids for seeds as they seem to store them better.

 

[CedarLane]

Memorial Day Weekend is my transplanting weekend as well. Except for the peppers, which I wait another 2 weeks.

I am trying to learn about cool weather crops that can be planted in early May, for my zone 3b, and maybe get a little jump start on growing food. I guess there are some crops that do better in cooler temps and can survive the frosty nights. Maybe next year I'll get an earlier start outside in the garden.

My in-laws always planted peas on Good Friday. We often do too. Have never had a problem. My mother-in-law always said peas like to be snowed on.... She always planted her potatoes Good Friday also. Carrots and beets are other cool weather crops.