| It is so satisfying to watch my garden grow at this time of year. The broccoli, planted in March and side dressed with composted chicken manure in mid-April, has doubled in size during the last two weeks. Our lettuce is mature and we devoured our first wilted lettuce salad last week. My husband, who did not grow up eating this country life staple, is clamoring for more. The greenhouses continue to burst with color. The fuchsias have now added their exotic bi-color blooms to the display. We continue to start more tomato plants to meet the demand, and will have tomato plants available through early July, for those of you who plan on growing a fall tomato crop. We will also have other fall veggies available such as Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower,and collards. May is a busy garden month, as the days continue to grow longer and warmer. Cucumbers, melons, squash, pumpkins, peppers, okra and eggplant should all be planted during this month. All of these vegetables, with the exception of peppers and eggplant can be direct seeded in the garden. The vining crops need lots of space. I grow cucumbers on a trellis to take advantage of vertical space and to make it easier to find the cukes in all those vines. This year I am hoping for a bumper crop of pickling cucumbers so I'll have enough to make Mom's 14 day pickles. They are the best!! I plant vining crops in hills, mounding up the soil and planting 3 seeds to a hill. These crops germinate quickly with warm temps and really grow fast. The only problem I have with them are squash bugs. If you have a solution for these pests please share your secret with me. As soon as the garden dries out I will plant more tomatoes, trying to plant the last of the spring crop by the end of May. By staggering my plantings, I hope for my tomato crop to ripen over a longer period of time. The next time you are at the greenhouse my garden will be dressed in pink tulle. No, I'm not making a fashion statement, or trying to set a new trend. I'm just trying to keep the cabbage moths off of my broccoli. Steph just happened to have the netting left over from her wedding and it should work as well as the floating row covers which are made for this. Happy Gardening, Paula Sherwood |
| The Blackberry Lane Gardens |
| Newsletter May 3rd,2009 |
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| Blackberry Lane Gardens Crane, Mo. 65633 1-417-723-8272 1-417-723-8271 fax Regarding the contents of this page please contact us at :admin@blackberrylanegardens.com |