Yesterday was such a beautiful day! I finally feel like we have turned the corner here in Maine and gardening season has begun. Albeit slowly, it has begun. 😉
The radishes, beets, carrots, lettuce and peas are in, and in another week I’ll be able to get a row of cabbages in the ground.
I’ve grown a lot of carrots over the years and every year I plant a few rows of carrots. Not so much for us, but for Lucy. Miss Lucy LOVES her carrots and she especially loves digging them up.
This time around I planted a row of carrots and a row of radishes behind the winter kale. As soon as cabbage is available at the garden center, I’ll replace the kale with 6 heads of cabbage.
Do turkeys like kale? Anyone know? I think I’ll toss it into the woods and see if there are any takers.
I bought a few packets of Detroit red beets from Baker Creek and let me tell you Bob, they are the biggest beet seeds I’ve ever seen. Baker Creek really does a nice job on their packaging and I’ve had really good luck with their seeds. Plus, I like that they ship for free.
I planted a wide row of lettuce seeds this year in the long spot behind the rhubarb. I had several different open packets left over from last year, so I just mixed them all together.
Lucy seemed to approve. 🙂
If you’ve never tried growing your own lettuce before, I highly recommend it. I especially like knowing that if I cut the lettuce {rather than pulling it out} the lettuce will pretty much keep coming back all summer. As long as it doesn’t get too hot and it’s in a slightly shaded spot of course.
I think having it planted behind the rhubarb should do the trick.
It finally feels like spring around here… and I’m loving it!
~Mavis
P.S. What have YOU been planting lately? Curious minds want to know.
Christie says
Can you please share what kind of fence you have? And does it keep the wildlife out? We are in a new home and weighing the options for a new garden.
Mavis Butterfield says
It’s a 4 foot white wooden picket fence. We haven’t had any critters come in.
Julie says
I just planted a row of potatoes and have another to put in. And after the rain, I have onion sets, peas, chard, and lettuce.. and maybe a few more things to grow.
Rosemary says
I don’t know about turkeys, but rabbits love kale. My granddaughter had a pet rabbit and he would go wild for the kale.
My garden is all planted (one of the perks of living in Florida). I have already enjoyed one salad of freshly cut red leaf lettuce, kale and romaine. All the seeds I planted are up and doing well and all the plants that were transplanted into the garden are also doing well. So far, so good . . . but hurricane season is just around the corner . . . Last week we had a horrible storm and it dumped between 10-12 inches of rain in just a few hours. Thankfully, we live on a hill, so we didn’t get flooded, but our yard was extremely soggy. If you walked on the grass, your foot would sink down and water would rise up and cover your shoe. Boots are definitely required! All the plants survived except for a couple of planters that had some marigold seeds (no drainage holes in those planters). All the planters with drainage holes did fine. Lesson learned!
I wrote a blog post yesterday on my garden (keeps me accountable!). I love seeing what others have planted and how it all works out. I have an unusual set up (using what I have on hand), but it works for me. https://mypracticalhome.blogspot.com/
Mavis Butterfield says
Everything is looking good over at your place Rosemary!!!
Linda says
Do you not like kale? I had critters climb over a six foot fence when they wanted something.
Mavis Butterfield says
It’s not my favorite. I used to grow it for our chickens but sometimes we use it in smoothies.
Diane says
Do you harvest the whole head of lettuce down to about one or 2 inches and then let it grow back? Or do you harvest just the outside leaves and let the centers keep growing? I’ve heard it done both ways and wondered if there was an advantage to either method. Thanks!
Mavis Butterfield says
I cut it about 1″ 2″ from the base so it will continue to grow back.
Emily says
What carrot variety did you plant? I just planted a mix of scarlet Nantes and atomic red. When I harvest those I plan to put in shin kuruda as my late season carrot.
Mavis Butterfield says
I planted the Shin Kuruda. 🙂
Sue says
I seem to have trouble keeping lettuce seeds moist so they will germinate. Any tips?
Beth says
I have been harvesting radishes daily. I have pea plants about 10-12 inch high and carrots, beats and turnips are all getting bigger. I planted green beans last week and I am hoping to see them pop out this week. I am going to plant my onion starts today or tomorrow….in South Central Illinois.
Susan Cochran says
I am considering putting in a picket fence, would you be willing to share some information about where you purchased yours and what type it is? I love your garden!
Mavis Butterfield says
We bought the fencing from a local fencing company. It’s your standard 4 foot picket fence made from cedar. We used Behr stain {from Home Depot}. Hope that helps.
Lisa says
I was wondering since you are not at your old house is your garden just a plot you have somewhere else?