Hello Thursday! And the last day of April. Can you believe it? If there is one thing I love about living in New England, it’s that when the seasons change, they REALLY change. Yesterday was absolutely gorgeous here in Maine. The sun was shining and the weather was absolutely perfect. And not a mosquito in sight. 😉
Have you ever grown onions from bulbs before? I totally forgot to start my onion seeds {I should have sown the seeds in January because they take forever to get going} so this year I am using onion bulbs.
I planted 60 red onion bulbs between the blueberry and raspberry plants. That should be enough onions for salsa and red onion marmalade, don’t you think?
Miss Lucy helped of course.
The little grape muscari are finally in bloom as are a few of the (400} pink tulips I planted last fall. After all your comments last week about moving them, I may just leave them right where they’re at and hope the multiply and fill the space in. Maybe once the boxwoods bush out a bit and gain some height and I {have the HH} dig out a 6″ border in front of the beds the area will look a little less disheveled and more put together.
Also, I’ve noticed everyone’s tulips are a little shorter here than I remember them in Western Washington. Do the cold winters here in New England stunt their growth a little? Anyone know?
Spring has definitely arrived though, that’s for sure.
Yesterday the HH and I made the long {5 hour round trip} drive to Costco to pick up eyeglasses {really, the only reason we still have a card} and to stock up not only on groceries and household supplies, but plants and garden supplies {like grass seed and a new hose} as well. Lucky for us they had just gotten in a boatload of new plants.
I snagged 2 pink geranium hanging baskets for $19.95 each and 6 {2 gallon} blue hydrangeas for $12.99 each {what a deal!}.
I was so happy to find the hydrangeas because those were the last flowering plant on my list to buy for this year. Now all I need to do is find a half dozen Canadian hemlock trees {to plant along the fence as a privacy border} and I will be DONE with buying plants for this property. Yee-Haw! Everything else {perennial flowers} I either have or will be starting from seed.
The evenings are still a bit chilly {upper 30’s} here are night, so I decided to put the hydrangeas in my neighbors greenhouse for another week or so to help acclimate them. So far I have a flat of Shasta daisy, a flat of basil and two flats of sunflower seeds germinating over there. Oh, and some purple coneflower and artichoke plants as well.
I’ll probably move my cabbage and lettuce starts over there in a few days.
But check this out. My neighbors built two garden boxes yesterday. Don’t they look great? Their boxes area a little longer than mine {10′ I believe} and it will be fun to see what they choose to grow. I think the gardening bug has bit a lot of people this year, as it seems all the seed companies have been struggling to keep up with orders lately.
And last but not least… the tomato babies. I think I’ll give them another week indoors, repot them and then bring the plants over to the greenhouse to harden off until the end of May. A real tomato and cucumber salad, doesn’t that sound good right about now? 🙂
How’s your garden doing these days? Are you getting outside and planting more this year than last? And when do you us usually plant your tomatoes starts in the ground? {And what state are you in}. Curious minds want to know.
Keep Calm and Garden On,
~Mavis
Carole says
Since we are in south Texas we started quite a bit earlier than you in Maine. I have tomatoes on my plants already and lots of lettuce coming up. Green beans are up and starting to climb, I grow pole beans. My carrots are up and this year I am trying jicama. Those seeds take forever to germinate, but I have about 8 or so up and will transplant those when they get a little bigger. Since we are supposed to be in the 100s next week, today is going to be a drip system setup day. Once we get that going its just maintenance around here. OH and harvesting and eating!!
Mel says
We’re a bit behind schedule here. I don’t remember a single spring where it stayed this cold so late. I finally started trying to harden off my tomatoes and peppers yesterday since I am DONE with the space taken up by the grow lights, but it was only 68 degrees. Today, it’s colder with a flood warning and 40 mph wind gusts, so I can’t even put the plants out for a few minutes to harden off. I don’t know when I’ll get everything in the ground. The pepper seedlings also have not done very well this year. They’re only an inch tall after 6 weeks under grow lights, and I think it’s just that it’s been so much colder outside that it’s actually affecting our indoor temperatures (no sunlight, lots of drafts when we go in and out, etc.). I also still need to prep our raised beds. They’re full of weeds, and I’ve been too busy sewing masks and working from home to get to that. The school year wraps up for us next week, so I’m hoping to tame the jungle and get things planted soon.
Peg says
I live in SE Wyoming, elevation 6,000 feet. Planting here usually starts between May 15 and Memorial Day. Even though yesterday was beautiful, the temp when I walked first thing in the morning was in the 20s.
Jeanie says
I always plant my onions from bulbs after having a couple “nursery guys” tell me that you will also get bigger onions from the bulbs. My tomatoes are already waist high (I started them indoors from starts) and I’ve been harvesting swiss chard, radishes and green onions for about two weeks. Zone 6B planting.
Nan says
I have a really shady yard so can’t plant much but a few herbs in pots. My sage, rosemary and mint are awesome right now though. I subscribe to a produce delivery so every Thursday I get some really nice home grown vegetables and fruits- I’ve already had sweet corn and tomatoes and too many cucumbers. I love your gardening and grocery posts. My Costco is too far to shop regularly boohoo but probably saves me a lot of money to not be a member.
Diana says
Tomatoes, potatoes, lima beans, cucumbers, green beans, black eyed peas, onions, carrots and others are all in their pots growing away. Doing all containers this year since I’m doing a major rehaul of the garden. Peaches, pears and plums are on the trees. Asparagus is done and strawberries, blackberries and raspberries are starting to come in. Chicken coop design is in progress – gonna have layers and meat chickens this year.
As for the tulips, mine were all stunted this year and I’m seeing the same thing on a lot of the YouTube garden bloggers posts as well. It was either the weather or something wrong with the tulip crop this year. Many of mine didn’t bloom and just shriveled up.
Nancy says
Tomatoes and peppers blooming. Carrots and beans are up. Garlic getting ready to bloom.. Strawberries coming in well. Will be turning on drip irrigation soon due to temperatures going to high 80’s by end of week and May will start the beginning of high temperatures here. Zone 7B
Maxine says
Best garden ever with so much time and willing help from bored high school senior, even the husband is sick of sitting around. Put in another four blueberry bushes, and 20 strawberry plants. Everything is weeded and additional soil and mulch put out. Roses have been trimmed. Planted an early garden for once. Bought the broccoli, brussel sprouts and cabbage plants, then seeded kale, book chop, spinach, bunching onions, radishes, peas (sweet, sugar snap, English, and stir fry?), lettuce, and carrots. They’re growing so slowly (or I’m impatient!). Maryland 7a.
I also have tried to start a lot of seeds. I have two flats of just native plants, then gourds, veggies, herbs. I have some winter sown milk jugs going too. Yesterday we put some in the car hoping the warmth would germinate. Bought tomato and pepper plants from local guy but haven’t planted out yet. Our frost free used to be May 15th but I think it’s really May 1st now, but still being safe. The plants are small.
suzanne says
How did your lavender do? I planted half a packet and nada . I think I’ll buy a few plants and take cuttings.
Mavis Butterfield says
Did you refrigerate it for 60 days first? I pulled my lavender out of the fridge about 2 weeks ago and now half of them are popping up so far. It’s a slow process that’s for sure.
Dianne says
Nice deal on plants. They are beautiful and look so healthy. Can’t say much about the tulips, but they look about average to me. It’s been seasonly cold here (central Ohio) to put anything in the garden other than lettuces, broccoli, etc. We usually don’t plant until Memorial Day weekend when the threat of deep freeze is gone. Thanks for the tip on the onion seeds. First time trying onions (green onions prior years). I was wondering why they have come up yet. We got a late start on starting our seedlings. And you are right, it took forever to get our seeds. Mail ordered as nurseries were closed. I have one questions as we have tried many things. What do you and your readers do to keep weeds down? We have tried so many different ways. I really like vinegar, but there has to be something else out there. Thanks, Mavis. Really enjoy your blog.
Jamie says
I’m in northern Illinois and have a good start on my garden. Baby lettuce and spinach going. I’ve harvested enough for a small salad along with some small radishes. We’ve had a cool April so here’s hoping for some warm weather! And I’ve only ever planted onions from bulbs. So easy and inexpensive!
E in Upstate NY says
Re weeds. The last year I had a significant garden, I trenched between the rows. Placed newspapers down the trenches and covered with grass cuttings. Used rocks to hold paper down until had enough grass cuttings. [Made my son catch the grass cuttings from the front of the house, as lived in an area where everybody watched what I did and didn’t hesitate to complain to the city about their perceived issues.] Placed water drip lines in the trenches so the roots got the water. The plants did fantastic that year and the only required weeding was around the actual plant. At the end of the season, other than pulling the drip line, everything could be turned over to enrich the soil.
Mary Ann says
All of my cabbages, broccoli, cauliflower, and kale have been done for a while. Last of the lettuces are finishing up, been harvesting carrots, radishes, green onions for a while. Just harvested the first 2 potato bags that I planted in January.
Tomato plants (57 of them, 16 varieties) all have flowers and some have small green fruits, peppers are flowering, have harvested 2 cucumbers so far, eggplant are just getting flowers, more onions (red, walla walla, and guardsman spring onions) are still on the way, squashes (winter and summer) are all in the ground doing well, but no flowers yet, pumpkins and watermelon also doing well.
Southern California, zone 10b.
Heidi Ho says
Hi Mavis! We live in the Cascade foothills in Washington State, so of course we cannot put our tomato plants out until after Memorial Day! 🙂 I have been munching on some of my herbs though like lemon thyme, parsley, spinach and chard, but cannot wait until I can go out to the garden and grab a tomato and make a tomato and mayo sandwich, and sometimes with sweet onions…Yummy!!
Lynda Kling says
I only grow onion sets.. so easy to put in!
We can’t put plants out until May 15 here in PA…. something’s germinated in two days and ere getting huge inside.. I think I have time( but not much room!) to start a few more!
Cass says
Upstate NY here (Albany area). Tomatoes and other delicate plants go out Memorial weekend. While our average last frost date is May 5th in my area, we have many “micro climates” that have had frost as late as May 20th….so Memorial weekend it is for me. With that said I started my plants indoors in January. I wanted spring so badly and last year we were warm enough for outdoor planting by May 1. I was hoping for a similar spring this year. No joy. Frost last night and low temps predicted for the foreseeable future. I currently have 2 foot tall tomatoes in the house. And a 5 foot long vine. LOL Hurry up spring, I got plants taking over the house that need to go out.
Dianna says
I love those hydrangeas! We put our tomato starts in the raised beds around mid-March. We had to cover several times due to frost, but they’re doing great. I’ve been picking salads (lettuce, pea shoots, beet greens) for a couple of weeks now. We’ve had a sudden change of job situation and going to move soon — as in 2 months — and I’m fretting about what to do with my plants. I’m thinking about pulling some of them up, popping them in buckets, and taking them with me. All I’ve done during quarantine is garden, so I don’t want to lose all that hard work!
Dianna says
Oh, and I’m in east TN — zone 7a.
Katherine says
We’ve been eating lettuce, spinach and arugula for a while. Beans are up and my tomatoes and peppers have fruit ripening. It’s still a bit chilly at night for squash and zucchini so I’m putting that off for another week or so. Normally here in the Atlanta area our temps in the mid 80’s this time of year. This year it’s been nice in the 60’s and low 70’s. We’ve been able to get more work done in the garden and yard while enjoying these great temps.
Leslie says
My first real experience with onion sets is going great! they are growing and I even borrowed a teeny bit off the top of one for recipe calling for green onion. I put mine in in early April, but I think we can do it earlier here in mid-Missouri.
Usually, to be safe, tomatoes go in after Mother’s Day, but I went ahead and planted my Cherokee Purple starts this week. We’ve been having some beautiful weather (in between thunderstorms).
Cherilyn P says
Hi Mavis,
My family is new to gardening this year, and we are behind. I have some seeds and don’t know if I should try to start them now and plant as recommended, or wait and buy a few plants. I have learned so much from you and the other readers though, that I’m sure something will grow this summer, or next year when I have better timing.
Veronica says
I’m in western Washington, just a bit north of Seattle.
We’ve got dinosaur kale, Rainbow chard, lettuce, parsley, chives, basil, celery root, radishes (French breakfast, black Spanish, and Easter Egg blend), turnips, beets (bulls eye and golden), carrots (Rainbow blend and Danver’s Half-long), marigolds, leeks (Dawn Giant), parsnips (All American and Hollow Crown), Sugar Snap Peas, Egyptian Walking Onions (They get planted from a bulb that second year plants grow on stalks.), pear tomatoes (red and yellow), and cherry tomatoes (Sundrop, Gold Nugget, Brown Cherry, Sweetie, Grape, Super Snow White, and Super Snow White) planted.
Only some of the radishes and onions have sprouted. Our blueberries, strawberries, and apple tree are in bloom. The oregano that’s threatening to displace the moss growing in our lawn is flourishing.
I’m busy pulling the volunteer squash and tomatoes that are sprouting from the compost we turned into the garden beds.
Kim says
I’m in the UK – rural south west – so our garden timings are a bit different than yours! My tomatoes and cucumbers are growing happily in a heated greenhouse. In mid May they will move to live in an unheated greenhouse and a polytunnel as they never do well outdoors except in an exceptional summer. I have lots of veg planted out – peas, potatoes, beetroot, spinach, kale, lettuces and onions.
We call onion bulbs ‘sets’ and they are the traditional way to grow onions here. However, I grow most of mine from seed and have equal success both ways.
Next to plant out for us will be cabbage, sweetcorn and beans at the end of May or early in June when our last frost is over. We also grow fodder crops for our two cows (we have a four acre field) to supplement the hay we cut in the back area of the field for their winter feed.
Lovely to hear all your plans and see how you’re getting on in these changing and challenging times. Well done everyone!
Beth says
I am in central IL, near ST. Louis, MO. I’ve been harvesting radishes and lettuce for a while now. My spinach came up and grew a bit slower than the lettuces, but I can start harvesting now. I also have snow peas and green bean plants that have emerged. I’ve planted my zucchini seeds and cucumber seeds. I’ll probably wait until around the middle of May to put out Tomatoes and Peppers. I’ve got onion bulbs to plant this year too. They were given to me this week, so I’m putting them out this weekend (hopefully today!). I also have herbs in/returning including oregano, thyme, chives, hyssop, cilantro, basil, rosemary, tarragon. I still need some dill, but when I went to pick up herbs, they didn’t have any dill…so I’m going to have to try to find some at another garden center.
Looking forward to a great gardening year, since I’ll be able to care for it all.the.time. Not going anywhere any time soon….