This morning it’s a bit chilly outside. And I’m glad. Although I’ve been able to enjoy a weeks worth of sunshine and warm weather, I’m ready for a break. Just as long as the cooler temperatures don’t harm the vegetables.
I’ve been debating on whether or not to plant the remaining 80+ tomato plants outside over the last few days, but I think I’ll wait. And it’s hard. It’s hard to stare out the back window and look at bare garden beds.
But I just can’t chance it.
Here’s a look at what’s growing in the raised garden beds right now:
Red Potatoes.
Crimson Red Radishes {find the seeds HERE}
Broccoli, Celery and Wall Walla Onion starts. After pulling up the Broccoli Raab I planted a few red onion bulbs. I should start to see those sprouting in a week or two.
Giant Cabbage in the front of the bed and Brussels Sprouts towards the back.
Sugar Snap Peas climbing up a handmade pea trellis.
The first round of the outdoor spinach looks like it’s ready to be picked.
Heirloom carrots lined up and ready to grow.
The vegetable garden is really starting to look and feel like a mini farm. I can’t wait to start planting pumpkins, winter squash and beans. It shouldn’t be too much longer. I hope.
What’s happening in your garden?
Did you plant anything new last week?
If you’d like to learn more about gardening in small spaces, check out Grow Great Grub: Organic Food from Small Spaces
Lyn says
Mavis, are you using 4×6 for your raised bed?
Mavis says
4×8 🙂
Crystal says
My pumpkins are already growing, as volunteers. Hopefully they last through the cold snap I know is going to hit.
Mavis says
Sweet!
katy says
i just covered up our potatoes in the potato box & tower again, and found some budding broccoli last night. we have the first flowers on tomatoes and peppers, and the pumpkins are putting out some good foliage. oh, and the fourth bean that i’d given up on, popped out of the ground suddenly. (i think we’re a zone over from you, in central oregon. we’ve had some HEAT already this year!)
Mavis says
Hey thanks for the reminder, I need to add another layer of potatoes to mine too. 🙂
Dee says
So I read about your potato tower and thought that would be so neat when I own a yard. Was telling a girlfriend about it, and she suprised me with a huge old rubbermaid bucket that had been in her backyard and four potatoes that had been sprouting on her kitchen countertop. She assures me it will work the same, just put down some dirt, put in the sprouting potatoes, cover with more dirt and continue to cover with more layers of dirt as they sprout up. I’ve never done this before, does this sound like it would work to you?
Talaena says
What about water? If you haven’t already figured out a plan for water I’d just drill a couple of holes randomly in the bottom of the Rubbermaid to allow water to escape and as far as I can tell you should be good to go!!!
Mavis says
That is a great idea!
katy says
Are you going to hill up the red potatoes in your barrel? My dad does this too… goes to wineyards in France and asks for their old barrels. They call him the crazy English 🙂
Mavis says
Is he still in France? Hmmm. Maybe I could turn it into a research project.
katy says
yes, he lives there. he has a quarter of an acre which he waters with a bucket from a 3 century old well 🙂 an international project comparing wine barrels sounds like fun!
Mavis says
You have beans popping up? You stinker!
Sheryl says
I started my first garden ever..moving from hot AZ to Idaho. I have planted radishes, carrots, thyme, rosemary, chives, pumpkins, one beet (my daughter planted..lol gotta plant more), peas, strawberries, basil, three types of lettuce corn and cilantro. The strawberries are starting to ripen, peas look a little smaller than yours, the pumkins have started to grow, radishes and carrots are doing good. I need to plant tomatoes, peppers and squash. And I think I am going to try the pea teepee. Thanks so much for all the info. You inspired me to start my own garden:)
Mavis says
Plant a teepee! Plant a teepee!
Saralie says
Your gardens are great! So inspiring! I garden too, this year I let my 3 and 5 year old each have a row in the garden. They are so happy, and they can’t wait to eat their own carrots, beans etc. Growing your own food is so rewarding and therapeutic
Mavis says
I think that’s great. 🙂
Lori says
Hello Mavis!
I recently found your blog. Love it!!! Here in Southern GA, we have had crazy weather. My garden seems confused on what to do. (I admit to having been confused myself.) Now we seem to have settled into very hot, humid weather, and extreme drought.
Anyway, I’ve expanded my garden this year. So far my tomatoes are blooming and/or have small tomatoes. My tomatoes are all at various stages of growth. After planting some plants I purchased, my neighbor gave me 20 tiny volunteer seedlings, then 10 more, then I rooted 12 suckers. Hoping for a bountiful crop. I have squash almost ready to pick. Also planted in my garden are beans, corn, several types of peppers, melons, sweet potatoes, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and a dozen types of herbs.
Keep up all the good work. I love to sit and read about what you are doing.
Mavis says
Thanks Lori!
Mary Ann says
I’m so jealous of your broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprouts, and celery! I’ve never done very well with the cool season veggies here in So Cal, so I pretty much just stick to my husbands favorites (tomatoes, cukes, bell pepper, and green beans).
Wish I had your big yard!
Mavis says
You are so lucky to be able to grow green peppers! 🙂
Michelle says
Mavis,
I’m renting right now while in the process of trying to buy. I have to container garden everything. I’m up here in Lake Stevens so pretty much the same weather as you. Am I insane to plant zucchini, squash, cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes all in containers???? Will I fail miserably and want to quit until I have ground to work with or is this possible? I already did it, so really I’m just asking what I can expect from my venture? I couldn’t help it… you’ve inspired me so much… just afraid I bit off more than I can chew! I think I can trellis or stake some of these and be ok… what do you think?
Mavis says
You will do just fine. Just keep everything watered well and yes, you can stake your tomatoes and cucumbers. You’ll do great!
Suz says
Mavis,
I have only recently found your blog and I love it! It has all the things I love. Recipes, coupons and frugal living, chickens and gardening. Here in northern WI we’re a little later for crops but so far in my garden I have 3 potato toweers though I think I did mine a little different as I layered three layers and they are coming out the sides and top. My first try with the towers but they are working wonderful so far. I saved my tiny potatoes from last year’s crop so I didn’t have to cut the eyes but planted the whole thing instead. I also have peas, 3 kinds of pole beans (green and purple beans and speckled cranberry dried beans) that have just come up, beets, zucchini, swiss chard, broccoli, asparagus, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, rhubarb, cucumbers, lettuce, carrots and will be putting in sweet corn and an mini blue sweet corn that only grows about 30 inches tall, watermelon various heirloom tomatos and 4 kinds of peppers next week.
Don’t you just love this time of year!!!! I do all open pollinated or heirloom and save the seeds from year to year. I also planted some blackberry plants so I am anxious to see if they take this far north. They are supposed to be hardy to zone 4 so they should.
I made teepees from branches of an old Willow tree we lost last year and have done some other creative vertical gardening this year and I’m running out of room. My neighbor came by the other day and told me my garden looks like something out of a Stephen King novel lol.
Mavis says
Wowza! Sounds like you have your hands full. And yes, I do love this time of year! 🙂
suzanne says
What to do with the radishes? Has anyone tried to pickle or dehydrate them? I’ve checked out several “food” blogs but the info is conflicting.
Samantha says
What do you use to keep slugs or aphids from eating up your cabbage? I’m attempting to grow lettuce and bok choy in Portland, OR but I don’t want it to get eaten alive before it’s ready to harvest. Last year I attempted to grow cabbage but the bugs got it before it was big enough and I don’t want that happen again this year! 🙂
Mavis says
I don’t do anything. I do salt them once I see them though. You can try placing broken egg shells, oyster shells, or crumpled up tin foil around the base of your plants though, I’ve heard that works. 🙂
Allison says
Looking really good! It’s harvest time already down here in Central Texas for the spring veggies. I’m trying to plot what to put in the spent bean beds, that will be able to either withstand the heat, or produce and be done before July finishes…I’m thinking perhaps a stab at Amaranth is in order. Would you not be able to get some green peppers if you left them in the greenhouse into summer? I grew up in the PNW and would love to know if it were possible up there. Depending on the light that hits the greenhouse, it may be worth a try!
Mavis says
I’m trying green peppers in the greenhouse this year so we shall see. 🙂
jessica hardin says
Hey Mavis!! I hope you are starting to feel better!! I wanted to say thanks! I found your website through pinterest because of your pallet garden idea!! I work for a flooring company, so I brought some partial ones home that night!! They are alwyas tossing them!! I rent, so I have a little spot in the back that I have converted!! I’m in richmond Irginia so the weather is great!! I love your blog and you have inspired me sooo much!! I have never had my own garden. 7 different types of tomatoes, some already have little green tomatoes on them, 5 different types of peppers, some cabbage, cukes, squash, peas, onions, carrots, beets, radishes, spinach and swiss chard. There are some more peppers to be moved down from my kitchen window, it was an experiment, and as soon as I picked up starter plants, they popped out of the soil and have sprouted pretty big. They were from some poblanos I used a few weeks back!! So thanks for all the inspiration!!!
Why wouldn’t you be able to grow green peppers?
Mavis says
I’ve tried growing peppers outside before with minimal success. I don’t think it gets hot enough around here. So this year I’m trying to grow them in the greenhouse. Hopefully it will work. 🙂 Good luck on your pallet garden. They are so much fun.