The 2011 O/R Gardening Thread!

[IMGreat101]

Greetings from zone 5a!



Post your garden or landscape here.

We will be following Farmers' Almanac Gardening Calendar

April 2011
3rd-4th Poor Planting Days. Break Ground Or Cultivate.
5th-6th Favorable For Planting Beans, Corn, Cotton, Tomatoes, Peppers, And Other Aboveground Crops.
7th-8th Poor Days For Planting, Seeds Tend To Rot In The Ground.
9th-10th Plant Tomatoes, Beans, Peppers, Corn, Cotton, And Other Aboveground Crops On These Most Fruitful Days. Plant Seedbeds. Start Flower Gardens.
11th-15th Grub Out Weeds, Briars, And Other Plant Pests.
16th-17th First Day Good For Planting Corn, Melons, Squash, Tomatoes, And Other Aboveground Crops. Last Day Favorable For Planting Root Crops. All Days Favorable For Sowing Grains, Hay And Fodder Crops, And For Planting Flowers.
18th-20th Good Days For Planting Beets, Carrots, Radishes, Turnips, Peanuts, And Other Root Crops. Also Good For Cabbage, Cauliflower, Lettuce, Kale, Celery, And Other Leafy Vegetables. Start Seedbeds. Good Days For Transplanting.
21st-22nd Barren Days. Do No Planting.
23rd-25th Favorable Days For Planting Beets, Carrots, Turnips, Radishes, Onions, And Other Root Crops.
26th-27th Excellent Time To Kill Weeds, Briars, Poison Ivy, And Other Plant Pests.
28th-29th Favorable Days For Planting Root Crops, Extra Good For Vine Crops. Set Strawberry Plants. Good Days For Transplanting.
30th Poor Planting Day. Break Ground Or Cultivate.


May 2011
1st-2nd Poor Planting, Fine For Cultivating Or Spraying.
3rd-4th Favorable For Planting Beans, Corn, Cotton, Tomatoes, Peppers, And Other Aboveground Crops.
5th-6th Any Seed Planted Now Will Tend To Rot.
7th-8th Most Favorable For Planting Corn, Cotton, Okra, Beans, Peppers, Eggplant, And Other Aboveground Crops. Plant Seedbeds And Flower Gardens.
9th-12th A Barren Period. Good For Killing Plant Pests, Cultivating, Or Taking A Short Vacation.
13th-15th Excellent Time For Planting Corn, Beans, Peppers, And Other Aboveground Crops. Favorable For Sowing Hay, Fodder Crops, And Grains. Plant Flowers.
16th-17th First Day Excellent For Planting Aboveground Crops. Second Day Favorable For Carrots, Beets, Onions, Turnips, And Other Root Crops. Both Days Good For Planting Cabbage, Lettuce And Other Leafy Vegetables, And For Planting Seedbeds. Second Day Good For Transplanting.
18th-20th Do No Planting.
21st-22nd Plant Late Beets, Potatoes, Onions, Carrots, And Other Root Crops.
23rd-25th Kill Plant Pests On These Barren Days.
26th-27th Favorable Time For Planting Late Root Crops. Also Good For Vine Crops That Can Be Planted Now. Set Strawberry Plants. Good Days For Transplanting.
28th-29th Poor Planting, Fine For Cultivating Or Spraying.
30th-31st Root Crops That Can Be Planted Now Will Yield Well. Good Days For Transplanting.

[IMGreat101]

A few flowers are blooming.







The Main Plot

The bean fence is being reworked and relocated.

Before



Cleaned up and tilled.

[IMGreat101]

Something got into the rhubarb and nearly killed it all. The entire fifty foot row is gone except for a couple of babies.





We suspect a borer type invasion. Likely a hummingbird moth. We lost our entire iris patch a couple years ago to this type of pest.

[IMGreat101]

After tilling we moved the bean fence to the furthest north part of the main plot.

6 - 8ft t-posts and 80 ft of fence

Set the line for the row.



Driving the posts. I had to stand on a bucket to reach these.



It is hard to see the fence goes just above the posts. It is 7ft-2 in.. Just a little taller than the old fence.

[IMGreat101]

Before clean up. Plants from last year and cages.



After clean up.



This is where squash, zucchini, onions will be planted. The garlic will also be transplanted here.

[IMGreat101]

From left to right.

Row 1 - Lettuce/greens/okra

Row 2 - Basil, misc.

Row 3 - Peppers/eggplant

Row 4 - Chard/Collards/Potatoes

Row 5 - Beets/tomatoes

Row 6 - Tomatoes

Row 7 - Beans/Peas/cucumbers/spaghetti squash

[IMGreat101]

One third of a row of russets.
Dig a one foot furrow, yes it needs to be that deep, and place taters in.



Cover the taters.

[Pinki]

Looking good -- any updates?

[IMGreat101]

Thyme, oregano, fennel, tarragon, sage, salad burnet are all located here. There are other raised beds around the house that have parsley (flat leaf and curly), chives (garlic and onion) and more thyme.


Before clean up.



After clean up.

[IMGreat101]

Daffy's





Triangle Terraced Bed

There has been a lot of erosion over the winter. We use long strand sphagnum moss plugged in between the rocks. This will get redone this year.

[IMGreat101]

Marble flower towers.

Daddy, Mommy, Baby. Notice the happy bunch of onion chives at the edge of the rocks.

[Jenna]

Lots of deliciousness waiting to come out!

[Pinki]

Very cool -- looking forward to seeing the growing progress!

[IMGreat101]

French Breakfast Radishes



These are very mild and a great as a snack or on a salad.

[Pinki]

French Breakfast Radishes



These are very mild and a great as a snack or on a salad.

Wow, it feels like you just planted and you are already harvesting! They look very nice!

[Jenna]

Wow, it feels like you just planted and you are already harvesting! They look very nice!

+1

Instant gratification!

[IMGreat101]

The raised triangle bed is filling out.



Our Garden Security Officer (verification pm has been sent) BONKERS.

[Jenna]

Our Garden Security Officer (verification pm has been sent) BONKERS.

Almost falling asleep on the job....

[IMGreat101]

Planting the tomatoes.

Dig holes about 14 inches by 6 inches deep, two feet apart.



Drive the support post about 1 ft into the ground. Set and tie off the cage.



The tomatoes are coming along nicely.

[Pinki]

Looking great!