Spring Garden is Active, the Summer Garden is Getting Started

The spring planted crops are being harvested as I write. It’s been such a joy to be in the garden, it is every year, but this is one of my best gardens yet.

Here’s what I planted for the spring garden ( also know and cold crops or cool weather crops):

• 55 pounds of seed potatoes of a few varieties, mostly good storage varieties

• 20 cabbages

• 10 broccoli

• 6 Brussel sprouts

• Somewhere around 6-8 kale plants

• 400 onions of various varieties

• Cilantro from seed sprinkled into the onions

• 85 leeks

• Some lettuce and turnips in my cabbage bed

• Several rows of Peas

• 50 ish carrots

• 310 garlic cloves planted last fall

Outside of the potatoes and onions, just about everything will be mature and harvested by the end of June to early July. With the final bit of onions following some time in early to mid July and the potatoes being ready for harvest from mid July to mid August for storage capabilities.

I planted several varieties of potatoes, for a few reasons, the first reason is that I wanted them to mature at various times with the ability to harvest and use potatoes early, mid and late season. The other reason is I wanted to try some new varieties to see how they do in my growing zone. In the past I have not been very successful with potatoes.

In May I ordered a final set of seed potatoes (30 pounds, bringing my total planted to 55 pounds) to plant in a potato tower in hopes of growing enough potatoes to provide for my family for an entire year AND hopefully have enough left over for 2027 seed potatoes so I can avoid purchasing seed potatoes next year. That’s really how you save money with a garden, collect your own seeds.

The Summer garden is flourishing

The summer garden includes 31 tomato plants, which includes 1 cherry, 2 Cherokee and 2 Thorburn, 1 volunteer that I allowed to live, I pulled up many of them and 25 canning tomatoes. My pepper plants are doing well and are already growing some peppers. I planted 70 peppers 65 survived.

I planted pole beans with my tomatoes this year and I’m loving the combo!

The cucumbers, squashes, pumpkins, green beans, and potatoes are all doing very well. My cabbages have reached harvest stage, the broccoli is mostly blanched and in the freezer, the peas are winding down and most of them have been eaten by my toddler or put in the freezer for later. The carrots are almost ready but I’ve already harvested so many to snack on and use for dinner.

Everything will continue to grow and I will harvest as needed and preserve as needed. Last week I harvested 16 pounds of potatoes from a 2.25 pound row of seed potatoes, which gives me a ratio return of 1:7 which is excellent. I was aiming for 1:5.

What am I doing during the pre harvest calm?

Right now, we are in a bit of a lull, my tasks mostly include pulling garlic and onions and leeks and cabbage, weeding, picking bugs, watering, succession planting, and winter crop thinking.

I have pulled about half of my garlic and have started pulling onions. Last week I started my Fall crops indoors, and planted yet another round of green beans and companions, as well as a new round of Dill so that it’s ready when the cucumbers are ready.

Very soon here a lot of plants will be producing all at once and it will be daily harvesting, daily weeding, and daily bug patrols. The only way to stay on top of pests is to check them daily.

I hope your summer gardens are thriving and you’re reaching your goals!