April 2019 Edible Garden Planner

Late April lettuce bed

Sunday, March 31, 2019

April showers bring May flowers, fruits, herbs and vegetables.  Now is the perfect time to get serious on getting your spring garden planted and sowed!

Crops to plant in April

Early April is a perfect time to plant cold season crops like Brussels sprouts, fava beans, beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, collards, kale, lettuce, mustard, onions, parsley, parsnips, peas, potatoes, radishes, shallots, spinach, strawberries, Swiss chard and turnips.  Outdoor transplant calendar

I am giving the broccoli family a rest this year since I had pests on these last year.  Without their favorite food to feast on, they should move on for next year's garden.  If the summer looks good, I may plant them for fall harvests because they love the cool temps of fall, too.

We can still get frosts in April so you want to hold off on planting warm season crops outdoors like tomatoes, eggplant, peppers and squash until May unless you cover them or bring them indoors if frost does visit your garden.  Extend the season with protection for plants

I have already planted lettuce, spinach, and kale.  I'll likely be planting cabbage, leeks, cilantro, chervil, rat's tail, beets, radishes, bulb onions and potatoes this month.  Overwintered celery, parsley, carrots, chives, onions, cultivated dandelion, sorrel, tarragon, sage, thyme, arugula and corn salad are up and ready to eat.

To keep yourself in lettuce all season, do succession planting of new seeds or plants every 2-3 weeks.  Just plant the number you would normally eat in a 2-3 week period.  This will keep salads on the table continuously.  Want continuous harvests? Succession planting! 

If this is your first year in gardening, here are some pointers on what to choose what to grow and get your garden going What to plant for your first garden  Easy kitchen garden   If you don't have much space, you can still grow a garden either in pots or in a garden space as little as 6' x 6' Grow a Sicilian/Italian kitchen garden in as little as 6' x 6'

Fertilize

When you plant, make sure to fertilize and add mycorrhizae in each planting hole. Mycorrhizae are beneficial microbes that help your plant roots absorb nutrients from the soil.  Once mycorrhizae is added in that spot, it will live on in the soil so it does not have to be reapplied next year in that spot.

I like to apply fertilizer, add a thick layer of compost and top with mulch before I begin planting.  Just mulch by itself breaks down and adds organic matter to the soil.  This year I was slow to get the soil sample done so we have already mulched to keep the weeds down.  Weed free, self fertilizing, till free garden beds

If you didn't do a soil test (you can use a kit from a garden store/big box store or have your local extensions office analyze it), use a balanced organic fertilizer like Espoma at the rate recommended.  You can make your own all natural, organic fertilizer, too, inexpensively.  Here is the link:  Make your own fertilizer, it's all natural and inexpensive  If you did not fertilize the entire garden bed before planting, be sure to add fertilizer to each planting hole per the directions on the package.  Crops will need that burst of energy for the quick growth that spring brings. 

If you want to have an in-depth soil analysis done to create a fertilizer specific to your soil, here is a blog on who to send your sample to and how to get a personal fertilizer recipe  The next step in garden production and your nutrition-soil minerals

If you are re-using pots from last year, here is a link to get your potting soil ready to nourish your new plants:  Re-energize your potting soil!  It is important to get your potting soil ready to support this season's growth and veggie production.  Be sure when you fertilize to mix it into the soil or apply before you put down a protective and organic layer of mulch.  This keeps the nitrogen from oxidizing and escaping into the air instead of staying in the ground to nourish your plant.

Chives and lettuce in  mid-April garden

Frost date importance

The last frost date in our area is around April 15th.  This is important to know if you are planting seeds.   Frost date look up  The packet tells you when to plant in relation to your last frost date.  You will get the best results following the packet instructions.  Planting early is not always a good strategy as different seeds need different soil temperatures before they will germinate.  Plant too early and they can rot before they have a chance to sprout.  When to plant your veggies

Pots will warm up quicker, but will also chill down faster.  You can put them in a sheltered spot to get a jump on spring.  Putting your pots on the south side of the house will provide the maximum warmth.  I love planting greens in large self watering pots that I keep on the patio, making it handy for picking a fresh salad for dinner, and to move to a cooler spot in the hot days of summer.

When growing veggies in containers, they will require more watering and more liquid fertilizer than if they were in the ground.  In the summer, you may have to water some water lovers every day.  For more on growing in pots.  Decorative container gardening for edibles  
With the self-watering pots, your watering duties will be greatly reduced.

Lettuce, greens, and herbs do fabulous this month.  It is the time to indulge in daily salads. and smoothies.  Cool temperatures and lots of moisture produce the sweetest greens of the season.  

Everything you need to know about growing lettuce  Grow your own smoothie and juice garden

Outdoor transplant calendar

Garden bed and pots ready for planting!

Sunday, March 24, 2019

If starting your garden from seeds is not your thing, you can get baby veggie, herb and fruit plants that are ready to be planted directly into the garden or pot.  Big box stores, hardware stores, local nurseries, flea markets and farmers markets all have plants.  This makes it easy to get your garden going in the spring.  You can find many heirloom fruits and veggies nowadays.  

There are a few veggies that I have not seen as plants such as radishes, beets, carrots, turnips, corn, peas and beans.  Root crops don't like to be disturbed so you don't find these as transplants.  Corn, peas, and beans sprout so easily from seed that there isn't a big market for transplants.   

You can plant either in a garden bed or pot.  I really liked growing our greens like lettuce, spinach, chard, and sorrel in a pot I leave close to the back door, making it super convenient to get greens for salads.  Peppers and eggplant seem to do especially well in pots.

I would prepare the beds first with fertilizer and mulch before planting.  You can do a soil test yourself or send off for one if you want to create a fertilizer specific to your needs.   See this post for details The next step in garden production and your nutrition-soil minerals  If this is over the top for you, just use a good organic fertilizer at the recommended rate, an inch of compost, and cover with mulch.  You want to make sure your fertilizer is covered or you will lose a good portion of the nitrogen to the atmosphere.  I love gardening in mulch for many reasons that you can read about here:  Weed free, self fertilizing, till free garden beds

If planting in pots, be sure that you have prepared your potting soil to support robust growth of your transplants.  Last year's potting soil will be spent and need amendments.  Re-energize your potting soil!

For succession planting when purchasing transplants, get different varieties of the same veggie with different days to harvest.  When one is played out, the next variety will be ready to eat.  Want continuous harvests? Succession planting!

Here is the by month planting calendar for a Zone 6 or 7 garden.  There are so many early and late varieties available that you should consult the plant label on the safest outdoor planting times (listed as the weeks before or after your last frost date Frost date look up).

February (as soon as soil can be worked)

Asparagus (will not harvest for 2-3 years)

Fruit trees and bushes

Garlic

Grapes

Shallots

March

Arugula

Asparagus (will not harvest for 2-3 years)

Broccoli

Cabbage

Chamomile

Chives

Collards

Cress

Fruit bushes

Kale

Kohlrabi

Leek

Lettuce (look for a variety to have longer harvest)

Mache (corn salad)

Mustard

Onion

Potatoes

Rhubarb

Spinach (look for a variety to have longer harvest)

Strawberries

April

Artichoke

Bee balm (monarda)

Borage

Broccoli

Brussels sprouts

Catnip

Cauliflower

Celeriac

Celery

Chard

Cilantro

Cucumber

Dill

Endive

Fennel

Fruit bushes

Horseradish

Lavender

Lemon balm

Lettuce

Lovage

Mizuna

Mustard

Onions

Parsley

Potatoes

Radicchio

Spinach

Strawberries

Summer squash (like zucchini)

Tarragon

Thyme

Valerian

May

Basil

Bay

Eggplant

Fig tree

Lemon verbena

Marjoram

Melons (cantaloupe, watermelons)

Mint

Okra

Onions

Oregano

Peppers

Potatoes

Rosemary

Sage

Malabar & New Zealand spinach

Stevia

Sweet potato

Winter squash (like pumpkins and butternut squash)

Tomatoes

June

Collards
Cucumbers
Eggplant
Okra
Summer Squash (like Zucchini)
Sweet Potatoes
Tomatoes
Watermelons

July
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Celery
Collards
Tomatoes

August
Kale
Lettuce
Mustard
Spinach

September
Kale
Lettuce
Winter Onions
Spinach

October
Asparagus
Garlic
White Onions

November
Asparagus
Garlic
Winter Onions

Most of the planting in July and later is for fall and winter harvesting.  There are exceptions like tomatoes and summer squash.  These are planted so that you continue to get a robust harvest well into fall.  For more on fall and winter edible garden planting see  Time to plant for fall and winter harvests!   Plant a last minute edible fall/winter garden
For other tips on warming the soil and keeping warm season crops protected for early planting, see Extend the season with protection for plants

What to plant in the March garden

Sprouting broccoli

Saturday, March 23, 2019

It has been looking and feeling like spring this couple of weeks.  The grass is turning green, the daffodils, forsythias, and hyacinths are blooming.  It's a great time to start spring planting outdoors and seed starting indoors.

The lettuce seeds I sowed in my portable greenhouse a month ago are about 4" or so tall.   The chard, sorrel, chickweed, arugula  corn salad, and sprouting broccoli are all going strong, having overwintered in the portable greenhouse.  My Egyptian walking onions are vibrant in both the garden and pot.  They do well year round.  I am harvesting the greens and onions each day.

Our local hardware store and big box stores have transplants in for cold crops like lettuce, spinach, cabbage, kale, chard and onions as well as herbs like rosemary, basil, chives, and lavender.  It's a little early for basil to be planted outdoors.  Plant basil when you plant your tomatoes.  You could put it in a pot indoors to give it a head start.

Care of veggies you can plant now:

Spinach (Bordeaux, Giant Winter, Oriental Giant)-ready to harvest in 30-45 days

Grow spinach-a super nutritious, easy green

Beets-ready to harvest in 60 days

All about beautiful beets

Chard (Perpetual, Fordhook Giant, Verde Taglio, Neon Glow)-ready to harvest in 50-70 days

For year round steamed greens, grow chard!

Lettuce mix (red and green varieties)-ready to harvest in 29-60 days

Everything you need to know about growing lettuce

Carrots (Rainbow, Gniff, Cosmic Purple)-ready to harvest in 60-110 days.  Can harvest sooner as baby carrots.  All you need to know about growing carrots

Onions (Australian Brown, Flat of Italy, Bronze d'Amposta)-ready to harvest in 70-150 days

Everything to know about growing onions

Radishes-ready to harvest in 20-30 days

Easy to grow crispy, peppery radishes

Turnips-ready to harvest 40-55 days

All about turnips

Greens (Belle Isle Cress, Corn Salad or Vit or Lamb's Lettuce or Mache, Black Magic Kale, Chervil)-ready to harvest in 50-70 days

Growing fabulous lettuce and greens  Grow one of the super greens this year-kale

Broccoli-ready to harvest in 50-250 days depending on the variety

How to grow broccoli and cauliflower

Cabbage-ready to harvest in 45-90 days

Cabbage is nutritious and easy to grow

Herbs-parsley, chives, rosemary, thyme

Start a kitchen herb garden!

Peas-ready to harvest 40-70 days depending on the variety

Time to plant peas!

Potatoes-ready to harvest 2.5 to 4 months

Time to plant potatoes, even if you only have a patio

Planting the seeds and plants in the mini greenhouse will keep them much warmer and protect them from freezing temps we will continue to get until May.  They'll sprout and grow faster.  

Extend the season with protection for plants

Mini greenhouse covering 3 large pots

Leafy greens like nitrogen.  Root crops like potassium.  You can get nitrogen from compost, alfalfa, soybean meal or fish emulsion.  Potassium can be gotten from green sand via its potash content.  Fish emulsion actually gives not only nitrogen, but also potassium and phosphorous.

After planting, I watered in the pots with fish emulsion.  Germination takes anywhere from 4-15 days for most seeds under the right temperatures.  Ideal soil temperatures for starting your seeds

Happy planting! 

Outdoor seed starting times

Garden bed ready for outdoor sowing

Sunday, March 17, 2019

If indoor seed starting is not your thing, but you still want to have the variety and cost effectiveness of seeds, you can direct sow your seeds directly into the garden.  If you are planting in mulch, be sure to open a hole in the mulch, plant the seed to the depth on the seed packet and cover with potting soil.  Mulch can form a hard crust that only the strongest seedling (like beans and squash) can break through.

I would prepare the beds first with fertilizer and mulch before starting seeds.  You can do a soil test yourself or send off for one if you want to create a fertilizer specific to your needs.   See this post for details The next step in garden production and your nutrition-soil minerals  If this is over the top for you, just use a good organic fertilizer at the recommended rate, an inch of compost, and cover with mulch.  You want to make sure your fertilizer is covered or you will lose a good portion of the nitrogen to the atmosphere.  I love gardening in mulch for many reasons that you can read about here:  Weed free, self fertilizing, till free garden beds

Here is the by month seed sowing calendar for a Zone 6 or 7 garden.  There are so many early and late varieties available that you should consult the seed packet on the best outdoor sowing times (always listed as the weeks before your last frost date Frost date look up) as you may be able to sow the seeds even sooner outdoors than has been typical in the past.

You can plant either in a garden bed or pot.  Lately, I have really liked sowing seeds in a pot I leave on the deck so I can keep them moist and watch them more closely.  I also like to start cold season crops like lettuce and spinach super early in a pot under a portable greenhouse.  This gives a quick start to growing.  When the seedlings have sprouted and have at least a second set of leaves, I transplant into the garden bed or long term pot.  Outdoor seed starting tips

You can also practice succession planting which means planting a few seeds of the same crop every 2-3 weeks so that you get a continuous harvest, like lettuce and spinach.  Want continuous harvests? Succession planting!  Another option is to plant early, mid or late types of the same veggie all at the same time so you have them ready for harvest for a longer period of time.

February (as soon as soil can be worked)

Asparagus

Fruit trees and bushes

Garlic

Grapes

Peas

Shallots

March

Arugula

Asparagus

Beets

Broccoli

Cabbage

Carrots

Chamomile

Chives

Collards

Cress

Fava beans

Fruit bushes

Kale

Kohlrabi

Leek

Lettuce (sow every 2 weeks if you are a salad lover for continuous salads)

Mache (corn salad)

Mustard

Onion

Parsnips

Peas

Potatoes

Rhubarb

Spinach (sow every 2 weeks through early May)

Turnips

April

Artichoke

Beans (snap-bush & pole)

Bee balm (monarda)

Borage

Broccoli

Brussels sprouts

Carrots

Catnip

Cauliflower

Celeriac

Celery

Chard

Cilantro

Corn

Cucumber

Dill

Endive

Fennel

Fruit bushes

Horseradish

Lavender

Lemon balm

Lettuce

Lovage

Mizuna

Mustard

Onions

Parsley

Potatoes

Radicchio

Radishes

Spinach

Summer squash (like zucchini)

Tarragon

Thyme

Valerian

May

Basil

Bay

Beans (dry & lima)

Edamame

Eggplant

Lemon verbena

Marjoram

Melons (cantaloupe, watermelons)

Mint

Okra

Onions

Oregano

Peppers

Potatoes

Rosemary

Sage

Malabar & New Zealand spinach

Stevia

Sweet potato

Winter squash (like pumpkins and butternut squash)

Tomatoes

June

Bush beans
Beets
Carrots
Collards
Corn
Cowpeas
Cucumbers
Eggplant
Okra
Salsify
Summer Squash (like Zucchini)
Sweet Potatoes
Tomatoes
Turnips
Watermelons

July
Bush beans
Beets
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower
Celery
Collards
Corn
Salsify
Tomatoes
Turnips

August
Bush Beans
Beets
Kale
Lettuce
Mustard
Radishes
Spinach
Turnips

September
Kale
Lettuce
Winter Onions
Radishes
Spinach

October
Asparagus
Garlic
White Onions
Rutabaga

November
Asparagus
Garlic
Winter Onions
Rutabaga

You can plant later than is shown above; just not earlier for risk of it being too cold for the seed sprout and the seed may rot.  The warm season crops, ones planted in May, don't like getting their feet cold so a little later can actually help them to grow faster.  Ideal soil temperatures for seed starting

Most of the sowing in July and later is for fall and winter harvesting.  There are exceptions like tomatoes, beans, corn and summer squash.  These are planted so that you continue to get a robust harvest well into fall.  For more on fall and winter edible garden planting see  Time to plant for fall and winter harvests!  Plant a last minute edible fall/winter garden

For other tips on warming the soil and keeping warm season crops protected for early planting, see Extend the season with protection for plants

Quick tip-Time for lawn pre-emergent

Forsythia bushes in bloom on right

Saturday, March 16, 2019

When the forsythia blooms, it is time to use corn gluten on your lawn to keep weed seeds from sprouting!

Corn gluten is the all natural way to control weeds, no chemicals required.  Corn gluten is also a fertilizer and will green up your lawn.  Be sure to apply corn gluten every year to keep your weeds in check.  The trick to not using herbicides is to not let the weeds get going.  Using corn gluten every spring is a foundation to keeping those pesky weeds from gaining a stronghold in your lawn..  

One watch out, corn gluten will keep all seeds from sprouting, so do not use on any area where you want to plant seeds, like your garden beds.  On the other hand, if you have self seeders you want to control, corn gluten is perfect.

For more on all natural, chemical free lawn care  Organic, all natural lawn

Time to get your spring garden bed ready for planting

Spring edible and decorative garden

Sunday, March 10, 2018

Mid-March is the time to get your beds ready for spring!  Add compost, fertilizer and mulch before planting your spring veggies, herbs and fruits.  

Spring edible garden

It's a good idea to go ahead and get your bed prepared with all the nutrition your plants will need before planting and mulching.  This also avoids damaging your plants while mulching around them or planting them too deep.  You want to wait until it is starting to warm up so the soil under the mulch is not too cold.  I like to mulch right before I plant, providing some supplemental heat to my new transplants.  I mulch my edible garden to keep weeds down, provide organic material to the garden bed, moderate the soil temperature for the entire growing season, and keep moisture in the soil during the summer.  Weed free, self fertilizing, till free garden beds

Ideally, you would test your soil to determine what nutrients your bed needs.  If you take your soil samples to your local county Co-op Extension office, you can get your soil tested for free in many counties or you can send off for a more thorough analysis.  The next step in garden production and your nutrition-soil minerals    You can also buy a do it yourself kit at the big box stores or your local nursery.  A do it yourself kit will give you the basics of pH, nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium (NPK).

This spring, we will put down an organic fertilizer Re-Vita Pro 5-4-4 or Espoma for the vegetable garden.    You can also make your own fertilizer that is less expensive.  Make your own fertilizer, it's all natural and inexpensive   Then, we add a layer of compost and top with mulch.  We used to buy our compost, but have been making our own over the last couple of years.  Composting is possible in small spaces or even indoors 

The local CSA gardener told me a couple of years ago that it is important to not let your fertilizer just lay on top of the ground as many of the nutrients will be lost, especially the nitrogen.

Planting time is here!

Starting an edible garden

Edibles in the flower bed

Saturday, March 9, 2019

Spring brings visions of blooming flowers and fresh vegetables at their peak flavor.  If you are thinking of starting an edible garden, you don't need much space to get a lot of fresh produce and even fruits.  Here are the steps to get started.     

Step 1  I think the best way is to make a list of what you like to eat, then see which of your favorites are best to start in your garden for each season.  There is no time like the present to get moving on your gardening dreams!  For an overview of plants by season, Planning for a four season garden  If you want to start with the easiest plants to grow, do what I did and start a kitchen herb garden.  Herbs thrive under neglect.  Start a kitchen herb garden!

The biggest mistake beginners make is starting too big.  For your first garden, herbs and 5-7  of your favorite veggies are plenty to get your feet wet, are easy to manage, and will give you a good start.  How do you decide what to grow?

Step 2  Now that you have your list, take a look at your flower garden, patio, deck, porch, front yard to see how much space you have that gets 6 hours of sun a day.  There are so many dwarf varieties of every kind of vegetable to grow in pots or small spaces that you should not be put off thinking you don’t have enough space!  Surprising veggies that can be grown in pots  Plus growing compact varieties significantly lessens the work by using less space that you have to care for.  A real win-win.  How to decide what to plant for small spaces?

Potted veggies with flowers in foreground, herb and veggie garden in flower bed in background

Step 3  Buy your supplies for your garden bed or pot.  Pots are easy-just buy some organic potting soil and the decorative pot.  Most potting soils come with fertilizer already mixed in.   You do not want to use garden soil as it is too dense for pots.  Make sure you buy the right size pot for the vegetable you are growing.  I highly recommend using self-watering pots as they cut down significantly on how often you have to water in the summer.  For the size of pot needed by veggie type, check out this blog  Decorative container gardening for edibles

If you are going to plant in your garden bed, your mulched flower bed is a great choice to add veggies, too!  If planting in your flower bed or garden, the best thing to do is a soil test (you can buy a kit or take it to your local co-op extension office).  If this just seems too much trouble, buy an organic balanced fertilizer and compost.  Apply a 2” thick layer of compost, top with the fertilizer (following the label’s directions), cover with fresh mulch and you are ready to plant. 

For more on preparing your garden bed for planting, Weed free, self fertilizing, till free garden beds for a deep dive or for a quick overview Easy ways to make a new vegetable garden bed

Step 4  Buy your plants.  I prefer to buy plants that are raised without chemicals so I look for an organic nursery to see if they have what I want.  Your local farmers market usually has plants for sell, too, in the spring and early summer.  My next stop is my local nursery or big box hardware store.  Bonnie plants that most big box stores carry starting offering organic veggies last year.

Choose the plants that are green and look sturdy.  If they already have blooms, be sure to remove them.  You want all the energy of your plants going into good roots initially.

Potted veggies and fruit trees with flowers on patio

Step 5  Plant!  Water each plant well before planting.  In the spring, I like to look for a cloudy, warm spell.   Gives the plants a little time to get their roots jump started.  Spring edible garden

For potted veggie or herbs, fill the pot with organic potting soil, water to get the potting soil settled, plant the veggie, and water again.  You can top with mulch to keep lengthen the time between waterings.  I also plant flowers in my pots to add color and attract beneficial insects.  Make your own organic potting soil

I like to put a handful of worm castings into each hole with the new plant.  Worm castings have lots of beneficial microbes in them that helps the plants absorb nutrients from the soil.  You can also make your own fertilizer if you want to; it's very cost effective and easy.  Make your own all natural, complete fertilizer

Step 6  Monitor and water.  Keep an eye on your plants.  They may look sad the first week if it is really hot when they first go into the ground.  Consistent water is the key for success.  Like a lawn or flowers, the best time to water is in the mornings.  When you water your flowers, water your veggies and herbs.  Remember, the biggest cause of plant death is overwatering.  If the soil is moist a couple of inches down, your plants are fine.  I usually don't start watering in our Zone 6/7 garden until sometime in later June.   You may need to start watering pots sooner.

One watch out on watering, many summer crops are susceptible to leaf fungus, like cucumbers, zucchini, squash, and tomatoes.  Be sure to water at the base of the plant and not the leaves.  Summer garden tips