Friday, March 16, 2012

Veggie Garden Transition

Space is my greatest challenge when transitioning from the fall/winter to the spring/summer veggie garden. Many of the veggies I planted in the fall are still productive and spring plantings of onions and potatoes won't be harvested until May.  The majority of my garden space is still in use, so it's time for the hard choices of what goes and what stays.

I need space for the tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and green beans that I want to plant, so I need to take a hard look at the best candidates for removal.  While I find some space and prepare the garden beds, tomato, pepper and basil transplants wait in 1 gallon pots in the greenhouse.


Some removal decisions are easy.  The broccoli, which started flowering when temperatures warmed up, was bee food and then chicken food.  I cut down the plants one by one and fed them to the girls who really seemed to enjoy them.


I have 4 heads of cabbage left, 2 red and 2 green.  I grew extra cabbage for the chickens, because they love it so much.  When one of the green cabbage heads split, it was easy to decide, which one was going to the girls.  The remaining head of green cabbage and the 2 red will go into the fridge assuming I can find space.


These English peas will stay, but some surprise 'wormy' visitors have taken over my lettuce.  I could treat for caterpillars with BT, but in this heat, it won't be long before the lettuce bolts and gets bitter.  It's probably best to give it to the chickens.  Wow, I'm sensing a trend here.  Those chickens are going to be eating good.

I really hate to say goodbye to this Salad Bowl leaf lettuce.  The greens have been some of the most tender lettuces I can remember.  

I can definitely harvest the last of the spinach, beets and radishes.  The beets will make a nice side dish and the spinach and radishes will go into salads. 

The kale is a bit of dilemma.  Most of it looks pretty good, except this one plant that has decided to bolt.  I guess I'll be making a lot of kale chips.

The artichokes are definitely staying.  I planted these back in November and there are already 4 baby artichokes and hopefully lots more to come.
Photo from November 2011
 
Photo from March 2012 
  
Baby Artichoke Developing
The potatoes, which were planted in late January, will stay in the garden until they are harvested in May.  The plants just received their first dirting.  As the plants grow up, more dirt will be place around the stems.
Potatoes Sprouting

Dirted Potatoes
So, this is what I'm working with.  My vegetable plot consists of 12 raised beds measuring 3' X 12' each. There are 6 beds on the left and 6 beds on the right separated by a wide isle.

On the left half of the garden, working from the front of the photo below, the freshly dirted potatoes will stay, but the bed containing the Brussels Sprouts will get cleared out.  The next bed containing the broccoli has already been cleaned out.  Behind the broccoli is the garlic, which will stay, followed by the cabbage, which will get cleared out.  Finally, way in the back, the peas will stay, but the lettuce will get cleared out.

On the right half of the garden, another bed of potatoes, is not quite visible at the front of the photo.  I planted one bed with white potatoes and the other with red.  The primary rutabaga bed at the front of the photo is looking pretty picked over.  Just 6 more rutabaga left and I can clear this bed out.  Behind the rutabaga, a bed containing a mix of beets, spinach and radishes will go.  The next bed contains onions, followed by a bed containing my beautiful kale and more rutabaga.  I'll try to keep these in place for as long as possible.  The final bed in the back contains the artichokes, which will stay.

In August, when the garden is fairly empty, filling the beds with tasty cabbages and rutabagas is a no brainer.  But, in March, when many of the winter plants are still producing, it's tough to decide what goes and what stays.  Of course, the ultimate solution is to expand, and you can bet, I'm already trying to figure that one out.

16 comments:

  1. Sounds like your chickens have a delicious and healthy diet:) I can't wait to plant Artichokes.

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    1. Artichokes are a fun plant to grow. I tucked a few into some ornamental beds as well as the garden. I hope you'll get to plant yours next year.

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  2. You have such a large garden. That's a lot of work, keeping up with it. I struggle to keep up with what I have...which is very much less than yours.
    I love the look of the artichoke. It makes a really pretty plant. I have no room for one. It would have to go behind a fence. I'll have to just enjoy yours.
    Have a great weekend.

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    1. You're right, it does take some work. Fortunately, my hubby pitches in and I have drip irrigation, which saves time.

      Of course, you're welcome to enjoy mine, but I think artichokes are deer resistant. I was wondering if you had tried to grow them before and what your experience was?

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  3. I remember my grand goal was to have two beds - one for spring/summer type veggies and one for fall/winter type veggies. That went out the window the first year we had them because I went and bought 8 tomato plants.

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    1. I totally understand. I have little restraint when it comes to buying transplants. That's why I need more space. There are just too many cool varieties and plants to grow. I want to try them all.

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  4. Your lettuce(s) look so good--that's one thing that I've really missed since I've become a lazy veggie gardener. You have magnificent gardens-very impressive!

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    1. Thank Tina. It does take some work, but grocery shopping in my backyard is very gratifying especially when I look at the prices of food these days.

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  5. Ally, you are the go-to gardener for vegetable information! We must have you on CTG! Yes, I was sad to pull out lettuce this week for the spinner: this early heat is destroying it. I pulled out radishes too. I don't have chickens, but the house bunnies loved the green tops! I ate the radishes. Really, great info, Ally!!

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    1. High praise indeed. Thank you so much. I've been very pleased with how chickens fit into the garden. I love being able to share what I grow with them, and of course, they share back.

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  6. I know how you feel. I'm planning my meals for the next week based on where I need room in the garden. It's a good problem to have though :)

    Laura

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    1. I'm planning lots of meals with rutabaga these days. Pretty soon I'm going to leave them on the neighbor's doorsteps, ring the bell, and dash :)

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  7. You have a very productive garden. I know what you mean about change over of season. All I have left are peas and a bed with chard and beets. I'll have to watch your potatoes because I have planted some for the first time this year. Not sure when to go rooting.

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    1. I planted my potatoes in late January and I expect to harvest sometime in May. I usually let the plants tell me when it's time, but sometimes I get impatient and sneak a few potatoes early. When the plants start looking ratty and falling over, it's usually time to harvest. I'll post some pics in a future blog to keep you updated.

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  8. Ally your garden is just a wonder! I can see it brings a lot of joy to you and us too! The artichokes are beautiful. I wish I had space to grow them...they are pretty as an ornamental.

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    1. We just harvested our first artichoke of the season yesterday. No matter what I grow, I'm always thrilled, awed and excited that anything edible comes from it.

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