Planting Peas/Fighting the Cold Weather/Using Planting Paper

Welcome back.  Almost 3 weeks ago on May 3rd I planted peas.  They have started to sprout but are pretty sparse. I will  have to replant to fill in the row..  Gardening isn't always successful.  I normally have very good gardening results overall.  Usually the weather is the culprit for poor gardening outcomes.  This Spring definitely has been very challenging in regards to weather.

I chose a good year to try using a cold frame. it has proven to be a life-saver for my lettuce and kale.  We have had many very cold nights with temperatures down to the mid twenties.  We have also continued to have snow well into May.  

The above photos were taken on May 9th, the day before Mother's Day.  I remember snow on Mother's Day in years past, but I don't think it was 2 to 3 inches and temps down in the mid twenties.

Getting back to the cold frame, I even added some heat using a heat tape which turns on when the temperatures reaches freezing.   I kept asking myself if this effort was really worth it, but I had some nice lettuce and kale plants started and didn't want to loose them.    

Usually in late April and throughout May, I have lettuce, kale and other greens started in the garden, even onions.  This Spring the temperatures were unusually cold from mid-April to mid-May.

Planting Peas

In my previous post I hinted at a "planting paper experiment".  It all started with the peas.  I have been trying to come up with a way to cut down on weeding and cultivating once the planting is done.  It would be a great time and back saver.  The latter is becoming increasingly important to me with my ongoing back condition.

I have tried mulching with straw and hay, which does work but does in the end increase weeds and grass growing.  I did some research on using newspaper and cardboard.  I finally found garden paper which controls weeds, then decomposes by the end of the growing season and can be tilled into the soil.    

When I planted the peas, I had not yet received the rolls of garden paper.  Enter the new paper grocery bags now being used in NY since plastic bags have been banned.   I cut open some of these which we received from the groceries being delivered during this Covid-19 crisis.   

   

I anchored the paper using landscape fabric staples and extra soil/stones.  I then used a box cutter to cut a strip wide enough to allow the seeds to be poked into the ground and to sprout properly.  

Fast forward to May 24th.  As you can see the sprouts are pretty sparse.  I am going to replant the empty spots and see what happens.  To speed up germination of the replants, I will soak the pea seeds about 8 hrs.

Stay tuned for further updates on the peas, and the planting of the "lower garden".  I have recently planted tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, onions, peppers, pumpkins, and more.

It's Garden Planting Time For Cold Hardy Vegetables/Rare Bird Sighting

Welcome back.  May is here already and for gardeners it is a month to look forward to, especially here in the Northeast.  April was a strange month weather wise as there were some nice days, but it seemed there were more with snow and cold.

My tomatoes, kale, lettuce, onions, Swiss chard and leeks that I started from seed are doing well in my small greenhouse on the porch.  There were quite a few nights that I had to bring plants inside due to the cold temps.

There was enough nice weather to dry out the garden, and on Easter Sunday I tilled the 2 vegetable gardens.  Last fall I added mulched leaves which composted over winter and enhanced the soil this Spring.  Leaves are one of the best things to use for garden soil.

The Cold Frame Experiment

Last Spring I built a wooden enclosure, similar to a raised bed, but at the same level as the garden.  It worked very well to protect the lettuce and greens from critters,  I put netting over it also to further protect it.  During the hottest weather, I used shade cloth (for the first time) to reduce the sun by 30% to prevent bolting of the lettuce.  This also worked very well.  Shade cloth is available in different "strengths" to block varying amounts of sunlight.

This Spring I am experimenting  with a cold frame, using the same frame.  I found 2 old windows at my house and mounted them on the frame with hinges and prop bars to allow solar heating for the plants, and also to maintain a warmer temperature at night.

One advantage of owning an old farmhouse is there are plenty of old windows and doors sitting around.

I planted some of my kale and lettuce plants, and as you can see on the left above, they are struggling so far.  The kale will be fine, as that is extremely hardy.  The lettuce may not, so I bought some Romaine plants on the right above.  My lettuce plants were small, and the transplant shock and cool temperatures may have been too much.  The cold frame works well to warm the soil and produce greenhouse conditions.   At this time last year, I was growing lettuce and kale without the help of the cold frame.  It's been a different Spring for sure.

When the weather warms (the key word is when), the windows can be removed and stored.  I may even put them back on in the fall for some fall lettuce and greens.  The cold frame works well in both Spring and Fall.

Finally, a semi-rare bird sighting the other day, a Rose-Breasted Grosbeak.  I have seen these before, but not every year.  Apparently this bird is migrating, It was here for 2 days only.  Enjoy.

In my next post, I will cover planting peas and my new garden paper experiment.  Stay tuned.