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.