Planting Time~ tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and seeds as well as hot weather

Tonight we had a great time in the garden.  The other day we spread a cubic yard of compost amongst some of the beds, with a really thick layer in the cold bed which is usually planted before we get the compost.  We are behind this year on peas, radishes and such, but some were planted today.  We did the White Hailstone radishes again this year, I think they are my favorite.  Carrots also went in the soil, I am not positive of the variety.  Iceberg lettuce and Ching Chang bok choy seed also went in.  As well as plants from the local cheap greenhouse, those were a four pack of Early Girls, I think eight Jalepenos, and twelve Cal Wonder bells.  We never seem to have too many peppers, so I am going to plant a lot this year.  I also did a four pack of Diva cucumbers and a four pack burpless variety as well.  I sprinkled the last of my multi-colored beets and hope the best, the seed is pretty old.

Many sunflowers are coming up from last year, I am going to transplant some of them to other beds.  We enjoyed looking at the huge plants and flowers and the bees and other pollinators really enjoyed them as well.  The front flower beds are such a cheery sight.  The Hyacinthia and many other bulbs were such a welcome to spring.  I am going to continue to plant a few more things in the beds so there are new flowers pretty regularly.  There are a few iris blooms that should be next and the lilies leaves are up and going as well. 

Unseasonably hot is the theme of the week.  Today was like 93 degrees, but it is supposed to go back down into the 70s this week with some rain thankfully.  I am not ready for that heat and I always enjoy the spring rain for the garden.

Ripe Cherry Tomato :)

Woo hoo, we had our first ripe cherry tomato and there is an early girl that is starting to turn.  The zucchinis and yellow squash are starting to get with the program.  Our one yellow squash has a whole bunch of little squash on it, probably at least a dozen.  I think I saw a tiny crookneck while I was weed-eating the path beside it's box.  I need to check that out tomorrow because they are best pretty small usually and grow quick.  Still getting chard and the kale is huge and not seeming threatened by the hot weather at all.  More blueberries are ripening and things are looking good in the garden ;)

Pretty beets and a bit more harvested

We got to harvest another great veggie from the garden yesterday, beets.  Mainly they were the fun bulls eye target looking Chioggia.  God is so creative!  Some things I grow just amaze me at the fun design or color.  We also harvested more chard, some lettuce, and lots more peas.  I weeded the small bed that had gotten out of control a bit with weeds and planted carrots, lots of carrots, little seeds and little boys don't always go so well together.  I cooked up the beets as well as the yummy greens and threw in a green onion I harvested as well.

Planting Season continues

Today I planted in flats melons and watermelons.  I planted many seeds of each type.  I planted Orangeglo Watermelons, Banana Melons, Mountain Hoosier Watermelon, Kansas Melon, and Million Dollar Melon.  I think I am a little late getting my melon seeds started, but I don't like them to get very big before they get transplanted.  I need to get my cucumbers and squash started soon, maybe I will get them started today as well.

I also did a flat of flowers.  A couple of types of marigolds, a pansy, and viola.  I also direct seeded some Mother of Pearl Poppies, I hope they come up and are a pretty as the picture.

All of these seed varieties named and the poppy picture came from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds.  I like the selection and heirloom seed preservation from Baker Creek.  I wish I could make it out to one of their festivals sometime, I am sure they are fun.  Their catalog is the best I have seen, wonderful pictures and honest, accurate descriptions.  It is such a good quality catalog it is worth keeping around as a reference book.

Everything is looking great so far in the garden, we have some flowers on the peas and have eaten a few radishes.

Happy Gardening

Planting Season transplanting

Yesterday and today I transplanted most of my pepper and tomato plants, it has been pretty warm here and the weather is supposed to stay that way.  I am going to keep a close eye on them to be safe.  My tomatoes were not doing all that amazing this year, but my pepper seemed to have all made it and are great.  I think the tomatoes will pull out of it once they get a little established in the bed.  I am thinking they didn't have enough room in the peat pots I used.  I don't think I will be using them again. 

The tomatoes that were transplanted were:
Purple Russian
White Currants
Burbank
Wapsipinicon Peach
Kootenai
Mystery Seeds

I am excited about the Purple Russian, I let weeds get away from me last year so I didn't get very many of these, I think they are going to be great.  I did get many of the Wapsipinicon Peach last year and they  were one of my favorites, great taste and just a fun variety.  Last year I received some seeds from Winter Sown since I like to experiment I asked for a mixed cherry and a mixed tomato seed packets.  It was very fun trying to identify and getting to try some new things, so those are the mystery seeds.  I hope to see how the Kootenai taste, I am sure they are going to be better than store bought no matter what, I am mainly growing them because they are so early and originated in Idaho.  I use almost exclusively heirloom seed, but I am wanting to try the new Idaho variety tomatoes that the University of Idaho has been developing.  They are open pollinated and should be great producers in Idaho.

For peppers I have
Jalapeno
Alma Paprika
Yellow Monster
and some more I can't think of off the top of my head

I think I am going to have plenty of Jalapenos this year, they did by far the best seedlings.  I am excited to try some paprika peppers to see if I can make my own paprika.  Yellow Monsters are hopefully going to live up to my hopes for them as well, I really enjoy sweet peppers and these are massive.  See in this picture from Baker Creek!

Happy planting :)