This is a set of notes for myself, to remember what worked and what didn’t this season, as well as tips and ideas for next year.
Seed starting - need to start much earlier next year. Need to STERILIZE my pods to stave off dampening off.
Tomatoes and peppers as usual, but also start basil, eggplant, winter squash and melons?
Layout - there is not as much space as you think! For climbers, get more nylon netting and run it all around the perimeter.
DON’T use the TeePees in the corner. Took up too much space and hard to work around.
Corner by the house gets a good amount of shade during the day, so plant cold-weather crops in that area.
Vermiculite and peat moss are in place. Just compost heavily in the spring - good nitrogen base.
Snap Peas - start earlier (really need to calendar everything in February and follow plan). More! Wrap around entire corner by house - up netting. Take up plenty of hanging space b/c beans will chase them. However, don’t plant spreading things below that will cut off access (maybe plant tomb thumb lettuce spread out and a row of radishes to keep pests away - green onions too)
Onions - good first attempt this year! Look at getting sweet whites and reds - start them EARLY and don’t leave the tips poking out of the ground so much. Don’t forget to plant green onions either. Remember that green onion/carrot/beats are a good combo
Lettuce - Spread the mixed greens more judiciously. Evenly space the Tomb Thumbs and any other head lettuce. KEEP UP ON THE HARVEST and pull when they start dying back from heat. Need protector (nasturtums? radishes?) to keep slugs and other pests away.
Though it can be done, I have not had much luck with planting lettuce under big plants. It really just needs its own place.
Never did well w/spinach. Skip it next year?
Radishes - we really don’t eat that many. The true benefit is to intersperse and keep pests away. French breakfast are divine!
Tomatoes - think about planting determinates for sauce tomatoes. Spread them out much more. More grape tomatoes since they are the most popular. 9 plants? 3 sauce, 3 grape, 3 slicers?
Zucchini - Not a climber! Takes a LOT of space. Only one green and one yellow plant and don’t plant anything else w/in 3 feet.
Dill - don’t plant it in the asparagus!!! They look the same.
Beets - start a 2nd round around early July. Make sure to thin once leaves start getting big.
Carrots - space better and thin. Babies are no good b/c they are hard to peel. Look for big, straight carrots that are easier to clean/peel. Start 2nd round around early July. Plant w/ beets and green onions.
Winter Squash - start inside earlier. Keep on top of the growth and train them up the netting.
Melons - start inside earlier. Constantly train them so they don’t get tangled. Some up the netting?
Edamame - japanese beetles love it! Hopefully the milky spore and beneficial nematodes will take care of that problem next year. Remember good spacing, start a 2nd round or succession plant. Harvest just before they turn yellow.
