Planting started (5A-_Des Moines, IA)

Well, I have two 4x4 beds built and filled with Mel's Mix. Vermiculite is tough to come by around here, as is varied compost. So, my mix is perhaps lighter on the Vermiculite (75-85% of being 1/3). The compost is also a "mixed-bag."

For compost I was able to get some manure/humus, composted manure (different brand), Oma-Gro from City of Omaha, and "Garden Compost" from Wal-Mart that seems to include Peat Moss, but is still pretty heavy.

I'm hoping I got the seeds in early enough. My 10% Frost Date is between May 2 and May 9, so that is the only date I knew to go by until I saw the link above in this forum. Just found it was the 10% date and the 50% date is actually April 27.

So, with that in mind, this is what I have in (and dates)

Brocolli and Cabbage transplants: April 14.
Strawberry (roots): Apr 14
Raspberry (bush): 4/17
Asparagus (roots): 4/18


Seeds
Apr 14:

• Spinach
  
• Lettuce
  

Apr 15:

• Radishes
  
• Sugar Snap Peas
  
• White Onions ("bulbs")
  
• Carrots
  

Apr 17

• Swiss Chard
  
• Beets
  

Apr 18

• Carrots
  
• Kohlrabi
  
• Beets
  
• Radishes
  
• Mesclun
  

Let me know what you think and let me know if I'm too late with anything. This is my first year of SFG, and my first year trying to do this in Early Spring.

I look forward to participating in the forums this year and posting some pics once anything comes up!

Late with anything? Nope, I'd say you're early with some of it, but hey, the weather's been great. I am scared to put the carrots or radishes in yet, as in Wisconsin, it's been known to snow/freeze in April. I'm getting anxious to finish my one bed, but so far I've only planted the peas, spinach and swiss chard from seed. I'm still waiting a bit on lettuce, carrots and radishes. I'm thinking that maybe I'll take the "risk" and leap in with the carrots, radishes and lettuces next week or so....that's still way earlier than I've ever started anything outside before. Typically I'm not planting anything here til mid to end of May, however, this is my first raised bed garden, so, hopefully that and the weather will make all the difference.

Happy Gardening!!!

silverbug wrote:Late with anything? Nope, I'd say you're early with some of it, but hey, the weather's been great. I am scared to put the carrots or radishes in yet, as in Wisconsin, it's been known to snow/freeze in April. I'm getting anxious to finish my one bed, but so far I've only planted the peas, spinach and swiss chard from seed. I'm still waiting a bit on lettuce, carrots and radishes. I'm thinking that maybe I'll take the "risk" and leap in with the carrots, radishes and lettuces next week or so....that's still way earlier than I've ever started anything outside before. Typically I'm not planting anything here til mid to end of May, however, this is my first raised bed garden, so, hopefully that and the weather will make all the difference.

Happy Gardening!!!

I'm with you on the "never put out anything this early before" as this is waaay earlier than I've put anything in before. I picked up some 1/2" PVC that I'm putting up so if it does cool off in a couple of weeks here in Central Iowa I can throw a blanket over my "tent."

Good luck in Wisconsin with the weather. I hope the MidWest warm spell is reaching up there and I hope it lasts steadily through the next couple of weeks.

Welcome Judge Kemp to the 5a thread . Glad you found us here.

As I cruise around all the forums I see people's posts telling us that they are already eating their produce, and I see pictures with big green plants. Then I realize I'm a 5 (actually a 5b), not a 7 or 8! I have a few things in and I feel late! But I'm not. I just looked at my garden notes from last year and I realized that I didn't even have my first box built until June 20 . So I've stopped stressing out!

I have one 2x4, one 2x6, and am adding a 4x4 very soon. Have been spending time building a 2x4 table-top for our neighbors who are in their 90s and can't do their row garden anymore. Do you think I will be able to convert them to SFG?

Today I am finishing up a small box for carrots and hope to mix more soil. SFG is FUN!

Keep us posted on your progress. Put up pictures when you can.

Claire

mckr3441 wrote:Welcome Judge Kemp to the 5a thread . Glad you found us here.

As I cruise around all the forums I see people's posts telling us that they are already eating their produce, and I see pictures with big green plants. Then I realize I'm a 5 (actually a 5b), not a 7 or 8! I have a few things in and I feel late! But I'm not. I just looked at my garden notes from last year and I realized that I didn't even have my first box built until June 20 . So I've stopped stressing out!

I have one 2x4, one 2x6, and am adding a 4x4 very soon. Have been spending time building a 2x4 table-top for our neighbors who are in their 90s and can't do their row garden anymore. Do you think I will be able to convert them to SFG?

Today I am finishing up a small box for carrots and hope to mix more soil. SFG is FUN!

Keep us posted on your progress. Put up pictures when you can.

Claire

I love the idea of building a tabletop 2x4 for an elderly neighbor. I know my neighbor (not elderly) has been following my progress here and likes the idea of getting everything in such a compact spot. I may have already converted him and haven't grown a thing!

It is funny that I'm stressing about time I guess-I'm usually a Mother's Day weekend starter. I just remember last year losing all my brocolli, cauliflower and lettuce because I started so late.

Just added a square of carrots and a square of 25-30 day lettuce from that English seed company tonight. We'll see how they go.