Starting my 2nd year - MM and Compost questions

This is my second year - getting starter later than I wish 'cause we were stuck in North Dakota blizzards for a month on temporary work. My questions:

I uncovered my boxes and was dismayed to find that weeds had sneaked in somehow. Pulled them out (easily! - love this MM), but am concerned about weed seeds left behind.

It has been drier than usual while we were gone - so the MM is a bit dry and caked in some spots, but not everywhere.

So I think I'm supposed to rake with a small tool, and hands, to pull out any leftover roots, then add a few scoops of five-way compost to each square, water it down, and start planting. Am I right?

Compost question - I have a bag of leftover five-way mix from last year. Looks and smells fine. Is it still good? I hate to toss it, but want good stuff on the garden.

And finally - what do the old pros say about this nice streak of warm dry weather? Good time to plant warmer weather stuff? Or assume we'll return to cold and damp and use caution?

Thanks for the help - in advance!

Warbler, your avatar is gorgeous! Is that a view from your house?

I've bagged up and used my compost until it's gone. I don't worry about the age of it.

As for your weather, I'm sure the PNW folks will chime in to help you out, but I use the planting schedules in the back of the ANSFG book along with this calendar to help me figure out what to do:
http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/harwich-ma/02645/may-weather/333623

When I'm confused about doing this or that, I do both then see what works.

Have fun!
CC

My avatar is a pic I took on our favorite hike on Mt Rainier. It is about an hour and a half from our home. Thanks for asking!

Warbler, go to www.weather.com and enter your zip and check your monthly calendar. They forecast pretty well what's to come in your area.
I'm in Maine's 5a zone and just checked mine. Except for this weekend with drops below freezing temps (I'll cover several crops as a preventative) our temps will be in the low- to mid-40s for the lows. Sounds good for me so I'll be putting out some of my warm weather crops next week as planned.
Just remember that they could be wrong about ten degrees so be prepared to cover up at nite.

I too am curious about the process of preparing my garden soil for it's second year... how much compost does one add to the soil from last year? we were thinking of adding fresh mel's mix to "top off" the boxes but do we add extra compost for the soil that is already there?

hmmm....

elysia wrote:I too am curious about the process of preparing my garden soil for it's second year... how much compost does one add to the soil from last year? we were thinking of adding fresh mel's mix to "top off" the boxes but do we add extra compost for the soil that is already there?

hmmm....

I didn't add any MM this year, just compost...about in inch or 2 of it, then mixed it in. You can add enuff compost to bring your box up to the height you want it.

CC

elysia wrote:I too am curious about the process of preparing my garden soil for it's second year... how much compost does one add to the soil from last year? we were thinking of adding fresh mel's mix to "top off" the boxes but do we add extra compost for the soil that is already there?

hmmm....

There is no need to add more Mel's mix. I add enough homemade compost to bring the mix level to the top of the bed. Works like a charm.

Thank you!