Search
Latest topics
» Starting Strawberries from Seedby OhioGardener Today at 12:10 pm
» Soaking Seeds for Better Germination
by OhioGardener Today at 7:41 am
» What are you eating from your garden today?
by sanderson Today at 3:34 am
» How do I source Mels Mix for 190 cu ft????
by sanderson Yesterday at 10:09 pm
» Kiwi's SFG Adventure
by yolos Yesterday at 7:41 pm
» Ads are back
by KiwiSFGnewbie Yesterday at 2:32 pm
» Should I buy this compost tumbler??
by Soose Yesterday at 11:37 am
» Garden Tools
by Soose Fri Feb 03, 2023 6:07 pm
» Back In The Saddle I Suppose
by AtlantaMarie Fri Feb 03, 2023 5:15 am
» Happy Birthday!!
by AtlantaMarie Fri Feb 03, 2023 5:12 am
» Seed Exchange - January 2023
by sanderson Fri Feb 03, 2023 3:08 am
» Phosphate
by bigtoad Thu Feb 02, 2023 5:41 pm
» Organic compost without peat in Alberta
by OhioGardener Thu Feb 02, 2023 8:05 am
» worms and compost tumbler
by Soose Wed Feb 01, 2023 11:46 pm
» trying to Think Spring in cold Chicago
by sanderson Wed Feb 01, 2023 4:43 pm
» New Lifetime Compost Tumbler..
by sanderson Wed Feb 01, 2023 4:41 pm
» Aero Garden for starting seeds?
by OhioGardener Wed Feb 01, 2023 8:23 am
» Starbucks for coffee grounds!
by sanderson Mon Jan 30, 2023 1:37 am
» N&C Midwest: January & February 2023
by OhioGardener Sun Jan 29, 2023 7:33 pm
» Placing Box on Cement
by OhioGardener Sun Jan 29, 2023 2:57 pm
» How I compost using a Tumbler
by Soose Sun Jan 29, 2023 2:45 pm
» Garlic Chives in SFG?
by OhioGardener Sun Jan 29, 2023 8:56 am
» Microgreens Gardening
by sanderson Sat Jan 28, 2023 11:42 pm
» Johnson Su composting Bioreactor instructions for home, not the farm.
by has55 Sat Jan 28, 2023 10:57 am
» homemade vermicomposting/Worm Casting Compost Sifters
by has55 Sat Jan 28, 2023 10:45 am
» Famous Gardening Quotes
by OhioGardener Sat Jan 28, 2023 8:29 am
» The SFG Journey-Johnson Su Bioreactor for composting, No turning
by has55 Sat Jan 28, 2023 12:09 am
» seed starting Mel's way
by plantoid Fri Jan 27, 2023 7:09 am
» Home Made Compost
by plantoid Fri Jan 27, 2023 6:18 am
» New but Old
by lovey Wed Jan 25, 2023 1:49 am
Google
New England April 2017
+12
trolleydriver
camprn
BeetlesPerSqFt
sanderson
Banned Member
countrynaturals
Scorpio Rising
quiltbea
CapeCoddess
jenalawz
donnainzone5
bigdogrock
16 posters
Page 1 of 4
Page 1 of 4 • 1, 2, 3, 4
New England April 2017
I awoke to the gentle “tink” of the ice crystals outside this snowy New England morning. The bed begged me to stay in its warm depths and promised that blessed “just a little longer” amount of sleep the alarm clock battles so diligently with on work days. But I wanted to get up this day. The 1st of April was presenting us with a real New England snow storm, complete with some wind and the steady timed rumble of the storm’s antithesis, the mighty lumbering snowplow, navigated by the heroes of our quaint little town, relentlessly pushing back the white waves of flakes.
Outside to measure, the breeze pushes snow down the back of my neck, past my comfortable jacket. The birds all dart in different directions as they see me approach their feeders on the border of my garden, with chirps and songs which are a mind soothing blessing that can’t be recorded, only experienced. The quiet loudness of the place, the beautiful feathered friends, mixed with the cold realities that perpetuate our setting make this home, the place I want to be.
I think of the difference when I have a snow storm and just a storm. A storm is fierce and troubling, the lighting and thunder, the downpours that wash away important parts of everyday living. But a snow storm is different. It can be an ominous foreboding event, but its name is usually changed to blizzard, Nor’easter, or has other added words that prompt us over prepare and help the supermarkets sell off all the supplies of milk, bread, batteries, and last minute supplies for that vague “just in case” situation if it happens.
For now, I am spending my time with my family, wishing I could record the smells of the “snow storm” breakfast of fresh ingredients cooked on the gridle which is brought out for these special occasions. I sit back with a cup of coffee, thinking how blessed I am to have such a family, such a place to live. This New England morning is cemented into my memory again, complete with soft sounds of my woodstove as it crackles and ticks. This is the place I want to be.
Outside to measure, the breeze pushes snow down the back of my neck, past my comfortable jacket. The birds all dart in different directions as they see me approach their feeders on the border of my garden, with chirps and songs which are a mind soothing blessing that can’t be recorded, only experienced. The quiet loudness of the place, the beautiful feathered friends, mixed with the cold realities that perpetuate our setting make this home, the place I want to be.
I think of the difference when I have a snow storm and just a storm. A storm is fierce and troubling, the lighting and thunder, the downpours that wash away important parts of everyday living. But a snow storm is different. It can be an ominous foreboding event, but its name is usually changed to blizzard, Nor’easter, or has other added words that prompt us over prepare and help the supermarkets sell off all the supplies of milk, bread, batteries, and last minute supplies for that vague “just in case” situation if it happens.
For now, I am spending my time with my family, wishing I could record the smells of the “snow storm” breakfast of fresh ingredients cooked on the gridle which is brought out for these special occasions. I sit back with a cup of coffee, thinking how blessed I am to have such a family, such a place to live. This New England morning is cemented into my memory again, complete with soft sounds of my woodstove as it crackles and ticks. This is the place I want to be.
bigdogrock-
Posts : 440
Join date : 2016-04-17
Location : NH
Re: New England April 2017
Trying to ward off the winter by doing some garden research today! I would like to grow some larger variety watermelon, as well as charentais melon and also cantaloupe. I know New England is not always the easiest climate for all of these to grow. Last year I had modest success with some smaller ice box watermelons that I grew on a trellis, but the variety I have this year is too big for that. Does anybody have any experience, tips and/or pictures of successful beds for melons? I don't get full sun where my garden is, it's about 4 hours per day full sun. Thanks!
jenalawz- Posts : 6
Join date : 2017-03-13
Location : Zone 5b
Re: New England April 2017
Thank you, Rock, for the lovely entry into April. My weather however is not so lovely. This wind and torrential rain is insane! Yes, from my window I would call it a nor'easter.
Jenalawz,
I don't have good luck with melons here as I don't have full sun either, but some do well. A neighbor down the road from me grew those full sized oval watermelons in full sun about 3 years ago.
Where in New England are you?
Jenalawz,

I don't have good luck with melons here as I don't have full sun either, but some do well. A neighbor down the road from me grew those full sized oval watermelons in full sun about 3 years ago.
Where in New England are you?
CapeCoddess- Posts : 6824
Join date : 2012-05-20
Age : 66
Location : elbow of the Cape, MA, Zone 6b/7a
Re: New England April 2017
New Hampshire, right on the border of what would be considered coastal Nh.
jenalawz- Posts : 6
Join date : 2017-03-13
Location : Zone 5b
Re: New England April 2017
You must be close to NHGardener. That's where she lives. Maybe she can help you with the melons. You could PM her.
Do you have access to seaweed for your garden?
Do you have access to seaweed for your garden?
CapeCoddess- Posts : 6824
Join date : 2012-05-20
Age : 66
Location : elbow of the Cape, MA, Zone 6b/7a
Re: New England April 2017
I suppose I could collect some pretty easily!
jenalawz- Posts : 6
Join date : 2017-03-13
Location : Zone 5b
Re: New England April 2017
Seaweed is great for the compost pile! Sometimes in the fall I also throw it atop my boxes and around my fruit trees. Tomorrow would be a great day harvest some after all this stormy rainy weather! I should probably get my butt out there.
I started my tomatoes today - Black Cherry, Super Swert 100s ( that I thought were Sweeties until I looked at the photo below and realized I'd made a mistake), Sungold, Gilberti, Roma and Super beefsteak.


The experiment with the mediums continues. The side with the tags is in MM and the side without the tags is Power Grow. My other experiments with the two mediums have shown them to be neck-and-neck - no difference.
I'm thinking about starting some peppers but every year at the end of the season I say never again and every year I plant them again.
Such a dilemma.
I started my tomatoes today - Black Cherry, Super Swert 100s ( that I thought were Sweeties until I looked at the photo below and realized I'd made a mistake), Sungold, Gilberti, Roma and Super beefsteak.


The experiment with the mediums continues. The side with the tags is in MM and the side without the tags is Power Grow. My other experiments with the two mediums have shown them to be neck-and-neck - no difference.
I'm thinking about starting some peppers but every year at the end of the season I say never again and every year I plant them again.

CapeCoddess- Posts : 6824
Join date : 2012-05-20
Age : 66
Location : elbow of the Cape, MA, Zone 6b/7a
Re: New England April 2017
BDRock, I enjoyed your entrée into the month of April. We, here in Maine, have snow, snow, snow. I feel sorry for the robins that came back too early since we did not get the wind sheer that blows a section of lawn clear of snow. Its all covered with 8 inches of white. Hopefully the warmth we're to get tomorrow will free up some lawn for them to hunt.
In the meantime, I'll dream of spring blossoms.

This is my garden today.
In the meantime, I'll dream of spring blossoms.

This is my garden today.
quiltbea-
Posts : 4712
Join date : 2010-03-21
Age : 80
Location : Southwestern Maine Zone 5A
Re: New England April 2017
Thank you, both CapeCoddess and Quiltbea for your kind words.
Sometimes my finger hits the right keys. What guides it is still a great mystery to me.
Rock
Sometimes my finger hits the right keys. What guides it is still a great mystery to me.
Rock
bigdogrock-
Posts : 440
Join date : 2016-04-17
Location : NH
Re: New England April 2017
He is our poet! Lovely!donnainzone5 wrote:You're a wonderful writer!
Scorpio Rising-
Posts : 8373
Join date : 2015-06-12
Age : 61
Location : Ada, Ohio
Re: New England April 2017
CC, why do you say no to peppers?
Scorpio Rising-
Posts : 8373
Join date : 2015-06-12
Age : 61
Location : Ada, Ohio
Re: New England April 2017
Scorpio Rising wrote:CC, why do you say no to peppers?
I never have good luck with them. Two or three peppers per plant usually. And that's the small ones like pepperoncinis and banana peppers. The large ones never make a full fruit. I don't know if it's me or if it's that my hot season is so short. It gets hot here around July 4th, over a month after the rest of New England does.
CapeCoddess- Posts : 6824
Join date : 2012-05-20
Age : 66
Location : elbow of the Cape, MA, Zone 6b/7a
Re: New England April 2017
CC......You are not alone. I never had luck with peppers either here in southern Maine. Except for a couple of mini-pepper plants that gave me a half dozen nice sweet fruits, none of the others did very much, whether sweet or hot.
quiltbea-
Posts : 4712
Join date : 2010-03-21
Age : 80
Location : Southwestern Maine Zone 5A
Re: New England April 2017
Thanks, QB. It's good to know it's probably not me and could be my shorter hot season. I know camp can grow great peppers but she really has the heat turned on for quite a while in her area.
I just bought 8 more packs of seeds. What is wrong with me???
Although I have to admit that 4 of them are zinnias and marigolds of which I grow a lot. The others are carrots, radishes, cauliflower and...and...

I just bought 8 more packs of seeds. What is wrong with me???


CapeCoddess- Posts : 6824
Join date : 2012-05-20
Age : 66
Location : elbow of the Cape, MA, Zone 6b/7a
Re: New England April 2017
Last edited by CapeCoddess on Sun Apr 02, 2017 12:39 pm; edited 2 times in total
CapeCoddess- Posts : 6824
Join date : 2012-05-20
Age : 66
Location : elbow of the Cape, MA, Zone 6b/7a
CapeCoddess- Posts : 6824
Join date : 2012-05-20
Age : 66
Location : elbow of the Cape, MA, Zone 6b/7a
Re: New England April 2017
Wow, snow in April! I guess it was HIS (finger pointing upwards) little April Fools joke.
Take solace in this--you New England gardeners have much success with the healthiest of all foods, the nutrient-dense greens.
If I had tried to grow the greens I like the most, they would have bolted in early March long before they were large enough to pick.
We had our own little joke played on us this year--a day in February near 90 degrees, and multiple days in March around 83 to 85.
We can grow abundant peppers of all kinds. I love growing Paprika peppers and the same peppers used to make Louisiana Hot Sauce. We get banana pepper harvests like Sweet 100 cherry tomatoes--they just keep coming as fast as we can eat them. But, if I had the choice, I would rather be able to eat fresh greens all the way into June.
PS--There must be professional writers on this forum.
Take solace in this--you New England gardeners have much success with the healthiest of all foods, the nutrient-dense greens.
If I had tried to grow the greens I like the most, they would have bolted in early March long before they were large enough to pick.
We had our own little joke played on us this year--a day in February near 90 degrees, and multiple days in March around 83 to 85.
We can grow abundant peppers of all kinds. I love growing Paprika peppers and the same peppers used to make Louisiana Hot Sauce. We get banana pepper harvests like Sweet 100 cherry tomatoes--they just keep coming as fast as we can eat them. But, if I had the choice, I would rather be able to eat fresh greens all the way into June.
PS--There must be professional writers on this forum.
Banned Member-
Posts : 145
Join date : 2017-03-30
Location : Yerucham
Re: New England April 2017
Yes, the Forum has some good writers, as well as some special gardening "buddies".
CapeCoddess- Posts : 6824
Join date : 2012-05-20
Age : 66
Location : elbow of the Cape, MA, Zone 6b/7a
Re: New England April 2017
Garlic is Allium sativum
Onion is Allium cepa, and Shallots are also Allium cepa.
So I'd go with the onion rule - smaller better.
Onion is Allium cepa, and Shallots are also Allium cepa.
So I'd go with the onion rule - smaller better.
BeetlesPerSqFt-
Posts : 1439
Join date : 2016-04-11
Location : Port Matilda, PA Zone 5b/6a LF:5/11-FF:10/10
Re: New England April 2017
Good thinking! Thanks, Beetles. Guess I'll grab a few small ones and plant them, too. It'll be an impromptu experiment.
CapeCoddess- Posts : 6824
Join date : 2012-05-20
Age : 66
Location : elbow of the Cape, MA, Zone 6b/7a
Re: New England April 2017
Oh yeah, snow here tonight....my spinach and kale are on their own. Just over it. If the spinach gets bit, I will direct seed some and hope for germinational success....I think the kale will be OK, it is on the patio in containers....
CC, your kitty is sooo cute! Plants lookin good too! LOL!
TNG, we are blessed with a wide array of talents on this forum!
I am gonna wait on my walking onions, and see how many squares I end up with. All my existing squares are ocupado. But there are always surprise "openings" along the way...
CC, your kitty is sooo cute! Plants lookin good too! LOL!
TNG, we are blessed with a wide array of talents on this forum!

I am gonna wait on my walking onions, and see how many squares I end up with. All my existing squares are ocupado. But there are always surprise "openings" along the way...

Scorpio Rising-
Posts : 8373
Join date : 2015-06-12
Age : 61
Location : Ada, Ohio
Re: New England April 2017
Its going to get to 60 °F today!



43 years a gardener and going strong with SFG.
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t3574-the-end-of-july-7-weeks-until-frost
There are certain pursuits which, if not wholly poetic and true, do at least suggest a nobler and finer relation to nature than we know. The keeping of bees, for instance. ~ Henry David Thoreau
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t1306-other-gardening-books
Page 1 of 4 • 1, 2, 3, 4

» New England May 2017
» New England Nov 2017
» New England February 2017
» New England July 2017
» New England August 2017
» New England Nov 2017
» New England February 2017
» New England July 2017
» New England August 2017
Page 1 of 4
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum