Mid-South: May 2017

Morning everyone! We've got a wet start to our month here. But since they started last night, I guess the old "April showers" routine might still work here, lol!

I know we've had some very bad weather coming across the region & mid-west. Everyone please check in.... Let us know you're okay. (If you've had bad weather where you're at & I didn't mention it, sorry... I haven't seen a news/weather feed for days... Haven't had the time!)

According to the Extension Service, we should be past our last freeze. If we're going to get planting, now's the time!

Gardenate says that there's lots we can get out there!

Amaranth (also Love-lies-bleeding) Plant in garden.
Basil Plant in garden.
Beans - climbing (also Pole beans, Runner beans, Scarlet Runners) Plant in garden.
Beans - dwarf (also French beans, Bush beans) Plant in garden.
Cape Gooseberry (also Golden Berry, ) Plant in garden.
Capsicum (also Bell peppers, Sweet peppers) Plant in garden.
Celeriac Plant in garden.
Celery Plant in garden.
Chilli peppers (also Hot peppers) Plant in garden.
Chives (also Garden chives) Plant in garden.
Coriander (also Cilantro, Chinese parsley) Plant in garden.
Cowpeas (also Black eye peas, Southern peas) Plant in garden.
Cucumber Plant in garden.
Dill Plant in garden.
Eggplant (also Aubergine) Plant in garden.
Endive Plant in garden.
Fennel (also Bronze fennel) Plant in garden.
Florence Fennel (also Finocchio) Plant in garden.
French tarragon Plant in garden.
Kohlrabi Plant in garden.
Leeks Plant in garden.
Luffa (also Loofah, plant sponge) Plant in garden.
Marrow Plant in garden.
Mint (also Garden mint) Plant in garden.
NZ Spinach (also Warrigal greens) Plant in garden.
Okra (also Ladyfinger, gumbo) Plant in garden.
Oregano (also Pot Marjoram) Plant in garden.
Parsley (also curly leaf parsley or flat leaf (Italian) parsley) Plant in garden.
Parsnip Plant in garden.
Pumpkin Plant in garden.
Rockmelon (also Canteloupe) Plant in garden.
Rosemary Plant in garden.
Sage (also Common Sage) Plant in garden.
Savory - summer savory (also 'Bean Herb') Plant in garden.
Savory - winter savory (also Savory) Plant in garden.
Spring onions (also Scallions, Bunching onions, Welsh onion) Plant in garden.
Squash (also Crookneck, Pattypan, Summer squash) Plant in garden.
Strawberries (from seeds) Plant in garden.
Strawberry Plants Plant in garden.
Sunflower Plant in garden.
Sweet corn (also maize) Plant in garden.
Sweet Potato/Kumara Plant in garden.
Thyme (also Common thyme) Plant in garden.
Tomatillo Plant in garden.
Tomato Plant in garden.
Watermelon Plant in garden.
Zucchini (also Courgette/Marrow, Summer squash) Plant in garden.

You'll see that there's nothing mentioned about starts... Your starts should hopefully be ready to harden off. :-)

Get out and have some fun in your garden today!

We hardly got any rain the last 3 weeks ( .50 inches).  It was supposed to rain most of the day today but so far we have only gotten a few drops.  I have been having to do a lot of watering to keep things growing.  I am harvesting fava beans, Strike English peas, carrots and broccoli.  My potatoes are starting to fall over so they should be ready some time this month.  Tomatoes are growing and fruit is setting on.  Onions are bulbing up but garlic looks anemic even though I have been adding a lot of nitrogen and leeks are in too much shade to be doing much.  Artichokes are looking good but still small plants.  Corn succession planted is looking real good. The vinning Persian Baby cucumbers were planted this past week. I will be planting Rattlesnake pole beans and sweet potatoes this week.  I am waiting for the broccoli to finish up and then will plant squash, zucchini and bush cucumbers under the tulle.

@yolos wrote:We hardly got any rain the last 3 weeks ( .50 inches).  It was supposed to rain most of the day today but so far we have only gotten a few drops.  I have been having to do a lot of watering to keep things growing.  I am harvesting fava beans, Strike English peas, carrots and broccoli.  My potatoes are starting to fall over so they should be ready some time this month.  Tomatoes are growing and fruit is setting on.  Onions are bulbing up but garlic looks anemic even though I have been adding a lot of nitrogen and leeks are in too much shade to be doing much.  Artichokes are looking good but still small plants.  Corn succession planted is looking real good. The vinning Persian Baby cucumbers were planted this past week. I will be planting Rattlesnake pole beans and sweet potatoes this week.  I am waiting for the broccoli to finish up and then will plant squash, zucchini and bush cucumbers under the tulle.

 Let's hear it for spring!

Any advice on growing artichokes? This will be my first time.

It's certainly raining here today!

I've got a HUGE sweet onion about to flower. Hopefully I'll be able to get out & gather the seeds.

Artichokes... Hmmm.... Nope. Haven't grown them before. Anyone else?

Happy May day! Wasn't there a song Busy days are here again, I don't know I couldn't carry a tune in a wheel barrel.

@countrynaturals wrote:

@yolos wrote:We hardly got any rain the last 3 weeks ( .50 inches).  It was supposed to rain most of the day today but so far we have only gotten a few drops.  I have been having to do a lot of watering to keep things growing.  I am harvesting fava beans, Strike English peas, carrots and broccoli.  My potatoes are starting to fall over so they should be ready some time this month.  Tomatoes are growing and fruit is setting on.  Onions are bulbing up but garlic looks anemic even though I have been adding a lot of nitrogen and leeks are in too much shade to be doing much.  Artichokes are looking good but still small plants.  Corn succession planted is looking real good. The vinning Persian Baby cucumbers were planted this past week. I will be planting Rattlesnake pole beans and sweet potatoes this week.  I am waiting for the broccoli to finish up and then will plant squash, zucchini and bush cucumbers under the tulle.

 Let's hear it for spring!

Any advice on growing artichokes? This will be my first time.

I tried growing them once before but they all died over the winter.  Apparently I did not protect the roots well enough.  I read that they need a period of cold in order to produce artichokes the first year.  So, I put them in the outside refrigerator for two weeks before planting outside.  They cannot take a freeze.  Aphids and ants love them so be ready to spray.

@AtlantaMarie wrote:It's certainly raining here today!

Artichokes...  Hmmm....  Nope.  Haven't grown them before.  Anyone else?

I spoke too soon, we did end up getting about 1/4 inch of rain so it will help some.