New England, May, 2019

It's now May 3! Below average daytime temps! Seems to be much wetter than usual!

On April 19, 2019, I saw what looked like the mosquitoes being out far earlier than usual! Elevated-eastern-equine-virus-risk warning as of April 19, 2019. As of May 2, 2019, the elevated-eastern-equine-virus-risk warning is extended. I see signs of possibly a far wetter than average spring.

This could be the wettest May, since 2006! We don't need more showers!

2006 was a year where the eastern equine virus activity was at major levels in Massachusetts. Possibly southeast New Hampshire and southern Maine as well. (usually southwest Maine)

RJARPCGP, here in Ct. we had the second wettest April on record. Should check the amount for wettest spring and how much more rain we would need. If you could keep some of the rainwater in Vermont for just a little longer than usual it would be greatly appreciated because the Connecticut River is way up there. Ticks are the big problem here although I did see a mosquito in the house flying around my plants a couple of days ago. Don't worry I bit her before she had a chance to bite me.

Super wet here...I hate it....

Scorpio Rising wrote:Super wet here...I hate it....

Sure wish we could swap out. Super dry here . . . and I hate it too. Actually, I don't mind the dryness -- except for the fires. It's the heat that gets me.

This morning they were talking about how the excess moisture we are getting now is the pattern we would normally see at the end of the winter and this all would have been snow had it played out the way it normally does.

Still not loving it, but it makes sense.

CN, yes, there is definitely an imbalance, always has been! 

Pika, agree.  We had way more rain than snow as well!  I get it too...

The rain stopped for a bit, so I  broke down the old bed, leveled the ground, put down some plywood (with holes drilled for drainage), covered it with weed block and figured out the rough layout of the 4'x6'x12" beds.  I also got the frame up for my trellis' for my beans (I'll order trellis netting on Amazon later).  Separated the garlic and replanted it in the new bed per the advice of a local farm volunteer.  3 little plants took up most of my 2x4 bed.   I  moved the chives,  found my sage and thyme came back from last year and replanted those and filled the 2 corner squares that would be difficult to reach with marigolds I found on clearance at  Lowes.  (The kids over water a lot of  the  seedlings and every so often I find ones  that just need a little love on clearance.)

After the 12" bed is done, I can pick up a composter at the local DPW (our community has Earth Machines for $50).  *phew* I'll start planting next weekend when the beds are all done. After that, it's trying to keep the ghosts of gardeners past at bay.

Bad news, I see a May, 2013-like setup again! (Like May 25, 2013) Only a high in the mid-40s in the lower elevations with significant mountain snow possible!

TWC right now is forecasting 4-8 inches of snow for Killington.

RJARPCGP wrote:Bad news, I see a May, 2013-like setup again! (Like May 25, 2013) Only a high in the mid-40s in the lower elevations with significant mountain snow possible!

TWC right now is forecasting 4-8 inches of snow for Killington.

That's awful! Most of us are having a bad year, but not that bad.

I picked up an Earth Machine composter at the local DPW and set it up today. Any hints or suggestions for how to get the compost party started?

Hi Pikagirl, Because most of the time an enclosed compost bin is cut off from most of the microbial life forms, it is essentials that you gather as many microbials from as many diversified settings as you can, garden soil, forest floor or a friend's compost pile to point out a few. I just wish people were as quick to have a compost party as they are to have a garden party. A compost party is just a party where you bring some finished compost to share with friends and you get some compost from your friends while having a great time with kindred spirits.

I also bought a Garden Gourmet Composter from the town over 10 years ago and before I became a master composter here in my home state or aware of that microbes were doing the actual composting and badly needed. Long story short, took three years to get them producing as my mother-in-law gave up and I picked up another off of craigslist for free and at that time as now have three. I would also recommend a compost aerator that Ocean State here had dropped to $2.50. Quick way to put air into your Earth Machine composter. Another thing to keep in mind you will have to water the contents of the bin to keep the environment moist.

I also went and started reading your blog, I would not put worms into an active composter, they won't stay. I am also leery of recommending an outdoor worm bin because I have found out earthworms are on a plethora of animals' menus. I have made The Crazy Half Acre an earthworm research center in that I only basically rake half my yard in the fall and leave many to overwinter as worm food and my yard is full of earthworm middens in the spring and in doing this I have a zoo roaming through my backyard. Great caution should be taken in building a varmint proof outdoor worm bin, from having a hardware cloth bottom to a top that also keeps them out.

Interesting timing....

So, I am a Rodale composter...pile, direct contact with Mother Earth, that whole thing...

My kids got me a compost bin for Mother’s Day!!!  

My first question:  Is it open to the ground?  They resoundingly say YES!!!!     

WIN!!!!  And it will look a lot better, and I will probably be able to do more volume in there deliberately!  Great gift...

Love to see this May thread so active!  I've been up to no good lately - retired on 4/19, hit the road to FL on 4/21, got back last week and have been busy ever since.  Not much gardening though...too cold, wet and windy.   ,

Fortunately I broadcast some seeds into a couple of boxes before leaving town.  They came up well but could use a lot more sun. They seem a bit stunted.  

I'll post some photos if it ever stops raining.  Meanwhile, off to line dancing...yeehaw!
 

CapeCoddess wrote:Love to see this May thread so active!  I've been up to no good lately - retired on 4/19, hit the road to FL on 4/21, got back last week and have been busy ever since.  Not much gardening though...too cold, wet and windy.   ,

Fortunately I broadcast some seeds into a couple of boxes before leaving town.  They came up well but could use a lot more sun. They seem a bit stunted.  

I'll post some photos if it ever stops raining.  Meanwhile, off to line dancing...yeehaw!
 

Hey girl!  Love that you are enjoying your time!!!!

Pikagirl wrote:. . . I'll start planting next weekend when the beds are all done. After that, it's trying to keep the ghosts of gardeners past at bay.

Scorpio Rising wrote:

CapeCoddess wrote:Love to see this May thread so active!  I've been up to no good lately - retired on 4/19, hit the road to FL on 4/21, got back last week and have been busy ever since.  Not much gardening though...too cold, wet and windy.   ,

Fortunately I broadcast some seeds into a couple of boxes before leaving town.  They came up well but could use a lot more sun. They seem a bit stunted.  

I'll post some photos if it ever stops raining.  Meanwhile, off to line dancing...yeehaw!
 

Hey girl!  Love that you are enjoying your time!!!!

Sounds like you are having fun! Are you the 2nd from the right?

sanderson wrote:

Scorpio Rising wrote:

CapeCoddess wrote:Love to see this May thread so active!  I've been up to no good lately - retired on 4/19, hit the road to FL on 4/21, got back last week and have been busy ever since.  Not much gardening though...too cold, wet and windy.   ,

Fortunately I broadcast some seeds into a couple of boxes before leaving town.  They came up well but could use a lot more sun. They seem a bit stunted.  

I'll post some photos if it ever stops raining.  Meanwhile, off to line dancing...yeehaw!
 

Hey girl!  Love that you are enjoying your time!!!!

Sounds like you are having fun!  Are you the 2nd from the right?

2nd from the right -- yup, I see it, now.

I have the 4x6x12 in place, but I still need a bit more soil in there and I'm experimenting with building PVC trellis and towers.  Last week I set up my compost bin, which will be nice next year.

I filled the 4x2 bed with last year's garlic! My sage and thyme came back and I  added walking onions.  I planted peppers and beets and picked up a banana and lunch box pepper seedlings.  Then  I  found a Pippins Golden Honey pepper seedling, zucchini, and cuke seedlings and an eggplant seedling. I planted some sugar pie pumpkins and got my San Marzano tomato seedlings (which I started from seed) in as well.

Tomorrow I'll finish off the big box for my 3 sister garden.

Lookin' good, Pikagirl.

Pikagirl wrote:I have the 4x6x12 in place, but I still need a bit more soil in there and I'm experimenting with building PVC trellis and towers.  Last week I set up my compost bin, which will be nice next year.

I filled the 4x2 bed with last year's garlic! My sage and thyme came back and I  added walking onions.  I planted peppers and beets and picked up a banana and lunch box pepper seedlings.  Then  I  found a Pippins Golden Honey pepper seedling, zucchini, and cuke seedlings and an eggplant seedling. I planted some sugar pie pumpkins and got my San Marzano tomato seedlings (which I started from seed) in as well.

Tomorrow I'll finish off the big box for my 3 sister garden.

Dang, Pika!  Lookin’ good!!!  

+1! It looks great!

Sounds great, Pika! Too bad I can't see any pictures. Why can't I see any pictures? Did you post pictures?

Stellar weather here and more to come. 60s day 50s night. I went to the nursery today and bought two tomato plants - a sun gold and a sun sugar. Then I got the urge to plant seeds. I seeded some tomatoes, squash,  ground cherries, snow and sugar snap peas and flowers. Now I just have to water water water since there's no rain in the forecast for a week or so.

Feels good to be back in the saddle!

I can see pictures now! So I thought I'd post some:

Photo #1 - Garlic planted October 2018
#2- Rouge de Hiver lettuce ( my fave) from last year's plants gone to seed
#3 - seeds of radishes and greens that were broadcast before I left for Florida, stunted from so much rain and overcast weather





#4- another box of greens from plants that were allowed to go to seed last year
#5 - last year's kale and collard greens are supplying me with smoothie fixins. Behind these plants are tiny sugar snap pea plants that were seeded before I left for Florida.

Nice, CC. My radishes are just coming up, but they got bombarded with hail this afternoon, so who knows what shape they're in, now. I still don't have a single pea blossom, either. Not a clue what's causing that.

CC,