What's Up for April in 4a?

Patchy frost for tonight. Nothing I planted has sprouted, so I should be ok. That's what I get for getting all antsy.

Transplanted some of my asparagus today from another outdoor plot.

Crossing my fingers that nothing happens from the frost auntiemommy!! The only thing I've planted outside is green onion seeds and yellow onion starts. I finally figured out a gate for the fence around my beds....doesn't look great up close---green zip ties, twine and white string holding the bamboo poles together! Oh well, it just needs to be functional, right?! I also got my trellis put up and I made an extension to it so my peas can up, up, up instead of curling over the top like they did last year.

I keep reading/hearing conflicting information about planting outdoors right now...is it too soon?!?! Here's a pic of my garden so far!

Shocks - that looks great!!
You know, I've been freaked out about planting, too. I planted my peas on the 13th (april) and we had very nice overnight temps and now the past 2 days have been 35 overnight!

Buuuuuuuttttt...in reading Mel's book - way in the back, pg 252,253 - there are some charts that say the peas will be fine.
At 41 degrees, it'll take 36 days for peas to germinate and 89% will survive. Peas and spinach can be planted 5 weeks before last frost, so I think you'll be okay with certain cool-weather crops. And raised bed soil is warmer too! Most of this is rambling as I am trying to convince myself that my seeds will sprout and all is well!

But seriously, I bet you'll be alright planting!

Good luck

Just wanted to check in as another Twin Cities SFG. This is my first year using SFG on the recomendation of my coworker. We have two boxes built and we will likely be putting in two more.

We planted seeds last weekend. We have radish, carrot, lettuce, kolrabi, cabbage, peas, and collards now. It is certainly a change from my row crops growing in the Southern US.

Welcome dancin8!! I'm excited to have another TCer growing with us!! What else do you plan on planting? Also, what do you have around your boxes? I'm still trying to decide, so I'm polling everyone! My two old boxes have mulch. I bought a bag of rubber mulch and a rubber 16" x16" stepping stone, but not sure if I like that...now I'm thinking about just using pea gravel.
Hope your garden grows well!!

Jenny

I have little sprouts! The kohlorabi and radishes are up. I saw a couple little sprouts trying to push out of a few other boxes as well. Planted strawberry plants, 2, red cabbage plants and a tomato plant inside a water wall last night. I also added some flowering pansies to my garden. So cool to see them so pretty in the garden.

yeah, AM.....sounds like those sprouts are are happy!

I have some, too. Peas are popping out, onions are up about 1/4 to 1/2", and spinach is sprouting! I planted some radishes just the other day.

My starwberries are already producing flowers and little tiny strawberry buds!

My neighbors have raspberry bushes, and yesterday I found a 4" raspberry cane (with a few leaves) over on our side of the fence! Hmmmm....been thinking about raspberries anyway. Not sure what to do about it though.

Oh, AM.....forgot to ask - what kind of Strawberry plants do you have?

I planted some Alpine (everbearing) and Itasca (June bearing?) so far so good.

The boys picked June bearing ones.

My raspberry bushes are sending out all sorts of runners under the ground right now. I mow off the ones I don't want. If they are in a good location you could easily let it grow, more will probably join it shortly. I have just been too lazy to dig down and put in something to stop the roots from spreading. The lawn mower works for me.

@shocks- I don't think we are going to put anything down. It doesn't bother me to have a little trampled grass.

We are going to put in tomatoes, basil, thyme, oregano, dill, cucumbers, squash, zucchini, bell peppers, hot peppers. Most of them are heirloom seeds as well.

We have very strong strawberry plants growing as well. I just left them covered with tree leaves all winter and they are coming back strong.

We need to look into berry bushes. I'd like to have some at the back of our yard at the fence to replace some trees that were taken out. Maybe Friend's sale will lead me home!

Hi there!

As a new homeowner in Minneapolis (4a), I'm starting my very first SFG garden! I've spent a lot of time pouring over the SFG books so I feel ready. Last summer my husband and I spent pretty much the whole summer building six 4'x4' boxes, one which will be used as the compost pile. We raised tomatoes and eggplants from containers which we started on our condo balcony during the spring, and got quite a lot!! Can't wait to see what we'll get from our five SFG's this summer.

Last summer, I had many critters stealing precious tomatoes and eggplants from the containers which had been moved to the deck while the garden we getting built. Every morning I would check the plants, and find another fruit detached from the plant, sitting on the ground nearby with a bite or two out of it.

So we're now building a fully enclosed chicken wire cage for the entire 6 boxes. It's a big project. It will be about 6 feet high, complete with a door that has a hinge! I have my 3 trellises set up, so those will be inside too. I refuse to put so much work and care into my SFG, only to have it be a free buffet for squirrels in the neighborhood.

I know I can plant some of my spring things already, but I'm pretty much just waiting for all the building to be done so I can focus on the fun part. As things progress, I'll post pictures.

I have herbs planted in the containers on the deck, although I've found evidence of digging in those too, so I think I have to cover those with chicken wire. Is anyone in Minneapolis having as many problems as me with squirrels and bunnies?

I'm planning on growing:
Tomatoes (of course)
Butternut squash
pole beans
LOTS of eggplant (one of our favorites)
broccoli (lots!!, love this too)
califlower
lettuce, including spinach
carrots
radishes
swiss chard
peppers

Hi there, B4S....nice to "meet" you.

I am not too far from Mnpls (abt an hour south) and we too have bunnies in our neighborhood, but not many squirrels as our trees aren't very big yet.
I've made a cage to protect my strawberries, but nothing for the other beds....we'll see how that goes!

Sounds like you have quite a project going on...post pictures even if it's not finished. I love to see the ideas and layouts of other gardeners. Good luck!

Well it seems I spoke too soon. We had radishes and lettuce come up this weekend.

I have to get the rain barrel going this weekend.

Down in the SE part of MN we have a chance of light frost tonight. I am getting my hoops finished so I can toss some sheets over the garden for tonight.

Well we got it all in this weekend finally. We now have six 4'x4' boxes. Everything seems to be doing ok. We had a bit of light frost damage on a couple of plants, but I think with the week+ of sun tehy should be able to pull through.

How are other's gardens coming?