Carol from May Dreams Gardens (Zone 5), Mary Ann from Idaho Gardener (Zone 6) and I decided to create our own 1,000 mile garden project. This gardening season, we’ll be exchanging letters with each other about our vegetable gardens, and we’re now in week ten. We hope you’ll enjoy our travels around three different hardiness zones. I garden in Zone 7a.
Sorry I’m so late to the party, but it’s been a busy week. As you know, I had a rain chain giveaway, and it was also Mother’s Day on Sunday. It’s a big, busy holiday for our family.
Last week, I wrote about edible flowers, but this week’s report concerns beans and salad days. All of my green, purple and yellow beans are barely up and growing on their tripod. Even the ‘Lazy Housewife’ decided to make an appearance. We’ve had several wonderful salads from the garden, and I made Grandma Nita’s wilted lettuce salad which is a family favorite. (For those who want a copy of the recipe, there isn’t one, but this is close. We use apple cider vinegar instead of the red wine vinegar and lemon juice though.) Now, we’re waiting for the lettuces to grow some more. With all the rain we’ve had this week, we shouldn’t wait long.
The sugar snap peas are starting to blossom, but that’s about it for the vegetables sown in February and March. The beets are sulking. The radishes are about ‘et, and the turnips are making tops, but have no bottoms. The red chard and blue kale are coming on like gangbusters. Too bad I’m the only one in the family who likes either one.
No, Mary Ann, I’m not already eating tomatoes. In fact, only some of my plants are starting to bloom, and those are the ones from the greenhouses.
Speaking of greenhouses, I did make a trip with my friend, Michelle, to Bustani Plant Farm located outside of Stillwater (home of the OSU Cowboys). Although he was really busy, Steve Owens took the time to show us some of his favorite plants for this year. Instead of last year’s tents, they now have a big, beautiful greenhouse to showcase all of their plants. I actually bought one pepper while I was there. It was called, I kid you not, ‘Yummy.’ How could I walk by a pepper named that? I placed ‘Yummy’ in his new home today right next to a yellow tomato.
While at Bustani, I bought a bunch of beautiful, native plants, along with a few tropicals. I got them all planted today in their spots. I also hit TLC Nursery today and bought more plants (a couple of lime green hostas called ‘Hotsy Totsy’ and a Polemonium ‘Brise d’Anjou.’ Sounds fancy doesn’t it?
I planted all of my squash this week too: a tricolor zucchini mix, ‘Ronde de Nice’ and the heirloom, yellow crookneck. I also planted a hill of ‘Nutmeg’ melon and ‘Old Time Tennessee’ melon. I’m waiting a week or so to plant the watermelons. Can you believe that in a mere two weeks and two days, we’ll all be in Chicago for the Garden Bloggers’ Spring Fling? I can barely contain my excitement at getting to see you all again and meeting so many other wonderful bloggers.
By the way, Carol, congratulations on your article in Horticulture magazine. I’m so thrilled for you. I wonder if ‘Cue Ball’ is related to ‘Ronde de Nice?’
Well, that’s all I have for this week. I loved both your letters. Keep ’em comin’.
nola
Dee, I popped away for a moment to visit Bustani Plant Farm ~ wow! Your veggies sound like they are doing well. I remember eating wilted lettuce and wilted spinach as a child; it makes my mouth water just to think about it! Happy Gardening!
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Frances
Hi Dee, I am in love with the look of the bean with the Black seeded simpson lettuce, they could all be ornamentals, so pretty. Do you use turnip tops for greens? I have planted some for that purpose but am not sure when to harvest the tops. Spring Fling is getting close, panic time! I am not a good traveler, will be depending on Gail to be the rock of Gibralter. 🙂
Frances
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Gail
Hi Dee…Another great letter. This spring seems even more jam packed then last spring…nothing is getting down in a timely fashion! I can’t wait to see you! Gail
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Willi
I totally love, love, love wilted lettuce. I used to make it with my grandma all the time. I love how it is sweet, salty, and bacon-y all at the same time. I totally have a craving now. Guess it will be on my menu this week. I’m so jealous you already have beens. They’d be shivering their little seed coats off in my garden right now!
Willi´s last blog post..Spring Green Photo Essay
Layanee
I am so far behind with gardening but then it seems to be the way of things. It will get done but you will have squash well before me. I have the same kind and look forward to comparing notes.
Layanee´s last blog post..Now Open at Our New Location
Cindy, MCOK
What a gorgeous greenhouse Bustani has … it must be a real treat to shop there!
Cindy, MCOK´s last blog post..Through the Garden Gate: Monday, May 11th
Kathy from Cold Climate Gardening
We have lettuce seedlings started but not planted out yet. Our tomato seedlings have been potted out twice but are still growing under lights. It always fascinates me how different the growing season shapes up in different climates.
Kathy from Cold Climate Gardening´s last blog post..Frost Advisory
keewee
Yes, it is a very busy time of year and there are not enough hours in the day to get everything done.
Carol, May Dreams Gardens
Spring is such a busy time and then add in a holiday like Mother’s Day and it is hard to keep up some weeks. A late letter is better than no letter at all!
Reading about your garden just makes me hungry! I looked up the ‘Ronde de Nice’ squash and it does look quite a bit like ‘Cue Ball’. If you’ve never grown it before, you are in for at treat!
See you in a few weeks? Oh my, now I’m feeling a bit behind and in a panic to get ready for Spring Fling!
Carol, May Dreams Gardens´s last blog post..Rejuvenating Kerria