Is it too late to direct seed some watermelon or melons? I lost the entire first batch to slugs, then today my garden helper pulled out all of the 2nd batch. I'm guessing I should just give up for the season.
Is there anything else I can plant into the 2 empty square foot beds at this late date?
Melons
Sequee, I just came inside from planting my melons. I figure that the first frost is projected late October so why not.
Our first frost isn't usually until mid-to-late November, so I guess I just might make it. Then again, the weather's been so bizarre lately, who knows???
Thanks for your input - it's always good to hear what other gardeners are doing. And when you think of it - what's the risk? A few seeds?! I can handle it, if it means I just might gets some yummy home growns.
Last year I planted sweetpotatoes on August 11th. It was a bet. I did get some small ones but I did get them. When we had the bet last year I bought a veggie blankie. Actually I think the proper term is season extender cover or something like that. I was digging the SP the week of Thanksgiving. I just about froze. So now I'm pretty adventurous. I know that I can cover if need to. If things don't work as plan then I've learned something for next year. Seeds aren't that expensive. Look at this way the vines will be pretty.
I agree about the weather, Indiana the last 4 days has felt like fall. Never know we may have our summer in the fall. Good luck.
DDDAL
Or it will snow in September!!!
Green beans, zucchini, sugar snap peas, broccoli, or a late planting of sweet corn would be more likely to produce at this time than melons.....besides the disease problems that melons bring especially if just for looks.
Indy, too late, seeds are in the ground. Thanks for the advise though. Maybe I'll find some more garden space to try the late planting of your suggestions.
Thanks,
DDDAL
Hey, Indy, I changed my name. You can be the only Indy now! :o)
Sequee, it can't hurt to try. Sorry to hear you lost yours. I'm tempted to tuck some seeds here and there as well because I just can stop. Haa. When I was putting the garden in, I kept asking my sister-in-law for input, what she wanted to grow. She couldn't come up with much other than tomatoes. Couple days ago she says, "I wish we had some acorn squash." Really? That would've been nice to know a couple months ago. Silly lady!
And my brother is saying, "We should've planted potatoes." Uhn uh. I still feel like a fool for planting Irish potatoes in August last year. Got next to nothing. Turns out they're sensitive to day length. Lesson learned.
I see no signs of pollination on my watermelon vines yet, but I'm looking forward to it. The problem is trying to keep the pumpkins from overrunning them. You can kind of see my watermelon vines tucked in between the herbs in front and the pumpkin vines behind. Planted the squashes too close together, too. I know how to space these things, and yet I still plant them too close together when it comes down to it. Must be the sun beating down on my head - ha! We had some for a couple days there.
Dividedsky, couldn't you do Yukons now?
DDDAL
Well, I just pulled out the Indiana planting chart, and it says you can plant a fall crop of potatoes through July 15. It has to be only certain varieties, though, I would think. Have you had success planting Irish potatoes around here this late? (My garden is only about an hour southwest of you, looks like on google, by the way.)
Does anyone even ship potatoes this late? I reeeeeally want to do it, but it's going to involve either pulling up some sod and getting someone out with a tiller or tucking them into my bro's perennial bed (which I'M perfectly ok with). I just can't take another potato crop gone bust, though.
Sorry for the threadjack, Sequee. Look what you started! :o)
Dividedsky, I've done just fine planting this late. I'm sure Ronningers would send some out. I had a problem with Adora potatoes this year and Craig (Ronningers) was great. Just look for a early variety. Yukons are an early potato, there's some fingerlings also. You could also do the tire thing. I've never done it before but that would give you the heat to get them going. Last year I planted most of my potatoes June 21 (there was a death in the family). I had plenty of time left. I'm sure there are people that are going to disagree with me, but it's just the first of July. Earlier varieties of potatoes are 60-80 days. So let's say you plant by the 10th, 80 days would be around the last of Sept. I don't believe you will find any locally. If you haven't tried the fingerlings you might want to. I cut them in half add a little olive oil, salt and pepper grill or roast and they are great.
Eaton is half way between Muncie and Hartford City if that means anything to you. I do believe you kept most of the rain yesterday. I wouldn't have minded if you shared.
Sorry this is so long, but I'm excited to find someone from Indiana. I think it would help if we could pull up forums per state.
Buying potatoes from online sources is a little salty with the shipping & handling, but you gotta do what you gotta do. I have 7 different varieties growing. We like to experiment. You can't find but around 6 or 7 different kinds locally. So it's worth it to me. Just think of how expensive potatoes were last year.
DDDAL
Glad to see another IN resident around here as well. My garden is in Noblesville, which is where I grew up but don't live anymore. I've been to Muncie a few times but not to Hartford city.
I didn't mind the rain yesterday - we got a good soaking, so I don't have to drag the hoses out for a few days - but low 60s? Much too cold for July.
I ordered from Ronniger's last summer. I think I got the very last they had. They have a lot of good information on their site and the paper they mail with the potatoes. Maybe I'll order some real quick if we can find a spot for them.
I think our regional forum is Ohio River Valley. Or Central Midwest. I haven't quite figured it out. There's so much great stuff on this site that there isn't enough time to see it all.
Happy gardening!
I agree it was chilly. We had a light sprinkle for a few hours but my gardens still look dry. Unfortunately I didn't notice until late this afternoon, I have a 19 year old poodle Mickey that is changing his schedule on me, so things get a little tied up sometimes. So I guess I will be watering tomorrow morning. I've tried both regional forums and looked on the membership list. Right around here most were not subscribers. Hartford City is a small town, much smaller than Muncie so I doubt if you would had reason to be there. Eaton has only about 1600 citizens or less. We have to go to the post office to get our mail. No mailboxes.
There is alot of stuff to see on this site and I am new but I usually stick with the veggies, canning, recipes and pets.
If you have a problem locating potatoes and you really want them, D-mail me and I will ask Debbie from Mericlone Sweet Potatoes and maybe she will have a source. She is extremely helpful. She had just emailed me this week and said that they grow everything in her valley.
Sometimes if you call the online sites they have a few (that's what I did last year). It might say sold out but by luck they may have a pound or two.
The problem with this site is I start looking around and then I get intrigued with stuff and start reading and commenting and that means I'm not outside doing my work. Oh well, it will get done sooner or later.
I guess this week the weather is going to warm up quite a bit. But I still need some rain.
DDDAL
Sheesh - turn your back for a second...LOL!
I'm glad I asked about the melons and DDD answered so I decided I'd try a few Fast Break Cantaloupe. Then I remembered that I accidentally washed them in the packet of my gardening jumper, so I went to the basement to see what they might look like. The little buggers were sprouting!!! So, I dashed them outside and put them in one of the boxes, added a few Sugar Baby watermelons to another box, then added a few beans. I'm about sick to death of the sugar pods as I've been pick about this many once or twice a day for several weeks - and I live alone! (There's between 150 and 200 per bowl.)
I didn't realize that I could plant zucchini this late, so I think I shall go insearch for a spot for them tomorrow...
DDDAL,
I recently was in Eaton for a memorial service for my cousin's son [Wynn Reeves] who was killed in Texas. He grew up in Eaton. I got my seed potatoes from Rural King in Muncie.
My daughter lives in Fishers these days.
Purple peaz!
They make it soooo easy to find them to pick them, but they are not nearly as prolific.
lol at sprouting seeds in your pockets!
Purple snow peas? What variety and where did you get them? They would be good for my container with a trellis.
I think I got them when we were in PA. Let me see if I have some more so I can tell you variety and vendor. (I think the variety was something incredibly original like - Purple Podded Peas!) If not, I can save you a few seeds. I don't think they're done yet!
PS - GUESS WHAT I HAVE!!! Real live, honest to God, growing in MY pot at home...Thyme!!!
My thyme seeds came up, too! I'm equally excited.
Sequee, the REAL thyme - LOL?!? Look some people start theirs from seed!
Off to harvest cucumbers and tie up tomato plants.
This message was edited Jul 6, 2009 4:53 PM
Harvesting cucumbers - sticking my tongue out at you. Really, REALLY far!!!
Ya know - I've tried from seed to no avail. I've ordered from catalogues - and YOU know the outcome of THAT endeavor, and I've bought seedlings (who knew they expected to be WATERED?). So, I was camping in the Catskills a few weeks ago and on our way out from camp, we stopped at this specialty Artisan bakery we've been eyeing for years. Of course, it was closed. They did, however, have a glorious herb garden. We wandered through - sniffing this, tweeking that for a closer scent, etc. When I got to the Thyme, I ACCIDENTALLY (I swear!) tweaked a bit more than I intended, and came up with the timiest little rooting. I brought it home, and it took off!
