Hi all
A couple of random questions...
* Is it possible to plant a fall crop for peas and beets in 6a, and if so when should I plant?
* Do legumes (peas and beans) only add N to the soil when they are tilled under? If I pull the dead plants, will the N go with them?
Thanks all :)
pam
Fall planting (X posted)
If you know your average first frost date, this chart might help you.
http://www.heirloomseeds.com/schedule-2.htm
It's in a .pdf (Adobe) here: http://www.heirloomseeds.com/catalog.html
I've got some newly cleared space at one end of my veggie garden, and I'm also wondering what/when to plant there.
Thanks for the link, Stephanie!
By that chart, it looks like I'm down to beets and snap beans, planted in the next week.
If I've got space left, maybe I should seed some clover or alfalfa or something to till in this fall and then plant garlic?
Critter, looks like you could do lots of other things - spinach, turnips, radishes, kale, collards, chard, cabbages - I know it says "plants" for some of them, but I'm going to try seeds anyway. With the weather as weird as it's been and seeds fairly cheap, you could really try anything along the lines of the usual fall crops and see how they work.
I have never had much luck with second crops of peas and beans, but this year could be different. Personally I have all the beans I need already, though.
If you've got enough time, you can plant from seed about 6-8 weeks out, before the planting date, then you'd have your own "plants" to transplant. Radishes, especially, are quick to germinate and reach maturity. You should also be able to plant lettuces.
Will lettuce and spinach germinate well in the heat? Or should I wait until things start to cool off a bit? I know heat makes them get bitter and bolt, but maybe they don't mind it when young.
They must be okay in the heat or they wouldn't be recommended for planting at the dates shown on those charts. At least that's what I'm assuming.
Lettuce doesn't get bitter until it bolts, and so seedlings should be okay.
I'll try it! Thanks
Pam,
"* Is it possible to plant a fall crop for peas and beets in 6a, and if so when should I plant?"
Yes. I'd go with 8-10 weeks before first frost as a good guide for beets, and no less that 10 weeks for your peas.
"* Do legumes (peas and beans) only add N to the soil when they are tilled under? If I pull the dead plants, will the N go with them?"
Again, yes. The nitrogen is in the ground, attached to root nodules and works with active bacteria that make it available. If you pull the roots then you pull the colony. What I've done is mow, weed-whack/cut, the tops of the plants off (compost them) and leave root system. (A few weeks ago I did that and then sowed some corn right next to the former bean plants hoping to utilize the N.)
critter, I have to start my plants like lettuce, broccoli, etc, in flats in the shade then set them out. It works just fine. Our soil here is too hot in July/August to get many seeds to sprout. With things like late garden peas I can sow them a little deeper than Spring-sown ones and it's a bit cooler, especially when watered in. However, I must admit I prefer to sow a late crop of cowpeas instead of garden peas and I have a guaranteed crop as the garden peas may be iffy, so much more dependent on the weather being "just right" than the cowpeas are.
Happy Gardening, Folks!
Shoe
Thanks, Shoe! It makes sense to let them germinate cooler.
My DH is building raised beds for my veggie garden, should be ready to plant the first of next week. Do I plant seed or am I too late? The recommended time on the chart stephanietx recommends, is that for plants or seed? I'm assuming seed, as the chart is from a seed company.
One of the charts I saw was talking about seedlings and assuming that you'd prestarted your seeds elsewhere. Since I haven't done that, I'm just going to have to wing it.
http://www.climate-charts.com/USA-climate.html
found my local frost dates etc here...might be helpful...
Grownut, we're new to North Carolina and found your climate chart Very helpful. We now have a game plan for planting. We've also found a class on winter veggies at the Stowe Botanical Gardens! Can't wait to harvest our first crops (lol)!
Yay! I was excited...it's so seldom I google and go exactly where I want to right away...glad it worked!!