Matchmakers Guide to Vegetables

I'll admit that I'm a matchmaker at heart. I love to see everything paired off. People. Pets. And now even my plants. I have been intrigued with the idea of Companion Planting ever since a Seeds of Change Newsletter filled me in on it's many wonders. While many people have practiced this form of gardening for many years it is a new concept to me. Yet it is one that I was instantly attracted to. Maybe because I prefer not to use chemicals. I refuse to use any insecticides in my gardening. I have small children who still occasionally put odd items into their mouths. I would be so worried if a leaf that I coated with insecticide in the morning ended up in my 3 year olds mouth in the afternoon. And Companion Planting can reduce the need for such chemicals. Don't believe me?

Leeks: Enemy #1 Onion Fly and Leek Moth.

Carrots: Enemy #1 Carrot Fly.

Here's the Matchmaker Magic: Once paired together the smell of the Leeks repel the Carrot Fly AND the smell of the Carrots repels the Onion and Leek Moth. I told you it was magic! No chemicals necessary. But how do you know how to make a Successful Match? Below I've attached a starter's guide to Matchmaking. While the guide is very basic you might find it helpful when questioning which plants will make a successful match. (Y for yes N for No)

The Best Gardening Advice EVER!

When I was new at gardening I went to a meeting of my garden club distraught because all of these really lovely ladies had extremely lovely gardens...and I had just killed yet another unlucky plant! "What did I do wrong?" I cried. I received lots of gardening advice (which I avidly listened to and then promptly forgot). As the meeting neared it's end a short, cute, elderly woman grabbed hold of my arm. Margaret then proceded to give me the best gardening advice EVER! She said,

"You're a Mom and a Gardener

and you want to be successful at both.

But sometimes you are going to fail.

Which one would you prefer to fail at?"

It was like a weight had been lifted off of me! So what if I couldn't raise flowers and children at the same time. My children were my number one priority and the pretty flowers were just decoration for my children's world. As soon as I let go of the "need to succeed" I became pretty successful. Oh, I still have my weak spots...seeds and the unknown veggie garden but I became much more able to absorb the gardening do's and don'ts. Why is that~I wondered? I think it's because I realized that I didn't need to make a magazine-beautiful garden to be a "true" gardener. Instead, I just had to plant a garden that made me and my loved ones happy. And as we turn our attention to our "First Ever Veggie Garden Spectacular" (okay giving it a fancy name makes the kids get excited about veggies...and the hubby too!) we need a clear cut guide of when and what to do. Leave it to Storey's for yet another pearl of gardening wisdom.

Hardy

Plant as soon as ground

can be prepared

asparagus

beets

broccoli

cabbage

carrots

chard

kale

lettuce

onions

parsnips

peas

raishes

spinach

turnips

Semi-Hardy

Plant 1 to 2 weeks before

average date of last frost

cauliflower

potatoes

Tender

Plant on or just after

average date of last frost

New Zealand spinach
snap beans

sweet corn

tomatoes

Very Tender

Plant 2 weeks after

average date of last frost

cucumber

eggplant

lima beans

muskmelon

peppers

pumpkins

squash

watermelon


I'm certainly not growing all of these crops on my first attempt but at least I've got a good "guideline" as to what I should be doing...and when I should do it!
Now if it would only stop snowing...

Greenhouse Dreaming and Ramblings

My "Accidental Forcing" bulbs are thriving in my kitchen window. They seem to be quite happy which makes me quite happy. In other parts of the house I have set-up my greenhouse (hopefully in a better position than the "stock" photo from yesterday's post.) I have placed the greenhouse in front of my sliding glass door which gets the most light and sun of any room in the house. It's also a placement which should ensure pretty consistant temperatures.

Yesterday, I excitedly said that it was time to start pepper plants. However, I was mistaken. After checking my Storey's Basic Country Guide and speaking to a local farmer (he's a Farmer's Market favorite) I learned that I needed to wait at least until Mid-April. So, before rising from bed this morning I told my husband that although it may be too early for vegetables. It's never too early for annuals. I think he rolled his eyes at me. But how can I get a new greenhouse and not immediately start some seeds? It just seems wrong not to!

So today I turn my attention to deciding what kind of annuals I'd like to decorate my front porch with this year. Suggestions are welcome as always.