The Modern Victory Garden

The weather was damp and cool all weekend, but in order to stay on schedule I had some planting to do.   The parsnip patch and another section of carrots needed to be planted.   I used my 2-inch spaced planting jig on a 4-foot by 4-foot section of bed that I planted with carrots (Bolero).   I used my 3-inch spaced planting jig on a 4-foot by 12-foot garden bed that I planted with parsnips (Cobham Improved Marrow).    

The other planting project to be completed was the second of three steps in the three sisters planting process.   Last weekend I transplanted out the corn seedlings - leaving open areas for the squash to be planted later.   Today, I needed to get the pinto beans planted.   These are a half runner dry bean, which will grow up the corn stalks but should not get so tall as to overwhelm the corn.   It is important to let the corn have a head start, then the beans, before the squash plants go in - because the squash vines will quickly smother out the other plants if they have not had a chance to get tall enough to rise above the squash foliage.   I began the bean planting process by reestablishing the grid lines surrounding the 1-foot squares that the corn was planted in.   I used a 4-foot long narrow board for that purpose. 

I  then laid out the pinto bean seeds on a 4-inch spacing along the grid lines. 

I then just pressed the bean seeds into the soil with my finger, smoothed the soil back over the planting area, and watered everything well.   The only task remaining now for the three sisters planting project is to transplant the winter squash into the area of the bed that was left unplanted.                  

The pea patch is thriving in the damp and cool conditions.   The plants have reached the bottom level of the horizontal trellis support and are latching on.  

The cabbage family plants are enjoying the rainy and cool conditions too.     The Savoy Ace cabbages, Tronchuda cabbage, and Dwarf Siberian Kale plants are all thriving.                                

The weather has not harmed the spinach patch either.   Yesterday I harvested a nice bunch of young spinach leaves that were the basis for a salad for dinner.       

I hope the weather improves next weekend.   I really have to transplant out the cucurbit family plants.   I will work on hardening them off this week in preparation.   I am also planning to direct seed the remaining bean family plants – pole beans, runner beans, and bush beans.   Once that is done, all the spring and summer grown crops will have been planted.    How is your spring planting up process progressing?