Wasn’t it just Spring? and now we are in mid-summer? That’s Connecticut for you.
Procrastinate no more! Take a look at this guide to sowing seeds directly into the garden, courtesy of The Old Farmers’ Almanac, for what you can plant right now, notably the warm-weather veggies like beans, corn, squashes, melons, cucumbers. And planting a tiny bit late may benefit you in another way: the insects that normally prey on your veggies may have given up and gone elsewhere!
Do you need much land to grow some veggies? No! Many varieties will grow in a pot (cucumbers, beans, tomatoes, many herbs, for example) or a bag (potatoes!*). But you have to get that seed into the earth and start watering.
“Useful, with a pleasant degree of humor”
The Old Farmer’s Almanac has been guiding farmers and gardeners for over 225 years in its print version, and now there is a comprehensive website as well. It isn’t always accurate – I am writing during a hot and sunny streak while the Almanac says “Rainy periods, cool”! However, the amount of lore and tried-and-true advice warrants this small book to be available to consult on weather, tides, astronomical events, gardening, food, home & health, and other aspects of down-to-earth living.
From the About page:
“Since 1792, The Old Farmer’s Almanac has spoken to all walks of life: planting charts for those who grow their own food; recipes for those who live in the kitchen; Moon and sunrise times for those who watch the skies; and forecasts for those who don’t like the question of weather left up in the air.”
If you just can’t get to growing just yet, there is still time to plan and plant a fall garden. So, look at this planting calendar for ideas, plan that pumpkin patch, kick up your heels, and delve into The Almanac.
*Grow potatoes in bags, you say?
The secret to growing potatoes is to keep mounding earth onto stems as they grow taller. As each stem is buried it will produce roots which may ultimately form a potato. This process is what is meant by “hilling.” Do this in rows in the ground, in a box, or in a bag. Just remember, the potato does better when the soil is cool and it also likes a lot of sun (minimum of 6 hours per day). This is why Idaho and Maine are terrific potato-growing areas. If you grow in a bag or a box, try to keep the bag or box shaded and the tops in the sun: a bit tricky but do-able.
Two guides to growing potatoes:
Connecticut Garden Journal, “Planting Potatoes”
gardeningknowhow.com, “Planting Potatoes in Bags”