National Gardening Association newsletter

[early]

Editor's Note: The month of May is nearly upon us, and in almost every part of the country it's prime gardening season! If you haven't put your vegetable transplants into the ground, now may be the time to do so. (Hint: if you aren't sure when to plant, enter your zipcode into our planting calendar and find out.) If you don't have space for a vegetable garden, don't overlook your landscaping. There are lots of lovely plants that you can grow that are both ornamental and edible. If you don't have landscaping, you can still grow in containers; many vegetables and herbs can be grown as easily as houseplants, as long as they get plenty of direct sunlight.

My 87031 zone states early May for 168 days prior to frost in early Oct.

[camille1585]

I put in the early crops several weeks ago (radish, spinach, peas, potatoes) and now I'm looking forward to getting everything else in the ground once the last frost risk has passed in about 2 weeks time. I have various squash and tomatoes types growing under my orchid lights until they can go in the ground. Now it only it would rain, we have barely had any in the past month!

[nemesis]

So I checked them out today and did some research on Adenium Obesum and found out I started about 20 seeds out in the wrong medium. I thought they would be fine if they germinated in peat moss....silly me! Now I’m afraid I’ll loose all of them. They look great, but I will need to move them as soon as it is safe. Any advice on how to save them would be appreciated, so chime in....please!!!

[estación seca]

Don't worry, they're fine in peat moss. Just water them lightly so the medium isn't soaking wet. You can transplant them easily when they have 1-2 true leaves. Remember to fertilize them once true leaves form; most potting mixes for succulents contain no nutrients at all.

[nemesis]

Thank you ES. You are always so helpful and have information I can trust. I am very excited about this project. I have never grown them before. Just admired them in plant shops.

[early]

Originally Posted by camille1585

I put in the early crops several weeks ago (radish, spinach, peas, potatoes) and now I'm looking forward to getting everything else in the ground once the last frost risk has passed in about 2 weeks time. I have various squash and tomatoes types growing under my orchid lights until they can go in the ground. Now it only it would rain, we have barely had any in the past month!

I checked the zones compared to mine which in US is both 7a and 7b in my county. Your zone in central area is 8b and why you are able to plant earlier than I am. I am hoping our winds have calmed and I can get top soil into the bed and contains outside. I will probably use som diatomaceous earth for insect protection against damage and none for the butterflies and other pollinators. I have a large bag that is foodgrade.