Category Archives: Peas

Desert Dryness Continues, Garden Continues to Grow Well

Well, it is now official. We are now in a moderate drought here in Indianapolis. The very wet and cold March is now but a distant memory. Obviously, I have been watering the garden on a regular basis now. Despite the drought, the garden continues to grow and produce. Harvest still continues on the lettuce and the first harvest of broccoli will begin today, hooray!! I have started to harvest a few Green Arrow peas, with many more to harvest over the next few weeks. I have been having all kinds of problems with sparrows pulling on the leaves and tendrils of the pea plants. It got so bad that I had to cover the plants with a large row cover, for a time. I have since removed the row cover. A few birds have returned, but not as many as before, so hopefully those issues are passed. Harvest will also start soon on some of the Kossack kohlrabi plants as they are starting to get to harvestable size. The potatoes in the grow bags are just about finished growing and some of the potatoes have started to push up out of the soil, so some harvesting of these potatoes will start over the next few weeks (I am getting tired of watering these bags every other day anyways). The pepper and tomato plants are starting to flower and are getting some good size to them. I even noticed some small tomatoes and peppers on the plants already. The Diva cucumber plants are starting to climb up their cages and should start blooming in the next few weeks. Most of the Rattlesnake pole bean vines have reached the top of the bean towers. The tops of the March planted onions have started to flop over, which is a sign that they are nearing harvest time (it has been 90 days since they were planted out). These onions (Candy and Red Candy Apple) have really bulbed up nicely and it looks like I will have a really good crop of onions for the second year in a row. The Silver Queen corn is getting really tall and should start shooting up tassels soon. Wow, can you believe it is already June 24th. I will start planting seeds of lettuce, cabbage, kohlrabi, broccoli, and cauliflower, for a fall harvest, by early July. I have loaded you up with garden pictures for this post (see below). Happy Summer Gardening!!

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Potatoes Pushing up Through the Soil in the Grow Bags, Picture Taken 6-23-23

Green Arrow Peas Maturing Nicely, Picture Taken 6-23-23

Candy Onions Getting Big and Nearing Maturity, Picture Taken 6-23-23

Onions with the Tops Falling Over, Picture Taken 6-23-23

Lettuce Plants Still Growing, Picture Taken 6-23-23

Clockwise From Lower Left to Right: Cucumbers, Peppers, Bush Green Beans, and Tomatoes, Picture Taken 6-23-23

Silver Queen White Corn Getting Really Tall, Picture Taken 6-23-23

Kohlrabi, Broccoli, and Brussels Sprouts, Picture Taken 6-23-23

Broccoli Head (Variety Packman) Ready to Harvest, Picture Taken 6-23-23

From Left to Right: Rattlesnake Beans, Fordhook Lima Beans, and Ancho Peppers, Picture Taken 6-23-23

Spring Garden Fully Planted

The spring garden is now fully planted. All that is left to plant is one bean tower, which I will plant with some rattlesnake pole green beans in about three weeks. The weather has turned really dry, so I have begun watering most of the garden. The spring planted lettuce continues to grow well, albeit with some minor slug damage. Most all of the recent seeds that were sown have now germinated including Diva cucumber and Derby bush green beans. The Red Norland potatoes are growing really well in the raised beds and the grow bags. I noticed a few flower buds just starting to form on a few of the potato vines. Harvest has been ongoing on the lettuce, radish, and green onions. See pics below of most of the garden beds. Happy Gardening.

Kohlrabi, Broccoli, and Brussels Sprouts (Lower Bed) and Potatoes and Corn (Upper Raised Beds), Picture Taken 5-24-23

Potatoes (Upper Raised Bed) and Corn (Lower Raised Bed), Picture Taken 5-24-23

Onions, Lettuce, Radish, and Two Peppers, Picture Taken 5-24-23

Green Onions, Peas, Four Pepper Plants, Bush Lima Beans (not really visible yet), and Pole Beans, Picture Taken 5-24-23

Cucumbers (not really visible yet), Peppers, Bush Green Beans (not really visible yet), and Tomatoes, Picture Taken 5-24-23

May Garden Growing Well

The mid May garden is starting to really take off now. Broccoli and Kohlrabi seedlings were transplanted out into the garden during the fourth week of April and the brussels sprouts seedlings were transplanted out about a week ago. Additional lettuce seedlings were also planted out into the garden about the same time. Silver Queen sweet corn seed was sown on May 6th, and all seeds have now germinated. Rattlesnake pole bean seeds were sown a few days ago along with another planting of some radish seeds. A few pepper seedlings have already been planted out. All of the rest of the pepper seedlings along with the tomato seedlings will be transplanted out into the garden over the next week, as the danger of frost has now passed. I also planted out my celery seedlings about a week ago, although they are a still a little small. Fordhook 242 lima beans will be sown in the next few days.

The spring planted lettuce is really taking off now, and harvest continues on that about every fours days. Harvest also continues on green onions and radish. All of the Red Norland potatoes have now poked up through the soil and the vines are starting to growing. The peas, after a slow start, are now starting to grow and the onions are really taking off now.

I have an update on the new lettuce/green I was trying for the first time this year, it is called Mizuna. See post about that here: http://blog.timssquarefootgarden.com/wordpress/index.php/2023/04/04/lettuce-planted-weather-is-improving I am not a big fan of this green. I did not like the flavor and it actually started to flower (bolt) very early. I pulled up the plants and fed what was left to my chickens (they seemed to like it). Besides, I need the extra room for additional plantings of lettuce.

I will post another update, including pictures, in about another week.

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Spring Garden Activities Ramping Up and the Weather Has Improved

Garden activity has really picked up over the last several weeks now. The weather has really improved here in Central Indiana, with a 6-day stretch of warm and sunny days. It rained about a half inch yesterday, which was good as the soil was just starting to get a little dry in spots in the garden. With all of the warm and dry weather, the onions and the early April planted lettuce seedlings have really started to grow. Most of the rest of the overwintered lettuce has been harvested. Selected individual leaf harvest will probably start on the spring planted lettuce within the next week. The first harvest of the fall planted top setting onions was started yesterday, for green onions, with many more to come. Potatoes were planted out on April 13th and 15th. Some of these vines have just started to poke through the soil over the last day or so. Pea seeds were planted out into the garden on April 9th, and most have germinated within the past few days. I was able to pot up my tomato and pepper seedling into larger 4 inch pots on April 9th. For now, they will stay in the cold frame. They won’t be planted out into the garden until the second full week of May. The broccoli and kohlrabi seedlings will be planted out into the garden in about 4 days. Frost is expected tonight and tomorrow night, so I will keep my lettuce protected under the plastic hoop for at least a few more weeks, making sure to pull the plastic up on both ends in the mornings. Happy Spring Gardening!!

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The Spring Garden with the Eastern Redbud Tree in Full Bloom, Picture Taken 4-18-23

Early April Planted Lettuce Seedlings Growing Nicely Under the Plastic Covered Hoop, Picture Taken 4-18-23

Onions Really Starting to Grow Now. Notice the Lettuce Under the Plastic Covered Hoop to the Left, Picture Taken 4-18-23

Lettuce Planted, Weather is Improving

I was able to plant 30 lettuce transplants out into the garden yesterday, variety Sierra and Green Ice. About 6 or 7 Nevada lettuce seedlings will be planted out in about another week. I also planted out 5 seedlings of a new lettuce/green that I am trying for the first time this year. It is called Mizuna. The catalog described it as follows: “Classified as a mustard green or a Japanese green often used as part of a Mesclun mix. Very attractive, deeply cut and serrated, narrow leaves grow vigorously into large bunched heads that resist bolting and allow for extended picking. Mild, pleasant cabbagey flavor. It is supposed to hold up well in the heat and can be cut several times, so I am hoping to extend the lettuce growing season a little with this plant. It is also said to be cold tolerant, so I might try to replant this in the late summer for a fall/early winter harvest.

Mizuna is also described as follows (Source: https://tendingmygarden.com/mizuna-evergeen-elegant-and-delicious/): “The leaves are mild with a bit of pungency. Mizuna doesn’t have the bitterness and bite of arugula. It’s great mixed with other lettuces or used as a substitute for lettuce at times when lettuce is scarce. Sow this versatile green anytime from early spring through early autumn. It’s fast growing and the first leaves can be harvested in about 3 weeks. (Maturity takes 40 to 50 days depending on the variety.) Clumps get about 8 to 12 inches tall and can spread to a diameter of about 18 inches. You can harvest leaves at any stage. But if you want a big harvest at once, allow the plant to mature and cut it back just above the growing point to harvest all the leaves.”

The weather has turned warmer and somewhat drier. My onion transplants are definitely liking the weather as they are starting to green up quite a bit. The overwintered top setting onions are now about 4 inches tall. It is nice to finally see some green in the early April garden. I was also able to plant the rest of my really small onion transplants out into the garden yesterday, for green onions. If the weather stays favorable, I should be able to plant out Red Norland seed potatoes in the 2 raised beds and the fabric grow bags in about 5 days. Garden peas will also be directly sown into the garden in about a week.

Since it has warmed up, I was able to move my tomato and celery seedlings out into the cold frame a few days ago. If it stays somewhat warm, I will be moving the pepper seedlings out into the cold frame soon.

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Lettuce Seedlings Planted (Left) and Top Setting Onions Greening Up Nicely (Top Right), Picture Taken 4-3-23

Overwintered Sierra Lettuce is Almost Ready to Harvest, Picture Taken 4-3-23

Onion Transplants Planted – Cold, Wet, and Muddy in the Garden

Wow, the weather has been awful here in Central Indiana over the past month!! I did manage to get my onion transplants out into the garden on March 22nd (about 200 onion plants, Yellow Candy and Red Candy), right before the flooding rains hit (see pic of my onion plot below). It seems like we get one or two somewhat warm and dry days, then it rains for two to three days and then gets cold. The garden is so muddy right now, that you cannot plant anything in it until it dries out a little. I did cover part of the garden with a plastic covered hoop to keep that area drier for my lettuce seedlings, which should be able to be planted out into the garden in a few days, making sure to keep them protected until the weather gets better. I moved all of my cool season seedlings out into the cold frame. I still have my tomato and pepper seedlings inside under grow lights. Some of the seeds have not sprouted as of yet, but should over the next week or so. My fall planted top setting onions are starting to push on new green growth. It is always good to see any kind of green in the garden this time of year. I still have many leftover small onion transplants that need to get in the garden. I like growing these for green onions. If the weather stays somewhat dry, I am hopeful to be able to get my peas and seed potatoes planted out within the next 2 to 3 weeks. Happy early spring gardening!!

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New Onion Transplants Lower and Top Setting Onions Upper Part of Picture, Picture Taken 3-27-23

Desert Gardening Anybody? Why The Heck Not!

Well, Central Indiana has been desert dry with many days with temperatures in the 90’s over the last 3 weeks. I have not seen it this dry in June since the drought year of 2012. My garden has not seen any measurable rainfall in 3 weeks and it was already dry before then, Yikes!! I have been watering parts of my garden about once every 5 days. Despite the heat and lack of rainfall, the garden has been producing relatively well. My spring planted peas are not doing too well, but they are nearing the end of their season anyways. Over the past few weeks I have been harvesting broccoli, lettuce, and peas. I will start harvesting kohlrabi today. The Red Norland potato vines have started to turn brown, so harvest on those will begin soon. The warm season crops like corn, beans, tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers are doing fine in all of the heat, as long as they get enough water. The Silver Queen white corn is growing like crazy and has just started to send up tassels within the last few days. The spring lettuce crop is almost finished and most of the rest of the plants still growing will start bolting soon. The tops of the spring planted onions have started to flop over and turn brown, so I will be pulling those up to cure within the next few weeks. See the pics of some of my garden below. All pics were taken on June 22nd.

Silver Queen White Corn, Picture Taken 6-22-22

Diva Cucumbers Starting to Grow Up the Cages, Picture Taken 6-22-22

Tops of Candy and Red Candy Apple Onions Starting to Flop Over, Picture Taken 6-22-22

Hungarian Wax Peppers Starting to Get Big, Picture Taken 6-22-22

Red Norland Potato Vines Starting to Turn Brown, Picture Taken 6-22-22

Broccoli Head Just Before Harvested, Picture Taken 6-22-22

Mid June Garden Update – Very Hot and Dry

The mid June garden is growing pretty good despite the very hot and dry weather over the past 5 days. The garden this time of year seems to grow overnight. Harvest began on the broccoli yesterday, with more heads to come, although it looks like most of the heads will be a smaller this year, probably due to the weather. The spring planted peas are suffering with all of the heat but, with any luck, I should be able to start harvesting at least some peas over the next few weeks. I have started watering the garden over the last week because it has been so dry. The Red Norland potatoes have just about finished growing, but I did water them a few days ago due to the fact that they are growing in raised beds. The potatoes growing in the grow bags need to be watered every other day in this heat. Some potatoes might be able to be harvested in about another 2 weeks. Some of my onions tops, especially the Red Candy Apple onions, have started to flop over. Some of the spring planted Kohlrabi are nearing harvestable size. Some of the lettuce plants (Salad Bowl and Green Ice) will be pulled up and fed to the chickens over the next few weeks, as they are starting to bolt. The Sierra and Nevada lettuces are still doing okay. I did place shade cloth over the lettuce to help them with the heat stress. The bush green beans have started to flower, so I expect I will be harvesting some beans in about 3 weeks or so. The Silver Queen white corn is growing like mad and is already at least 3 feet tall. The peppers are growing really well and I even noticed a few small peppers on the Hungarian Wax pepper plants. The Diva cucumbers are starting to climb, but have not flowered as of yet. No pictures with this post, but look for pictures of the garden in my next post, coming soon. Stay Cool and Happy Gardening!!

Early June Garden Update

Sorry for the long delay in posting a garden update. Things have been very busy in the garden over the last few weeks. Harvest has completed on the last of the spring radishes and the green onions. The lettuce continues to grow like crazy and harvest continues on that at least twice a week now. The Red Norland potatoes vines are really starting to get big and have also started to bloom. It looks like I will have a good crop of potatoes this year!! The white Silver Queen corn is already about 6 inches tall and the plants were side dressed with some high nitrogen fertilizer about 2 days ago. The Diva cucumbers were seeded about 2 weeks ago and they have sprouted but are still a little small. Bush green beans (Derby), bush lima beans (Fordhook 242), and pole green beans (Rattlesnake) were directly seeded into the garden about 2 weeks ago and they have germinated. The pepper, tomato, and celery transplants are starting to get some good size to them. I even have blooms on the Roma tomato plants and the Hot Banana pepper plants already. The peas (Green Arrow) have just started to bloom, although they do no look like they will produce as well as they did last year, but time will tell. The onions (Candy and Red Candy) are really starting to get some good tall green tops to them. The broccoli (Packman) and the kohlrabi (Kossak) are starting to get really big. The garden is getting a little dry, so I starting watering some, especially the potatoes, since they are in raised beds.

Silver Queen White Corn, Picture Taken 6-3-22

Kohlrabi and Broccoli, Picture Taken 6-3-22

Beans, Peppers, Cucumbers, and Tomatoes, Picture Taken 6-3-22

Late April Garden Update

My late April garden is growing pretty good so far. All of my garden has been planted with the exception of the warm season plants, which include corn, celery, peppers, tomatoes, green beans, lima beans, and cucumbers. Those won’t be planted out into the garden until at least around May 7th. Harvest starts today on the fall planted topsetting onions (for green onions). The March planted lettuce seedlings are starting to get to harvesting size. Harvest will start on them within the next 4 or 5 days. The potatoes have started to push up green shoots through the soil and the peas have germinated. Earlier this year I retired my old Juwel cold frame and purchased a new one, the Juwel Biostar 1500. It is larger than my old one and so far it seems to work just as well.

Tim's Square Foot Garden Blog

This is where you can keep up to date on what is happening in my square foot garden, so check back often for updates!!