It has been raining. And raining. And raining. And raining here. I look at the 10 day forecast on the Weather channel app on my phone every morning when I get up. This is the time of year when it can be 80 degrees one day, and 40 the next. We hang heavy coats, spring coats and rain coats on the coat rack by our front door. And the weather channel app helps be decide if it’s a “short sleeve or long sleeve” day for the boys, what kind of coat they will need, and if we need to get the rain boots out of the closet. So for the past month, it’s been forecasting rain 9 out of 10 days that show up on the 10 day planner. And it’s been right every time. 🙁
So while we are stuck inside for yet another month (come on summer!), the plants in the garden have been growing! The Swiss chard that you see above has doubled in size since I put it in and is close to 1 foot tall.
The red kale has also doubled in size and is right at a foot tall.
I’m trying to look on the bright side of all this rain. Yeah for growing flowers!
My tiny little strawberry plant had quadruplets!!! It sent out a few runners and left us with these 5 new little plants. I planted it 2 years ago in a little side patch of dirt next to our patio, near the square foot planters. I bought it for fun and we’ve only eaten a few strawberries from the plant. But maybe in another year or two we’ll have a little patch…and enough strawberries to make a pie!
Spinach sprouts.
One of the 3 Brussels sprout plants.
This is the same plant that you see in the picture directly above it. A few weeks later! I thought it would be fun to see what just 2 or 3 weeks in the garden (with a lot of rain!) can do to a plant. I’m looking forward to its continued growth!
I’m itching, itching, itching to get some tomatoes and peppers planted outside, but I shall wait another week. Just to be sure there isn’t a freak frost day that will kill them off. Patience…is a gardening virtue!
What’s happening in your garden this week?! Are you past your frost danger yet?!
Melissa says
I live in the Dayton area also and I remember you mentioning a date to wait to plant green beans by to avoid bugs. Was it June 1st? We have horrible bugs in our green beans usually so I was going to try that this year to see if we can avoid them. Thanks!
Wendy says
I’m so jealous, here in Wyoming we haven’t been able to plant anything yet. I will probably plant my potatoes, radishes, lettuce, spinach, brussel sprouts and other cool weather plants this week. Our nights are just now above freezing for a few days. It makes for a short growing season but I use cold frames for extended season growing.
Becky L. says
We are still cool in Oregon but the days have a warm feel to it, as long as the wind isn’t blowing too much. I will buy my tomato plants soon and peppers plants too. Is it to early to put in lettuce? Will have to check. First I need to pull weeds from garden but that will be easy. It will likely be a short growing season like last year so don’t know what will happen with my garden. Happy Mother’s Day!
Angela says
Here in South Georgia I already have tomatoes on my plants for over 2 weeks. Thats all I planted. But I can’t wait to have fresh tomatoes. Also, we are already in “summer”. 90s during the days and 60s at night. So no frost here!
Alison P says
I planted all of my stuff that I am going to try out this year for the first time and I am having a few issues. Any pointers would be great. I have already has one romaine lettuce plant wilt and die and the others look not far behind. My mom says my carrots are too close together and I have to thin them or I am not going to have any…. Any ideas?
DeAnna Jones says
I had a pitiful time with cold season stuff this year… first time trying them. BUT… I have six tomato plants set out right now and ONE HAS BLOSSOMS ON IT as of yesterday! WHOOOO! My sweet pepper plants are growing nicely too. I have lots of other little seedlings that I’m trying to nurse into the stage where they can be planted… cukes, zukes, gourds, more tomatoes, and hot peppers. Still need to plant cantaloupes! I keep forgetting, untill I talk about what all I’ve got going on, LOL!
The Prudent Homemaker says
Wow, rain–what a blessing! We only get about 2 inches a year here. It’s nice that you don’t have to worry about a huge water bill!
Our last frost date is February 15th. I harvested peaches, artichokes, and swiss chard this week.