Transplanting and Sowing

I know I haven't updated you on the garden since the end of April but the beginning of May brought with it a frenzy of activity from which I am only just catching my breath. With the thermostat registering high 70s it was a race against time to get all the seedlings transplanted and all the seeds sown. It seemed like all our free time was spent in the garden.


We transplanted leeks, kale, chard, broccoli and cabbage and direct sowed some too. After they settled into their permanent home we planted potatoes, onions and garlic.We transplanted the brussel sprouts and planted some peas and sowed carrots and parsnips, spinach and lettuces.




In good old Blighty we tend to talk about the weather a lot. This is mostly because the weather is so changeable. You can leave the house in the morning in a t-shirt with your sunnies on only to return drenched and cold if you forgot your brolly and scarf. You must always be prepared for every eventuality. Well it seemed the Midwest is no different, though people often chide me about the weather in the UK.

After two weeks of the hottest May weather on record, we were all set for a week's break from the garden when the beautiful weather turned sour. And I don't mean the "stay indoors it is going to rain non-stop" kinda weather - (mother nature saved that one for June). I mean the "get your winter coat back out it is going to freeze tonight" kind.

After having gotten all the plants transplanted we had to run out and cover them with whatever we had on hand to save them from the overnight freezing temperatures. Out came the paper cups, plastic sheeting, old blankets and glasses.It was a close call, but thanks to my husband's speed and ingenuity, we didn't lose a single plant.

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The end of May saw us plant popcorn, squash, sunflowers, beans and herbs. The return of the hot weather was good for the plants but also good for the weeds and we spent many a day outside
weeding.




We mulched the tomatoes to help keep the weeds down in the tomato patch. That helped but the grass still crept through a little and needed cutting. Still, by the end of the month, most of the hard work was done with. We popped out every now and again for some maintenance weeding and to stake the peas and tomatoes. Really all that was left now was to sit back, water and watch them grow.