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To: Diana in Wisconsin; Pete from Shawnee Mission

Well, I’m getting an asparagus crop, so to speak. It’s beyond anemic and not even as good as last year. Not sure why. It could be from the mouse tunneling damaging the roots.

What would be good for fertilizing and boosting the asparagus?

We have a VERY early least date of frost this year. I put my tomatoes in by May 10, which I think sets a record for early. They are nice and big already.

I have lots of plants left over and we’re doing a community wide yard sale this weekend so I’ll be selling the left over plants there.

Speaking of buying plants, I checked a couple places for pepper plants, like Lowe’s and some garden centers. What ridiculous prices. Lowe’s didn’t even have the 6 packs. They had individual plants for $4 each!!!!!! $4 for one tomato, one cucumber, one squash, whatever. And they were pathetic looking things.

And it wasn’t just veggies that were over priced. Flowers are, too.

I started my own seeds and after seeing the prices on these plants, realized that I saved a FORTUNE starting my own. Probably hundreds of dollars with the number of plants I have started.

We’re in for a blistering hot weekend so I got out the floating row covers and covered my lettuce and cabbage plants. I made tunnels with turkey wire, similar to what Pete did, and they are working out well. It was so easy to put the floating row covers over them and clothespin them on.

My potatoes are in but getting a slow start. Carrots are coming up. I started some beans and butternut squash in containers and will get those in when they are big enough.

It’s hard to believe that the garden is well under way already. It seems like I’m late getting some stuff in but actually some years, I’m just hoping to get started by this time.

I’m getting my herbs planted, and my garlic is well over a foot high already. That crop is doing well.


14 posted on 05/21/2022 8:04:30 AM PDT by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith… )
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To: metmom

“What would be good for fertilizing and boosting the asparagus?”

Asparagus benefits from a balanced fertilizer, so just a granular 10-10-10 is fine.

You’re leaving some of the stalks to go to flower, I hope? If you harvest it all, it’s not going through it’s ‘life cycle’ and that could be part of the problem. Leave one stalk alone from each crown and let that flower until it dies back of its own accord in the fall.


17 posted on 05/21/2022 8:17:45 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
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To: metmom

“Speaking of buying plants, I checked a couple places for pepper plants, like Lowe’s and some garden centers. What ridiculous prices. Lowe’s didn’t even have the 6 packs. They had individual plants for $4 each!!!!!! $4 for one tomato, one cucumber, one squash, whatever. And they were pathetic looking things.”

I lucked out that my local Southern States co-op plant prices were about the same as last year and nice looking plants too. Our Lowes seems to be the last stop for the plant truck. ;)

Got the tomatoes and peppers all planted today. It seems to work best for me if I plant a variety, so I put in some Early Girl, German Johnson, Mortgage Lifter, Red Brandywine and Romas.

Beans and corn are coming up. Potatoes are hilled. Now, I’ll have a couple of weeks to play with flowers and herbs before I have to start weeding.


39 posted on 05/21/2022 5:43:55 PM PDT by Mrs. Ranger (lamenting the death of "common sense" )
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