[metmom]

I did the bucket potatoes. Definitely keep me posted this fall on how yours do.

I got everything in fairly early. My garlic looks like your bed and I had to go out today and weed it. What a chore. Those plants are TALL.

The onions are next on the to weed list.

Mr. mm and I are still planting trees and bushes bought from the State Nursery. Most of them are doing very well, although a few look like they didn’t make it, but I figured there’d be some attrition.

I got my tomatoes in a couple weeks ago, and 6 of them are already putting out their first flowers. This is great, because normally, we don’t even get the plants in the ground until this weekend.

The asparagus is coming up and the asparagus beetles are joining the party but me and my trusty jar of soapy water are taking care of them. A couple spears seem to be particularly attractive to them for some reason and since they already have so many eggs laid on them, I’m just rubbing them off and going to leave those for the beetles to go after. We won’t be eating them anyways.

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

M.Mom, I think we are at about the same maturity point in our gardens; I have a Gold nugget tomato that is putting out flowers.

Alliums;

Like yours, the Garlic poked up really early this year. Three leaf wrappers at the bottom have died and dried. Another 2 and I will check to see if its time to harvest.

As an experiment I planted shallots bought at the grocery store. They might be Dutch or French red shallots. Along with the Shallots I pulled up most of the multiplier (potato) onions today and they are drying on the back porch.

Walking onions bought last year have set bub-lets which I am going to remove and replant. They apparently cannot really be stored. Sounds like they are best used as green onions. I think I will companion plant them around the Tomato plants along with some Basil and marigolds. A picture of the Walking onions and Romain Lettuce (Like you!)

(For anyone reading, you tube info on walking onions.)

Walking Onions Robbie and Gary Gardening Easy

I have leeks seedlings in pots. They need to go outdoors and be secured with chicken wire over the pots till they are pencil sized then trench plant and wait for winter!

Once I pull up the garlic I may replant with some 45 day bush green beans. Last years wall of climbing beans were decimated by Japanese beetles and Green June bugs so I want something I can cover with an insect barrier.

I have decided that given the size of my garden...small...I am going with soaker hoses rather than an irrigation system. Easier to move and store. (If I had room and rows with a 50' run I would use something like 1/2" irrigation!)

Sounds like you have plenty of room if you are planting nursery stock! Hope it produces lots of Fruit (sand plums?) I will let you know how the potatoes work out.