Gardening for City Girls

[poky]

We'll be moving in May to a house with raised beds. I'm interested in growing carrots (maybe a baby variety), peas (maybe sugar snaps?), raspberries, potatoes, lettuce, garlic, other herbs, lavender. We're in the Yamhill valley (south of Portland). Am I going to be able to grow anything this year if I can't start anything before May? I've never gardened before, and know nothing about anything about it. Are there any good references I should start with?

[MrsC]

We'll be moving in May to a house with raised beds. I'm interested in growing carrots (maybe a baby variety), peas (maybe sugar snaps?), raspberries, potatoes, lettuce, garlic, other herbs, lavender. We're in the Yamhill valley (south of Portland). Am I going to be able to grow anything this year if I can't start anything before May? I've never gardened before, and know nothing about anything about it. Are there any good references I should start with?

Even planting in late May, you should be able to grow a nice variety of veg. I grew a lot last year in raised beds, some potted. I started in mid May with Parsley, basil, chives, Roma and grape tomatoes, green beans, broccoli, peas, zucchini, bell peppers, onions, green onions, cucumbers, lettuce, spinach, strawberries. I'm in zone 6/7 while you're probably in 8 so not a huge difference. I planted a raspberry bush too but it didn't produce any fruit last year.
I would probably start with a local nursery and buy plants, especially for the slow growing and cool weather crops (carrots, lettuce) since you're a little late getting started. The fast growers and warm weather ones you can start from seeds. I usually start them indoors with a grow light.
I get a lot of my info from the Farmers Almanac website. They have detailed descriptions on everything, including the best time to plant and what grows best in each zone.

[ides]

The farmers almanac is a good resource. I also search growing .... In .... And usually find exact answers. You may have a university extension dept that gives detailed write ups on growing things in your specific area. I don't think May is too late to start. I am in a warmer area than you but I don't start summer crops - squash, second go of carrots, beets, cucumbers till May. I say research a little then give it a go.


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[spotty_dog]

[MENTION=1049]poky[/MENTION], Growing Vegetables West of the Cascades was written by the founder of Territorial Seed, and its recommendations are based in the Willamette Valley. I think it'd be an ideal reference for you. Only thing is he's more a fan of planting in the ground than in raised beds -- you could cross reference with the Square Foot Gardening books.

I don't know how droughty you get in the summer, but it's not an ideal time to plant perennials like lavender and raspberry because they get stressed being in the heat before their root systems are established. And garlic is ideally planted in the fall for a late spring-early summer harvest. Peas go in in late February to early March, because they love cold weather and start getting mildewy by the time it's warmer. Lettuce bolts fast if the weather gets warm, but you might still squeak out a non-bitter harvest from a May planting. Early May is still going to be a fine time to put in potatoes and sturdy leafy greens like chard, and once the soil temperature hits 60 degrees (usually late May) it'll be time to plant beans and squash. Carrots are fine to put in any time between April and June, and if you want to try tomatoes, you could buy transplants to plant in late May. Then you get to start focusing on your fall and winter crops by June! Yay for mild climates!

[spotty_dog]

[MENTION=1768]scrub-jay[/MENTION]. The bed behind the Arbor has 12 rose bushes. Would they be harmed if I planted some bulbs among them? It's such a large area and it will be several months before we have roses. I hate to leave it bare all spring.

That's kind of the thing about ornamental rose gardens. They look kind of crappy when the plants are out of flower. But for a more casual effect, if your goal isn't the most perfect huge blooms for cutting and competition, there are lots of plants you can layer amid roses. Just don't mess with the rose roots too much, or plant so much other stuff that moisture gets trapped in and among the roses. Here's a thread of ideas: http://www.gardenweb.com/discussions...planting-roses

[poky]

Sweet, thanks. Just ordered that and a couple other books that looked interesting!

[gcuthbe1]

This lovely rhubarb is on its third year and ready for the first round of harvesting! Time to make pie!


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[ides]

I can't wait to be able to grow rhubarb!! And raspberries.


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[spotty_dog]

Oh man, I should photograph my rhubarb. I have harvested over three pounds and you still can't see the ground between the leaves. O_o It's probably almost five years old and planted in the ground…my younger plants look like yours. Rhubarb crisp is da bomb!

[gcuthbe1]

Oh man, I should photograph my rhubarb. I have harvested over three pounds and you still can't see the ground between the leaves. O_o It's probably almost five years old and planted in the ground…my younger plants look like yours. Rhubarb crisp is da bomb!

I had it in the ground then put it in a smaller pot when we moved apartments. Forgot about it over the winter, replanted it in the bigger pot last spring. I didn't know how it would do but not too shabby! And it was nice having it in the pot bc when it snowed /froze in April I brought it inside!

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