Who's planting a new garden or expanding an old one?

[Maine Writer]

It wasn't busy yesterday when a customer came so we had time to talk. He's gardening for the first time in 25 years "because it's time to do something for myself," "my neighbor isn't gardening anymore and I need fresh vegetables," and "food is too expensive. I put most of my savings into heating the house last year. There isn't a lot left over anymore for groceries."

I start anything that needs more than 100 days to maturity inside or under cover. Most of my seeds come from Fedco, the rest from Johnny's. Everything in this list does well in Maine's growing season.

• Bean, bush Provider (huge producer)
• Bean, purple Royal Burgundy (huge producer)
• Bean, yellow Indy Gold
• Peas, shell Coral (short, no need to trellis)
• Peas, snow Dwarf Gray Sugar (short, no need to trellis)
• Peas, snap Cascadia (30" vines, I trellis these)
• Cucumber, pickling Cross Country
• Cucumber, slicing Marketmore 76
• Cucumber, European Telegraph
• Zucchini, green Jackpot
• Zucchini, black Raven
• Squash, Patty Pan, Sunburst
• Squash, summer Gentry
• Squash, winter Waltham
• Beet Greens, Early Wonder Tall Top
• Beets, Red Ace
• Radish, Easter Egg
• Radish, Champion
• Rutabaga, Laurentian (most of us call this turnip, it's what we have at Thanksgiving dinner)
• Turnip, Purple Top White Globe
• Leeks, Lincoln
• Onion, Crystal White Wax
• Spinach, Bordeaux
• Spinach, Space
• Spinach, Olympia (I over winter this variety)
• Tatsoi
• Lettuce, looseleaf Black Seeded Simpson
• Lettuce, looseleaf Bronze Arrowhead
• Lettuce, looseleaf Salad Bowl
• Lettuce, bibb Winter Marvel
• Lettuce, bibb Bronze Mignonette
• Lettuce, Romaine Forellenschluss
• Lettuce, mix Lettuce Mix
• Lettuce mix Lettuce Mix
• Mustard Mix
• Arugula
• Swiss Chard Bright Lights
• Swiss Chard, Ruby Red
• Endive, Tres Fine
• Mache, Verte de Cambrai (does well in a cold frame)
• Pac Choi
• Broccoli, Tendergreen (head only, poor sideshoots)
• Broccoli, Greenking (excellent sideshoots)
• Brussels, Sprouts Oliver (let the frost hit these before eating them, it makes them sweeter)
• Cabbage, small green Gonzalas
• Cabbage, red Ruby Perfection
• Cauliflower, Charming Snow
• Cauliflower, Snow Crown
• Cauliflower, Amazing
• Kale, Red Russian
• Eggplant, Swallow
• Eggplant, Nadia
• Pepper, bell New Ace
• Pepper, bell Revolution (new, can't speak for production yet)
• Pepper, Frying Jimmy Nardello
• Pepper, hot Early Jalepeno
• Tomatillo, Verde Puebla
• Tomato, early/cold Glacier (does well in cool soil, produces like crazy, I get so sick of these I pull the plants and compost them when the larger varieties are producing well)
• Tomato, yellow, Ida Gold (two bites sized)
• Tomato, paste, Grandma Mary's
• Tomato, slicing, Early Girl
• Tomato, cherry, Washington
• Tomato, cherry, Sweet Chelsea
• Tomato, yellow cherry Sun Gold
• Corn, bicolor Double Gen (trying it this year, usually grown an open pollinated)
• Basil, Genovese
• Cilantro
• Dill, Bouquet
• Fennel, Zefa Fino
• Marjoram, Sweet Marjoram
• Oregano, Greek
• Sage, Broadleaf
• Kohlrabi
• Pumpkin, Galeux d' Eysines
• Pumpkin, New England Pie
• Pumpkin, Cheese

There are a few others that aren't on my list because I already had the seeds. I'm too lazy to get out the box and go through them.

[starwalker]

Originally Posted by Maine Writer

There are a few others that aren't on my list because I already had the seeds. I'm too lazy to get out the box and go through them.

After that missive, I would hardly call you LAZY, woman! LOL

Thanks, that is exactly what I was hoping to get...but not expecting such a LONG list!

I have a good idea that what will grow for you will likely grow where I end up as well.

Anyone else?? Any different varieties you have had success with (and an idea of where you are... is the season "easier" on folks on the coast/extreme southern ME?

[Maine Writer]

I didn't have to get up to get that! The list is on my computer. I just cut and pasted it.

[starwalker]

Here is what the garden looked like on May 25. omato plants are in, but I hadn't put up any supports for them yet. Still haven't.. that's tomorrow's job. There are peas about 6" away from the row of 'maters on the left side of the garden, so I will put up fencing between so both can use it.

Lettuce, spinach and peas were peeking up when I was last able to take a look. I hope for more sightings tomorrow.

[Trailmonkey]

I am so discouraged... I have had a chance to till once, the seeds are in a bag here in my office, but I have not had time to go till again and plant them..... I still have to create a chicken coop, as we have 5 chicks (out of almost 30 eggs)

[bringselpup]

I have cobbled together 3 new raised beds from scrap lumber here on the property. We made 2 runs for compost and 2 runs for soil moving a yard a trip.

Peas - Little Marvel
Beets - Big Top
Carrots - Nelson
Tomatoes - Roma
Peppers - Green Bell and Cubanelle
Onions - from Unity Farmers market
Potatoes - From Fedco: La Ratte and Onaway
Broccolli - greenhouse flat
Romaine - 2 kinds one green one red

I put in 16 hills today of Yellow Bantam corn with 4 seeds each hill and I will stagger planting more groups of 16 hills so it doesn't hit all at once.