Curious about the best and the worst of it...

[Buzzer Beater]

in your area. What is the best thing and the worst thing about your growing experience?

Here, the worst thing is the short growing season. We had our last frost on June 24 this year, and could have the first frost at the end of the summer any time in September. We have to be super careful and creative to avoid frozen crops.

The best thing is the lack of bugs and most other pests. No slugs, none of the other problems other mamas talk about on here. We do have to cover the peas or the deer will get them.

What about everybody else? I've never gardened in another state... I think I might be jealous of some of you.

Edited by Buzzer Beater - 5/24/11 at 10:42am

[Owen'nZoe]

Like you, I have a short growing season to work with (although mine is usually Memorial Day to mid or late September, so a little longer than what you have), and I wouldn't mind a longer one at all. That said, I think it is the unpredictability of our weather that I have the hardest time with. Sometimes our last frost is in early May - this year it was in mid June. One week it is 40 degrees, the next week it is in the 80s, and then the week after that it drops into the 50s. While this year has been pretty extreme, our weather is always quite variable here. The perennials do OK with the temp changes, but most of the annuals struggle.

The good: As you mentioned, less bugs. Also, some years (like this year), we get to enjoy spring veggies all the way into July. Yumm! ETA: And I forgot to mention - we almost always have plenty of rain, which is easy to take for granted.

[CariOfOz]

Well.. I'll give ya the low down on Australia :P I live in Queensland (middle eastern coast specificially, slightly inland) We do not have a short growing season at all, and can grow some thing or other year round : (I've got peas, silverbeet, spinach, tomatoes and a few other things growing now actually, albiet a tad slowly) but what we DO have is ridiculous heat, scorching sun from Oct-March, and long periods of no rain plus water restrictions due to drought most of the time.

[verde]

Washington DC area. The best thing is the growing season is pretty long -- around 9-10 mos. The worst thing is the heat in July and August (most of the time) when often there is very little rain.

[Buzzer Beater]

ARRGGGh. Just had a light frost last night and my beans and nasturtiums got nipped a bit. I have never seen a frost in July before... luckily my tomatoes are still in their crazy homemade greenhouse at night!

[Owen'nZoe]

Originally Posted by Buzzer Beater

ARRGGGh. Just had a light frost last night and my beans and nasturtiums got nipped a bit. I have never seen a frost in July before... luckily my tomatoes are still in their crazy homemade greenhouse at night!

Oh crud! I'm so sorry. That is just not fair.

We having had a frost in about 3 weeks, but I was just thinking this morning that something is very, very wrong when you plant 4 zucchini plants and still haven't seen a single zucchini. :P

[LeahBoo]

I'm in central Washington State. From June to mid September it usually rains about three times. All are sudden downpours, the type that flood basements. Might have a few more rains if it's a particularly thunder-stormy summer.

Springs are unpredictable, it can take veggies a while to get going, particularly peppers and tomatoes, then as soon as the temperature is consistently warm enough to get good results, temps spike into the 100s and tomatoes don't set fruit when it's that hot. Peppers are happy campers though.

Eventually it cools down and tomatoes go crazy with flowers, then it frosts.

Other than that, it's not too bad. Generally get plenty of veggies. I hear this is one of the best places in the world for growing lentils.