Zone 6, 7, 8 Gardeners, Let's get going!

[AugustLia23]

I'm in Zone 6a (Boston, MA) and I've got my seedlings going. I am so excited that Spring is on the horizon. We are still a bit away from last frost, as I am reminded today by the rainy, snowy, nasty weather.

What is everyone else up to, seedlings? Planting outdoors? What's growing?

[lightheart]

I've always considerd us in zone 7... but after a little looking looks like we are right on the border of zone 6a and 6b

http://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/ushzmap.html

I figure last frost around here is April 15

Lets see... what I have planted in the ground
snow peas, sugar snap peas, radishes, lettce, spinach, beets, onion sets, cabbage and broccoli plants.

I've almost got all my beds turned over and have coverd a couple with plastic so that the ground warms up a little and keeps things dry so I can plant a tad earlier.

You can see my early march garden pictures in the link below, need to get some more posted of what I've done the last week.

[eli's mama]

6 here. I'm getting a slow start this year. I have NOTHING done. I did order my seeds and as soon as they get here I will catch up to you guys. I visited my dad yesterday and was jealous to see he turned over his garden and has the rototiller out too!
I am looking for an organic seed starter mix, does anyone have something they like? I hear good things about gardensalive. I'm thinking of mixing my own soilless mix for my indoor stuff if I can't find something soon.

[Jojo F.]

Originally Posted by AugustLia23

I'm in Zone 6a (Boston, MA) and I've got my seedlings going. I am so excited that Spring is on the horizon. We are still a bit away from last frost, as I am reminded today by the rainy, snowy, nasty weather.

What is everyone else up to, seedlings? Planting outdoors? What's growing?

Woohoo for Boston!! Yeah, the snow today was ridiculous!!!!

My seeds are starting to sprout, yipee!! Sunflowers, tomatoes, squash- a bunch of different kinds, cucumbers, bell peppers, hot peppers, yellow tomatoes, and herbs. All of the other cold loving seeds are waiting patiently to be planted outside. Hopefully I will get out there and start some lettuce, spinach, beets, and carrots.

I'm soooo freaking ready!!!!

[jadekat]

I'm in zone 6a. I haven't started yet but I'm planning on it this week!

[insahmniak]

I posted this on the food growing thread but I'm so excited I just can't help myself....


We've got arugula sprouting in a coldframe outside. Looks like we have romain and red leaf sprouting too. Yay! :

DP's out there now putting together another box for us. We'll put a trellis on it and plant peas - hopefully tomorrow!

We're in Boise - 6a or 6b - I don't know which exactly.

[anjasma]

I am in zone 8, just taking a break at the moment from some spring clean-up. I planted some snow peas, chard, mesclun, radishes & lettuce in February in a cold frame. They are all up and cookin at the moment. Then I planted some pretty red leaf lettuce, a second planting of green leaf, more radishes & chard last week. I moved the cold frame (just an old bubble skylight that fits over my raised beds) at the same time and planted some beets, spinach & more of the red leaf lettuce & snow peas. My garden supply store just got in some walla walla sweet sets, and I will put those in probably this week. I also had some corn salad come up that I forgot about planting last fall. It's actually very tasty!

Dh just helped me move one of the beds from a shady spot to a sunnier place (after losing a 120' Douglas Fir in a wind storm last winter, it's amazing how much more sun gets through!)

Thanks for posting the photos. The garden looks great!

[purplegirl]

6 here. Not putting anything out until mid April. I am doing square foot gardening for the first time. I am excited!

[the_lissa]

I'm 6b/7a, but we are moving to our new house at the end of May. It will probably be the end of June until we are settled enough to garden, so I will have to see what I can do.

[texmati]

I'm in zone 7b, but I just put all my stuff out this week. I just found out that our safe date is not until April 15.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do... the weather is really nice here.

[purple_kangaroo]

I'm supposedly in zone 8, but 7 is more accurate (Sunset zone 6). I have bought a few starts and some of my stuff from last year is either still alive or sprouting on its own. Otherwise I haven't done anything yet.

[geogal17]

8b/9a here (sunset 19) ...odd little microclimate

My lettuce and chard is doing well, I can get at least a huge bowl of greens a day without the plants looking any different, and spinach is finally looking promising...my fruit trees are in bloom and I see ityy bitty baby apples starting. I set my tomato and peppers out covered with milk jug greenhouses...of course tonight we get a random cold front with drizzle serves me right for being impatient!

I went to the nursery earlier and ended up picking up an asian eggplant, cinnimon basil, a "Big Bertha" pepper ( I have "CA Wonder seedlings I started) and a beautiful orange tomato 'Oxheart'...I swear if I had room I'd grow at least 10 varieties!

If the ground isn't to soggy tomorrow I want to set out my kale and broccoli I started indoors, and throw some radishes in between the tomatos/peppers. I can't wait till April when I can plant watermelons for the first time.

[lightheart]

Originally Posted by aquarian

I'm in zone 7b, but I just put all my stuff out this week. I just found out that our safe date is not until April 15.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do... the weather is really nice here.

what all did you plant? you could try getting some plastic jugs and bottles, cut the bottoms off and put them over top of plants that you are cold sensative. leave the caps off the jugs if it is sunny and warrm. Can also use sheets to cover things with at night or during colder days, even if the seeds haven't sprouted yet. if the day is cold and chilly then shoul leave them on. may also want to put some sticks in the ground to keep the sheets up off the ground in case of rain so it doesn't get matted down. can also use plastic to cover with, got to be somewhat careful with it though if the sun is really beating down, don't want to roast all your little seedlings and also you will have to watch the moisture of the ground since water can't get through the plastic. better to use clear plastic to let light through, but could use black if you were only covering at night.

just watch the weather and see what the temps will be at night and go from there, you might not actuall have a frost that will kill the plants and seedlings, some seeds might get hurt and not grow but most likely you will be okay unless there is a hard freeze.

[Katy_R]

I'm in 6b (southern New Jersey) and this is my first full year with my new garden - I just put it in last August. I used to have a huge garden in my old house, but then had to move to an apartment. My landlord told me to "just go ahead and dig up stuff" so I did! :-)

Today I laid down bunches of newspaper on the garden, watered it, and then put liquorice root mulch on top. This is the first time I've ever done newspaper mulching, and I'm excited about it because I have a big week problem, and also no easy access to water. Hopefully all the mulch will help with both issues somewhat.

I also planted peas and Scarlet Lady runner beans today, as well as some lettuce and arugula. Once my seed order comes I'll plant some sweatpeas for color (before it gets too hot for them), and start some seeds indoors.

-Katy

[MamaPam]

We have our application in at an apartment complex that offers garden plots for $10 a year. We don't know exactly when we are moving yet, but between now and May. We also don't know how big the garden plots are yet. I was told be someone who lives there because of the lack of interest they usually end up give you extra plots so they can be used. We are in Zone 6.

I'm completely clueless about gardening so will be lurking and probably asking some questions soon.

[radish]

CA - 7a here.

ive started a lot of seedlings. DH is building my boxes TOMORROW (he promised!)
4 8x4s and a few containers.

i still need to build a deer proof fence too. ack! so stressful!!

[purplegirl]

Originally Posted by radish

CA - 7a here.

ive started a lot of seedlings. DH is building my boxes TOMORROW (he promised!)
4 8x4s and a few containers.

i still need to build a deer proof fence too. ack! so stressful!!

Good luck with that one. Those suckers can jump really high. How about a natural deterrent? I understand they don't like the smell of citrus.

[anjasma]

Good luck with that one. Those suckers can jump really high. How about a natural deterrent? I understand they don't like the smell of citrus.

Apparently ours don't like the smell of dogs! That's the only thing I can figure, because we have a 5' fence up, which I know they can clear, but have never had them cross over. We saw a mama and her baby out there yesterday, but so far in two years no nibbling of the veggie garden. They sure cleared out all my cosmos in the front yard last year though!

[Garden~Lover]

im in Mass. also. I did get out yesterday and rake up the yard, good thing its really cold this morning. I did notice a few of my garlic starting to pop out. LOVE IT. I havent started much eles yet. I did give my compost pile a good stir , hopefully it gets some warmth on it to start cooking.

[aliah79]

Zone 7 here! We had a freeze last year April 30th, so people seem to be hesitant this year to put things out. I only did one 4'x4' plot last year, but have plans to add in 4 more raised beds and two flower/herb gardens along the front and back porch/walkway. I'm going to work on all this between now and mid-end of April. I don't have any place in my tiny house to start seeds, so I'll be loading up on seedlings from a small local farm...and supplementing with direct-sewn seeds. I'm hoping to beat the squash vine borer this year, and definitely planting more okra! I only had one tree last year and it thrived, but didn't produce quite enough for all our wants LOL. I'm excited to be expanded and really hope things go well this year... it's only my second year gardening and I have so much to learn!