{"id":4300,"date":"2012-03-15T18:43:45","date_gmt":"2012-03-15T18:43:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/loghouseplants.com\/plants\/?page_id=4300"},"modified":"2012-03-18T20:00:28","modified_gmt":"2012-03-18T20:00:28","slug":"garden-news-issue-23","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/loghouseplants.com\/plants\/library\/garden-news-issue-23\/","title":{"rendered":"Garden News Issue 23"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Garden
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\nIssue 23 \u2022 Seasonal tips and featured varieties coming to a retailer near you<\/a> \u2022 April 30, 2009<\/span><\/p>\n

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SUMMER VEGGIES<\/h1>\n

Happy May Day!\u00a0 Tomorrow, the first day of May marks the mid-point between the vernal equinox and summer solstice.\u00a0 Halfway through spring and on our way to summer, the days are rapidly getting longer and warmer, which means it\u2019s time to get your warm season veggie starts ready and keep an eye on the forecast.\u00a0 Depending on the local climate, you can start setting out tomatoes and summer squash as soon as you see an upcoming week of 60-70 degree days and nights in the high 40s to low 50s (this should get soil temperatures into the 60s).<\/p>\n

Before you know it, the weather and soil will have warmed a few more degrees, allowing you to transplant out the really warm season vegetables like peppers, eggplants, winter squash, melons, and pumpkins.\u00a0 It\u2019s good to have the soil prepared, tools ready, organic fertilizer on hand, and vegetable starts standing by (keep them in a greenhouse, cold-frame, or sunny window), so as soon as that warm-weather window arrives, they can go into the soil and have a mild period to adjust to their new home.<\/p>\n

With a greenhouse, cloches, or some other kind of protection, you can start transplanting even earlier.\u00a0 Whether you\u2019re setting veggie starts out without protection or under cover, just make sure soil temperatures are warm enough and be prepared to cover unprotected plants if a late frost threatens.<\/p>\n

Some of our favorite new warm weather veggies this year include:<\/p>\n

\"Eggplant\"\u2018Hansel\u2019 & \u2018Gretel\u2019 Mini Eggplants (AAS)<\/h2>\n

Although eggplant was cultivated in China over 2000 years ago, it took a while to catch on in the West.\u00a0 In Europe, eggplant was grown as a decorative plant for several hundred years before the fruits overcame their reputation for bitterness.\u00a0 Almost too cute to eat, these AAS winners still double as edibles and ornamentals, making quite a pair in the garden or kitchen!\u00a0 \u2018Hansel\u2019 produces dark purple fruits that can be picked at 2-3 inches for baby eggplant, or at 9-10 inches for tender, bitter-free full-size fruits.\u00a0 \u2018Gretel\u2019 is the earliest white eggplant, with tender, bitter-free, teardrop-shaped fruits that are best harvested when 3-4 inches long, but retain their flavor and tenderness even when larger.\u00a0 Plan to space eggplants 12-18 inches apart in rows 2-3 feet apart in a warm sunny bed or container.\u00a0 55-70 days from transplant.\u00a0 (F1)<\/p>\n

\"Melon\"Melon \u2018Lambkin\u2019 (AAS)<\/h2>\n

Another AAS winner, \u2018Lambkin\u2019 is a Christmas melon that produces mottled yellow and green 2-4 pound fruits whose sweet, juicy, pale green flesh makes a delicious breakfast or dessert!\u00a0 Productive vines each yield 4 or 5 succulent fruits which mature much earlier than other melons of this type.\u00a0 Christmas melons are so named because of their excellent storage ability; kept in a cool place, they might even provide a tasty, unexpected holiday side dish.\u00a0 Melons need heat and well-drained soil: plant on raised beds or hills 3 to 5 feet apart in full sun.\u00a0 65-75 days from transplant.<\/p>\n

\"Pumpkin\"Super Freak Pumpkins \u2018Knucklehead\u2019 and \u2018Goosebumps\u2019<\/h2>\n

Plant a Super Freak now and you\u2019ll be a hit this October!\u00a0 \u2018Knucklehead\u2019 produces tall, bright orange 12 by 10 inch pumpkins, \u2018Goosebumps\u2019 yields red-orange, rounded 8 inch pumpkins, and both varieties are crawling with big lumpy warts. These hobgoblins of the garden will make the spookiest, scariest jack-o-lanterns for Halloween displays \u2013 maybe even scare away the deer!\u00a0 Plants should be spaced 4-5 feet apart in rows 8-10 feet apart in full sun. Harvest in early fall when rind has hardened.\u00a0 95-105 days from transplant.<\/p>\n

More vegetable descriptions and photos are available on our website at:<\/p>\n

Classic Vegetables<\/a><\/p>\n

Blue Ribbon Vegetables<\/a><\/p>\n

Container Vegetables<\/a><\/p>\n

Heirloom Vegetables<\/a><\/p>\n

Believe it or Not Vegetables<\/a><\/p>\n

Grab & Grow Vegetable Garden Kits<\/a><\/p>\n

Resources for vegetable gardeners:<\/h2>\n