Asparagus is usually planted by crowns from mid-April to late May after the soil has warmed up to about 50 degrees. ‘Jersey’ Giant (available at BGC) is a male variety that expends all its energy into producing a tender, abundant crop.
Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil on the north or west side of the garden where it can remain undisturbed.
Dig a furrow about 6-8 inches deep and 12 inches wide. Add a layer of composted cow manure for a slow-release fertilizer. Place the crowns 1 ½ feet apart in the furrow on top of the manure. Rows should be spaced five feet apart to promote air circulation which will help prevent the spread of fungal diseases.
Cover crowns with two inches of soil, gradually adding more soil through the growing season until the furrow has been filled. Spears should emerge within one week in moist soils. Asparagus should not be harvested the first year and sparingly the second year. Let the spears develop into ferns which will help produce food for next year’s crop. For a delicious asparagus entree, check out our Recipe page.
cabbage
Sow seeds indoors ¼-inch deep 8 weeks before last frost or outdoors 4 weeks before last frost.
Transplant seedlings into garden 4 weeks before last spring frost
Spacing: 1/sq. ft.
Start seeds for fall crop in early summer.
Days to harvest: 60-105 depending on variety. Frost hardy.
Hint: Plants prefer cool weather. Hot temperatures can cause heads to split
carrots
Sow seeds in garden ¼-inch deep 3 weeks before last spring frost.
Spacing: Plant 30 seeds/sq. ft.; thin to 16 plants.
Replant 6-8 weeks before fall frost for late crop.
Days to harvest: 55-70 from seed. Frost hardy.
Hint: Before planting loosen soil to 12 inches; remove stones and add compost.
garlic
Plant cloves directly in the garden 6 weeks before ground freezes in the fall, 2" deep, pointy end up
Spacing: 4 per sq ft
Replant? No.
Days to harvest: 9 months
Hint: Keep evenly moist all summer, 1" water per week. Mulch at planting time.
leaf lettuce
Sow seed indoors ¼-inch deep 8 weeks before last frost or directly in garden when soil can be worked.
Transplant seedlings when 4 weeks old.
Spacing: 16/sq ft.
Plant more lettuce every 2-4 weeks for a good supply.
Days to harvest: 28 days for baby lettuce, 45 days to full size. Frost hardy.
Hint: Cut outer leaves anytime. Leave an inch of stem to encourage new leaves to grow.
onions
Start seeds ¼-inch deep indoors 12 weeks before last frost
Transplant plants or sets into garden a month before last frost. Plant sets 1-inch deep.
Spacing: 9/sq ft. or plant more densely and then thin and eat small onions
1 crop per season
Days to harvest: 100-120 days. Frost hardy.
Hint: Onions will not tolerate weeds and require consistent moisture.
parsley
Start seeds ¼-inch deep indoors 10-12 weeks before last frost.
Transplant seedlings into garden up to a month before last frost.
Spacing: 2 plants/sq. ft.
1 crop per season. Edible all summer and into winter. Plants will not go to seed.
Days to harvest: 75. Begin harvesting foliage at any time. Very frost hardy.
Hint: Parsley takes up to 21days to germinate. Treat seeds with hot water before planting.
peas
Plant outdoors 1-inch deep as soon as soil can be worked.
Spacing: 9-16/sq. ft.Provide support with string or wire trellis.
For a fall crop, plant again 6-8 weeks before frost.
Days to harvest: 50-60 days from planting seeds. Very frost hardy.
Hint: Add legume inoculant to soil when planting to increase vigor and yield.
potatoes
Plant 1½-inch chunks 4" deep, 2 weeks before last frost or when soil reaches 50 degrees.
Purchase seed potatoes or use organic potatoes that were not treated to resist sprouting.
One crop per year. Not frost hardy.
Spacing: 1-3/sq ft.
Days to Harvest: 55- 90 days. Harvest anytime after flowering and before frost.
radishes
Plant ½-inch deep directly in garden 4 weeks before last frost or after soil reaches 45 degrees.
Plant successive crops anywhere there is unused space in the garden.
Spacing: 16/sq ft.
Days to harvest: 21-28. Frost hardy.
Hint: Harvest as soon as possible. Roots get woody when large.
spinach
Plant seeds ½-inch deep directly in garden up to 6 weeks before last frost.
Sow spinach every 2 weeks in spring and again in late summer for fall crops.
Spacing: 9/sq ft.
Days to harvest: 30-40 days from germination. Very frost hardy.
Hint: Spinach bolts in hot weather, so harvest early. Keep soil cool and moist with mulch.
Rain Barrels Every drop counts!
Connected to your downspout, a rain barrel is a great way to keep stormwater out of the system and to cut down your water bill! Here are more benefits:
It's a backup source of water during times of drought or between rain showers
It helps to keep our creeks and beaches clean
It's naturally softened water - great for delicate houseplants, auto cleaning and window washing
It saves money by lowering your water bill
COMPOSTING BASICS
Do your garden a favor and compost. It's easy! Start with a location that gets some sun and that is close to your garden. Build your own with palettes or chicken wire. Too much work? Try a Biostack Stacking Composter by Milracle-Gro. It sets up in less than 5 minutes and requires no tools. Build layers of green material (grass clippings, kitchen fruit & vegetable scraps, coffee grounds) and brown material (dry leaves). Add an inch of topsoil or old potting soil to introduce microrganisms. Turn regularly - good aeration is important. Speed up the composting process with Hi-Yield Compost Maker. It provides all the elements necessary to turn leaves, grass clippings, and food scraps into a rich soil building mulch.
Click here to learn more about Earthbox
Grow Your Veggies in an Earth Box This maintenance-free, high-tech growing system controls soil conditions, eliminates guesswork and more than doubles the yield of a conventional garden- with less fertilizer and less water.
Continue plantings of lettuce, spinach, radishes, and swiss chard every 7 to 10 days for a continuous harvest.
Burlington Garden Center 5205 Mormon Road (Hwy 36 South) Burlington WI 53105 262-763-2153 burlingtongc@sbcglobal.net
