The cabbage did well this spring. I started eight plants on February 15th and transplanted them into the garden the first week of April. They were fertilized twice with a liquid organic fertilizer at half strength before going into the ground. They were covered with a row cover after going into the ground. The bed had been prepped with compost and organic fertilizer. The five heads to the right are the last of the spring crop, harvested on June 18th. The variety is Ferry’s Round Dutch and I used Ferry Morse seeds.
The spring total was 42.7 pounds, and I’m so proud of me and my cabbages! But now is not the time to rest on our laurels! Now is the time to make Stuffed Cabbage, and Ham and Cabbage, and Coleslaw and Borscht (I have beets to use up too)! Now is also the time to start our fall crop of cabbage. Another eight plants should suffice.
So in order to reach my goal of producing 375 pounds of vegetables from my little garden patch, I have to make the most of every inch for every minute of the gardening season. That means planting and replanting as the seasons change. But what if the old plants aren’t harvest-ready when it’s time to replant with the new?
Case in point: Bed #1. According to my plan, the spring planting of Quickstar kohlrabi should be ready to harvest by May 1, and the spring planting of Ferry’s Round Dutch cabbage should be ready by May 21. That leaves the bed open for the tomatoes and eggplant which will occupy it through the fall.
It’s May 9. The kohlrabi can be picked anytime now. The cabbage, however, is nowhere near ready, and will probably need another month. The tomatoes can’t wait that long.
The kohlrabi is almost ready…
The cabbage is not.
The tomatoes need transplanting now!
If I harvest the kohlrabi and weed real well, I’ll be able to see how much space I have to work with. If there was room, I could plant the tomatoes amongst the cabbage. It would only be for a month.
Apparently that’s a no-no. Most gardening sites agree on the inadvisability of planting nightshades and brassicas together.
Bed #3 is another problem. The sugar snap peas, carrots and beets are nowhere near ready and the sweet potato slips are here and need to be planted. Now, if I remember correctly, it took the sweet potatoes a while to get going last year. However, the carrots, peas and beets probably need another 4 weeks. The sweet potatoes could be enormous by then! I’m afraid they’re going to completely overwhelm the spring stuff. I’ll keep an eye on the vines and cut them back if I have to. I’m also going to plant some in Bed #3 and some in Bed #5 so nothing’s too crowded.
I don’t know why this is happening, I mean, I can add, after all. Which is all that’s required. Days to germination plus days to maturity equals days to harvest. I should have added in a few days (weeks?) to account for the unexpected. Like a very (very!) cold, wet spring, and covid-corrupted shipping schedules. Not complaining though! I’m happy and healthy and planting sweet potatoes! Life is good.
