Today, before the rain began (thank you Nature, for doing my watering for me!), I popped into the garden in order to plant our cucumbers and carrots for the season. They are going to be growing in our fourth and final bed.
We are once again planting Scarlet Nantes Carrots. We are using the leftover seeds from last year’s packet from High Mowing Seeds. I checked with High Mowing before the season started in order to know more about the seeds’ viability. They said that we should be fine planting them again this year, but to know that they would not retain their full potential as they are a year old.
I have found that the best way to plant the carrots is to drag your finger through the soil to make a shallow trench. I then drizzle the tiny carrot seeds along the trench. As the carrots start to emerge in about three weeks, I’ll thin them out so that they have enough room to be successful. I only did two rows so far, and will do another two in two weeks, and two more in a month in order to retain a steady flow of mature carrots. This variety matures in about 65 days, so we should have some ready. Mid to late July should be exciting.
We are also planting Spacemaster Cucumber seeds from Botanical Interests. I emailed them as well to check on seed viability since these are also leftovers from last year’s seed purchase.
For this variety of cucumber seed, I poke a hole in the ground about 1/2 inch deep and drop in 6 seeds. I space the holes 4 inches apart. When the plants have 3 leaves, I can thin them down to 3 plants. We have them growing against the cucumber trellis that we bought a couple of years ago from Gardeners Supply. Placing your cucumber plants to grow up a trellis and have the cucumbers stay off of the ground is an excellent way to stave off rot and other diseases. Spacemasters are not a pickling variety, so we will not be canning these. Straight off the vine and into the salad they will go. We end up with a ton, so the neighbors end up very happy as well.
Are you growing carrots or cucumbers this year?
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{ 27 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Becky,
It looks like you are going to have a wonderful crop of cukes and carrots! I wish I had room for vegetables, but I have so many flower gardens right now I needed to stop somewhere. Have a great week.
I am definitely going to be checking out your blog for flower ideas when I get settled into the summer and brainstorm about what to do along our fencing.
Hi Becky, I do have veggies – 8 raised beds planted with tomatoes, corn, snow peas, spinach/lettuce/radishes, zucchini, cucumbers, and mini pumpkins. In addition I have a raised bed with strawberries and one with herbs. We’ve enjoyed spinach, radishes, lettuce, peas and strawberries already. I know you will greatly enjoy yours as well. Have a great week!
Beth
Sounds like you have quite the spread and are enjoying a bunch of it!
We’re growing cucumbers — a few different kinds — this year hoping for better results than 2011 when the plants were lush but the cukes were minimal. We always like to grow tons of cucumbers for our chef friend who makes the most delicious bread and butter pickles and keeps us supplied year round. Jo @ Let’s Face the Music
Those bread and butter pickles sound amazing! Thanks for stopping by!
I honestly don’t think I can have too many cucumbers. Off the vine and into the mouth as I’m puttsing about the yard. Can hardly wait for yours to grow. Can hardly wait for mine to have yard snacks. Blessings for your day, you happy gardener!
Leaves are already popping through this week, Andy. So, fingers are crossed that they do well!
I will be growing cukes. I kind of overdid it with pickling cukes last year, so just going for the salad slicers this time around. I need to get some carrot seeds planted, but just got busy and haven’t done it yet. Your garden is going to be wonderful this summer, with all that fresh produce–well done!
Thanks Athena! I love doing the carrots in the garden and will be curious to see how putting them out in waves goes.
My youngest says that cucumbers are his favorite veg., but nobody in my house will eat pickles! I didn’t know about growing them on a trellis, but we are going to try that. Our zuccini got some kind of yuck last year, and we had to pull them up, so we’re hoping for better success w/ our cukes.
🙂
The trellis keeps the air circulating well and then they won’t get funky. You can always prop zukes up on wooden boards to help prevent rot too. Thanks for stopping by!
Your veggie plantings look promising! I’d like to invite you to join us for Farmgirl Friday at Dandelion House too!
Thanks for the invite! I will definitely stop by for the link up.
I envy your when those all start producing!
I will definitely be excited to see what we get!
You are making great progress. I always think Mother Nature does a better job watering in seeds that any human can do. I am curious about your cucumber trellis. I was actually looking to purchase one from Gardener’s supply. Which one do you own? And how many cucumber plants can you fit along side the tellis? Thanks!
We have the one in this link. http://www.gardeners.com/Cucumber-Trellis-Vegetable-Support/37-476RS,default,pd.html?start=1&q=cucumber%20trellis I think I have 7 plants going across the base. Thanks for stopping by!
It´s always nice to see the vegetables growing in the garden!!
We love watching them grow and can’t wait to see our toddler’s reaction this year too. Thanks for stopping by!
Lucky you to have rain. Very Dry here.. Looking forward to seeing your crop of carrots, cukes and potatoes…
Rosemary, I hope you get some rain soon. I look forward to posting updates about the garden for you to read. Thanks for stopping by!
I’m doing both in raised beds for the first time. Thanks for sharing the link for the cucumber trellis.
Can’t wait to see how yours turn out, Emily! Thanks for stopping by and I hope the trellis is a good purchase for you as it has been for us.
Love the idea to prevent cucumber rot-brilliant! Thanks so much for sharing this with us at Natural Mother’s “Seasonal Celebration Sunday.” Hope to see you again this Sunday / Monday!! Rebecca x
Thanks! I have enjoyed being a part of the link up!
Good tips (though thinning the carrots is always my least favorite job, lol). Thanks for sharing with us at the TGP!