The third week of May means you can now plant seeds of beans, radish, lettuce, kale, Swiss Chard and any other crop that has the words “after all danger of frost has passed” on the seed pack.
If you live in a warm area with a raised bed of soil or garden in containers near the protection of the house you might also be able to grow tomato, pepper and squash plants outdoors overnight. Don’t rush these heat-loving plants outdoors too quickly as Western Washington weather proves each spring that we can still get a chilly night under 45 degrees up until mid-June. Experienced gardeners will wait another few weeks before exposing tomato and pepper starts to cold nights.
Q. I have a partly shaded raised bed and want to grow some edible plants. What will do well in the shade that I can eat? G.H., Sumner
A. Get yourself a big salad bowl because leafy greens are going to be the main dish on your summer menus. Kale and Swiss Chard are the most nutritious plants you can grow in Western Washington and both thrive in a partial shaded location. Add leaf lettuces in green and red forms and maybe some potted mint for refreshing teas and you’ll have an edible garden as pretty as it is nutritious. Notice I suggested mint in a pot. This is one herb that will spread with aggressive roots so don’t let it invade the space in your raised bed.
Q. I want to plant some annual flowers at my rented apartment that do not grow tall and will not block the walkway. This is a temporary living situation, but I still want summer color. I can dig up the soil and add compost and fertilizer and the area is sunny for most of the day but only about two feet wide. Anything besides petunias that you recommend? P.Y., Enumclaw
A. Compact and tidy bloomers such as ageratum, wax begonia, dusty Miller in the back and lobelia and alyssum in the front will create a colorful and low growing display. The first few weeks after adding the young plants is the most crucial as you must watch for slugs and pets and do not let the soil dry out as the new roots establish. A mulch on top of the soil around the base of each plant will help to keep moisture in the soil this summer. Good for you to make a garden in your temporary living quarters. Your local bees and butterflies approve.
Q. Any tips for keeping my stupid cat out of my newly planted flower and veggie beds?
A. If you have cats you need rose bushes – or barberries. Pruning off some thorny branches and hiding them just below the surface of the soil will teach even the most foolish cat to stop using your freshly tilled soil as a litter box. It is especially important to prevent cats from contaminating the soil used to grow food. If you have a large area consider covering all your crops with agricultural fleece (trade name Remay) that can float above the growing plants by using bend bamboo hoops or branches to suspend it. Use soil or stones to secure the corners and edges of the spun fabric. Rain and sun can still get in, but by sealing in your crops you will also avoid many flying pests such as aphid and the white butterfly that lays green cabbage worms. Now let’s hope your kitty does not’t think the covering is a blanket for naps.
Marianne Binetti has a degree in horticulture from Washington State University and is the author of “Easy Answers for Great Gardens” and several other books. For answers to gardening questions, visit plantersplace.com and click “As The Expert”. Copyright for this column owned by Marianne Binetti. For more gardening information, she can be reached at her website, www.binettigarden.com.
