Whats the latest I can put my garden in?

[coachgrd]

I won't bore you guys with why I haven't done it yet but what do you all think is the latest I can put in my garden and still get a nice harvest? Its nothing big, probably 15'x30' with 4-5 tomato plants, cukes, peppers, green beans. I am in zone 5.

coachgrd

 

[MossRoad]

It is never too late to put something in. Tomatoes and peppers can still go in now. Peas and beans can go in just about anytime. Pumkins, watermellons, etc.. can go in now if you get varieties that mature quickly. In August you can plant cool weather crops like radishes, onions and lettuce/spinach again... the weather should get cooler in Sept. and Aug.

There is always something that can be grown at just about any time of the year. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[PineRidge]

Something ate the first tomato plants that we planted. And I always thought the plant itself was poison, if so maybe someone should tell the critter or critters that ate them. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Anyway we put out more tomato plants Sunday. Still not to late.

 

[MossRoad]

Did they eat the whole plant, or just cut it off at ground level? I ask because every year I have problems with cut worm and sometimes have to resort to cardboard collars.

 

[PineRidge]

Moss these were not cut worms the plant has no top. Now we have seen a few deer but I've never known deer to eat tomato plants when there are lots of young bean plants everywhere.

 

[MossRoad]

Here's a picture of our tomato cages. They are very small mesh at the bottom and get larger as they go up. I also used the same material for the fence around the garden, and I have two electric wires, one 6 inches and another a foot off the ground outside that. Keeps all the rabbits and groundhogs out, but squirrels jump over it. No deer here to worry about.

 

[KennedyDiesel]

In our neck of the woods, we typically do not plant a lot untilMemeorial Day as a rule of thumb. I just planted my corn and green beans Saturday, and will plant more beans Thursday when my seed arrives. I guess I overestimated the coverage of a pkt...

In PA, I'd say you have a longer season than we do so go for it. Just be sure that long season items (tomatos broccoli etc) are started with well established bedding plants rather than seed.

 

[PineRidge]

Moss I like the idea of an electric fence as we do see our share of deer. But we use a Troy tiller to cultivate so the fence idea is out.

 

[MossRoad]

I cultivate one strip around the outside of our garden fence with our tiller. This gives a barrier to the lawn grasses and acts as a no man's land for unsespecting vermin. All I'm missing is machine gun turrets at each corner of the garden... all to protect a hundred bucks worth of veggies /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif.

I have to manually weed against the fence in about a 4 inch strip. I just water the heck out of it and pull everything out with gloved hands about once or twice a year. I grow grapes and cucumbers on the fence. Just have to be careful at picking time... YEOWCH! (should have turned the fence off /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif).