2024 Garden – Phase 2: Outdoor

Using a small electric rototiller, I made quick work of my tomato bed!

I’m getting ready to plant my garden, and I’m thinking about pest and animal control. Never too early to sensitize and condition garden pests to avoid your garden. I sprinkle cayenne pepper powder around my garden fencing. I buy bulk cayenne pepper packages and use dredge shaker to scatter the pepper around perimeter of my gardens. I’m hoping that once a groundhog or rabbit gets a snootful of this, they won’t return.

I planted an additional row of carrots. The sunflowers I planted in February are thriving and should be ready for transplanting in the next few weeks.

I am still in the process of removing lawn debris from my yard. I have a lot of work to do, and I am taking my time to do it right. I need to clean up the yard before I can apply lime and seed it. I am going to start by removing the dead grass and weeds, then I will spread lime to neutralize the soil. Finally, I will seed the yard with new grass. This process will take several days, and I am looking forward to having a lush, green lawn again.

To adjust pH, I add lime. I prefer pelletized lime over pulverized lime because it’s less messy. I use a Scotts Mini Broadcast Spreader set at 6 to apply the lime. I try to apply it before it rains to help it absorb into the soil.

I planted bush beans today. I purchased a bulk pack of Blue Lake Bush Beans last year. I think I will have enough for next year as well. Bush bean seeds are robust, and the plants are straightforward to grow. They produce a good yield over a week or two. I like to pick the beans when they are young and tender. I also like to eat them fresh. They are delicious!

I prepared the plot by removing any large stones and debris. Then I covered it with a tarp to prevent weeds from growing. After a few weeks, I removed the tarp and made rows in the soil with a hoe. I sowed the seeds in the rows, covered them with soil, and watered the plot generously.

Today I tilled the garden where I will soon plant cucumbers. I used a ssmall electric rototiller, which made the task a lot easier. I had never used a rototiller before, and I was surprised at how easy it was to use. I was able to till the entire garden in a matter of minutes. I am looking forward to planting my cucumbers and watching them grow.

The warm weather has finally arrived in northern New Jersey, and I am preparing to move my indoor-sown tomatoes and marigolds outdoors. The predicted overnight temperatures are in the 50° F range, which I believe is safe for acclimating them to outdoor conditions. I will also move the marigolds outdoors. I am looking forward to seeing my plants thrive in their new outdoor environment.