my fellow gardeners, I am quite curious about something.
I live up in Washington State, just south of Seattle, in Zone 8, if that helps a bit. I moved here two years ago from New England. I designed and built 4 raised garden beds about the same size (4×4 give or take a bit) and one about 10×10 foot. I planted starts last year, and my housemate insists that with the climate here, I won’t need to do that this year, I can direct sow. I do all sorts of vegetables in my raised beds, from different hybrids of tomatoes (the white ones were my favorite…nomnomnom) to having enough summer squash to feed my entire neighborhood, LOL. I’ve read through many a book, done research online, talked to friends. One friend insists never to start planting until after Good Friday, but she lives in Alabama. My question is this (alright, questions….not limited to one lol): When is it safe to direct sow? Has anyone had any good or bad experiences with this? Do I do starts and harden them again? By the way, the only thing I am not planting myself this year is tomatoes…I will be getting those in starts already. I had tomatoes all the way into November last year because it took so long! I gardened when I was younger but this is my second year with my veggie garden.
Any help, tips, criticisms, are greatly appreciated!
My 10x10ish raised bed
Two of my raised beds. Last year I had tomatoes, green beans, and cukes in these two beds. Sunniest spot in the yard, actually.
The two "lower" beds I built. I grew spinach, cabbage and one very sad looking hot pepper plant. The cabbage got mutilated with
the worst bugs…blech.
