New England Gardener

Question: About 5-6 weeks ago we prepared four asparagus beds with compost and superphosphate while following Crockett’s Victory Garden book’s instructions. We purchased crowns (Mary Washington & Jersey King) from a reputable garden shop here on Cape Cod. We have been keeping vigil over the beds for weeks and there is no sign of growth. Should we give up on them? Contact the garden center? Start over? We put a lot of time into preparing the beds and we’re stumped. We would appreciate any advice you might offer.

Disappointed on Cape Cod,
Leanne DeCosta

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Turning the Soil

Here’s where you can get some exercise, if you sit at a desk all week. And you can renew a New England Memorial Day weekend tradition: planting your vegetable garden!
OK after my last post you’ve either built and filled a new raised bed, or, if you’ve got an existing bed, you’ve pulled any spring weeds. You’ve also removed any pine needles and other debris from the winter.
Now it’s time to turn the soil. I use a standard four tined spading fork. I just saw them at Lowe’s for $24.98. Starting in one corner of the garden, turn the soil down to a depth of 8-10 inches. I only loosen the soil as much as necessary. Break up any big chunks. You’ll undoubtedly find a good crop of New England potatoes — rocks pushed up by frost over the winter. Remove them. Small stones are OK, and inevitable in most New England soil. read more

If this is your first attempt at a vegetable garden, the first thing to know is: it’s not rocket science. You can do it. Backyard vegetable gardening is pretty simple, as long as you plan a little, and make an effort throughout the season.

Over the next few months, I’ll take you through the process of planting, caring for, and harvesting a small backyard garden. l planted mine last weekend (May 17th). Details ahead, as we say on the news. And before we go further, please know I’m not a certified garden pro of any sort. I’m a backyard gardener who learned on my own, mostly from trial and error, reading, and talking to other gardeners. I’ve been growing vegetable gardens for 30 years, in California, Colorado, Indiana and New Hampshire, from 20′ X 40′ plots complete with pumpkin and watermelon patches, to my present 8′ X 8′ raised bed. I garden because I enjoy it, and because I like eating! To me, there’s nothing like a simple salad made with fresh tomato, cucumber, basil or oregano, a splash of olive oil, and dashes of sea salt and cracked pepper. Maybe a few chunks of feta or asiago cheese thrown in. I eat these salads for about six weeks straight during August and September!
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Question:
I’m thinking of putting in a raised bed and wondering what kind of wood to use for the border.  If I use pressure-treated wood will it leach into the ground and contaminate the plants?

Thanks for your help …
Rick

Answer:
Hi Rick: I recommend using regular kiln dried.  Avoid the pressure treated.  PT would last longer but as you probably know it is treated with a host of preservatives, including arsenic.  Though I’ve never seen a study tracking leaching of these substances into soil in a raised bed, I’ve never talked to anyone who think it’s worth the risk. Good luck with the raised bed!
-Mike Nikitas

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