My Local Market

I love that there is a fresh Farmer's Market located near my neighborhood! The King location of the Portland Farmer's Market is open Sundays from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm. The market runs May 2 until October 31. This is my first year to enjoy this particular farmer's market. Thus far, we've been able to score some really great eggs, cheese, and plant starts. Thanks to the vendors for bringing such delicious treats up here to the Northeast!

Just in the Ground:

I have no re-potted my peonies, azaleas, hydrangea, gerbera daisies, lavender, rosemary, some native grasses, nasturtium, cosmos and snap dragons.

I added chard and kale to my greens garden. All accomplished during a very short rain break :)

I also prepped my melon bed and started with a few strawberry plants and two pumpkin plants. I am hoping to grow my pumpkins for our Thanksgiving pumpkin pie!

Cukes Need Water, Mellons Don't

I just learned a valuable lesson while reading The Encyclopedia of Country Living by Carla Emery. Namely, that direct watering cools of the heat needing melons and slows down growth. Carla says "If you live in a marginal climate for melons and want to help them along, don't water them - or water only around the edge of the hill, not on the plants." Meanwhile, cucumbers need plenty of water during their growing season. I was planning to create a "creepy viney" section of my yard for pumpkins, melons, winter squash, and cucumbers. After reading her garden veggie section, I plan to move the cukes to a section with other plants that I will water often once the rain stops. Thanks Carla!