Composting & Veggie Garden - A few Q's!

Kyle523Nicole

I live in western NY - about an hour east from Erie, PA.  Obviously, right now because of all of the snow we have, starting a compost or veggie garden is not going to happen.

However, these are two things I really want to do come spring.  Does anyone have suggestions for things that I need to get in advance (either for the garden or the compost pile) or any steps I need to take now before the snow melts?

Thanks ladies, you are all an inspiration!!

JenD1018

I will be starting a compost pile this year and found this link to be helpful: http://www.phillycompost.com/DIY.html

 

Kyle523Nicole

That's great!  Thank you! 

SuperGreen

You're right that there's not a lot you can do right now, but there are some things.  You could start thinking about what kind of composting you would like to do.  Here's some info on that, and types of composters:

http://www.gardeners.com/All-About-Composting/5061,default,pg.html

http://www.gardeners.com/How-to-Choose-a-Composter/5082,default,pg.html

You should also look into what the last spring frost date is in your area.  You can Google "last frost date + your zipcode."  Many plants need to be started indoors well in advance of your last frost date, you then plant your transplants outdoors after the threat of frost has past.  Tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant all need to be started indoors 8-10 weeks before you last frost date.  For me here in VA, our last frost date is April 30, so we're starting those seeds indoors next weekend.

Kyle523Nicole

SuperGreen:

You're right that there's not a lot you can do right now, but there are some things.  You could start thinking about what kind of composting you would like to do.  Here's some info on that, and types of composters:

http://www.gardeners.com/All-About-Composting/5061,default,pg.html

http://www.gardeners.com/How-to-Choose-a-Composter/5082,default,pg.html

You should also look into what the last spring frost date is in your area.  You can Google "last frost date + your zipcode."  Many plants need to be started indoors well in advance of your last frost date, you then plant your transplants outdoors after the threat of frost has past.  Tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant all need to be started indoors 8-10 weeks before you last frost date.  For me here in VA, our last frost date is April 30, so we're starting those seeds indoors next weekend.

Thank you!!
I looked it up, and this is what I got:

"Each winter, on average, your risk of frost is from October 28 through April 23.
Almost certainly, however, you will receive frost from November 11 through April 12.
You are almost guaranteed that you will not get frost from May 3 through October 14.
Your frost-free growing season is around 188 days."

So, should I start April 23, or May 3?  I guess I'm a little confused as what can be considered the LAST frost date?

ETA: I don't mean should I START then, lol, I mean should I start growing based off of one of those two days (and count back from either the 23rd or the 3rd 8-10 weeks)?

another KT

My master gardeners extenstion through my state university has been very helpful. 

Daisy07gray

we have a couple of compost holes in the snow right now, since we moved in the winter and compost in an open pile (our chickens turn it).  Thank you Super Green & anotherKT for the links

SuperGreen

Kyle523Nicole:

So, should I start April 23, or May 3?  I guess I'm a little confused as what can be considered the LAST frost date?

ETA: I don't mean should I START then, lol, I mean should I start growing based off of one of those two days (and count back from either the 23rd or the 3rd 8-10 weeks)?

April 23 would be your "80% chance of no-frost date."  May 3 would be your "no chance of frost date."  Which one of those you choose really depends on if you want to take the risk of losing your transplants.  Me personally, I count back 8 weeks from the 80% frost date.  If the weather has been consistently warm and I see no threat of an unexpected frost, I'll set my transplants out on that date.  If it's been a cold spring and I think there could be a frost, I'll keep them inside until the "no chance" date.  As with any transplants, you have to "harden them off" first, which means you put them outside for an hour one day, then maybe 2 hours the next day, etc... over the course of a week or so to get them used to being outside before you plant them.  If it's been a cold spring, I'll use the 2 weeks between the 80% and No Chance dates to harden off my transplants slowly.

Kyle523Nicole

SuperGreen:

Kyle523Nicole:

So, should I start April 23, or May 3?  I guess I'm a little confused as what can be considered the LAST frost date?

ETA: I don't mean should I START then, lol, I mean should I start growing based off of one of those two days (and count back from either the 23rd or the 3rd 8-10 weeks)?

April 23 would be your "80% chance of no-frost date."  May 3 would be your "no chance of frost date."  Which one of those you choose really depends on if you want to take the risk of losing your transplants.  Me personally, I count back 8 weeks from the 80% frost date.  If the weather has been consistently warm and I see no threat of an unexpected frost, I'll set my transplants out on that date.  If it's been a cold spring and I think there could be a frost, I'll keep them inside until the "no chance" date.  As with any transplants, you have to "harden them off" first, which means you put them outside for an hour one day, then maybe 2 hours the next day, etc... over the course of a week or so to get them used to being outside before you plant them.  If it's been a cold spring, I'll use the 2 weeks between the 80% and No Chance dates to harden off my transplants slowly.

Thank you, such great advice!!  I guess this weekend I'll gather everything I need (and do some more research on what thrives here vs what we like) and start my plants

I look forward to watching them grow, this will be my first garden!

SuperGreen

You're welcome :-)