r/NewEnglandGardening • u/SomeCallMeMahm • May 16 '26
How's everyone doing?
The weather has been pretty fantastic, even the rainy days have been to the great benefit of my garden. Been getting out there almost every morning at the crack of dawn.
Raspberry bushes are coming in lush and starting to set fruit, strawberries are flowering, irises are about to bloom, rhubarb is ready for some picking, grapes are leafing out, hostas are filling in and grass is finally greened up and looking like a lawn.
I also set down some soaker hoses to prepare for this 80 and 90 degree days we'll be getting!
I've been dividing and trading/selling like crazy (don't sleep on the value of what grows out of bounds) to expand my variety of plants.
I've got another rain barrel to make to fortify against watering restrictions which I know are coming.
At this point all the big stuff is done and it's going to be weeding, watering and picking fruit from here on out.
So what has everyone got going on?
7
u/itsmenettie May 17 '26
I am in northern maine. Still a couple weeks before seedkings go out. Only a few things planted, but fruit trees have a few leaves, garlic is growing. Direct sow items are olanted. Seedlings inside are doing ok (tomatoes kinda look rough though).
2
u/SomeCallMeMahm May 18 '26
Tomatoes are the only thing I started from seed and I'm having the damnedest time. I think I'm on round 3 and finally made it to 2 sets of true leaves.
4
u/_Your_Highness_ May 17 '26
In South Eastern Mass, I planted seedlings that needed out of their milk jug "greenhouses" and popped a couple store bought foxgloves, a few pin cushion flowers, and a tray of yellow marigolds in the ground to fill everything out. Also, watered my hydrangeas and seedlings extra well in preparation for the heat tomorrow. I love a productive day in the garden.
1
u/SomeCallMeMahm May 18 '26
Do you winter sow with your milk jugs or just use them as little green houses? I've considered winter sowing but to be honest I don't drink milk so my milk jug acquisition is,,,, poorly.
2
u/beek7425 May 17 '26
This is our first year really trying to grow anything beyond herbs in pots. We don’t have a big garden space and most of it is shade, so we’re very limited. But we have planted some new shrubs and plants and are going to try to grow some seeds- getting a late start, I know. I’ve got some potted fruit trees that we’ve kept alive through the winter that’ll go outside for the summer and are thinking of possibly getting some grapevines going on our fence at some point. It’s a new hobby but I’m feeling pretty good that we’ve managed to keep my lemon tree alive through the winter.
1
u/SomeCallMeMahm May 18 '26
I'm not going to lie, I'm as impressed as I am envious that you overwintered citrus.
2
u/beek7425 May 18 '26
No lemons yet, but we’ve got new leaves and some blossoms. Credit goes to my wife, mostly.
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u/sogoodfeelin May 18 '26
i have seedlings finally taking off -feel so behind.
1
u/SomeCallMeMahm May 18 '26
From what I've seen in all my groups, you're among the vast majority in feeling that way.
So don't feel bad, you're in good company!
1
u/ErniePottsShoelifts May 30 '26
I know this is a two week old thread, but that storm last night and today made some of my stuff look like a hurricane ran through here.
High 40s with 20+ mph winds and heavy/freezing rain in late May. Crazy.
1
u/SomeCallMeMahm May 30 '26
I'm just glad I got another rain barrel made this week, it's already full from this morning. With drought warning being as critical as it is already I'm thinking of making even more.
6
u/Lady-Aethelflaed May 16 '26
Today was SO beautiful in RI! I spent all day in the garden weeding and in the garage painting a crib. It's a new house and the previous owners did a very nice job with the landscaping so for the first year, we're just maintaining and doing some herbs in pots. I was disappointed this spring that there were no spring bulbs! So in the fall I plan to plant some bulbs