May 2025 – Nine by Eighteen

2025 Garden Plot

SabineMay 28, 20252 Replies

This morning, I planted my tomatoes (11 plants total, 8 varieties). I interplanted them with Italian basil (6 plants) and marigolds (5 plants). I also sowed nasturtium (Alaska Red Shades). I still have to plant the Thai basil, leeks, curcubites and flowers (strawflowers, gomphrena) as well as sow cilantro and flowers (borage, cosmos, zinnias, more nasturtium). I also harvested my two overwintered leeks. The rhubarb is still going strong (three harvests so far), the garlic looks great and the shallots are coming up as well.

Planting Time

SabineMay 26, 20252 Replies

I started planting today. Finally! The water in the community garden was turned on a week ago (much later than usual), and we had a Nor’easter a few days ago with the temperatures dropping to the low forties, so I delayed planting until now. This afternoon, I weeded a quarter of my plot and planted lavender, sage (both were seedlings from Neighborhood Farm, all other plants I grew from seed) and parsley, Rainbow Swiss chard, Meadowlark kale, and five types of lettuce: Johnny’s Allstar Gourmet lettuce mix, Johnny’s Salanova green butterhead lettuce, Sandy Hill Preservation Center salad mix, Merlot (leaf) and Black Seeded Simpson (leaf). I then mulched lightly with salt marsh hay and protected the seedlings from the voracious resident rabbits with chicken wire. I plan to put in tomatoes, basil and some flowers later this week. Peppers, cucumbers and squash will go in the week thereafter.

Rhubarb Crisp

SabineMay 7, 20252 Replies

This past weekend, I made rhubarb crisp with the rhubarb from my garden plot. The first use of home-grown produce this season, yay! I used Mark Bittman’s recipe, but substituted sliced almonds for the pecans because of allergies in the family. So good!

Back Porch in Early May

SabineMay 6, 20252 Replies

*Radishes (and arugula; to be followed by basil and parsley)*

*Arugula (to be followed by ? …, perhaps more lettuce)*

*Asparagus and sprouting cosmos (the asparagus will die down and the flowers will take over. I will plant more cosmos and zinnias and perhaps nasturtium)*

*Lettuces (to be followed by Thai pepper, Thai basil and nasturtium)*

*Seedlings, hardening off (ready to go in the ground, but I am waiting until we have water at the garden)*

Planting Shallots

SabineMay 2, 20252 Replies

*Along the Southwest Corridor Park in Jamaica Plain*

Today, I planted my Monique shallots. I was hoping they would be shipped sooner as they are supposed to be planted in early spring and it is getting warmer here, but they just arrived a couple of days ago. I planted four rows of around 6 or 7 each. Fingers crossed it was not too late. This is my second attempt at growing shallots. I planted some in the fall of 2023 together with the garlic, but they did not sprout and just disappeared over the winter.

First Harvest

SabineMay 2, 20251 Reply

*Rhubarb flower – so pretty I cut them and put them in a vase*

First harvest of the year! This is my new rhubarb’s third year and the plant is thriving. I cut the flowers for decoration and pulled a good number of stalks. So many more to go! I see a lot of strawberry rhubarb galettes in my near future (recipe here). After four years, I am so excited to finally grow enough rhubarb again for baking!