Planting the Skylands Vegetable Garden
Last weekend, I sent a small crew from my Bedford farm up to Skylands, my home in Maine. The purpose of the journey was so that they could help the Skylands crew plant the vegetable garden. That part of Maine is very far north and consequently, their growing season is a good deal later than Bedford. Because I always like a visual report on progress, I sent a camera along with instructions to take thorough pictures and I placed Gyurme in charge of that task. I think the crew did a wonderful job with the planting and Gyurme did a terrific job documenting. Please enjoy his photos taken with a Canon G10.
This is so exciting to see. I used to live in Presque Isle Maine and for sure know the season is MUCH later...tulips in July!! Thanks for sharing such inspiring work!
Posted by: Barbara Aine | July 2nd, 2009 at 12:17 am
Indeed, your Skylands veggie garden looks terrific...so neat and tickety-boo!
Posted by: sherey | July 2nd, 2009 at 12:33 am
Living in Oregon, I had to learn a new way to garden from what we did in the Midwest growing up. We don't have a late season like Maine but we have a cooler season so tomatoes and corn are a challenge. The nights are cool here and tomatoes and corn like hot nights.
With the late start, what types of tomatoes do you grow in Maine? How soon in September do you expect frost there? Does it ever cut the crop short?
http://potsnpies.blogspot.com
Posted by: Clayvessel | July 2nd, 2009 at 1:12 am
Hi Martha, What a terrific garden crew you have who produce fantastic plantings in all of your gardens. These guys did a fabulous job at Skylands and I'm sure you will have wonderful results. Gyurme sure did a great job of photographing all of the work that the crew did. The final photo of the complete planted garden is outstanding. Kudos to all of the crew and thank you for introducing them to us. Can't wait to see the outcome, especially of the sunflowers, pumpkins, different types of beans, etc. Wonderful! Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | July 2nd, 2009 at 1:17 am
good morning,
it's comforting to see that your maine peonies are only just starting to bloom. mine will start blooming in a day or two, depending on the weather. they are a bit late this year due to the cold in early and mid june. i've booked a trip next week and i'd hate to miss the bloom. there seems to be a fair amount of ants in my peonies, are they harmfull, should i try to get rid of them and how? thank you
Posted by: liisamarja | July 2nd, 2009 at 2:19 am
I have just received my Martha's Crafters Book (Encyclopedia), and I love it.
I live with my husband who is American from SC, in Cornwall UK. We are two miles from the sea, our climate is such that we benefit from the Gulf Stream, this summer we have had extremely hot weather so far, rain falling for the firt time last night 1st July for a month!
We are retired, have an acre and a half to look after, a garden we open to the public in aid of the Church etc in the month of June.
We keep five hens who follow us around he garden at tea time hoping for crumbs! They lay eggs when they feel like it, and are my dearest friends.
We grow all our main vegetables, and fruit, in our Apple orchard and kitchen garden, I have just finished making 15lbs of Blackcurrant Jam, although my redcurrant Jelly was a disaster this year! So I froze it in a bag to use as a sauce for puddings.
At 74 I am still very busy teaching 'how to paint on ' ...anything, ceramics wood or silk.
I love seeing 'their' faces light up when they see their achievements.
My personal achievement this year was to write a little book called a 'Elevenses and a Lick and a Promise.'
I wrote this for my daughter Kate, who like so many Mothers works so hard for her family juggling career and home life so magnificiently. Her twin daughters are nine now, we have been priviledged to share their lives since very small, every holidays we have grandchildren to stay. So this little book will remind them of their jaunts with us and how it was in the old days with GrandMama and Grandad. It will bring their childhood to life, and bring back memories to so many people of things gone by.
I am so fortunate to have crafting and family combiined.
Martha you are an inspiration, thankyou. VR
Posted by: Virginia Rose Corley | July 2nd, 2009 at 4:45 am
Hi Martha
I wish I had a crew to tend to my garden. Maybe when they are finished there you can send them to my house
My garden (I live in South Jersey) is finally starting to look better. With all the rain and no sun things were looking bad. I did have to replace a few tomato plants but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I have a good crop.
Posted by: Ann | July 2nd, 2009 at 6:34 am
I grow the same Jack-O-Lantern pumpkins, they are beauties. They self-sowed this year. to my delight. I am new at this.
Posted by: amy Lomasney | July 2nd, 2009 at 6:49 am
For liisamarja - Ants on peonies are perfectly normal. They are drawn to the sticky substance on the outside of the buds. Some say that the ants actually stimulate the buds to open.
Posted by: Martha Stewart | July 2nd, 2009 at 7:18 am
Wonderful..."Pea Brush". I have come up with some inventive ideas for climbers in the past. However this one you've shown, takes the cake. A definite must for me next year. Thanks much for sharing!
Posted by: Lee (a.k.a. Riveted) | July 2nd, 2009 at 8:46 am
Gee, all the stress is taken out when a fence as nice as yours surrounds the garden. I spent several days training dogs that "out" meant play on the other side of the livestock panels I have for my fence. It keeps cows and horses out, rabbits,snakes and untrained dogs nadda.
Posted by: Margie | July 2nd, 2009 at 9:00 am
Hi Martha!, and the garden crew: Blake,Gyurme,Mingmar and Alfredo (The chicken tender! Ha! Am I correct?) I agree, a great job!
I will copy your method of growing beans up the 'pea brush'. My seed pouch said 'bush' but guess what? Yup, 'string'. Years ago someone shared with me some of the purple variety of beans. I thought when I cooked them they would be purple on the plate, but they turned green after cooking. Yours, too?
It's so good to have the names of 'your' seeds, esp. the sun flowers. I wonder if you do any seed-saving of your own? I keep experimenting; some success, some out-right flops! Oh, the 'love' of gardening!
PS. I've been using my Jack O' Lantern pumpkin for pie, too. Okay, I guess...tasted really good. Here in FL I'm harvesting about two a day.
Just set out more seed trays for Fall. The 'garden cycle'...a green ride down a lovely hill, with no pant legs caught in the chain!
Thanks, Martha! Great Pics by Gyurme!
Posted by: tinay | July 2nd, 2009 at 9:22 am
I will look into those sunflower seeds for next year. My seeds are coming up in plantings in less than two weeks in the ground. But I fear that all this rain in Boston will have a negative impact if we do not get rain soon.
Posted by: Teresa Touey | July 2nd, 2009 at 9:34 am
My mouth waters just looking at your soil. When I moved to Florida 30 years ago, dirt is what I missed the most. As you know, we have sand and it isn't very often that I bother with buying tons of soil to plant a raised garden - actually, never. Your crew did a great job and your Maine garden is already enticing. Trish
Posted by: Trish | July 2nd, 2009 at 10:43 am
Thank you for sharing the planting. I believe your gardening and animals are my two favorite topics. You are so passionate about both. How wonderful that you are able to enjoy another blooming of peonies. I started raising tree peonies because of your promotion of them. How you have influenced american gardeners and cooks. Thank you Martha
Posted by: Pam in Indiana | July 2nd, 2009 at 10:44 am
Beautiful garden, Martha & Crew! See your grape vines made me miss the vines we had in my backyard growing up. Maybe next year is the time to bring them back...
Posted by: Kristen | July 2nd, 2009 at 11:22 am
Martha,
As you well know, the New England summer has been a bust so far. Looks misty and foggy in Maine too. I wish that, as Goddess of all thing domestic and creative, you could find us a spot of sunshine.
Chad
Posted by: Chad | July 2nd, 2009 at 12:11 pm
I always love to see what is happenng in your Maine home, Skylands. I live in a Maine also, about 4 hous north on Skylands. I don't recognize the buildings next to your garden. Is there any future plans of a Skylands garden plan similar to Bedford?
Brian
Posted by: Brian | July 2nd, 2009 at 3:34 pm
I am growing tomatoes in containers and lettuce in a planter box, and so far, the lettuce is very tender and sweet, and my dog, Orca ate my first tomatoe of the season! Thank you for your inspiration!
Regards,
Pam
Posted by: Pam Bump | July 2nd, 2009 at 7:49 pm
Wanted to update you on the progress of the truffle farming here in Stokes County, NC. We miss you and would love to have you come back for another visit. We've had some challenges but are managing them and look forward to a bumper crop thanks to all the early rains.
Hope your gardens flourish this year.
All the best,
Jane, Rick & Friday
Posted by: Jane Morgan Smith | July 3rd, 2009 at 2:29 pm
I thought other readers would enjoy an activity I got at the botanical gardens. Have you or your children "Ever Seen a Plant Move When You Tickle It?" If you wanted to share your love for nature with your children, here is an activity I have done with mine. This may change the way you and the kids react to plants for ever. Imagine giving your children some seeds. Having them watch them sprout and grow. Then shortly after the second leaves appear they tickle the plant and it moves its branches down and closes its leaves! Give them more than a gift; give them a learning experience they will never forget. I found information and a TickleMe Plant Greenhouse at http://www.ticklemeplant.com
Posted by: Jen | July 3rd, 2009 at 6:49 pm
It's amazing how well plants grow in Maine, with the short season and salt air. When we go to Snell House in Bar Harbor, the flowers in the garden are so colorful and huge, I always take a photo. I can't wait to see more photos of your Maine garden.
Posted by: Bea Trainer | July 4th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
Oh Martha,
Wow!
What a wonderful garden!!
Thanks for the inspiration:)
Always a pleasure to stop by!
Hope you had a Happy 4th!!!
Smiles,
kayellen
Posted by: kayellen | July 5th, 2009 at 4:17 pm
I would love to "borrow" your garden crew to do the same to my roof top terrace
(just kidding).
We have a 80 square meter roof terrace where I try to plant and grow lots of veggies and fruits too. However it never looked sooo professional!
Thanks for the inspiration!
Greta
Posted by: Greta | July 16th, 2009 at 8:34 am