The Farmer’s Almanac planting schedule really seems to fit with this later spring we’ve had in Missouri. Spy Garden will follow the May planting schedule described below. The dates and information in bulleted quotation marks below are copied directly from the Farmer’s Almanac website:

• “1st Plant Late Beets, Potatoes, Onions, Carrots, And Other Root Crops.”

Spy Garden planted Belgian White Carrots today in patch to the right of chair in foreground:

• “2nd-3rd Kill Plant Pests On These Barren Days.”

Spy Garden tips: Rinse and bake your eggshells at 250 degrees Fahrenheit for an hour then crumble and sprinkle at bases of plants: Gooey slugs and other slimy pests like potato beetles don’t like to slither on the sharp bits of shell. Garlic, cayenne and lots of herbs and flowers also help to repel pests. Inspect all squash leaves carefully for signs of squash bug eggs:

• “4th-6th Favorable Time For Planting Late Root Crops. Also Good For Vine Crops That Can Be Planted Now. Set Strawberry Plants. Good Days For Transplanting.”

In Spy Garden: nasturtiums, summer squash & cucumbers will be planted in this period (May 4th-6th)

• “7th-8th Poor Planting, Fine For Cultivating Or Spraying.”

• “9th-11th Favorable For Planting Beans, Corn, Cotton, Tomatoes, Peppers, And Other Aboveground Crops.”

Spy Garden tomato time! These tomatoes pictured below will go in the ground (May 9th-11th):

• “12th-13th Any Seed Planted Now Will Tend To Rot.”

• “14th-15th Most Favorable For Planting Corn, Cotton, Okra, Beans, Peppers, Eggplant, And Other Aboveground Crops. Plant Seedbeds And Flower Gardens.

Whew! Spy Garden will stop at the 15th of May for now in planning. For the rest of May planting schedule visit http://www.farmersalmanac.com/calendar/gardening/! Happy planting!