The Winchendon Courier
Serving the community since 1878 ~ A By Light Unseen Media publication
Week of February 11 to February 18, 2021

Gardening

Planning and Designing a Productive Vegetable Garden

lush vegetable garden
Incorporate trellises into garden plans so beans, peas, tomatoes and even squash can be trained to grow vertically.
Photo credit: Photo courtesy of Gardener’s Supply Company


Whether planning your first, second or tenth vegetable garden it can be overwhelming. There are so many tasty vegetables and never enough space and time to grow them all.

Start with a plan. Locate your garden in a sunny location with moist, well-drained soil. Save those partially sunny areas for greens like lettuce, chard and kale as well as root crops like radishes and beets. These prefer full sun but will tolerate more shade than tomatoes, peppers, squash, broccoli and other plants we eat the flowers and fruit.

Review your favorite recipes and make a list of family favorites and those vegetables most often used. Then check the list to see which vegetables are suited to your climate and growing conditions and those that make the most economic sense to include in your garden.

Tomatoes and peppers produce lots of fruit from one plant and are common ingredients in many recipes. Sweet corn is fun to grow but needs lots of space for a relatively small harvest. If space is limited, consider buying your sweet corn at the farmers’ market and use that space to grow other edibles.

Every gardener struggles with determining how many of each type of vegetable to grow. This depends upon the productivity of the variety selected, your family’s eating habits and of course the impact of weather on the harvest. It is always better to start small, build on your successes and expand the garden in the future. Track your planting and harvesting results to help when planning future gardens.

You will need to plant more if you plan to preserve or donate a portion of your harvest. Purchasing vegetables from your local farmers’ market is a way to ensure you have sufficient fresh produce when you are ready to can, freeze and ferment.

Sound overwhelming? Consider enlisting help from Gardener’s Supply by using one of their vegetable garden plans (gardeners.com). You’ll find customized plans for those who like to cook, want to grow ingredients for a garden-fresh salad, salsa or cocktails, or are following a Mediterranean diet. Many come with seed packets for all the featured plants.

Maximize the available space by growing vertically. Train pole beans, peas, tomatoes, cucumbers and even squash and melons up trellises. Growing vertically not only saves space, but also increases disease resistance by increasing light and airflow through the plants. And picking beans at waist height is much easier than harvesting from low-growing, bushy plants.

Increase space with containers. Consider growing some of your frequently used herbs and vegetables in pots on the patio, balcony, or deck for convenience. You can quickly grab what you need when creating your favorite meal.

Grow multiple plantings in each row. Start the season with cool season veggies like lettuce, peas and radishes. Once the temperatures climb and these plants are harvested and enjoyed, replace them with warm weather vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, beans, cucumbers, squash and melons. Finish off the season by filling any vacant rows with fall crops like greens, beets and radishes.

Take some time to plan a garden that will provide you and your family with fresh produce you can enjoy all season long. Involving everyone in the planning process just might get them to show up and help weed.

Melinda Myers is the author of more than 20 gardening books, including Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” DVD series and the Melinda's Garden Moment TV & radio segments. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and was commissioned by Gardeners Supply for her expertise to write this article. Her web site is www.MelindaMyers.com.

Antiques

Antique Finds

Photograph of Susan B. Anthony


There has been a lot of antique news since my last antique and collectibles news column. Three important antique finds have been reported within the past month, beginning with some coins that were literally uncovered in Poland.

The Archaeological Institute of America reports that medieval coins were recently found in a Polish cornfield. Archaeologist Adam Kedzierski was researching the 1935 discovery of a hoard of coins when a local priest informed him that it was rumored that there were additional coins still buried in the field. Kedzierski found a "900-year-old hoard, stored in linen pouches placed in a pot, includes Czech, Danish, Hungarian, and German coins; lumps of silver; fragments of lead; and four gold rings." The more than 6,000 pieces were believed to have been the dowry of Maria who was a sister of Princess Zbyslawa of Russia. Maria was also believed to be the “daughter of Svyatovslavovich Isiaslovovich, Prince of Kiev” according to the Archaeological Institute of America. It is believed they were buried "during a time of turmoil in 1146." Further investigation of the area is being planned.

The Smithsonian Magazine reports that a Geneva, New York man (David Whitcomb) found a treasure trove of photographs in the attic of a building that he recently purchased to open his law practice. The two previous building owners were unaware of the attic’s existence because a drop ceiling had been added to the top floor decades ago that hid the view of the attic. Along with the photographs, Whitcomb found frames, old cameras, and backdrops. The Smithsonian reported that "according to Ben Hooper of United Press International (UPI), the items probably belonged to James Ellery, or J.E., Hale, a prominent photographer active during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Hale’s name was written on many of the objects in the attic, including letters and photographs, and he once owned a studio next door to the New York building." Two of the photos were of famous figures from the women’s rights movement, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Susan B. Anthony. Hale took the photo of Susan B. Anthony in 1905, a year before she died. David Whitcomb consigned the collection to a nearby auction house. The collection is expected to sell for $100,000.

The Canadian Broadcasting Company (CBC) reported that an Edmonton, Alberta antique dealer (Alex Archibald) recently purchased a home that had belonged to a hoarder. He paid $10,000 for the property, sight unseen. The home and contents were the estate of a local piano teacher (Bette-Jean Rac) whom Archibald had known before she passed away. A grand piano initially caught his attention. He has turned up many more valuable objects since he purchased the home and has been searching through it. Archibald found typical things you would expect to find in an old estate including clothes, shoes, books, and magazine. He found many more valuable objects as well though. Archibald said, "our most impressive finds included wallets full of cash, a 100-ounce silver bar, and bags full of gold and diamond rings." He found some of the clothing to be valuable pieces by well known designers. The estate items were sold in 3 auctions which ended up bringing $400,000. Archibald kept the grand piano and moved it to his antique shop. He may not be able to hit a higher note than he already has though.

We are still accepting quality consignments for our spring multi-estate online auction such as gold jewelry, sterling silver flatware, antique paintings, coins, and other older collectibles. Our online auction with paintings from the estate of equestrian artist Fay Moore ends on February 17th. Our next online auction Session 2 of antique, vintage, and contemporary toys will soon be available for bidding.

Contact us at: Wayne Tuiskula Auctioneer/Appraiser Central Mass Auctions for Antique Auctions, Estate Sales and Appraisal Services www.centralmassauctions.com (508-612- 6111) info@centralmassauctions.com