Ducks ALIVE in 2025!

[ducks4you]

NEW thread. Thanks, @AMKuska for the inspiration to jump ahead on the calendar.
I have probably been planning for next year during my right knee recovery. BTW, I garden in various beds around the 1 acre that is yard and not horse pasture (or the barn and shelter.)
I am planning my garden AND planning for my next rotten knee (left one) surgery. I have yet to speak to the surgeon's nurse--appointment coming up--but I am going to to ask to schedule the next surgery for late June or early July, 2025. DH, DD and I go on a Carnival Alaska cruise in late May. I should have most of my garden in the ground and all soaker hoses set up by this time. I talked to my Physical Therapist yesterday. He is aware of my problems with my left knee and left leg--not straight. I wanted him to Incorporate PT for that leg, too.
He said to check and see, BUT, I could schedule the left knee therapy of 6 weeks right after I complete This set of 6 weeks therapy for my right leg, in January.
Right leg has now achieved 0 degrees straight, bent right knee is now at 108 degrees and we are working towards 120 degrees bent.
If you don't know, flexibility to stretch the muscles has to be constantly worked on after surgery. In this case, where I end up after 8 weeks will determine all future flexibility.
What has this to do with my gardening?
It means that I need a fairly precise schedule, such as "start Amish paste the week of ________"
It also means assessing successes and failures from 2024.
So...here we go with Some of next year's crops in Duckums' garden!
1) TOMATOES
IRONICALLY, the local 2024 tomato growing for those who got theirs in on time was dismal. Many of their tomato plants didn't do well and didn't recover from bad summer weather, yet MY late planting resulted in dinner plate fruits.
...go figure?!?
I will probably start my tomato seeds in early March and plan for 6 early troops that might get frosted, OR might make it and produce early
2025 will be a big planting of Amish Paste for canning, too, seeds already in the cabinet.
2) CUCUMBERS
I will be gardening this winter, prepping areas I couldn't physically get to late this year. Cucumbers will need soil amendments from last winter's dirty stalls. Cucumbers also don't need more than one 12 ft fencing. Gotta read up on when to replace with fresh plantings...
3) ZUCCHINI SQUASH
Tentatively, with seed sprouting 7-14 days, leaf development 4-8 weeks, then a few more weeks for flowering to start, I should start their seeds Mid May, to transplant in June. I won't be able to plant anything a good month after surgery and I need to avoid the squash vine borer which is active until early July in my neck of the woods. I really won't need any more than a handful of zucchini, but why not use them as filler plants in other places?

https://thegrow.net/zucchini-growth-stages/i-growth-stages

4) PUMPKINS
These are going in lots of different places. I have already planted small and damaged 2024 beige pumpkins strategically for "volunteers" to sprout. I am tired of the beige, but I have Pie pumpkin seeds and white pumpkin seeds, maybe a couple of other varieties. You don't have to have Great Googlefoo to research. Here is a great article that tells me a timeline for pumpkins:'
https://www.seedsandspades.com/pumpkin-growing-stages/
Any seeds direct sown should develop flowers mid July if I plant in early June, AGAIN avoiding the squash vine borer. Not so worried about squash bugs. Since I have gotten fruit planting in the first week of July, in the past, I should be able to plant a good week before I have to harvest from my cherry tree, which is aNOTHER reason to have my surgery after that big old harvest.
More soon!

 

[AMKuska]

Oh boy, you better stretch those muscles!

 

[ducks4you]

5) PEPPERS
I started sweet peppers from seed a few years ago, left them in a windowbox container in the shade, so I overwintered them.
I ALSO had a sweet pepper rot and start seedlings in my refridgerator of all places many years ago.
I THINK experiences like this give new gardeners the impression that vegetables are easy to grow.
I planted many of these in my big garden area and soon discovered it was all clay, and they all died.
Bed has since been highly amended, which is why 2022 and 2023 cucumbers did so well. Cucumber bed 2024, not so much.

I will probably start my sweet AND hot peppers this January.
They just take
F.O.R.E.V.E.R. to grow, ya know.

Bell Pepper Plant Growth Stages (Day 1-120 w/Pictures)

Know exactly what to expect from your bell pepper plants. See the 6 main bell pepper plant growing stages from seedling to harvest.

peppergeek.com

How Long Do Peppers Take To Grow? (Time For Each Variety)

How long do peppers take to grow from seed to harvest? Know exactly how long it takes for peppers to produce ripe fruits in the garden!

peppergeek.com

I only need to figure out where they will go AND last frost dates to transplant. I have recently read that they LIKE to be planted tight together. Have to do more research on that.
Even though the articles tell you that hot peppers take longer to mature I have found them to be MUCH easier to grow and harvest than any sweet peppers.
Here are the pepper seeds that I have waiting for me in 2025 in no particular order:
(a) "Fooled You" no heat jalepanoes
I sprouted these in 2024 and didn't babysit them, therefore I lost All of them.
Then, I bought some more seeds. Do over...
(b) Hybrid Goliath Peppers
(c) Habenera Peppers (saved seeds--NO DATE ON LABEL, DUNNO WHEN I SAVED THESE!!!)
(d) Pimento Peppers
(e) California Wonder (green)
(f) California Wonder (red)
(g) Mini Bell Peppers
(h) King of the North Peppers
I WILL need labels this year.

 

[ducks4you]

6. SPINACH
In 2012 we had no winter. The spinach that was growing from the previous season never died back, so we ate on it for a couple of months.
I gotta grow spinach in 2025

Growing Spinach From Seed: Complete How To Guide - Get Busy Gardening

Growing spinach from seed is easy. Learn all you need to know about when and how to plant it step by step, and caring for the seedlings.

getbusygardening.com

Don't have any Bloomsdale spinach seeds, but I always find some kind of spinach seeds locally, so I can buy a package or two at will.

40 Different Types of Spinach For Your Garden

Spinach is one of the most rewarding crops with tons of applications. Check out our list of 40 types of spinach to see which is best for you!

www.epicgardening.com

Probably start the seeds outside first week in April.
I also bought some New Zealand spinach seeds, which is supposed to handle hot weather. I will try them and report back. I did read that it is invasive, but if it craves hot weather it should die back in OUR winter.

 

[ducks4you]

7 EXOTIC to DUCKUMS plants
I will interspurse some plants that I have seeds for but I have never grown. Both of these are beautiful to look at, but I might not like the taste, so they could be transplanted in the front yard, just for show.
(a) Eggplant
Tell the truth I never liked Eggplant Parmesan, but it could be where I ate it last. I have a sample packet of about 10 seeds and I thought to try them in 2025
Just to be sure re: squash vine borers they should be in the ground mid June

When and How to Grow Eggplant from Seed for a Perfect Harvest

Our eggplant growing guide will show you how to grow a delicious harvest. From seed germination, when to plant, growing tips, and when to pick.

sowrightseeds.com

(b) Swiss Chard
Ok, I will NEVER understand how civilization took the beet plant, developed a lovely and luscious root, then somebody came along, wiped the chalkboard clean and said,
"NO!!!!!! THIS plant should Just leaves, as nature intended!!"
Bright Lights Swiss Chard is a pretty plant and I have grown it before, never ate it. Easy to grow, though.
I am thinking to direct sow them mid May. Again, it will be a display vegetable, much like a flower, in my front beds.

 

[ducks4you]

8 BEANS
With apologies to all of the bean people here who are raising their beans for the...beans only.
I like to eat them.
I haven't grown very many varieties. I preFER the vining varieties bc it's easier to harvest them.
I have a hodpodge of been seeds, mostly vining, maybe a few bush varieties.
I fell for the "purple beans look the tastiest". It didn't work that way. The tastiest beans I grew were Kentucky Bush Beans and the seeds came from Menard's in a $1 cardboard box that could have carried beans seeds or an 8 pack of crayons--you pick.
My plan for 2024 was to plant a collection of chili bean seeds to harvest the beans along my south fencing between neighbor and me. Never got to it, but I still have the seeds. IF they make it into the ground next to the fencing I will plant them, forget about them, then come back and harvest when they are ready.
There is a lovely plastic mesh bag that I kept when I ordered garlic from MadGarlicGrowers, perfect to put beans inside and hang them to dry.
I also have a handful of Dove purple beans that @flowerbug sent me. I will find a place for them in my garden this year.
Family loved the green beans that I pressure canned and I also blanched and froze, so I have to grow them again.

The Ultimate Green Bean Growing Guide - from Planting to Harvesting

Everything you need to know to grow bushels of green beans - from planting right up to harvest. We've got your ultimate green been guide!

www.ruralsprout.com

I disagree with several things in this article. It is NOT easier to bend over to harvest anything, so, NO, bush beans are harder to harvest AND I found that that they prefer some fence support.
Looks like planting mid to late May, and they are also an excellent Fall crop. I like the idea of stagger planting over several weeks in the Spring. Since my ONLY beans success has been Fall planting I am not sure what they look like when the plants are spent.
I will need labels for the beans, too.
I will go back and plant some this Fall, 2025, too.
My desire to Fall plant began because squash vine borers were destroying my squashes and it gave me the "garden sads"
Now, I have gotten Good at it, so I will repeat it.

 

[ducks4you]

9 MELONS
I have cantaloupe seeds, a handful of some kind of generic watermelon seeds that I dried out,, currently on my kitchen counter in a coffee filter and inside of a shot glass. I clean the counter and the just keep getting moved around.
I also have Moon and Stars watermelon seeds that I bought and maybe a few more melon seeds in my seed cabinet that I haven't looked at for awhile. I have had moderate success growing them, and I will probably start them all in early June. If they don't make it, I will replant in late July. You never have to plant all of your seeds.
I am thinking that the strip of 10 pine trees in the south yard (pruned up to 6 ft) would be a lovely place to have the watermelon vines.
My first successful melon planting was in a jerry rigged garden area that became my 55' x 65' pony training area. some 29 years ago I had the most beautiful canteloupe, about ready for harvest, my 20yo TW (horse) put his head over the fence and grabbed it. I coudn't be angry with him and he only lived one more year, so I'm glad that he enjoyed it!
I had a couple of late planted, almost volunteer canteloupes that I was able to enjoy a couple of years ago.
Biggest issue is where to grow them.
Since my garden told me WHERE to plant the garlic this Fall, I figure the same thing will happen with the melons.

How to Plant & Grow Melons: Complete Guide

Our guide to growing melons in your garden - Everything you need to know from planting to caring for your melons to harvesting and storing

gardenbeast.com