Nature Living Pacific Northwest
06 May 2011 4 Comments
I moved to the great Pacific Northwest in the Spring of 1993 and have never looked back. This beautiful, wild, and magical “country” has nurtured a real growth of spirit and a love for adventure that spans the realms of travel, cooking, gardening, beekeeping, writing, singing, animal husbandry, camping, well-being, and a full list of exploring what I call Nature Living Pacific Northwest. I’ve started this blog to share what I’ve learned overtime, what I’ve laughed about, loved, and the many things that are yet to unfold.
Now that Spring is in full bloom, 18 years later, I’d like to start my first post with a subject that is a true passion with me, gardening. Being a Northeast transplant myself, and having lived most of my childhood in the concrete jungle of Hoboken, NJ, I longed for a life where I could plant a seed, other then in the cracks of the pavement, and watch while I nurtured something beautiful to life. Well here I am just Northwest of Paradise with my gardening tips for early May.
For those who have been waiting for the warmth of May to start their gardens, don’t wait any longer. Due to our Maritime climate, this is the window of opportunity to sow corn in order to get it to ripen in the Northwest. I’ll be experimenting with a sweet corn variety called Sugar Buns, a flour variety called Mandan Bride, and a polenta variety bread by Oregon’s own Carol Deppe, the Cascade Maple-Gold Polenta.
As for potatoes, I planted mine in April. My favorites are Yukon Gold, which is a great keeper…I’m still eating from my fall harvest, French Fingerling, a gourmet potato with rose colored skins and creamy flesh, as well as a wonderful keeper, and Pontiac, an easy to grow early red potato with white flesh. May is a good month to plant potatoes so if you haven’t already done so, go for it.
This year I was introduced to Seattle Tilth’s The Maritime Northwest Garden Guide – Planning Calender for Year-Round Organic Gardening. 
So far, I have found it invaluable in planning my garden. Most of the sowing dates in this guide correspond to an approximate time when the temperature and light conditions are appropriate for each crop (in the Maritime Northwest). Here is a sample of what they suggest to plant outdoors in early May.
Vegetables and Herbs
Carrots, Cilantro, Dill, Parsnip, Chives, Leeks, Green Onions, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Radishes, Oriental Greens, Beets, Spinach, Swiss Chard, Burdock, Lettuce, Snap and Dry Beans, Corn, Potatoes, Anise Hyssop, Marjoram, Summer Savory, and Lemon Balm
Flowers
Borage, Butterfly Flower, Calendula, Cosmos, Marigold, Morning Glory, Nasturtium, and Zinnia
Now, if that’s not enough to keep you busy, I highly recommend you get this planning calender for a complete and detailed list to your May planting inspiration.
Happy Gardening