This column will be devoted to reporting the results of the 2024 gardening year from the experience of several of our Kandiyohi County Extension Master Gardeners. Daryl Anderson, of Raymond, reports that before the rains started in early spring, he planted peas, radishes, lettuce, kale and spinach in raised beds. The wet weather and cool temperatures yielded plenty of produce.
His warm weather crops did not do as well in the garden. The tomatoes and peppers produced less than average and for a shorter period of time. The potted plants did extremely well with little need to water them all summer long.
The cherry tomatoes ripened in mid-July and are still producing (as of early October). Carmen peppers and fairy tale eggplant were also bountiful. The best harvest came from the garlic.
All of the varieties of garlic were the largest he had ever grown with diameters of 2-plus inches. He plans to use some of them as seed for planting this fall. Mary Hagen from Belgrade reports that her favorite plant of the summer was the hydrangea.
Annabelle large ball blooms have never been so big and paniculata grew so large and the blooms prolific. The rains were so welcome by lawns, trees, and perennials. Weed pulling was a major chore of the summer.
Bonita Smith from Willmar learned that her 43-year-old lilacs were remarkably resilient. With all the rain we had again this summer, her lilacs got a fungus and the leaves turned brown and the lilac bush was completely bare. Then in late Septembe.
