More reports this week from Kandiyohi County Master Gardeners on how their 2025 growing season went for them.
Deb Nelson from rural Spicer reports: “Weather! That was the first thing that made a difference this gardening year. Variating temperatures, air quality, but the rain really made a huge difference. When one had time to try to get out and dig things up, separate, and/or weed, the weather did not want to cooperate!
“The July 27 storm with high winds laid my onions flat, very few recovered, so they are nothing to brag about this year. I think the mulch blew off my garlic so they were not protected from the cold. The storm also did considerable damage to the trees surrounding the family farms, branches the size of trees, too big to drag by hand!
“The lack of snow last winter and the nasty dip in the temperature put an end to four of my five hardy (?) hibiscus and the sedum also took a hit.
“We have an old high tunnel that also took a hit during the storms and now has a hole in the roof, but is where much of my vegetables get planted, as the striped gophers will destroy nearly anything I plant at my house garden, except onions, garlic, and the asparagus. Although they will climb and eat the seeds off the asparagus!
“We generally have terrific tomato yields, but not this year, whether it was the variety of weird weather, who knows, but the hard green at the top doesn’t leave much tomato to eat. It seems they never quite ripen? They were an early bird tomato from Jung. But even the Romas didn’t grow well or produce as expected. We also seem to have problems, like others I have seen on Facebook. with pepper seeds. They don’t seem to be producing the type of peppers expected.
“What did well? The asparagus: I froze a decent amount. Strawberries did well, and the raspberries are still producing! Yellow beans are still producing more than we can eat, so enough to share with family. Kohlrabi did well, as did French breakfast radish, early in the season.
“As usual, the high spots and low spots in the gardens change every year, but one can never be sure if it is weather, water, or human failings!
“I always should mention my husband likes to take responsibility for watering the hoop … So, I can never be quite sure what gets watered and how!”
Cheri Kuhlmann from Diamond Lake reports: “It was a great year for growing hosta and yards looked great. A lot less damage from the rabbits at my house. I found that some plants that like less water and are prone to disease struggled.”
Master Gardener Sue Morris has been writing a column since 1991 for Kandiyohi County newspapers. Morris has been certified through the University of Minnesota as a gardening and horticulture expert since 1983. She lives in Kandiyohi County.
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