Beginning plans

I have sorted through my seeds and made my first lists, ordered a few more seeds.  I am getting itchy to start some plantings.  I am low on space indoors right now and our greenhouse plastic did not last the winter... so, hoping hubby will help me get that recovered soon.  In the meantime, I will likely start a few trays of early greens inside... I just can't wait to start growing again!  :-)

Here is what I am planning:

HAVE:
Sugar baby watermelon
Moon and Star watermelon
Big Max pumpkin
Early sweet sugar pie pumpkin
Amish muskmelon
Buttercup squash
Zucchini squash
Crookneck squash
Cayenne pepper
Bell pepper
Red cherry tomato
Amish paste tomato
Brandywine tomato
Yellow pear tomato
Aunt Ruby's German Green tomato
Green bush bean
Green pole bean
Pickling cucumber

SAVED/PERENNIAL:
potatoes
corn
garlic
onion
asparagus
strawberry
kiwi
apple
rhubarb
blackberry

ORDERED:
cabbage
lettuce mix
5 color chard
beets
carrots, danvers
broccoli
cauliflower
brussels
peas
spinach
parsley
basil
rosemary
bee balm
oregano
sage
dill
chamomile

NEED TO BUY:
stevia
cumin
male kiwi plant
spaghetti squash
butternut squash
acorn squash

Strawberry beds, Greenhouse and Chickies

The promised pics...

Greenhouse construction

We have finally pretty much finished the greenhouse. My sisters came and helped me put together the base and hoops, there were 3 moms and 9 kids working on it and we got it done in a short afternoon! Tom and I constructed the frame for the ends/doors and attached the plastic over the hoops. We now have just the doors to install. We have moved the chicks out to the greenhouse with the heat lamp and it is working well for that at night and then we bring them outside during the day or they get too hot. I am looking forward to getting some tables/shelves and raised beds added for growing things year-round. I got a 4' fluorescent light from a friend so can start some things out there tomorrow! The last pic here is taken at night of the greenhouse illuminated by the chick's heat lamp. I need to get the camera out there to get an inside pic once we have the doors on. It was a fun project that didn't cost too much and will hopefully be very useful in our garden venture!

Updated: Yard Plans

This is the current plan. We got the dog lot up this week and are hoping to get the greenhouse up this weekend, which would be good - I have LOTS of seeds to get started tomorrow and my kitchen is cramped already.

Mulch and first seeds started!

We picked up a trailer load of aged manure today via freecycle. Met a nice lady with bunnies and chickens and quail = lots of compost! :-)

Heather and I also got our first seeds started in peat pots today. We planted 12 collards, 3 bell peppers, 1 cayenne pepper, and 8 cabbage. We put the little pots in muffin tins, covered them with saran wrap and put them on top of the fridge to stay warm until they sprout! It felt great to get that started.

I found some old seeds from previous years... I may try to germinate some seeds from them and see if they are any good. There were a few that I wished I had ordered, and also some peas which I can start now since the ordered ones are on backorder.

We went to Lowe's and got some of the intial supplies for our greenhouse project (see post below). We got the plastic, rebar, furring strips, and hinges. Tom will get the pvc pipes cheaper at his supply house, and will pick up the 12' and 16' pieces of wood another time (wouldn't fit in the van).

We grabbed a shovel and hand shovel and rake while we were there, we needed those here at home desperately.

So, that's the fun in the garden today!

Greenhouse plans

Thinking of a 12'x16' with hoops every 3' (one off-set by 1') and one door. Wonder if Tom would build it for me?

Plans from Dave at Alberta Home Gardening who has a great blog with detailed plans and pics. Check them out!

Prices from Lowe's unless otherwise noted.

Supplies:
20' x 50' clear 4 mil plastic = $59.99 here
3 10' x 10mm rebar = $6.28 each
2 2x6 12' = $6.99 each
2 2x6 16' = $8.99 each
6 2x4 12' = $4.36 each
7 1/2"x20' pvc piping = $3.22 each (Tom may have this, which would be free)
3 1x2x8 furring strip = @ $.91 each
2 door hinges = $1.47
2 door handles = $4.58
zip ties
nails or screws

Total cost = approx $160.00