Gardens update

Well, things are definitely happening outdoors here!  :-)

The spinach, lettuce, beets, chard, peas and kale are growing well.  I let the asparagus go to seed again this year without harvesting (though I was very tempted), I will add soil to the bed and plan to harvest next year.  We are moving around the front "cold bed" to the side of the house and will fill that with flowers and bushes - to make room for the deck that we hope to build this year!

We are increasing our fruit trees.  We now have 2 apple, 2 peach, 2 fig, 2 kiwi, 75+ strawberry, 3 blueberry, 3 domestic blackberry, and a thriving rhubarb which I have already harvested 2 quarts from.  We plan to add 2 pear trees to the "orchard" this year.  I am very excited about these additions.  :-)

I am sad to report that I pretty much killed all our little seedlings.  It was just too busy a time to be trying to remember to turn lights on and off and water things daily.  I have a few living still, but many, many died a sad, dry, weak death.  :-(  I haven't taken tally of seeds yet, but may need to buy some plants to make up for the loss.  I do plan to put beans in the ground soon - but we had a frost warning last night again, so won't be doing squashes or tomatoes for a bit still.  I am waiting on hubby to go get the truckload of manure for me also, so most of the beds aren't quite ready yet.

On the flower side... right now the iris and wild violets are blooming, lilac is almost done, lilies are on their way.  There is 1 bud on a rose bush and many plants that have shoots and leaves and growth.  The peonies are looking good, hosta are full and lovely, coneflowers filling in, butterfly bush getting tall.  Love this time of year!

We have sooooo many projects that need doing this year.  Work has been very busy for hubby and it is way past dark when he gets home lately... so we'll see what really gets accomplished.  I'll report back again before too long.

A start!

Started seeds indoors today:

• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Brussels Sprout
• Cabbage
• Bee Balm
• Chamomile
• Horehound
• Oregano
• Rosemary

I feel like I am so behind!  We went from snowstorms to spring overnight it seemed.  :-)  I also started my pea seeds soaking so that I can get them in the ground tomorrow.  I will likely start a lot more seeds this weekend, that way things can start growing even though the beds are not yet ready for them.

Pumpkins!

From the garden, pie pumpkins and roasted pumpkin seeds - yummy!!!

Main garden has been planted

I am so excited to report that the main garden beds have been planted. I changed things around a little bit (surprised?) so will have to update my diagram again, but for the most part everything went in as planned. The chain link fence is up, though not quite secured all the way around yet. I am actually rather sad to have to put the fence up, it just doesn't look as nice. We have to protect the plants from the deer though - so, that's how it is. These pics don't look like much now - but soon this will all be full of veggie plants - woo hoo!

Buds and Blooms

We have been working constantly on getting things settled in the gardens this spring.  The main garden beds are all built and filled with good soil.  It's still been a bit too cold at night to put the tomatoes in and I really want the fence up before I do much more.  That should happen this Saturday.

I have a bed made for the potatoes, but need to do ones for the asparagus, squashes and melons still.  Also need to build an arbor for the kiwi, put a trellis up for the peas, build the chicken run, plant all the beds and the herb bed and some flowers, I also desperately need to weed the flower beds and prune some of the bushes.

The lilac, dogwood, hyacinth, wild violets and tulips are blooming.  There are buds on the roses, irises, and peonies.  The strawberries are doing great!  The thornless blackberries are coming right up, they usually do well but then the deer eat them down - this year we will be fencing them in.  The wild blackberries are everywhere as usual.  The trees have new leaves unfolding and the ferns are beginning to unfurl.  I am considering adding a miniature apple tree to the center of the small garden.

I will add some more pics from my walk around the garden today.

Cool weather bed planted

I got the "cool weather bed" planted today. Here is a pic of the updated/actual drawing of what is planted where. The tomato and pepper are still to be transplanted when it is warmer, but everything else is transplanted or seeded! The kiwi vines have also been planted, though the arbor still needs to be built. The pumpkin/watermelon/squash of course is not in the ground yet.

Here is a pic also of the actual "cool weather bed". You can see the cabbage/collards/lettuce and broccoli transplants. I say broccoli, but honestly I am not sure if it is broccoli or cauliflower. I kinda got them mixed up in their little pots indoors. So, will be a surprise! :-) Not much to look at yet, but soon it should be full and green.

Seedlings

These are the cabbage and collards that sprouted last week. They seem to be doing well under the grow light. On top of the light, I have sitting 10 brussels sprouts, 2 egg plants, 1 wonder egg, 1 huckleberry that I started by seed the other day. The 3 pepper plants are still in there (they take a couple weeks), and there were 3 collards that have no sprouted yet (may not?).

First round of peas planted

I plan to put peas in several locations and sow them successively so we have a longer picking time. Today, I put the first round in the ground! This pic is from our high porch looking down onto the bed. Planted about 30 seeds in 2 rows there. Soaked the peas before planting and added an inoculant to the soil. The peas will be able to climb the trellis and porch rails. Can't wait!

First Sprouts!

I have little baby seedlings! Yesterday there were a few scattered, today over half had sprouted. I removed them from under the plastic and put them under a grow light.

So far there are...

7 of 8 cabbage

7 of 12 collards

0 peppers

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!

Seed packets...

I am so happy to have piles and piles of seed packets on my desk here. :-) Part of my 2nd order came in the mail today, there are several items on back order but nothing crucial - the only thing I am kinda bummed about is the peas, as they can go out before too long. I'll call them on Monday and see how long the expect the backordered items to be. In the meantime, I plan to spend tomorrow getting little seeds planted indoors!

Orders made!

Tonight I placed orders for our heirloom seeds (per spreadsheet posted below) and also for 25 Rhode Island Red chicks! Such great fun. The chicks should arrive March 16. I can't wait to get everything all started indoors and start planning out where everything will be going.

Why Heirloom?

Wanted to share an interesting article on Why Heirloom Seeds Matter from a blog I came across.

Plan to Purchase for '09

This is a spreadsheet with the seeds I plan to purchase as of right now, will likely change in the next month before I order. :-)

Seed Plans

Heirloom Seeds

I am searching for heirloom vegetable seeds at a good price. I have an order compiled from a couple different places, totals about $200 - yipes! Anyone know of a good source. I am not looking for specific varieties, just tried and true fruits and veggies that I can gather seeds from for the next year. Any favorite varieties you have? Any tips?