February seeds are growing

daffodils

It's February and I'm getting the "bug"!  I feel the call to start digging in the dirt again.  My list keep growing, (especially after pouring over Pintrest), but I'll take it one week at a time. 

So, two weeks ago, I spaded one square of my vegetable garden and sowed some cool season vegetables straight into the soil:  peas, lettuce, carrots and spinach.  We had a drop in temperature, so not sure if I need to re-seed or not.  I was reading up on the temperatures needed to germinate.  The ground needs to stay at 35 degrees for spinach, but peas need air temperature at 60-65 degrees.  So, may need to replant the peas.

pepper seeds starting to sprout

I also got out my clear plastic bins, cleaned them up from last year and filled 2 of them with fresh soil.  I turned the other 2 clear bins upside down and "hinged" them with duct tape to the filled bottoms.  I then added some water to moisten the potting soil.  Finally, I made little ditches with a popsicle stick, sprinkled my seeds and labeled my popsicle sticks.  One "terrarium" is different varieties of tomatoes; the other is different variety of peppers.  They are stacked on top of each other by my sliding glass doors.  After 2 weeks, I have tomato sprouts and peppers just starting to come up!  So excited!  I am trying to remember to turn the boxes every few days, because they bend toward the light and I don't want leaning plants.

tomato sprouts in plastic bin

engraved, flattened spoons markers

Last night I found my spoons that had nicks in them, (because of  slipping down into the kitchen disposal).  I got a hammer and flattened them out and then used my husband's engraving tool to write herb names on them.  They will add charm to my herb pots.  I had been wanting to do that for years and finally got it done.




I also had my first Backyard Gardener's Workshop on Saturday, Feb 18th!  We had 6 attendees with lots of questions.  Talked about how gardening in doing the stuff of tilling, amending Georgian clay, seasons of planting and watering.  I tried to  reassure the ladies to start with a few things so as not to waste their resources and get discouraged.  We did the the seed-starting with the bins they brought.  And I talked about being simply organized, like using an old calender to record when to do what or using a binder to put your garden notes and ideas in.  I tried to keep the information simple and told them to try some things.  If it doesn't work, adjust some things and try again.  I think it was helpful.  Thanks to everyone who encouraged me to do this!  It was fun.  They wanted to know when the next one is!  Good sign.

Thinking about last year...

vegetable garden plot- will divide into 6

 So, in thinking about this year's vegetable garden, there are some things to consider.  How much time and energy do I want to invest this year?  Do I want to spend it putting up vegetables?  Or do I just want enough to eat fresh and freeze a bit?  How much space do I have to work with?  Or is doing a few pots of tomatoes enough for me?  What vegetables, fruits and herbs do I use a lot?  Do I have a spot that receives around 6 hours of sun each day?

green tomatoes forming

If this is your first time vegetable gardening, starting small is the best way to get a feel for it without overwhelming you.  Tomatoes and bean beans are very easy.  You could have a pot of each.  Or you could have an 'Italian" pot of a tomato, basil and chives.  The easiest tomatoes are the cherry, grape or pear tomatoes.  They seem to produce no matter what.  Just remember, plants in pots will dry out faster, so keep checking them.

My 9 plot sketch for year 1

 Last year I had 9- 4x4 plots that I had worked, adding some sand, Nature's Helper and cow manure, because after 4 years, it still needs help breaking up the clay soil. (If you want to save some work, choose to make raised beds, filling with topsoil.)   I choose the vegetables and fruits I use most in cooking and eating:   Carrots, peas & lettuce, Tomatoes, peppers, green beans, onion, garlic, sweet potatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, butternut squash and strawberries.  (I have an herb plot besides, where I planted basil, oregano, chives, rosemary and cilantro.)  I found information about crop rotation in Jeff Cox's Greatest Garden Ideas.  He suggested making a simple drawing of the beds and label it Year 1.  Then, make another drawing, moving everything over one bed: Year 2 plan.  Having a 2 year rotation schedule helps a)keep diseases and insects from taking over in that spot and b)from depleting the soil of the same nutrients.  I found out that tomatoes are a heavy feeder and need to replenish the nitrogen in that spot...So this year I am on the Year 2 plan.  So, we will see how much difference that makes. 

bush beans

I also came across some information about French Intensive planting.  This was awesome!  Normally I would put everything in spaced-out rows, but I was always fighting to keep the weeds under control and the soil from drying out.  In French Intensive planting, you pack the square with plants so there is no room for weeds to grow.  And it really made a difference.  I had to make sure things were watered & fed enough, but the weeds were much more minimal, and the more top growth shaded the ground keeping it from baking so badly. 

So, how do you want your vegetable garden to grow?  There really are all kinds of ways to garden.  Try some things, evaluate what worked and what didn't and adjust your plan.  Just by doing it, you will find over time what works for you and your plot.  Have fun planning!