Spring is finally here! I started planting seeds back in March with potatoes and leeks and onions. Some of the plants loved being out in the cold, others not. I then waited a long 2 and a half weeks before planting peas and Swiss chard. Neither took too kindly to our below fifty degree spring weather.
It is now the third week in April and I’m happy to say more seeds and starters (Walla Walla onions) have taken root. The Seattle Tilth Spring Edible Plant Sale is May 7th this year. Of course I’m going. I’ll also have some lovely starts to give away to anyone willing to drive to my house to pick them up. Here is a list of what I’m willing to share.
Onions (regular) turnips cabbages lettuce leeks
Keep checking this blog as more starters and seeds sprout and grow, there’ll be more to share.
Gardens and gardening are fun for the anal-retentive control the gardener can have over them. Well, the organizing of the beds anyways. All else is luck of the weather and mysteries of the soil and other conditions. Each Spring affords the vegetable gardener with a fresh start. New seeds, soil, bed plans and experiments mulled over the winter can now be put into action. Here are some of the new things this gardener is trying.
greenhouse squared
Last year, a friend of mine had a little plastic greenhouse about the size of a pantry closet. She didn’t like it and thought it ineffective. I took it and placed it inside my greenhouse. I now have a greenhouse in a greenhouse. I keep a 40 watt bulb lit 24/7 in the hope to keep the inside temp over 5o degrees. So far, my onions, cabbages and lettuce have sprouted nicely. Have pushed the seeding my squashes early with varying degrees of success. I hope to have a jump start on my corn and eggplant with this greenhouse squared set-up. We shall see.
A temporary or movable raised planting bed was made with re-bar and old fence planks. I did this by myself and I think it turned out rather nice. Next year’s beds will be neater and stronger for I’ll have had more experience with this sort of building thing. The beds will grow my leeks, basil, daikon, I think. Nothing is set in stone. Speaking of stones, I swear with all this dirt moving, my best never ending crop is rocks. They are almost as bad as weeds, annoyingly endless.
future leek bed
The new plants in my garden are/will be turnip, daikon, leek, and eggplant. Wish us luck.
And lastly I am seeing what strewning my seeds will make the beds look like instead of the usual rows of radishes, then carrots, then pac-choi and lastly beets. I’m hoping less pulling plants to space them properly. The radishes and pac-choi are eaten first and then hoping the beets and carrots which mature months later will naturally be spaced as the early vegetables are harvested. Report to follow.
Tags: seattle tilth
