It's been chilly and wet this week, and it's supposed to stick around over Memorial Day weekend. Needless to say, we haven't gotten much done outside this week. My husband did dig another potato row/trench for me. The first row I planted quite few weeks ago is due for it's final hilling. Hoping to get him to do one more row for me for a total of 3 rows of potatoes. I also got in my misc "leftover" 6 packs planted out front. They filled up one row with cauliflower, broccoli and both red and green cabbage.
Because of the chilly weather, I'm glad I haven't put out my tomatoes, peppers, squashes and cucumbers yet. I pulled them all up close to the house earlier this week, and they seem to be doing ok. We've had a few nights this week in the low 40s, so I've been a bit nervous. I'm hoping next week it finally warms up enough to get them all planted.
We also picked up a bunch of bamboo poles to build a support for the scarlet runner beans. Hoping to get that built this weekend along with a cucumber support structure. If I can get my husband to help me build those, and till the remainder of the garden in (again!) this weekend, I'll be happy. I'm really hoping to get the remaining items in next week.
Oh! And we've harvested our first radishes this week and lettuces. Anyone know what to do with radishes? We are not big radish fans, but we have a TON of them coming in! I'd appreciate any ideas! Have a great holiday weekend!
Rain Rain go away!
Vegetable Gardening Tips for Beginners
It's that time of year, and a lot of people would like to have a vegetable garden, but don't really know where to start. Especially this year, with the cost of food prices on the rise. Here is my advise for what it is worth.
First, make a list of the things you would like to grow in your vegetable garden. Include all your favorite foods that you would like to grow. Then figure out how big a garden you can have.
Then you need to do a bit of research. You need to find out which items on your list will grow well in your area. Cross off the ones that won't. Take the items left on your list, and you need to find out a bit more about each item and how much space it takes up. Than figure out what will fit in your gardening space. Taking your list to a local nursery is always a good place to get local advice. Or you can do some reading on the subject. The two books below are the best place to start.
My favorite book of all time is Dick Raymond's The Joy of Gardening.
This book not only has garden plans you can use or customize to your liking, but it covers the requirements for almost every vegetable out there. From how much space it needs, to how often to fertilize it. It covers starting seeds in flats all the way through to having a winter garden. It has root celler plans and lists his favorite varieties of vegetables. It explains how to develop the best soil naturally, to how to get the biggest harvest possible. It focuses a lot on wide row gardening, as you can really maximize how much you grow by using this method. It really is a must have if you are even slightly into the idea of having a vegetable garden.
Another book that is excellent for beginners and to those who might be feeling intimidated by the whole concept of growing their own food, is Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew:
You just have to get started. Start with the best soil you can. Add some compost and well composted manure. Make sure it is in the sunniest spot possible. If you are doing rows, try and orientate them north/south. Take notes or keep a journal (or blog!) so you can come back next year and see what did well, what didn't. Make note of what you planted when, how much you planted. Sketch up your garden plan as you plant things, because some crops need to be rotated to limit disease, so next year, you will want to know where you planted things, so you can make sure you rotate the crops as needed. Make note of things you wish you had planted more of, what didn't do well that you might skip next year. If you try several varieties of a certain veggie, take note of which ones did the best or had the best flavor or biggest harvest. Most of all, have fun, and enjoy eating what you've grown. You'll be amazed at how simple it really is. :-)
Happy Mother's Day!
WOW! How did two weeks fly by already since I've posted last? Hard to believe!
I hope all you mom's out there are enjoying our special day! I woke up to breakfast in bed and we are heading out soon to buy all our veggie starts we still need for the garden. Looking forward to that.
Let me fill you in on what's been happening in the garden since my last post! Ok, in the back beds, in the one with the broccoli and brussel sprouts, I nixed the 2nd path on the right, and made one super wide row on the right side of the bed. I did almost half with beans, which went in about a week ago, I did about a 3' square plot of lettuce, and did the other half with another batch of peas yesterday. That bed is now completely full and the broccoli plants have the first teeny tiny heads of broccoli in there if you look real closely.
The other bed in back is full now too. The peas are up about 6" or so now. I should have lots of radishes in another 2 wks or so. I sprinkled them in with all the root crops I planted and they are getting big and leafy. The last root crop that went in were my parsnips and they are starting to sprout now. I already have loads of carrots up, rutabagas, beets and turnips as well. I also planted the lettuce (some starts and some by seed) in the middle row of this bed where I had an open spot. They went in about 10 days ago or so. The walla walla sweet onions are doing great, and have about 8-10" of green on them now.
In the front garden, we got one row of potatoes planted about a week ago. I have plans to do 3 rows, but was hoping to find a furrowing attachment for our tiller, but no such luck. So this depends on if my husband will help me dig the other two rows out because it's a lot of work! Yesterday I planted two more bags of onion sets, one yellow and one white. Also got the shallots in and one 6 pack of leeks. I have another 6 pack of leeks, but ran out of room in that row, will have to stick them in somewhere else. I have been wanting to put in all my "left-over" 6 packs (1 cauliflower, 1 red cabbage, 1 broccoli, the leeks) but have been nervous to do so with the rabbits our front. So yesterday I started with the chicken wire at the bottom of the fence, and need to get the rest of that done this week before I put the new starts in that we are picking up today.
It's warm enough out now to pick up the warm weather starts, so on my list I have some more (4-6) determinite tomato plants (I'm doing them all in pots this year), cucumber plants, zuccini, pati pan, yellow summer squash, pumpkins, acorn squash, butternut squash, blue hubbard squash....I think that's it. I started most of these by seed in flats this year, but they didn't do well. I still have seed left and may plant some of those as well and do a few starts of each with a few by direct seed and see which fairs better. I also have another misc row out front I want to put another batch of beans in, but I may stagger them out a bit since I just planted a batch out back. Oh! and the asparagus is starting to poke through out front! Just a few tiny purple stalks peeking up. I hate having to wait a year or two before being able to fully harvest them!
OK, I think that's about it for now! I'll try and post more pic's this week. It's supposed to reach near 80 degrees by the end of the week! :-)
Things are sprouting!
I was out today inspecting my seeded crops very closely. The peas are now up here and there, and the radishes I sprinkled in with my seed tapes are also sprouting.
Here's some photo's of my 2 back beds, which are nearly all planted. In this photo below, I have one wide row left on the right for the beans to go in. Then I have one row of brussel sprouts and one row of broccoli.
In this second bed, I have all my carrots, parsnips, beets, turnips, rutabagas, walla walla onions and a wide row of peas. I have about a third of a row right in the middle, that I'm going to stick some lettuce in. Then both of these will be full for the time being.
After I harvest my peas, I may throw a second row of beans in. I'd like to get more peas and lettuce in somewhere also before it gets too late, but that will have to be out front. All depends on how much roto-tilling I can get my husband to do this weekend. Wish me luck!
Cherry Blossoms and Rainbows
Happy Earth Day!
I had a great day and spent most of it getting veggies planted. I started the second veggie bed in back, and got my broccoli and brussel sprouts in. I planted Early Green broccoli, and Jade and Red Rubine brussel sprouts. I'm anxious to see and taste the Red Rubine. I've never seen or tasted red brussel sprouts! Brussel Sprouts are one of my all time favorite veggies these days, although you could not get me to eat one as a kid. I think I read this recipe for roasted brussel sprouts in a Barefoot Contessa 
I had way more than I had broccoli than I planned for, in fact, I still have some broccoli that won't fit in and will have to be squeezed in out front somewhere. For future reference, I bought four mega 6-packs of broccoli starts from Fred Meyer. They each had almost double, so +/- 12 plants per pack. Next year two of them would be fine. I went crazy with the brussel sprouts, I think I had two of the mega 6-packs from Fred Meyer. Then at Molbaks, one of my favorite nursery's, I found the Red Rubine which were just in a four inch pot, but they were jammed in there! I think I probably got 10 plants per pot and I bought 3! I also bought two plain green pots there as well. I only need about half that amount for next year.
I also didn't get in a 6-pack each of cauliflower or red cabbage, which will also have to go out front. Although I'm contemplating putting in another smaller veggie bed out back, but my husband will probably freak out if I suggest it. He thinks I'll never possibly fill the front one we just put in! LOL!
We had a fairly "green" dinner tonight for the kids for Earth Day. I made a delish Fish Taco and Green Rice dish from Rachael Ray
Rabbits stay out! Meet Toby too!
Yeah for the sun! Yesterday it continued to hail, snow, thunderstorm, with bright sun out in between. It was cold though, so didn't get outside at all. The sun was out today, but still a bit cold. I had to run a lot of errands, and finally got outside after the kids got home from school. Got another carrot seed tape put in, and finished installing my rabbit guard fence at the back of the garden area.
Last year, the rabbits ate everything down to the ground. I was so sad. This year, we added a rabbit guard fence along the back. Behind is 5+ acres of blackberry brambles, and I just know Peter Rabbit is nearby! However, we also reinforced the rabbit fence with small chicken wire. I've folded it where the rabbit fence meets the ground, and have about 18" vertical, and 18" horizontal, laying on the ground on the far side of the rabbit fence. I've also done the same to the picket fence on one side. Our big dogs are on the other side, so hopefully they will keep them out of there.
Along with all that, I have a new puppy. Yes, that means we have three dogs. Well the big dogs, one golden retriever and one yellow lab, are really my husbands. I wanted my own little one! Call me crazy! Anyway, hopefully he will be my gardening buddy one day, and learn to stop tearing up the garden. I've been training him to poop along the rabbit fence too, so I don't think there is much more I can do to keep them out at this point. The good thing is, I haven't seen one around for months. So hopefully they are gone! My new puppy is a Puggle, half Pug and half Beagle. His name is Toby and he is so darn cute if I do say so myself!
Snow in April
Well, it snowed today, can't believe it! Here's a pic of my broccoli starts. Didn't get anything done today in the garden and cleaned the house instead. Supposed to get nice out again Sunday and will have to get busy than.
April 17 2008
Today I got in my turnips, beets and rutabagas using the seed tape method. I also got some onion sets in, two packages. I'm assuming it's best to stagger putting more onion sets out, so I will not have to harvest them all at once. Dick Raymond's book isn't too clear on that, just says to start them as early as possible. Wish I could of gotten them in sooner, but the front garden they are going in has just been put in. Also started digging a potato trench, but had to call it quits as the kids have a ton of activities tonight.
Yesterday got my sweet peas in and my morning glories. Hope to get in my parsnip tapes tomorrow and finish the potato trench. They are saying it's supposed to get cold and rainy starting tomorrow, with chance of wet snow in the showers all weekend. :-(
The status of the veggie gardens
OK, my last post for today. I want to write down what I have done so far this year as far as planting the veggie gardens and what is going where. In the upper raised bed in the back, I have so far planted one wide row of peas (with maybe 2 dozen starts bought at the store). I have also put in two bundles of Walla Walla sweet onion transplants. Some may think that is early, but I'm giving it a go. Today I planted my carrot seeds, using a unique method creating my own paper towel seed tapes. I got this idea from Dick Raymond's book Joy of Gardening (Garden Way Book)
I have also done the seed tape method for my parsnips, beets, turnips and rutabagas. And will have them all in by weeks end. I also have a few shallots I want to put in this bed and then it will be full for the time being.
The second back veggie bed will have my bush beans, peppers, bunching onions, cabbage, broccoli, brussel sprouts, spinach, lettuces and greens. None have been planted yet. I tried doing cabbage and brussel sprouts from seed, but am not having much luck with them. I planted them about 2 weeks ago in flats, and only about half, maybe less, actually sprouted, and most have gone leggy and dampened off. I have quite a few starts I bought for cabbage, brussel sprouts and broccoli I need to get in. I also have a few lettuce starts and the leeks. I want to get all this in the ground this week. It's been rainy and in the high 40's this week, so not really tempting me to get out there. Tomorrow and Thursday are supposed to be drier and in the 50's, so hoping to get a lot done.
The front veggie garden. This was planned to put those larger space-taker-upper plants. In Dick Raymond's book, he has three garden plans. A salad garden, a summer garden and a huge Eat and Store Garden. My garden is only about half the size of his Eat and Store Garden, but hopefully it will do. The garden is 25'x70' with a 5' path around it inside the fence. So far, I have only put in one row of asparagus. I have ready to go in some onion sets and potatos. It will have one row of onions, 3 rows of potatos. I will do one row of potatos now for some early ones, and two more rows next month in hopes to be able to put some potatoes away next fall. This garden will also have my vine crops including cucumbers, summer squashes, winter squashes, pumpkins. It will also have my corn, hopefully 12 rows of it! I am hoping to do another row or two of peas as well but I need to get them in yesterday! They can easily go in between the pumpkin rows since they won't take up much space until at least mid-summer. I may also through more beans in as well.
I plan to do tomatoes in pots this year. We have a short cool season, and I have never done well with them. I get some, but never a ton. I remember my grandpa's garden back in Massachusetts gowing up, with the tomatoes lining every horizontal surface and eating them like candy. How I wish! But it's not to be out here in the Pacific Northwest. I hope to have 10-12 pots and will be happy to get what I get.
I think that covers my veggie plans to date. So much to do and so little time!
The goal is to not only feed us while the produce is fresh, but to also put alot away. I'm hoping to get a big upright freezer next month and make my first attempt at canning this summer as well. We have an unfinished walk out basement, and I don't know that we'll get a proper root cellar done this year, but I'd be happy to put some winter squashes and root crops away, even if it just gets us into early winter. Anyway, those are the goals. Wish me well! And don't forget to check out Dick Raymond's book below!
Our front yard and gardens
The front yard will take two pictures to get it all in. Here is the first, looking north east at our view, our cherry trees and the new front vegie garden.
The new vegie garden was inspired by me reading Animal Vegetable Miracle earlier this winter. I loved this book by Barbara Kingsolver. I read the book in early December and it dawned on me that there is no reason I can't buy local, or better yet, grow my own food. We have the space, and I love to garden. So I'm giving it a shot! Afer reading the book, we signed up with a CSA to deliver locally grown produce to us instead of buying produce that has been shipped thousands of miles to get to us. Think about all that oil wasted! If this is something you are interested in, check out Local Harvest to find a CSA program in your area and not only does it cut down on fuel consumption, but it supports your local community and local farmers. And the food is better too!
OK, here is the rest of our front yard. Please ignore the big eye sore that is a drainage swale right down the middle. Or better yet, if you have cheap but wonderful ideas on what to do with it, please share. Ideally one day, when we can afford it, we'd love to bring in a lot of rockery and make it a focal point, but for right now, it's just not a top priority and I am lost with what to do with it. Miles is going to build a new bridge to replace the old one this year as it is rotting away. North of the swale is my old "holding grounds". When we built this house, I slowly moved a lot of my perennials over and stuck them in the ground there. It was meant to be temporary, but as you can see, there are still plenty there, as well as a new baby cedar tree. My peony's are starting to come up as well as the irises, and I need to clean it out. Starting behind the garden area, is what I call the "soldier hedge" that moves to the left to the top of our driveway. Every year I add a few more shrubs and or bushes to the line, to fill it in. On one hand, I would love to make it a barricade to block the view of the property across the street and the big green barn/garage, but our CCR's prohibit me putting anything too tall in their as it may block the neighbors views. Where this ends, the driveway starts, and we have our "driveway bed" with 5 decoratve plum trees. The middle tree we lost in an ice storm a few years ago, so it has a lot of catch up to do. There is also a shade garden that lines the front walk up to the front door, I'll have to photograph that another day.
Our Back Garden
This is what I call the back garden. Starting on the right side, you will see the dogs yard which is fenced in with the privacy fence. In front of the fence, I divided my rhubarb plants and have 5 of them growing spaced out between the gate on the left, and the corner of the fence on the right. Then we have our two back veggie garden beds. They are each 8'x24'. The upper bed needed some repair work that I just did as a temporary fix this year. Next year we plan to combine the beds and support them with small rock walls. Then to the left are our two raspberry lines. The one on the left is 2 yrs old, the one on the right, we planted about a month ago from the off shoots of the first bed. To the left of those is our blueberry patch. I recently planted the last 6 bushes on the far side of this bed. To the left of the blueberry patch is a new picket fence we put in last May (2007). We have a new flower bed in front of it that still needs lots of work. The the left of the picket fence our are chicken coops and the kids playscape. The girls are in a Poultry 4-H project and their smaller banty's that they use for fit and show are in the smaller coop on the right. The main coop houses the majority of our flock. I think we have 19 birds at the moment. Last, if you go back to the right of the picket fence, you will see our apple trees. We have 10 of them, just finished filling them in with 3 new ones this year. Beyond you will see an empty 5 acre lot. Hopefully no one ever builds there! And that is the back garden.
Introduction
