14+ Inches

Getting Started and LSF

When starting your garden, ask yourself  "When is my last spring frost date?" Depending on the area that you live and garden in, you will have you own LSF. For me, it is between April 7 (earliest) to April 23 (latest).  Knowing this date allows you to "time" out your vegetable gardening activities. 

Next, when can I plant outdoors relative to the LSF?  Depending on what you are growing, this can be anywhere from 8 weeks before the LSF to several weeks after the LSF.  It also depends if you are direct sowing in the garden or using transplants.  (Buying plants may take the guess work out for newer gardeners.  Most garden centers and seed catalogs will have plants available at the appropriate time for your area.)

What if you wish to start your own indoors to be transplanted into the garden? Again, you would have to know when you can transplant outdoors according to the LSF?  In addition, how long does it take the seedling to reach transplant size?  Once you know this, you can figure out when to start your seeds indoors.  For example, tomatoes take 6-8 weeks to reach transplant size.  They can be planted outdoors 1-2 weeks after the LSF.  Counting back (6-8 weeks) from the outdoor planting date, you have your indoor start date!  

So remember, before you can go any farther, first determine the average date of your last spring frost for your area.  Take the time in January to decide on what it is you wish to grow and how, order seeds, and start "timing" know for a successful start!

"If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need."  --- Cicero

 

HAPPINESS is......

the first seed packets to arrive in 2014!

Planning My Earliest (ever) Spring Garden!

It's New Years Day and I am planning my spring garden, or I should say, my earliest possible spring garden! I went through the seeds leftover from last year, made a list of what I needed and even placed my first seed order of 2014.  Over the next two months, I plan on covering the remaining beds with either cold frames or hoop houses to help extend the growing season.

My earliest spring garden will consist of salad greens, lettuces, a few root vegetables, and some herbs.  This can be started as soon as the soil can be worked.  The use of the cold frames and hoop houses should help expedite the soil preparations.  Salad greens and lettuces like it on the cooler side and will not bolt in the early spring.  Since they are easy and quick to grow from seed, I plan to direct sow them into the ground. This is also the time to start radishes, beets, parsnips, carrots, kohlrabi and onions.  The following herbs also don't mind the cooler weather and can be direct sown- dill, chives, cilantro, parsley, sage and fennel.

Leafy greens love nitrogen, so add a little compost or manure to the soil prior to starting.  Since it is so early in the growing season, there is really no garden pest.  Also, many greens are "cut and come again", offering multiple harvest.

You can also consider direct sowing broccoli, cabbage, and  cauliflower. However, I like to start these indoors and transplant them out into the garden at their appropriate times.  And don't forget that the unofficial planting date for peas is March 17.

So, even though it is only the first day of the New Year, I am eagerly looking forward to early spring and getting back out into the garden again!

Happy New Year!

Why does Santa like to work in his garden?

Because he likes to hoe, hoe, hoe...

The Origin of Santa Claus 

follow link

http://degreesearch.org/blog/the-origin-of-santa-claus/

December*

It's hard to think of anything

But Christmas in December.

There's so much to look forward to

And so much to remember.

---

Outside there's a pine tree standing straight and tall.

It need no decorations--nature's done it all.

Pinecones on its branches with icicles glistening bright,

Snow upon its needles and birds at rest from flight.

I see it from my window, and take the time to say,

Thank you for your beauty, tree, on this Christmas day.

---

Hang this on your

Christmas tree,

To remember how

I used to be.

To remind you of me

Now and then,

And bring fond memories

Back again.

*author unknown

Winter Solstice and the start of Winter Sowing!

December 21, also known as the Winter Solstice, is the shortest day of the year (in the northern hemisphere),  and the start of the winter season.  It is also the start of the winter sowing season.  This is a nifty method of outdoor seed germination, using milk cartoons or other containers.  In January, start with the hardier seeds first, saving the more tender seeds for later on, around March or April.  These mini-greenhouses will be placed outdoors, in a safe and sunny locations.  In the spring, as the days warm, and nights are still cold, seedlings will start to emerge.  This is the time to check for water and to expose the seedlings to the fresh air on nicer days.  Winter-sown seedlings are also naturally harden off, allowing direct transplant into the garden, when ready.