Cloudy and relaxing....

Today was a day to weed, plant a few short rows of extra spinich and turnips, and just wait for things to start appearing.

To the left is the rhubarb that we planted last year. Its doing very well and should turn into a very produce stand for years to come.

Richard laughed at me as I would stroll around the veg area from time to time today looking for seedlings. I was rewarded with turnips in one of the "wall" planters and a few nasturtiums peeking through where I planted them between my raspberries.

It is supposed to be getting warmer over the next few days which would be wonderful as this cool weather does little to excite growth in most of the young plants.

This is the row of built in planters that were here when we purchased the home.

They are wonderful as a "its already here" bonus but you will notice that there is no space alloted for walking back and being able to work the planters. Just a solid row of raised beds. Planting here has to be planned for access and placing those plants that you will not have to work for awhile or will harvest late into the most difficult areas to get to.

Eventually these will have to be altered into a more gardener friendly scheme.

This is one of the beds in the regular garden that Richard and I have moved on to. It is completed with selected plantings and new mulch. Every day we try to get at least a few more feet done in this area now that the veg garden is set and progress is being made.

At the opposite end of our garden from the veg area is this. A lovely patio with firepit. Unfortunately it is surrounded by scrubby pines that are simply messy. We are having them removed and where the garden "V"s behind them will be landscaped and brought back into the scheme for the rest of the garden. The Fire Pit will be built up with a small wall so its not just a hole in the ground.

Little D likes relaxing behind these pines during the day in the warmer weather so we will incorporate a Dog House for her in the landscaping plan. Work starts on this end as soon as possible.

If we continue to make a bit of progress each day by the end of the season we hope to have a relatively low maintenance bit of Heaven in Idaho Falls.

All In!

Today was that wonderful time where you have planted your final seed, placed your final transplant, and are done with Spring planting. It feels great.

Of particular pleasure is the fact that with minimum ability to plant starts 99% of all items in the garden beds are from seed. I cheated on the Pot Farm as so much of what I had was behind but still managed to get several seed items in.

Growing from seed offers so many benefits. Cost being a large one as most seeds will hold for a year or two, and also there is no worry of bringing in bad soil diseases into your home garden from outside sources. I've seen the disaster this can bring in the U.K. (Club Root being a big one) and that is where I began my "from seed" mission.

Tonight the corner veggie garden looks like this.

We have a bank of raised beds to the left of this that I will post a photo of tomorrow. The bed on the left is filled with brassicas whilst the bed on the right has turnips, leeks, spinich, carrots, etc., etc.

The peas in the far bed are still relatively short. They appear to be healthy as can be but just haven't grabbed the net yet to grow up. We have already picked radishes and spinich and a friend of mine has given me a great idea for using the rhubarb in a low fat dessert.

Our vision is to have a small corner portion of our garden that can supply us with healthy greens for several months of the year without being so labor intrusive as to lose its appeal. The end result should be something that one or two people can putter with an hour or less a day and keep productive and attractive. This will mean planting intensively, rotating and replanting as produce matures, and thinking of those items that will produce well into fall.

Keeping in mind the idea of creating a very productive space whilst also making it attractive and welcoming Richard has anchored a iron holder for three pots that hold red and yellow cherry tomatoes and one that is planted with nasturtiums.

The green elevated rings seen in the garden bed below are plant cages that will be used in the Pot Farm later on but for now mark where the summer squash starts are planted to try to  minimize accidents as we work through the beds.

Last year, whilst I was still using a walker or chair and really wanting to garden, Richard placed a few courgettes in the bed this way and it worked a treat. Hoping for the same result this year!




So, to start the season we have planted:

Cauliflower
Broccoli
Cabbage
Kale
Chinese Broccoli/Kale
Chinese Celery
Bok Choi
Spinich
Tom Thumb Lettuce
Heatwave Lettuce
Japanese Lettuce
Tomatoes (4 varieties)
Peppers (6 varieties) I went a little crazy in the pepper dept this year.
Eggplant (Two varieties)
Bush Beans
Snow Peas
Peas
Onions (Walla Walla)
Onions (Spring)
Carrots
Leeks
Turnips (Two varieties)
Radish (4 varieties)
Parsnips
Summer squash (courgettes-4 varieties)
Winter Squash (4 varieties)
Brussel Sprouts
Green Beans (Two varieties)
Cucumbers
Soybeans
Beets...and I might have missed an item or two :)

And as I end this portion of the diary I want to say "Thank you" to Richard for the raised beds, to All American Yards for such solid and careful construction that ended up being exactly what I envisioned, and to my sister Rose for sharing my love of gardening and good (and wise) cooking. 

Its looking a little greener :)

We rushed to plant many items before leaving for our home in Denver. Our neighbor was kind enough to water for us but as it rained often whilst we were away for the week the task wasn't too difficult.

We are blessed with WONDERFUL neighbors who like to garden also.

The basket was a Mother's Day gift from Richard. As I don't have the beautiful spring lilacs and rhodies that my sister (and gardening partner) Rose has in my veggie corner it makes a nice splash of color for this time of the year.

The first round of Snow Peas have really taken off. As soon as they are half-way up the pot trellis I will plant another round. Snow Peas are so wonderful as a stir addition or evening snack and they freeze fabulously.

The large tub holds onions. My neighbor Scott grows onions in pots and I thought I would give this a try.

My planting pot "farm". :) Its filling up faster than expected. I've gone a little crazy on the peppers but we do love them.

Next to the pots is my raspberry planter. One of the four did not make it through winter and will have to be replaced.

And something I've very pleased about. Leeks are in. These are pretty densely planted but I think with proper care, nutrition and thinning through use of the younger plants they will be fine. I've planted them the way Kenny taught me in the U.K.. Dab a hole and drop them in and let it naturally fill. It works a treat.

Now, back out for a final stroll and to admire the day's progress.

What a change!

This is the same view looking towards the stone patio as the one a few posts back.

Flowers are blooming and the hostas are growing daily. No more wishful thinking..full time gardening time has come to Idaho Falls.

The Veggie Garden patio is starting to come to life. Pots are being filled, umbrella is in place and seeds are anxiously waiting for planting.

Its been a few days since my last post. Due to the weather there simply just hasn't been that much happening other than the general cleaning that is a constant in all gardens.

Luckily it seems that Spring may have finally settled so true work begins.

The first section of peas are in as well as the first pot of snow peas. Today I planted "Autumn Torch", a chinese cabbage that is wonderful for its tender greens and Tokyo turnips. I'm hoping for a white turnip variety close to what I planted in the U.K.. This Japanese variety looks promising.

Green onions are shooting up (time to put another row in) and radishes are starting to leaf out with the warm temperatures.

I lost my brassica starts with the freezing temps. No surprise there and next year that should not be a problem with the small green house and plastic row covers. My pots are showing with Spaghetti Squash and Courgettes with hints of more pushing through.

The floral end of the garden is starting to show marked improvement. Lilies have been planted and we are slowly but surely improving the soil in starts. Little D (our very British Dog) is having fun with outdoor time.

Tomorrow will be another day of planting veg and celebrating Spring.