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.

A VERY windy day here in Idaho Falls. Spent time using the push hoe and cleaning flower beds and though the temperature was a pleasant 57 at its high it was hard to even keep my gardening hat on.

Good news on the raspberry front.

Each of the raspberry plants placed last year in in their bed are showing signs of life. I was getting a little worried about two of them but they are coming through. They are nicely mulched and should continue to show more growth.

The rhubarb continue to show growth and still are pushing up new stems. I will provide them with another dose of fertilizer in about 5 days.

We are due for four days of cold weather with highs expected to be only in the 40's and freezing temps at night. I'm not sure how the seedlings I have in will fare but its a fun effort to keep them going. I am desperately wishing that Spring will actually arrive and that the cold days become a rarity. A little  more heat would certainly help generate more growth.

....and last but not least.

 

The Black Currant bush put in last year is doing very well. I do believe we may add another this spring.

A few very cold days here. I've been covering my seedlings at night. The French Breakfast Radish and Daikon pictured below are doing fine and all seedlings are catching some sun before being tucked back in for the evening. So far I have showing radish, daikon, tom thumb lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and spinich. Brussel sprouts are yet to poke through. Hopefully we will make it through the next few days.

I certainly could make my rows a bit straighter. Will have to work on that.

Today was a day of more cleaning of the garden area (boring, but it must be done). I'm being careful as I woke up this morning with a sore lower back. The good news in the veggie corner is that the two rhubarb plants that we planted last year are coming up very nicely. This is a photo of one them below. We won't be able to harvest them heavily this year but should have enough for a crumble or two.

I placed some compost/manure on them as they are greedy as can be but they do return the favor with wonderful growth.