New Garden!

January 21, 2013

East Yard, AFTER

The temperature outside is currently 70 degrees and it is sunny and wonderful. Although I know it is foolish to believe we are in the clear, I feel Spring coming and I am absolutely giddy about it. I took the advice of many, many books and internet sites and am only planting winter crops, although I want to just put everything in the ground now.  I have put seeds in the garden: sugar snap peas, English peas, green onions, white onions, beets, radishes, lettuce, cress, endive, and parsley. 

I have put sprouts in the garden of garlic, white onion, pineapple, and celery.

And I have several herbs still kicking from last season: spearmint, peppermint, lemon balm, rosemary, chives, oregano, Armenian basil, sweet basil, and cilantro. Of course, there's also my pride and joy: Surprise Tomato! It sprouted in the compost heap in late summer from what I suspect was one of those Nature Sweet tomatoes you buy on the vine. I stuck in in the ground and it just took off running, and has been producing cherry tomatoes all winter.

On my windowsill in the kitchen I have some sprouted garlic and green onion, some chocolate mint from Mom's garden, and some heirloom red onions from a fellow gardener's stock.  There's also a spider plant from my classroom and the ever-present pile of tomatoes ripening. Whew! (And that's not counting the fruit trees that came with the house, but that's another post.) 

Now, other than fruit trees, the garden here was a bit of a mess. 

East Yard, BEFORE

We're still in the process of clearing out the junk we've found in the backyard and pulling weeds and scrubby bushes and such. There was also a decided lack of sunny beds, since our backyard is aimed south and almost all of the beds could pick between morning sun, afternoon sun, or neither, since they were completely shaded by fruit trees. (Did I mention so so so many fruit trees?) 

We added one large raised bed and three small raised beds to extend the space for veggies. 

I'll keep you posted as things grow in. I can't wait!!!