I ordered our seeds for this year today! As I was looking to update the blog, I couldn't help but looking at last year's planting dates and notice that our first outdoor planting was just one month from now! It seems crazy with the amount of snow we have one the ground...but hopefully this upcoming cold front is the last of the season.
More updates to come!
Sunday, 17 February 2013
Thursday, 10 January 2013
Creative Vegetable Gardening, Joy Larkcom
I was lucky enough to receive the aforementioned book as a Christmas gift this year (thanks!) and it's been fueling some inspirational thoughts for the garden.
The book is all about how to make vegetable gardens beautiful, and is plum full of ideas!
Some initial thoughts as I work my way through the book:
The book is all about how to make vegetable gardens beautiful, and is plum full of ideas!
Some initial thoughts as I work my way through the book:
- Arched trellises between the beds. We may need to increase the spacing a little bit to get this to work, but I think it'll be a great space for cucumbers, peas, beans, and climbing squash.
- Hanging planter boxes (like window boxes) to hang from wooden fence to hold herbs (found this one on pinterest)
- Terraced raised beds - three small beds of staggering heights - this would be really pretty along a hill or fenceline
- A semi-permanent screen made by 1x1s in 4-6" squares would be great for cucumbers and primary
- Seating - these gardens are so cute and all have a chair or bench in them to enjoy the setting. we'll have to figure out something...maybe the Adirondack chair??
- Containers - filling little corners, etc. with containers filled with flowers or veggies. Note - soak new terracotta pots before using so they don't suck up all the moisture. The book recommends the following (we can think about these for the hanging boxes too!):
- Basil
- Marjoram
- Thyme
- Bay
- Juniper
- Lavender (I wonder if we could over-winter these in the greenhouse??)
- Lemon Verbena
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Tarragon
- Chives
- Lemon Balm (we planted this in a container last year, I wonder if it'll come back?)
- Mints (yes!)
- Chives
- Parsley
- Caraway
- Dill
- Coriander
- annual flowers, including marigolds to keep the bunnies away!
- For the herb garden, I think we need some creeping thyme as a nice border plant
- Intercropping - apparently onions can be intercropped with lettuce. We'll need to try this!
Tuesday, 25 December 2012
Saturday, 1 December 2012
Happy Holidays!
So to update my previous post, here is a picture of the new raised beds. Well, this is a picture of 1 bed...there are 3 more just like it. They are currently filled with leaves and dirt, and one is half full of garlic!
Also, we cut down our Christmas tree today! And of course by "we" I mean Brad. It's all lit up and everything now! Honey is asking where the presents are. Happy Holidays!
Also, we cut down our Christmas tree today! And of course by "we" I mean Brad. It's all lit up and everything now! Honey is asking where the presents are. Happy Holidays!
Sunday, 4 November 2012
Fall planting and planning
Well, on Monday (October 29th) I planted my garlic. 3 heads gave us 30 cloves to plant in the ground, 1" deep and 6" apart. This filled up half of one of my 4 new raised beds. I also planted 100 purple crocus bulbs under a deciduous tree in our front yard, so hopefully we'll have a beautiful spring welcome.
Update: my attempts at over-wintering things failed. Something grabbed my tuberous begonias I wanted to overwinter and my pepper plants took a whack with the cold temperatures and never recovered. There's always next year!
We have most of our winter-prep work done outside, the leaves picked up and grass cut short. Ready for a long winter sleep.
Update: my attempts at over-wintering things failed. Something grabbed my tuberous begonias I wanted to overwinter and my pepper plants took a whack with the cold temperatures and never recovered. There's always next year!
We have most of our winter-prep work done outside, the leaves picked up and grass cut short. Ready for a long winter sleep.
Tuesday, 9 October 2012
Fall is here
Well, it's official. Harvest season is over. We had our first major Frost this weekend on Saturday, October 6th for those who are counting. The leaves are turning, and falling. Since my fall veggie plantings got nibbled up, it's time to clear the garden beds and get them ready for the winter.
We will pull up all the old, frost-killed plants, spread out the compost, and use the broad fork to work our leaves into the topsoil. The old plants and any extra leaves will go into the compost bin.
We do have a few things to go into the ground this fall though! I bought garlic that we will plant this fall for harvest next year, as well as some spring Crocus. Okay, by 'some', I mean I bought 100 bulbs!! Don't tell Brad...
They are going to go in the front yard underneath a tree where it is difficult to grow grass. Supposedly they will love it there. Hopefully next spring we will be welcomed by a mass of little purple flowers!
Both should go in the ground this week.
We will pull up all the old, frost-killed plants, spread out the compost, and use the broad fork to work our leaves into the topsoil. The old plants and any extra leaves will go into the compost bin.
We do have a few things to go into the ground this fall though! I bought garlic that we will plant this fall for harvest next year, as well as some spring Crocus. Okay, by 'some', I mean I bought 100 bulbs!! Don't tell Brad...
They are going to go in the front yard underneath a tree where it is difficult to grow grass. Supposedly they will love it there. Hopefully next spring we will be welcomed by a mass of little purple flowers!
Both should go in the ground this week.
Saturday, 22 September 2012
Frost Warning Tonight
The first frost warning of the season is projected for tonight, fall is officially here. We will do a few things to prepare:
Getting the garden prepared for fall will involve a few things. I had hoped to do a cold frame this year, but the rabbits ate all my fall plantings so nothing to put in the cold frame. Next year we'll need to do smaller openings in the fence. When the summer plants are done, we will use the broadfork on the soil and spread out this year's compost. We will also put on a layer of mulched leaves when they fall. The rest of the leaves and the remains of the summer plants will go in the compost bin.
On the patio, we'll bring in the two pepper plants that we put in pots this year - perhaps these will overwinter in the greenhouse. The rest of the pots and barrels will all be emptied (except the one with the lemon balm - this one might come back next year). I think I'll save the dirt in a pile to use on the potatoes next year. I also have 3 tuberous begonia plants that I'm going to try to overwinter. I think I'll try the following instructions: http://www.ehow.com/how_6063655_overwinter-tuberous-begonias.html
Yet to do this year - something with the peppers. I think we will dry a bunch of the hot peppers this year to have flakes for seasoning. We'll also probably make some hot sauce or salsa pretty soon - maybe next weekend. Time to do some research for recipes! Oh yes, and I want to try out some jalapeno jelly.
Thinking for next year, I'm wondering if I should add some more bulbs this fall (flower bulbs). I'd like to put in some garlic in October too if we can find it. I'm also planning on trying my root veggies (beets, carrots, kohlrabi) in containers next year to avoid the bunnies at all costs. We'll see how they do. I may also try my beans and peas in containers to try and save them from the rodents. I may also plant some flowers like marigolds that may discourage the little buggers. I also need to figure out how to keep the ants from going to town on my strawberries...
- Water - everything will get a good dose of water this evening
- Pots - the potted tomatoes and peppers will get moved into the garage overnight
- Harvest - we'll pick anything that is ready (or close to ready)
- Cover - we'll also take sheets out to protect the tomatoes, cukes, peppers and squash.
Getting the garden prepared for fall will involve a few things. I had hoped to do a cold frame this year, but the rabbits ate all my fall plantings so nothing to put in the cold frame. Next year we'll need to do smaller openings in the fence. When the summer plants are done, we will use the broadfork on the soil and spread out this year's compost. We will also put on a layer of mulched leaves when they fall. The rest of the leaves and the remains of the summer plants will go in the compost bin.
On the patio, we'll bring in the two pepper plants that we put in pots this year - perhaps these will overwinter in the greenhouse. The rest of the pots and barrels will all be emptied (except the one with the lemon balm - this one might come back next year). I think I'll save the dirt in a pile to use on the potatoes next year. I also have 3 tuberous begonia plants that I'm going to try to overwinter. I think I'll try the following instructions: http://www.ehow.com/how_6063655_overwinter-tuberous-begonias.html
Yet to do this year - something with the peppers. I think we will dry a bunch of the hot peppers this year to have flakes for seasoning. We'll also probably make some hot sauce or salsa pretty soon - maybe next weekend. Time to do some research for recipes! Oh yes, and I want to try out some jalapeno jelly.
Thinking for next year, I'm wondering if I should add some more bulbs this fall (flower bulbs). I'd like to put in some garlic in October too if we can find it. I'm also planning on trying my root veggies (beets, carrots, kohlrabi) in containers next year to avoid the bunnies at all costs. We'll see how they do. I may also try my beans and peas in containers to try and save them from the rodents. I may also plant some flowers like marigolds that may discourage the little buggers. I also need to figure out how to keep the ants from going to town on my strawberries...
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