Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Working Towards Spring

I know of nothing that makes one feel more complacent...than to have vegetables from his own garden...It's a kind of declaration of independence. --Charles Dudley Warner (My Summer in a Garden)

As spring draws nearer, bypassing winter I look forward to it as soon as the winter solstice arrives.  January I start plotting and planning, planting a few things inside in January. Winter doesn't exist if I don't let it.  Every year the garden gets a little better.  Mostly because after moving here 4 years ago I'm finding my routine so I can focus on building up the garden. 

The first thing I had to do is find the best location on the property (2.32 acres).  So I took notice of where the sunniest spot was during all seasons of the year.  Where was the sunniest spot for the longest amount of time during the day?  After I found that, Larry and I started building the garden.  4 x 8 ft 12" raised beds.  We built 8 boxes and ordered in some dirt.  We started with them half full the first year, because it took a lot of dirt and sweat just to get them that full.  Every year we add more dirt and compost to the boxes so little by little they'll end up full.

Every year is a learning lesson.  What didn't work, what did well, how much to plant and how much not to.  Always at the end of the year, you already want the next to start so you can do it better.    






Cold Storage Project

Very often I stop and think (one must) of the hidden life in the cellar storeroom during the winter. I think of all those beings taken from the garden, whom the plucking has not quite killed, and who, without light, barely breathing, live like fakirs, or in limbo. --Fernand Lequenne (My Friend the Garden)

I'm starting this year's project.  A cold storage down in the basement.  So little by little I'll be sharing pictures of the progress in building it.  Here's the beginning:

Step one:  Sweeping and planning where the walls will go.

Step 2:  Covering the ducting.
My plan is to vent the cool air under the addition (where the hole is in the wall) into the cold storage.  Then vent out the warmer air.  I'll be cleaning the floor and painting it then erecting walls with a door.  The plastic shelves work well because they have good venting and will not rust. I may build some different shelving of wood as well as use another shelf like this.

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

January Babies


Fifty five days til spring.  That's less than 2 months to plan your garden.  All the seeds I planted this month are coming up.  The little Walla Walla seedlings, Leeks, Lettuce mix, petunias and snapdragons bringing up the rear.

I have several projects planned this year.  How many I'll actually get done, we'll see at the end of the year.  One project is building a cloche.  Another is a cold storage room in my basement.  Then there's work on the alpaca pen, a strawberry barrel and other ideas.  One needs more time to the day.  

This weekend we're going to the North Sound Alpaca Association's Winter Social for good food and presentations.  It's a good learning experience every time we go. 

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Preparing for Spring.

Just placed my seed order for this year. Wonder if I'll have enough room? Wonder if I can keep on task?

CAROUBY DE MAUSSANE PEA (65 days)
EARLY FROSTY PEA
KNIGHT PEA (56 days)
CHIOGGIA BEET (55 days heirloom)
BLOOMSDALE LONG STANDING SPINACH (heirloom)
LARGE PRAGUE CELERIAC (112 days)
REDVENTURE CELERY (95 days)
MARY WASHINGTON ASPARAGUS (heirloom)
CALABRESE BROCCOLI (55 days heirloom)
EARLY SNOWBALL CAULIFLOWER (55 days)
EARLY JERSEY WAKEFIELD CABBAGE (60-75 days)
CUBANELLE PEPPER (65 days)
KING OF NORTH PEPPER
OREGON SPRING TOMATO (68 days)
STUPICE TOMATO (65 days heirloom)
YELLOW PEAR TOMATO (80 days)
BLACK VELVET NASTURTIUM
BREADSEED PINETREE MIX POPPY
CORAL REEF POPPY
FANTASIA MIXTURE SUNFLOWER
JOHNNY JUMP UP VIOLA
MARINE HELIOTROPE PERUVIANUM
PICOTEE COSMOS
ROCOCO MIX PANSY
FINO FLORENCE FENNEL (98-112 days)
DANVERS HALF LONG CARROT (75 days)
NANTES CARROT (72 days heirloom)
BOSTON PICKLING CUCUMBER (heirloom)
LEMON CUCUMBER (65 days heirloom)
HOMEMADE PICKLES CUCUMBER (54 days)
Golden Butter Wax Bean (50 Days)
PROVIDER BEAN (50 days)
ROYAL BURGUNDY BEAN (51 days)
STRINGLESS GREEN POD BEAN (heirloom)
SUGAR BUNS CORN (72 days)
GOURD MIX
SMALL SUGAR PUMPKIN (95 days heirloom)
WINTER LUXURY PIE PUMPKIN
HOWDEN PUMPKIN (105 days)
BLACK ZUCCHINI SUMMER SQUASH (50 days heirloom)
GOLDEN ZEBRA SUMMER SQUASH
WALTHAM BUTTERNUT SQUASH (90 days)

www.superseeds.com

Saturday, January 18, 2014

Extending Your Gardening Season


Wipe away those winter blues by planning your spring garden.  Extending your garden season starts in January.  Start prepping your beds for an early planting under a cloche.  I'm planning one bed for lettuce and greens.  Get started by planting your seeds indoors under a light.  Use a warming pad if it is cold.  I have a place out in the barn where I start my seeds, so unheated it needs a little warmth underneath.

Plan out your garden.  Forget about winter and get busy!

In January you can start indoors:

Vegetables:
Leeks and Onions
Artichokes, Cardoon, Endive and Lettuce

Flowers:
Bee Balm
Carnations and Pinks
Dahlia  (from seed)
Geraniums
Lawn Daisy
Petunia
Roman Chamomile
Snapdragon
Viola
Wallflower
Wax Begonia
Yarrow