WhooHoo, April Fool's Day...This is what it looked like out my front door on Wednesday evening. You can't see it, but it is snowing sideways. This is also what it looked like today, except I think the wind was a little worse today. With temps in the mid-20's and strong winds, it was cold out there! At one point, the sun did try to come out through the blowing snow. It actually got up to 70 in the garden! I've gotten nothing done outside for days now because it has either been cold or really windy, or both. Tomorrow is supposed to be cold but Monday and Tuesday are supposed to be nice. My rhubarb and asparagus came in the mail today. I'll plant them, and some potatoes, on Monday.
Since I haven't gotten too much done this week, I thought I would share my garden plan. Please forgive that it's a bit messy, and truly not quite complete (pretty close though).
The first scan is the overview of the garden area. I drew this up quickly tonight for this posting but I really did need to do it. I took the layout from a partially completed drawing and I never completed the measurements, so this is off by just a bit. The space between the potato bin and ring 4 is not that large and the 2.5'x 11' bed is about 3' closer to all the other beds than this looks (that's my guess at least)
This next one is the one I actually use. This comes to the garden with me. I still have a few details to decide on. I'm not sure exactly the number of tomato plants I'm going to try to include as well as the final numbers I'm going to try with the cukes, squash & other vines.
You may notice the center of the first bed is shaded in blue. That's the area I'm trying to get started early. Some are doing better than others, but I do have life out there at least!
I am a little concerned that I'm planning to plant some major chaos in the 2.5'x 11' bed. All of the vines will be trellised, but I may be underestimating the jungle potential.
Since the zucchini really take up a lot of space, I'm putting them in the "rings" instead. I have 2 of them built but the other 2 aren't quite finished yet. I should add that to Monday's list.
There are also some companion plants marked here. That's to remind me which plants will help which crops (and one to avoid).
We've decided not to use the sprinkler system this summer so I put the potato bin back where it was last year (they were watered with overspray from a sprinkler head & DH didn't realize it. While I was out of town, he watered them some more...they didn't make it). Most of my potatoes are going in containers along the side of the house this year (north edge of the garden area).
These are the perennial edible varieties I am planting.
ANNE RASPBERRY
CAROLINE RASPBERRY
TRIPLE CROWN THORNLESS BLACKBERRY
CHIPMAN'S CANADA RED RHUBARB
JERSEY KNIGHT HYBRID 2 YR ASPARAGUS
HONEOYE JUNEBEARING STRAWBERRY
CANBY RASPBERRY RASPBERRY
SEEDLESS RED CANADICE GRAPE
SASKATOON BLUEBERRY
I also have 2 more rhubarb roots I received from someone on Freecycle recently. They are planted on the north side of the house (far enough away from the house to get good sun though). I also want to try some Jostaberries along the front of the porch as a backdrop to the flower garden.
Here is the list of vegetables, herbs & companion plants.
SWEET BASIL
BORAGO OFFICINALIS (BORAGE)
NEPETA CATARIA (CATNIP)
ORIGANUM VULGARE (OREGANO)
THYMUS VULGARIS (THYME, ENGLISH)
ITALIAN PARSLEY
NASTURTIUM, MARIGOLDS, PETUNIAS, SWEET ALYSSUM, BLUE FLAX, (as companions)
RATTLESNAKE BEANS (POLE)
GOLDEN WAX BUSH BEANS
KENTUCKY WONDER POLE BEANS
LANDRETH STRINGLESS BUSH BEANS
CONTENDER BUSH BEANS
CHEROKEE WAX BEANS (BUSH)
GREEN SPROUTED CALABRESE BROCCOLI
DANVERS HALF LONG CARROT
CHANTENAY CARROT
GREEN DRAGON BURPLESS CUCUMBER
NATIONAL PICKLING CUCUMBER
SWEET SALAD MIX MESCLUN
BLACK SEEDED SIMPSON LETTUCE
WHITE LISBON BUNCHING ONION
WALLA WALLAONION
RED ONION
SUGAR SNAP POLE (PEAS)
SWEET MIX PIMIENTO DULCE (multi-color) PEPPER
SWEET BANANA PEPPER
POTATOES: ALL BLUE, KENNEBEC,PURPLE MAJESTY, VIKING, RED PONTIAC, DARK RED NORLAND, and a few that sprouted in the pantry.
SMALL SUGAR PUMPKIN
SPARKLER WHITE TIP RADISH
DAIKON RADISH
SPARKLER RADISH
CHAMPION RADISH
TETON HYBRID SPINACH
BLACK BEAUTY ZUCCHINI SQUASH
CALABAZA FLYING SAUCER HYBRID SQUASH
SMALL WONDER HYBRID (SPAGHETTI) SQUASH
RUTGERS SELECT TOMATO
ROMA ORGANIC TOMATO
GALINA'S GOLD CHERRY TOMATO
BLACK CHERRY TOMATO
PAQUEBOT ROMA TOMATO
THESSALONKI TOMATO
KELLOGG'S BREAKFAST TOMATO
IMUR PRIOR BETA TOMATO
NEVE'S AZORIAN RED TOMATO
SUGAR BABY WATERMELON
So, there's the plan...we'll have to wait for the reality...
6 comments:
No kidding when you said it was 18° in your garden - holy cow woman! That's some serious snow! I hope it warms up (and stays a bit warmer) for you soon.
I love your list! You've got some great things planed. I wish I had your kind of space. I'm looking forward to all the pictures of the different varieties you pull out of the garden later this summer. There are a few in your list that I wanted to try too so I'll be paying close attention to see how they do. (Daikon Radish, Sweet Alyssum, National Pickling Cucumber, Sugar Snap Pole Peas, Sweet Banana Pepper, Dark Red Norland Taters, Sparkler White Tipped Radish, Black Cherry Tomato, Sugar Baby Watermelon) I guess I can't plant everything but I'm glad you can! ;^)
Nice ambitious list and plans, there. You'll show old man winter. He can't last much longer, now can he? He's certainly worn out his welcome.
I love my Jersey Knight asparagus: a vigorous all male variety with nice thick stalks. You'll enjoy them. Looking forward to more updates. Until then, keep those snowshows handy....;-D
Oh, my. You make me feel much better about my weather! I felt so far behind most of the other gardeners, but at least my beds have bits of green and not a blanket of snow. Your garden plans look great, and a really good variety of fruits/veggies.
Jenn- the Daikon is actually a winter radish (fall planting). I'm trying a few now for gee whiz though. I bought the seeds on a whim. I've only even eaten them once. I grew the Sugar Snap Peas last year and they were so good, even though I planted them in May. I tried the Sugar Baby Melons last year without the best success, but I'm trying again. I'm using black plastic this time (also starting earlier).
Kris- the asparagus is actually for DH. I may taste it again, give it another chance...
Granny- I was making such good progress there for a while. I did get a little (much needed) work done inside the house this weekend at least. Looks like I may have 2 days this week that it's nice out.
Your list of fruits makes me so jealous. I'm very interested to see how the blackberries come out. Where did you get them? Do they come as seeds or small bushes? I love the fact that they are thornless.
Rachel
Rachel,
The berries haven't arrived yet. I ordered them from a catalog. I'm crossing my fingers that they'll be ok, since the catalog doesn't always get good reviews (got sucked in by a good coupon). I expect the raspberries and blackberries will come as a dormant, bare root that will probably look like a stick or two.
I agree, thornless sounds so nice! The Canby raspberries are supposed to be thornless too I think.
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