Let's Get Growing!

Whew!  Busy couple of days here. I'm almost afraid to jinx it by saying it, but I think spring is here.

Some wildflowers are blooming.

The hummingbirds are back. Haven't been able to catch them in a photo, though.

Last year on May 1, the hummingbirds were probably regretting being here. Poor things had to weather a late-season blizzard.

Things are sprouting in the garden.

Garlic

Red onions

Spinach

Lettuce

Kale

Garlic Chives

Iris

Hollyhocks

Peony

Johnny Jump Ups

And of course these.....

It's about four weeks until the last spring frost, and time to start planting.  This weekend, I put in parsnips, tatsoi, carrots,  radishes, green onions, and beets plus more lettuce and spinach.

The gardening method I use, Square Foot Gardening, allows you to plant almost unbelievable amounts in very small spaces. It's because the soilless mix that's used instead of dirt is chock full of nutrients and you do not plant in rows.

This is one of my beds with the square foot grid as a planting guide.

For example, in one square foot of garden space, you plant 16 carrots. Here's a square foot ready for carrot seeds.

One square foot will grow 9 parsnips. Or 9 beets.  I know what you're thinking...that's way too crowded. Trust me. It's not. Square Foot Gardening is a proven method and the plant density is for real!  

If you are curious about Square Foot Gardening, here is a link to the official website.

Square Foot Gardening


Click here for the "Cliff Notes" summary of what Square Foot Gardening is all about.

What is Square Foot Gardening?

A simple internet search will provide many more informative sites, too.  If you have a four foot by four foot space to build a raised garden bed, you will be able to grow more veggies in it than you ever thought possible!

Here is my indoor sprouting operation. 

There are odd reflections in the photo because I'm using foil to reflect the grow lights.

I've planted yellow pear tomatoes, Romanesco broccoli, mini red bell peppers, sage, dill, oregano, basil, cilantro, and St. John's Wort.  These will all go outside in the garden around the middle of May, which is after the danger of any frosts.

At the beginning of May, I'll do the main outdoor planting which will include two kinds of sweet corn, eggplant, two more types of tomato, cucumbers, plus a variety of herbs, beans and squash.

Between now and then I need to build trellises for the beans and squash (trying squash vertically this year) and finish the drip irrigation system.   

Tonight, the forecast is for rain. Not snow. Hooray! First time in 2014 that the precipitation will fall as a liquid and not snow!

How is your garden coming along? I'd love it if you'd share photos! Be sure to tell us where you are located.