It's Time for Planting

It is sort of ironic that I am crafting this post as a blizzard-conditions, winter weather advisory is looming for later in the week, but it is time for spring planting! The best part is that it reminds me (every January or February) that winter will not last forever! There is a light at the end of the tunnel! I always begin my seeds inside in a mini-greenhouse setup, even though some seeds say not to and I always have success. So that is my plan again this year. Thus far I have sown 72 plants with more to come. This sounds excessive, but I always like to plant a few extra so I can pick the strongest plants to transplant in the spring. One year, my perfectly organized mini-greenhouse was on a small table in front of a window and my "precious" basset hound knocked it over spilling seeds and dirt everywhere. That year each budding plant was a surprise. I'm hoping for more consistency this year.

Here is a list of what I've planted. The (H) denotes an heirloom variety (an absolute must when growing tomatoes, in my opinion) and an (O) for organic:

- Sweet Sunshine Hybrid Sweet Corn (ok, my only hybrid and my only non-organic/non-heirloom variety)
- Georgia Flame Hot Peppers (H)
- Jalapeno Peppers (O)
- Bloody Butcher Tomato (H) - how could I resist a name like that? plus they are an early producer
- Mortgage Lifter Tomato (H) - a late producer
- Fordhook Zucchini (O)
- Picklebush Cucumber - I'm already dreaming of homemade pickles!!
- Touchon Carrots (H) - I have not had good luck with carrots in the past... we'll see.
- Triumphe de Farcy Haricots Verde (Green Beans) (H)
- Tom Thumb Butterhead Lettuce (H)
- Monnopa Spinach (H) - first planting (2nd planting will go in in about 2 weeks)
- Basil (O)
- Cilantro (O)

My greenhouse is full so I'll probably buy another one to start my sunflowers, a second and eventually third planting of spinach, and rosemary. I dream of a specific herb garden area in my yard, but at this point, I figured I'd just plant a few necessities.

The garden at my old house had wonderful, rich soil and the previous owner of my current house said that he spent a lot of time and money enriching the soil in my now new garden. I'm hoping to have the same successes as before. I've always had bountiful tomatoes, squash, and peppers. I've never attempted corn because I didn't have enough room before. My husband doesn't seem to think it will work out, but little does he know, I've been reading The Vegetable Gardener's Bible so I've got it all planned out. Also, I've never successfully grown carrots so my fingers are crossed on that one. The final newbies in the garden are the green beans. I've always just purchased these by the basketful at the farmer's market. Not this year!

I'd also like to put in asparagus and rhubarb this year with the hope of enjoying these (asparagus especially) in the years to come. I also love to grow pumpkins, but since they really don't have much use, I decided not to take up precious space. Although I will say, it is so much fun to watch a pumpkin plant send its shoots out all over the yard, marking where a future pumpkin will grow with a bright yellow flower. I'll have to chase the zucchini plants around instead.