Small Greenhouse Seed Starting

This year I am trying seed starting a couple of different ways.  I am putting them in my small green house in a south facing window for tomatoes.  Hoping that this works!  I am thinking I need to add a grow light!

April Garden Chores 2017

April is a busy month getting the garden ready for the big growing season.  Here is a list of the chores I am completing this month.

1. Expand garden area by putting down weed barrier and constructing a new fence.
2. Relocate some containers to the new area for better production.
3. Build and add new raised beds.
4. Plant peas and beans in raised beds.
5. Keep up with seed starts...thin out and transplant into bigger pots. 
6. Start some warm weather vegetable starts int he greenhouse.  
7. Plant some herbs in the greenhouse.
8. Clean up strawberry pallet area.  Add replacement plants to the area.
9. Move the old raised bed dirt to the new raised beds I construct.  

Container Garden Updates 2017

I have been working on the new expanded garden area.  I have relocated some o f my containers to make the area more productive.  Bonus...It looks more colorful, too!

Garden Area Enlargement and Fence Construction

This last week I spent several hours expanding my garden area and constructing a new fence.  It was very affordable since the plastic lattice was already at my house...left by someone else a few years ago.  I am so excited for my new area.  I am now in the process of amending my raised beds and planted and building some new raised beds.  I have 2 already constructed from found items in my yard!  I love that I am being frugal and getting more growing space in the garden!!!  Here are a couple of pictures of the fence and new raised beds.  

Fall Garden Update 2016

Now is the time to start planting your veggies for fall harvests!  Here is a great article explaining what to do and when to do it! 

Fall Garden Vegetables

Here is what I have planted so far in my fall garden:

• broccoli
• carrots
• beets
• turnips
• lettuce
• kale
• arugula
• peas
• bush beans
• cilantro

These are growing alongside the vegetables that are still producing in the garden like cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, and herbs. 

 

My pumpkins are also coming along strong!

June Garden Chores 2016

June Garden Chores Included:

1. Weeding, Weeding, Weeding
2. Watering regularly
3. Watching closely for bug invaders...so far none...keeping fingers crossed that this holds true for the rest of the summer.
4. Built 2 more raised beds and planted zucchini and cantaloupe in them. They are growing quickly...must like the HOT weather!  I have caged a couple of the zucchini to grow them vertically and protect them from critters!
5. Planted 3 sweet potato slips in 2 grow bags...hoping that this works.
6. Planted cucumbers and built a simple trellis for them...going vertical with them this year.
7. Harvested the beets...planted onions in their place.
8. Harvested the sugar snap peas from the container...replaced with green beans in same container.
9. Planted more sugar snap peas near the trellis in the large raised bed.  Hoping that they sprout and do well.
10. Planted more lettuce and spinach to extend these harvests.
11. Planted some spaghetti squash...seeing if this takes...never have grown this before.
12. Planted all the tomato (12) and pepper plants (19) I was gifted.  Holy cow I hope these all take!
13. Transplanted and thinned the tomatoes I started from seed.  Have given away 12 of them.  Still have over 80 in starter pots.  Holy Moly...that is a ton of tomatoes!!!
14. Harvest the potatoes.  I was excited because this was the first time to grow potatoes.  I will need to plant more next year! Planted some bush beans in the place of the potatoes.  
15. Harvesting the herbs as needed.  Planted another round of cilantro from seed. I need this for my salsa when the tomatoes and peppers and onions are ready!

Salsa Garden Raised Bed

Finally got my salsa garden raised bed finished!  Tomatoes, sweet peppers, and jalapeno peppers!

How much should you plant in your garden to provide a year’s worth of food?

Check out the great article that gives some great advice and lists of how much do I grow!

http://www.wellfedhomestead.com/how-much-should-you-plant-in-your-garden-to-provide-a-years-worth-of-food

Container Garden Update April 2016

I have gotten most of my containers ready and planted in...just a few more to go!  Here are some shots of what  I have gotten done so far!

Lettuce Garden Raised Bed Update

Here is what the lettuce looks like this week!!! Pictures taken on Sunday April 24.

Backyard Fruit Trees: Peaches

On April 10th the back yard peach trees were in full bloom.  Here are a few shots I captured of them!  Future peaches...cannot wait!

Strawberry Pallet Garden Update

I finally got my strawberries planted in the pallet I made for them! (Planted them on Saturday, April 23). Cannot wait for these beauties to grow and be ready to harvest!!! I planted 12 plants I got a great deal on at the local garden center (6 plants for $5) and 10 bare roots I had gotten in the mail.  Waiting to see which does better! Future berries...cannot wait!!!