Grow Grow Grow!

The garlic seems to have done very well with our mild Boston winter. I am keeping my fingers crossed for a great garlic harvest later this summer!!
The garden is off and running, nearly 3 weeks ahead of  when I have been able to get things going the last few years. Gail and I have made a few trips down there and have been hard at work weeding, digging and tidying up. We've also managed to plant a few seeds here and there - Leeks, Kale, Peas, Arugula, Radish, Spinach, and a Thyme plant with much more to come in the coming weeks and months.
Hopefully the on again-off again threat of rain will actually come to fruition- while Gail and I were weeding and digging we noticed the soil was incredibly dry. The water should be turned on at the Garden by now, I just haven't had the chance to make it down there to check.
Stay tuned for more growing updates!

Garden Happenings

The garden and I have come out of our winter slumber and things are slowly coming to life. The garlic is flourishing, radishes have sprouted, and the kale and arugula look pretty great. We're waiting on more lettuce, carrots, and bush beans to sprout as well. We also planted a little huckleberry plant we picked up at a local nursery.

We also picked up some beautiful looking tomato, zucchini, marigold and pepper seedlings that will be going in the ground soon.

Pictured above is our collection of pepper seedlings- jalepeno, cubanelle, and 'Golden Summer' bell pepper as well as marigolds.

Below are the Tomato and Zucchini seedlings. We are growing Speckled Roman's for sauce and Cherokee purple because Gail thought they look nice and I never met a tomato I didn't love!

In the front you can also see our 'bush baby' zucchini seedlings:

We didn't have luck with our own zucchini last year so we are going with a mini variety to save space and starting with seedlings to increase our odds this year!

The bed all the peppers, tomatoes, and most of the marigolds will be planted in is going to be worked over just as soon as the weather cooperates. Once that is done the garden will be in full production mode!

Also, my kitchen counter seed starting experiment was not very successful but if any of these mini broccoli or leeks toughen up they might find their way to the garden as well:

If the weather and critters cooperate we'll be harvesting loads of tomatoes, peppers, and hopefully zucchini!!

Long Time No Blog!

What can I say, sometimes life gets in the way of planning out the garden, daydreaming, and blogging. It's been a few weeks since I've had time to blog about my delicious meals or plans for spring, but Gail and I took a stroll to our plot last weekend and it looked pretty good:

Considering that a few short weeks ago the plot was likely buried in at least a foot of snow, I'd say things aren't looking too bad. While at the Wayland Winter Farmer's Market 2 weekends ago, I picked up some supplies to start spring on the right foot! Last year we weren't assigned plot and working in the Garden until the last weekend of April, so I plan on getting in there just as soon as I can.

With this in mind and some free time on Sunday, Gail and I began our minimalist seed starting operation:

The 9 circular pots make up the bulk of our herb garden which I will be moving to the plot when the weather is right for it. For now they can sit on our windowsill and soak up some residual sunlight. In the back is a flat of mixed sized cells containing Leeks & Mini Broccoli.

I plan on starting a variety of salad greens in the near future as well.

Soon I'll be cleaning up the plot and getting it ready for a new season. With our seed starting operation it's hit me that spring is on the doorstep!

Are you planning your garden and starting seeds inside too?

Harvest Monday October 25th 2010

Harvests have really slowed down and come to a near halt lately. I've been clearing things out and preparing for next year. The garlic that I planted last week was mulched with hay this weekend, another bed was weeded and covered. The Bush Beans were pulled out of the ground as the temprature fluctuations have stopped pod production.
I manged to harvest one crop this week:

8.85 oz/250.89 g of Radish
Seasonal Total: 58.29 lbs/26.44 kg
Though I was only able to harvest Radishes this week they looked so plump and perfect as if they came straight from the farmers market! I was also able to harvest/snack on more raspberries as the 2 main raspberry canes continue produce a late fall crop.

If you want to see what others are harvesting or share in your own bounty, stop by Daphne's Dandelions the home of Harvest Monday.

While at the garden yesterday mulching my garlic and preparing more beds for the end of the season I was able to procure my own compost bin and a bunch of stones and bricks from the cleanup of an extra large plot that was being vacated right across from me. The compost bin is not large enough for all of my plant matter but will be a nice suppliment to the 3 large compost piles the garden society maintains for everyone.
I also noted my plants which are still in the ground and thriving: My Kale & Leeks are going strong. The leeks days are numbered though as I'm looking forward to another batch of delicious Leek & Potato soup and the Kale will be picked throughout the next few weeks. I also have the walking onions, which will be trimmed down and used as scallions, with the bulbs being mulched in the hopes of onion top sets next year. Parsley still has to be harvested and the Sage is going to be trimmed for winter along with the remaining chives and garlic chives which I'll be looking forward to this spring.
The garden is nearly put to rest for the winter, but there is still a little more to do and a little more to harvest.