The last 2 weeks.

Well, I might not have exact dates for recent gardening activities.  Work was crazy busy in preparation for Festival of Flowers so the past couple of weeks are mostly a blur. It was not at all unusual for me to crash on the couch around 7:15, only getting up to take care of the animals' needs before really hitting the bed around 9:00. 
I did start summer seeds.  Another reason I don't have exact dates is because the birds in the greenhouse reeked havoc on my seed flats, so I was replanting on a steady schedule as I noticed which seeds had been rifled through.  I also moved the flats to another part of the greenhouse where the birds don't hang out, and that helped.
I started:

• Cherokee Purple tomatoes
• Black Plum tomatoes
• Lollipop cherry tomatoes
• Rosa Bianca eggplant
• Marconi sweet bell pepper
• A hot pepper mix
• Ellen's Family White Cucumber
• Chives
• Sweet basil
• Rainbow Chard
• Dill
• Cilantro

All of these are up now and I've even stepped up the Rainbow Chard and dill.

Most of the unusual heirlooms I planted came from Southern Exposure Seed Exchange where I ordered my fava beans.  They are members of the Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association and are currently involved in the lawsuit against Monsanto involving patents on genetically modified seeds. Read more about it here: Press Release.  They are also pretty darn local, or at least regional, located in central Virginia. I figured I'd make it worth the shipping and pick out some other interesting stuff from their huge selection.

Back at the home garden in the ground of course I had my usual round of puzzling occurrences.  None of my onions came up.  Not sure why. The seeds are from last year, so I'm going to try starting some in the greenhouse and see if I can get some sets going to transplant. If not, I guess I'll just buy sets.  I think it is getting too late to start onions from seed. My carrots have been very slow to germinate, probably because of the cool, rainy weather we've been having, but the germination I have had has been spotty.  These seeds are from last year as well, so I bought new seeds and overseeded the original area.

On a positive note, peas, favas, beets and salad mix are all up. I have not seen any sign of slugs, not sure if it because of the slug bait that I put out. I planted radishes today.  Since they grow so fast,  I like to start them a couple of weeks after my salad mix.  Otherwise I end up with tons of radishes and no salad greens to accompany them.

What have you done for your garden so far this year?  Any exasperating problems or confusing occurrences?  I'd love to hear about them.

March 19, 2011

• Dumped last year's pots of soil from the few things I grew in containers.
• Weeded all beds and pulled brassicas from the fall that never really did anything.
• Put in posts for pea trellis.
• Planted: sugar snap peas, shell peas, Detroit Dark Red and Cylindra beets, Red Core Chantennay carrots, spicy mesclun mix, Red Grano onions, Long White Bunching onions in the bed that had tomatoes and pole beans last year.

Notes:

• Last year I grew carrots in pots because my soil is so clayey and rocky.  They did just ok. Not great.  After starting them I questioned the wisdom of growing a root vegetable in a medium that is essentially devoid of fertility (I use Fafard 3B.) I also grew parsnips but put those in the ground because they like to overwinter and they did great, only a few split or were misshapen, so I'm going to try the carrots in the bed this year. Chantennay Red Core are supposed to be good for clayey soils and are only 5-6" long.
• I anticipate using slug bait this year because I have a horrible problem with them and none of the organic methods I have tried have worked. In years past they have completely mowed down my beet tops to the ground. Any slug advice would be appreciated.

Toe in the waters..

It's getting to be that time of year.  The time of year when AT will become a garden widower and anyone looking out the kitchen window of our house will see me out there in the veggie garden examining plants, flicking insects off into mason jars of soapy water, spraying BT, or on my knees scrutinizing the soil for seeds that have yet to sprout. Gardening season is upon me. And despite years of veggie gardening and an associates degree in horticulture, I still consider myself a novice gardener.  A few examples: Things never sprout as quickly as I expect them to (this may just be a result of my lack of patience.) Last year my tomatoes started out great and then just stopped growing.  Just stopped. No idea why.  I've tried every organic method I know of to combat slugs, and yet they just keep coming. How come all of those organic growers at the Tailgate Markets have beautiful kale, broccoli and cabbage and mine are completely ravaged by harlequin bugs? I could go on, but somehow I'm sure I will address these and many other questions as we get into the thick of the gardening season.
Hopefully my dear readers can commiserate with me as I make my way through this often rewarding and just as often infuriating obsession: veggie gardening.  And maybe there will even be a few of you out there who can answer my questions, or at least point me in the right direction.
I don't have any pictures of the spring garden yet, so here is one of the parsnips and garlic from last year, coming back reliably this spring.