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.