Serious Gardening

[greenstorm]

So I've decided to do my garden as if I'm not moving away from this place ever.

Yeah, it's a pretty big thing, right? Don't worry about it.

I got out today and potted up some kale for mom, started to thin my seedlings and distribute them, and generally got my hands in my own dirt (mmmm). I've got apple trees blooming, mint bounding along, no real semblance of a plan out there, and some empty rubbermaid totes that could happily be filled and planted. I'd also like to make a pallet bed and a couple upside-down tomatoes since I have room.

This leaves me with the always-expensive spring shopping list.

I need more beds (always more planting space, right?) which might be remedied by this.

If I get more planting space I'll need more soil, I can order bales from my boss.

I'll need tomato starts for the buckets, maybe nasturtiums for the top (I'll start those seeds and my basil today), and herbs for the pallet wall (!!). I have some thyme starts, I'd like to see what tarragon, creeping rosemary, more thyme, oregano, etc do with the space. Also maybe some more floral things. I could put in heliotrope too.

I should get some lettuce and maybe a couple root veggies going. Carrots would fit in the deep rubbermaids, beets, etc. Parsnips are good, I'd love to grow some salsify but it's too late to get seeds.

I'd like to grow cilantro, chard, and mustard greens as well. Wouldn't hurt to toss some potatoes at the bottom of those for a fall harvest, I've already got sunchokes layered under my kale and kale in with mint and apple trees and parsley in with some of those. I need more oregano because I use it All The Time.

Did I mention I've had an extraordinary parsley germination year? 100% within a couple of weeks. That never happens. I'm not sure what to do with the stuff.

Plus it never hurts to add some blueberries, I would kill for a nice gooseberry plant or two, and I'm always fond of evergreen huckleberries (which I always leave behind when I move).

That keeps us pretty conventional, I think. I'd best get this done soon because though it's been cold the season won't wait.

Comments

[dillen-dagen.livejournal.com]

Where are you living these days, Erin? This sounds like a wonderful vacuole to sit and sip iced tea in. A Garden party with poetry even better....

[greenstorm.livejournal.com]

Same place as I have been for awhile, just sans Angus. I'm in the vicinity of the VCC skytrain station. I need to get places to sit in the garden.

[firebirdsfather.livejournal.com]

I think I'm going to do the 5-gallon bucket thing with strawberries on the side of my front door opposite the tomatoes, I think I'll emulate the commercial ones, cut some holes in the sides to have several plants in one bucket.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_greenwitch_/]

I have gooseberry and evergreen huckleberry - you are welcome to cuttings.
Also, horseradish - but I'm a bit worried that I haven't seen it come up yet....

Also also - BBQ/openhouse on June 4th. Lemme know - official start is 3-ish, but you can drop by anytime - or any other weekend whether we're there or not :)

[ratanist.livejournal.com]

My brother and I have been working hard on a pretty serious organic garden at my mother's place this year. You would be proud. My brother has started most things from seed under grow lights that were formerly used to grow pot. I made sure to plant lots of kale for the ratties and a bit for me too.