Mapping the Garden....is this fun or what!

This morning I got up needing to feel spring like thoughts.  So I decided to start mapping my garden.  It is important to keep records of where you plant things in the garden.  This helps plan placement for the next year.  

It is best to do your home work so that you don't plant things too close or in the wrong place.  For instance.  Tomatoes should not be planted in the same place 2 years in a row....cabbage family plants also need to be rotated.  

A good plan can also let you see if you have room for extra plants or room to try new things!

It also takes a lot of stress out of the crazy days of planting.  Once it is time to plant you will spend less time wondering where things go and more time enjoying digging in the dirt.  It will also help you put any helpers to work in the right place!

One week after starting seeds!

Check it out!

Sorry about the mess, but here is a picture of the place in the Laundry room 

that I have the seeds set up.

 

Starting Seeds February 1, 2012

Time to start thinking about the Garden again! 

And that means starting seeds.

I have gathered together a List of the Seeds that for my region need to be started 8-10 weeks before the last frost.  For me this includes:

Egg Plant

Tomatoes (I also buy plants)

Basil

Hot and Sweet Pepers

Swiss Chard (new this year)

and Flowers, also something new for me this year.

I will start other seeds, but not for 2-4 weeks.

Some things start fine in small containers, but others do not transplant well and need to be started in the size container they will stay in until planted in the ground.

Tomatoes and Egg Plant do not transplant well and will be started in the larger pots, all other seeds I am starting today are fine in something smaller.

 most seed starting mixes are good.  I look for things that do not include fillers like platic.  some mixes use plastic foam  pellets to add water retention...yuck.  

For best results add water to the mix before adding to the pots.  This hydrates and compacts the soil without over packing.   Some seeds only need to be lightly scratched into the dirt surface, but others need to be placed in the soil.

Silly, but I find a new crayon is the perfect tool for making holes that are not too deep or wide.

Drop 2-3 seeds in and lightly cover...making sure not to push down too hard.

Cover tray with plasic wrap or a tray cover and mist dirt lightly each morning when you plug in your lights.  Leave on for aprox 14 hrs each day.

Once seedlings start to pop up un-cover and keep lights 2-3 inches above the tallest seedling.  Do not put the light any further away or they will grow up...(ha ha ha)...to fast.

January 2012....time to plan!

The earth is resting and I am getting out my charts and setting up a map for planing this years garden.  this includes figuring out what seeds I will be starting in doors.  Those will go into the dirt and under the Lights the first week of February.  :)

I plan on growing:
2 or 3 types of Tomatoes
Hot and Sweet Peppers
Cucumbers
Green beans
Sweet Peas & Snow Peas
Herbs
Kale
Several squash....pumpkins for sure! along with typical summer squash's
Sunflowers
Eggplant
Delicata
and more!

We also plan on planting atleast 3 apple trees. And possibly Pear as well. 
I'd also love to put in blueberries.....in a place they wont get mowed down! Along with black berries.  A weed back home, but a treat here.

I hope to expand the raised beds and possibly add a small fence to make an English garden feel. Gutters on the house with rain barels. And Holly bushes under one of the windows in the front of the house.  Next year I hope to focus more on bulbs, shrubs and possibly a Farmers style deck in the front and around the side of the house.....but that is next year!