The Humble Beginnings of a Year's Supply of Food





I couldn't be more excited! Yesterday marked the real beginning of spring for me.  We began the joyful process of planting our vegetable garden for the year.   There will be many more beds put in before the end of May but somehow the first planting always seems the most important to me.



For our first planting, I am careful to not plant anything that might be damaged by a light frost.   And because I'm planting a little earlier than I probably should for our zone, I never plant all of my seed supply at once.

Beware the Frost!~
 I view this first planting as my "gamble" crop!  We've had such warm weather, it seems unlikely that we'll have a freeze.  But, the possibility exists of a late season hard freeze


What to Plant Now?

So far, we've planted Spinach, Swiss Chard, Lettuce, Snap Peas, Carrots and Cilantro.  My Tomatoes and Peppers are started inside along with some Winter Squash.  

Misc. Planting Tips ~
~For those of us who haven't started veggies from seed inside before, you will want to "sun" your starter plants outside as often as possible (weather permitting).  Taking them outside not only gives better sunlight, the breeze helps strengthen the stalks.  Just remember to bring them back in for the cold nights!



My strong young man, working very hard to help put the
garden in!

~When direct seeding into your garden, remember to plant your seed at a depth in proportion to it's size.  You wouldn't want to plant a tiny lettuce seed an inch deep.  It wouldn't likely germinate. 
On the other hand, you wouldn't want to plant a green bean seed too shallow or birds might help themselves to your seeds. 

You might also find that a heavy rain has washed away your garden to a different location! 


Don't forget to take your baby plants out each sunny day
to give them a little extra sun and to "harden" them
in preparation for transplanting.  I think the breeze is
good for strengthening them!

 ~When planting, first loosen the soil with a hoe or rake, removing any weeds or grass roots from the area that you intend on planting.  Gently level the soil with your hand or a rake. 

~Place your seeds appropriately spaced and at the proper depth.  I like to leave the holes open until I'm completely done so that I can see where I've planted. 

~Lightly cover your seeds with soil and gently "firm" the soil with your hand by patting the garden bed.   A gentle watering will begin the germination process.  Deep watering at consistent intervals is more appropriate once your plants are established but until they have germinated, it is better to keep the soil moist with a light watering each day.  As always, adjust the frequency of watering based on factors such as wind, rain, temperature, etc. 


My sweet girl "helping" in the garden