The Garden Report ~ March 20,2020

It's the Vernal Equinox

Spring is here. Patches of yellow Winter Aconite and bunches of snow drops are scattered in the flower bed, in bloom for the past week. The pussy willow bush is fluffed out almost 75%. We've had a few warm days and the snow is gone.

Pussy Willow March 20,2020

Winter Aconite

Winter Aconite Close up

Snow Drops

Walt and I worked on preparing some of our 16 raised beds. Weeds were raked out, Walt shoved a top dressing of Compost on several beds and they were covered with black plastic. On Wednesday I direct sowed for the first time this year.

Prepared raise bed covered with black plastic

The Early Veg Bed

List of what is planted from west (front) to east

• Pink Beauty Radish/Parsley
• Red/Green Lettuce
• Kaleidoscope Carrot (Tape)
• Red/Green Lettuce
• Kaleidoscope Carrot (Tape)
• Cilantro
• Danvers Half Long Carrot
• Spinach America
• Rainbow Mix Carrot
• Spinach America
• Pink Beauty Radish/Parsley
• Spinach Baby Leaf
• Carrot Danvers
•  Spinach Baby Leaf
• Strawberry Orach
• Lettuce Lolla Rossa 

Cold weather is expected soon. I think everything I direct sowed in the garden will be ok. I did sow all the seeds a little heavier than I normally would because the germination rate will be less.

 On Thursday, I decided to sow a pre-pared bed with packages of "Little Marvel" peas. I made two long wide shallow trenches.  and sowed the peas quite thickly. Several weeks ago, Walt and I pruned the apple trees. We saved the branches for a selection of pea brush. Pea Brush are branches that are tucked into the pea sown bed to be used as a support for the pea shoots as they grow taller.

Two Trenches with Peas

Our Bee Hives with Apple Tree in foreground

Pea Brush "Planted"

Peas will grow around the pea brush

Future Harvest ... Little Marvel Peas

 Little Marvel plants grow up to 3 feet at most and are ready to pick bin 60 days. So using pea brush is perfect. Other varieties may grow very tall, even over 5 feet so trellising is required.

In the Grow Room

Peek at the "Grow Room"

We finished eating the last of the pea shoots. Now waiting for lettuce to grow larger.

 Tomatoes, Peppers, Basil,  Alpine Strawberries, Cutting Celery, thyme continue to do well.

Heirloom Tomato

Mortgage Lifter Tomatoes. Thyme and Cutting Celery in far left corner

Thyme

Planted This Week

• Beets
• chives
• London Leeks
• Tall snapdragon
• Sweet Banana Pepper
• Angelica
• Black Seeded Simpson Lettuce
• Love Lies Bleeding
• Cleome 

Now that its spring I expect to be spending more time in the gardens. Im planning on ramping up my efforts with food production.  Are you working in your garden ?