Jimmy Saved the Beans

Of all things we are having another late freeze - tonight is supposed to snow! I worried all day about my beans and getting them at least covered and I came home and found my husband had already taken care of them. What a guy! I couldn't get a good picture of it but he really saved the day.

These our Simone's little cat grass plants. I bet she can't wait to tear into them!

Planting Day

These beans are now to the top of the blue shelf! They just want to grow. I am considering planting them and the other legumes, onions and my experimental blueberry plant today. The rest of the seedlings may be ready by next week.

The stressful part of this decision is the fact that we will be out of town all next week. I will have to keep my eye on how much rain Houston is getting and have my friend taking care of the cats water if need be. It is humid today although not hot and I am hoping it is our last cold weather.

I just looked online and it looks like we will have some weather in the 30's early part of next week. I think I will chance it, these seedlings need out! I can always plant more if need be.

My favorites

I love all the little seeds trying to push up from the soil and grow, but I have a particular fondness for the legumes. They grow with a little bit more flair than the rest of them. This picture is of the first lima bean to sprout. I remember my sister Lisa hating lima beans but I have grown to love all legumes. I love the way they arch their back and just push through the soil.

I mean, look at these beans! They just thrust themselves out with such vibrato! It is elegant and inspiring.














I also like these peas, the way they look like the Lochness Monster.

Keep growing and doing your thing little ones!

Growing

I could probably name the next four weeks of posts "Growing" but here is my first of many. The little seedlings are thriving. I can't wait to let them loose in the big soil that is our garden. I am so excited to try the new system where we can house many more plants per square foot.

I was a little worried about them this morning when we woke up and realized we had not turned the heat on. It was a cool 60 degrees in the house! They seemed to have done pretty well.

My sweet peppers are the only ones I have not seen a peep from.

Final Harvest

Here is a picture of this weekend's harvest. These are the hearty plants that lasted through multiple snow experiences and freezes. It consists of oregano, mescalin and red leaf lettuce. Nature constantly astounds me!

Amazing

Wonder.

Pure wonder!

I know it is simple science: soil - water - seeds. GROW! But it still fills me with wonder. These seedlings are beautiful!

I planted them Saturday and today is Tuesday.

Arugula is taking the prize for the fastest growing seeds (a plant which also survived our cold winter) with chili peppers right behind. I can't wait to plant these guys in the ground!

Planting Season 2010

It has been a long time since I posted anything about the garden since it was basically destroyed first by Maxine and then our "brutal" winter. We have had snow a few times and multiple frosts as late as this week. Planting season is going to be a little bit late this year. But the good news is, I have a plan! And today I started seeds indoors.

My friend Kelli turned me on to square foot gardening, a method which will help me utilize the small plot of soil I have to its greatest capacity. It is a method that breaks the plot into literal square foot plots and provides a calculation based on how close seeds are supposed to be planted to each other with how many plants can fit into each plot. I am mixing this with my Bob Randall rotation of crops methods presented last year and started last fall.

Today I used another tool Kelli turned me on to - a seedling kit put out by Burpee. Actually, I had wanted one last year but Jimmy turned my request down! After seeing Kelli's beautiful little seedlings, he melted and bought me the kit. It is fascinating. Between the water held in the bottom chamber and the seedlings in the top there is a mat that absorbs water. The soil absorbs the water from the mat and waters the little seed and later seedling perfectly. I am very excited!

Temperatures are still in the 30's here so it is not quite time to plant. But here is my planting plan when the weather is right:

Beans 8	Beans 8	Onions 9	Chili 1
Peas 8	Peas 8	Onions 9	Chili 1
Rosemary 1	Basil 1	Sweet pep 1	Chili 1
Rosemary 1	Basil 1	Sweet pep 1	Chili 1
Eggplant 1	Broccoli 1	Chard 16	Red leaf 4	Plant scallions throughout lettuce
Eggplant 1	Brooccoli 1	Chard 16	Red leaf 4
Cucumber 1	Carrott 1	Thyme 8	Arugula 8
Cucumber 1	Carrott 1	Blueberries 1	Blueberries 1