January 22, 2007

planting dates

I’ve been wishing it were warm enough to garden, or at least to go for a comfortable walk outside. But since it isn’t, I’ve been reviewing my gardening records to see what are good dates for planting crops that need repeat seeding (every 2 weeks). I figure it’ll probably be a warmer than usual gardening season, so I’ll extend the dates a bit more than usual. I think I’ll go by these dates this year: Lettuce, cool weather types: April 15 through May 15, Sept 1 through Sept 20Lettuce, warm…

January 19, 2007

frozen lettuce

It doesn’t look too good for my lettuce. This may be the end of lettuce season in Boston – after 2 or 3 days with temperatures in the teens. Lactuca sativa

January 18, 2007

garden plan

This is my plan for this year’s vegetable garden. I think I’ll increase my space by removing a large rhododendron and a yew that are growing in an area against the house with full sunlight. Like my seed order, I’ll probably revise this plan several times. Then who knows if I’ll really follow it. But it does give me some sense of how many seeds to buy. S&P garden planning (drawings and diagrams)

January 15, 2007

seed order

I’m planning to order seeds from several sources this year, including many varieties I can’t find locally. I like the looks of the mixes (lettuce and beets) and heirloom varieties that they offer. I find it too much work to raise my own seedling indoors, so I only buy seeds that I can plant directly in the garden. Here’s my list (which I’ll revise until I actually place the order): (revised Wednesday, January 17)(revised again Thursday, January 18)(revised again and ordered Saturday, January 20) Johnny’s Selected SeedsCarrots, Cosmic purpleChard, Bright…

January 15, 2007

bare January garden

I was really hoping to see snow on my garden 3 feet deep by now. We have a cold rain today. Maybe snow flurries tomorrow. aerial views of my home vegetable garden

January 13, 2007

garden photos from 2006

I’m getting tired of taking lettuce and carrot pictures (that’s about all that’s left in my garden now), so I picked out some garden photos from last year and assembled them into a composite. I’m working on my seed order this week and its almost ready to go. I have to remember that I only have at most 350 square feet of garden space. I can’t plant everything… Edit: Well, I over estimated my gardening space. I got out my tape measure and it turns out my garden beds are…

January 10, 2007

winter lettuce

My lettuce is hanging in there. Its an icy cold day and the ground is frozen. If I had planted more, this would still be a nice winter crop. Next year…. Lactuca sativa

January 10, 2007

garden review

As part of the planning process for next year’s vegetable garden, I’ve made a list of what were good crops and what were poor crops last year. I’ve also noted what I’d like to do differently (or the same) next year for each crop. Good crops:Basil (same)Carrots (try a longer orange variety, also, purple and white)Cucumbers (try 2 varieties this year)Jalepeno peppers (maybe)Lettuce (more varieties; add escarole, radicchio and endive)Tomatoes (same, but no more Yellow Brandywine) Poor crops:Beans, pole and bush (try again with inoculant)Beets (these were flooded by spring…

January 5, 2007

fresh garden carrots

My carrots get sweeter as the winter goes on. These are very sweet. Many are still in the garden. The lettuce, parsley and garlic are looking good. This week is bringing record warmth (in the 60’s!) and the plants seem to be growing again. Daucus carota

December 31, 2006

my garden on the last day of the year

weeks and counting until my last spring frost

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