life in and around the garden
Not because I don’t like broccoli, In fact I love broccoi!
It’s an issue of space.
Is it worth the space in my kitchen garden?
This year I decided broccoli will sit out.
Can you guess which vegetable will take it’s place?
First gardener to correctly guess–wins a free packet of seeds–from me!
I had never grown Leeks until a few years ago.
It was my “try a new vegetable” in the garden.
I start them from seed, and they slowly sprout thin green sprigs.
I transplant them to the garden as soon as the frost danger is over.
Carefully water them to keep them from drying out before the roots can take hold.
When you tend them in the garden, gently bring the soil up onto the base of the Leeks. This will force more of the white portion of the Leek to grow taller.
Harvest and enjoy!
I would recommend Leek Soup!
I also sliced up the Leeks and dried it in the dehydrator.
Store in sealed jar and use for soups and stews all year long.
No secret, I do love the Heirloom tomatoes!
I’ve been starting and growing them in my little greenhouse for 5 years now.
Each Spring I put out some little signs along the quiet roads that lead to my garden; and curious, friendly people wander up the long driveway to select some of my little plants.
It’s more for fun than profit–you know, a little seed money!
If you are in need of some Heirloom tomato seeds for your own garden this year, stop by my little Etsy garden store.
Some of my favorite varieties are there for sale.
All of my seeds are from chemical free plants. I harvest them from the best fruit throughout the growing season.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/downtoearthdigs
This side of the garden doesn’t get photographed much.
Even this image is from three seasons ago.
The south side of the fence is planted in perennials for a cottage garden effect.
The future plans are to continue expanding the plantings to embrace more of the yard.
Our home will began a renovation project this Spring. In the future we will be opening up walls and creating two openings to the back of the house.
We all ready decided we need to add a gate to this side of the fence!
Sprinkle some grass seed into a tray of potting soil.
Cover the seed lightly with more potting soil and water gently.
Keep moist and cover with a piece of plastic film.
Find a warm spot to sprout your little table top lawn.
Enjoy on your table for several weeks–this should help get your through Winter!
Do you have a garden tool you could not live without?
I use these little Herb snips for more than just tending the Herbs.
They are the perfect tool to deadhead the flowers.
When tying up the tomatoes or other plants on the wild side, they are handy to tuck into the top of the twine roll.
I stocked my little Etsy garden store with a few more of these little snips.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/downtoearthdigs
Well, I do!
18 degrees BELOW Zero–again this morning in the garden.
Warming up from morning critter chores and sorting images from last years garden.
The Pickery sure did produce some pretty snapdragons last year!
I can smell that spicy scent now!
I plant a cutting garden each year that I have named
The Pickery.
Zinnias, cosmos, bachelor buttons, celosia, asters, daisies,
asters, and snapdragons are some of my favorites.
I’m always anxious to get that first cutting of homegrown flowers to enjoy in the house.
Can you spy the little, delicate spider sitting on the pretty snapdragon?
Those little friends are not welcome to come in the house with the flowers!
Nothing changed my gardening more than raised beds.
The beds allow me to be able to control the soil type.
Drainage is greatly improved and soil temperature is increased for earlier planting in the Spring.
Natural compost is added to the beds in the Fall…I can measure exactly how much goes into each bed.
Weeding is easier! Now that may be the best benefit of all!
I do rotate crops from season to season.
Have you been raised up yet?
Along the front fence of the kitchen garden Rudbeckia blooms in a mass planting.
The North side of my garden fence has been annuals for a few years now, but I’ve decided to extend the beautiful Brown Eyed Susan’s this Spring.
In my Zone 4 garden this is a happy, well placed perennial. It gives a lot of impact with very little care needed. Rudbeckia tolerates our Summer heat, and very easily is divided or started from scattering dried seeds directly into the ground.
Images from the Summer help me in making decisions about upcoming work needed to be done in the garden.
All gardeners know that a garden is constantly changing.
What plans do you have for your gardens this growing season?
down to earth digs 