Dana's Garden

Before heading over to Fridays After 5 last night, Kurt and I stopped by the garden to plant some more carrot seeds.  There are only two little tiny plants popping up and it’s been awhile since we planted.  Not sure if it’s the soil or what…so we tried to plant a few rows again.

We met a really nice neighbor, Jean, while we were there and she gave us all kinds of tips on compost, pointed out morning glories growing up the fence, which I hadn’t noticed before.  She also took down my email address because she’s starting up a Google group for the community garden – sweet!  Would love to get to know everyone better and get some advice from some of the gardeners that have been there for years now.

I went to the Charlottesville City Market this morning to see if I could find some new plants for the garden.  I know, I have a ton of different seeds, but I think Kurt and I are both getting a little antsy to see some bigger plants in the garden, as everything is bare or very small at the moment, so I figured why not get some transplants?

I’m glad I went, because they had strawberry plants for $2.50/ea. (hooray!), thornless blackberry plants, and nasturtiums (edible flowers).  I picked up four strawberry, two blackberry, and five nasturtiums.  Since the rain held off today, I went straight to the garden to plant those guys, and then I got carried away and ended up staying there for four whole hours.  I even forgot to each lunch because I was that into the work.

I planted a lot more radishes (realizing I can plant them much closer together and adding some rich soil to the plot), planted all the corn, some green beans, dill and cilantro (all of this being seeds, by the way).  Also planted lettuce seeds in the raised bed with the spinach – lettuce not doing so hot at home.  Probably too hot underneath the lamp – more of a cool-weather sort of veggie.  Went ahead and prepped a spot for tomatoes too which, once I plant, I’ll alternate with marigolds and basil to keep the bugs away.

With the corn, I hadn’t realized until I started paying more attention to the back of the seed packet that I actually need four rows of corn, not two.  This is to make them cross-pollinate.  We had only prepped two rows for that.  But, no problem.  The rows were wide enough to plant two rows each as long as I planted them as close to the edge as I could.  Still have a bit of walking space in between.

Now, I was going to plant peas today too, and just have a row grow up the fence at the back of the plot.  But as I was digging around near the fence, I came across some little white things and then a ton of ants!  Ack!  So I’m going to leave that area alone.  I have an idea for pea trellises anyway.  I think if we just take two big posts or tree branches, stick them in the ground, and then run a web of twine between them, the peas will be able to climb up that.  That’ll make a nice little project for Kurt and me.

Indoors – planted some more bell peppers and tomato plants.  Moving more plants outside on the deck to harden off.  Also planted about 20 marigolds since the ones outside didn’t have great soil and therefore didn’t fare well.  Hoping to move the tomato, bell pepper, and broccoli plants that are ready to the garden sometime this week.  I’m a little anxious, though – I want them to do well and I guess I’m just afraid to even touch them!  I guess the soil is better now so they should do fine.

Oh and I also stopped by the Fifth Season Gardening Co. on Preston – what a neat little shop!  They had some really nice window sill planters, so maybe I’ll go back and pick some up once I move into my new place.

I think I’m done with my ramblings now!

One more note – just want to say I’m inspired by everyone who’s planting this spring, and also really appreciate the kind words that friends and neighbors have given me – definitely keeps my motivation and dreams alive!

Ciao,

Dana