Raised Beds . . . HOORAY!

This narrow bed in the backyard will leave the kids' playspace intact but allow for peas, beans, or other taller crops.

I am overwhelmingly, ridiculously, in fact, pleased to announce that I have installed raised beds.  Not single-handedly--let credit be given where credit is due!  

Groupon (online local business specials) had a $50 gift card on sale to Primex (garden supply store) for $25.  I told Owen we should buy it and he naively said, "Well, we wouldn't be able to spend $50."  I assured him that we most certainly could, since I wanted to buy edgers and install raised beds (what can I say, everyone else is doing it!).  So Groupon in hand, Owen's parents (who were visiting, and who wonderfully drove their pick-up in order to support their crazy Yankee daughter-in-law's gardening mania) assisting with the three kids in tow, Owen and I set about collecting for our garden needs.

I must confess to a rush that addictive shoppers must experience when I walked in there.  I felt, "Ooo, I must have all of this.  And then I will be a Gardener with Accessories and Bountiful Harvest!!"  I did not buy it all, but I did manage to spend three times the amount of the Groupon.  Gloves that fit like a second skin, hoses that do not leech phthalates into the water, edgers, onion sets, complimentary pansies, seedling trays!  Ah, bliss!  

Our free pansies, next to our new raised bed in front of our porch.

 Our next stop was compost collection.  Thank you, Rachel, for directing us to some!  We took Owen's parents' pick-up and loaded up (two trips) on enough compost to fill raised beds in the front and back of my house.  Now if we could just make one more trip . . .

My transplants aren't looking so good, but I added seeds also--and some of them should make it, especially with rain all next week.

Owen's dad helped me wrestle the edging into the ground (after watching me fight with the roll of it in a comical, cartoon-like fashion as it coiled up after me around the yard), and then I stayed outside until night fell.  The next morning, dressed in my snowpants against the 30 degree weather, I finished spreading all of the compost in time for Owen and I to go get our second load.  My seedlings are worse for the wear, but will no doubt be happier in their new raised quarters.

With the raised beds ready, planting was a snap this week.  

I planted all of my early spring crops (shell peas were February):

• kale
• swiss chard
• pieracicaba non-heading broccoli (rabe)
• snow peas
• pac choi
• mesclun mix
• tatsoi
• onion sets
• cilantro
• three varieties of head lettuce
• parsley
• raddichio

Strawberries have multiplied beyond my wildest dreams in my side garden.

I planted seeds, pruned my raspberries, wrote down all of my plantings and seed types in my gardening book (and drew in where I placed each variety on a garden map).  Now I just need to start my tomato, zucchini, and cucumber seeds indoors . . . and then I'll get to take a rest, which, quite frankly, I need.

Seedlings

Kale, swiss chard, cilantro, raddichio, leeks, purple scallions, celery

I am relieved to report that I have seedlings underway for mid-March.  Last year, what with pregnancy and nausea, I didn't set up the growlights.  But this February I set them up and got some seedlings started.  In a few weeks I'll get these into the ground and start on my next round of seedlings (tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers).  The cilantro we'll just eat.  I have been unsuccessful growing it outside the past few years, so I figure I'll grow some inside next to my seedlings.  Maybe I'll try some outside in pots this summer . . . if I'm feeling brave.

Seed Order Time

On the off-chance that it will help someone, here is a copy of my seed order to Fedco Seeds (a very affordable seed cooperative which provides non-genetically modified seeds especially suited for the Northeast U.S.)  Their website is a bit daunting, admittedly, but you can order online and my shipping was free.  I didn't order french breakfast radishes, green beans, or arugula because I already have a shocking supply of each.  A few of the odder varieties below make impressive claims to doing well in winter. 

The order:

1226 - National Pickling Cucumber ( A=1/16oz) 1 x $0.80 = $0.80
1232 - Calypso Pickling Cucumber ( A=1/16oz) 1 x $1.00 = $1.00
1402 - Eight Ball Zucchini ( A=1/8oz) 1 x $1.70 = $1.70
1409 - Raven Zucchini ( A=1/8oz) 1 x $1.80 = $1.80
2042 - Scarlet Nantes Carrot ( B=1/2oz) 1 x $2.50 = $2.50
2551 - Tyee Spinach OG ( B=1/2oz) 1 x $2.40 = $2.40
2712 - Black Seeded Simpson Lettuce OG ( A=2g) 1 x $0.90 = $0.90
2731 - Cracoviensis Lettuce OG ( A=1g) 1 x $1.20 = $1.20
2786 - Red Tinged Winter Lettuce OG/BD ( B=2g) 1 x $2.60 = $2.60
2791 - Tango Lettuce OG ( B=2g) 1 x $2.00 = $2.00
2992 - Mesclun ( C=4g) 1 x $3.20 = $3.20
3034 - Perpetual Spinach or Leaf Beet ( C=1/2oz) 1 x $2.60 = $2.60
3036 - Bright Lights Chard ( B=1/8oz) 1 x $2.20 = $2.20
3102 - Verte de Cambrai Mache ( B=1/8oz) 1 x $1.60 = $1.60
3192 - Broad-Leaved Sorrel ( A=1/16oz) 1 x $0.90 = $0.90
3228 - Early Mizuna ( A=1/16oz) 1 x $1.10 = $1.10
3270 - Prize Choy Pac Choi OG ( A=1/16oz) 1 x $1.40 = $1.40
3327 - Piracicaba ( B=4g) 1 x $1.80 = $1.80
3452 - Redbor Kale ( A=0.5g) 1 x $2.90 = $2.90
3459 - White Russian Kale OG ( A=2g) 1 x $1.50 = $1.50
4055 - Rutgers Tomato OG ( A=0.2g) 1 x $1.20 = $1.20
4059 - Cherokee Purple Tomato OG ( A=0.2g) 1 x $1.20 = $1.20
4149 - Heirloom Tomato Mix OG ( A=0.2g) 1 x $1.20 = $1.20
4414 - Sweet Basil ( A=4g) 1 x $1.00 = $1.00
4517 - Caribe Cilantro OG ( C=28g) 1 x $3.20 = $3.20

Subtotal: = $43.90

Sad Seedlings

Guess which flat I bought and which one I started from seed myself?

So I tried starting tomatoes and squash and cucumbers from seed.  I guess the window I had them in wasn't bright enough, I should have set up my grow light.  Anyway, I went away for the weekend and didn't leave the window blinds up again and when I returned, all the seedlings had sprouted up spindly and pathetic. 

While I was gone I bought the second flat of plants.  At least those plants look like they have a chance.  Aye me, what a lot of trouble to start from seeds just to create such sad seedlings!