Thursday, March 26, 2015

Not Garden???

With the proposed move we had not planned on a garden here. However with the delays from red tape we were fretting and really feeling discouraged with it all. 
We went to our local IGA last Friday for our bi-weekly grocery run and they had cabbage and broccoli seedlings out as well as onion sets. We looked at each other and Ralph got that gardening gleam in his eye! We talked about 2 seconds and then decided to go for it. We are planting a spring garden for greens and the like...that led to Irish potatoes as well!


I mean really....the birds are singing, the trees are budding and the daffodils are blooming. Spring is here and our fingers were just itching to get into the dirt.


Ralph went to Southern States to get some seed potatoes....well he cannot pass a seed stand for the life of him and he came home with a wide variety of seeds. These are common seeds that are well known to consumers, hybrids and heirloom, none are organic. They were on sale though and for this temporary garden will do just fine.

Beets
Detroit Dark Red
Cylindria
Hybrid Red Ace

Radish
White Icicle
White Tipped Scarlett

Turnips
Purple Topped White Globe
Seven Top [Turnip Greens]
Amber Globe
American Purple Top Yellow [Rutabaga]

Dwarf Blue Curled Scotch Kale [53 days]
Black Seeded Simpson Lettuce [43 days]
Danvers Half Long Carrots [70 days]
Bloomsdale Longstanding Spinach [45 days]
Rhubarb Swiss Chard [60 days]

He did actually get seed potatoes as well! While he was selecting seed potatoes I found a potato site I really like. The Potato Association of America, there is a lot of information here and write ups on a wide selection of  varieties 

Kennebec
Mid Season
 
Irish Cobbler
Early to Mid season
 
Yukon Gold
Early to Mid Season

Red Pontiac
Mid Season
 
 The plan is to be able to have fresh greens as needed or wanted, then use the potatoes as new or baby potatoes.

We  just feel better having made this decision. Knowing we have something to do in the earth is good for our souls! Never mind the palate. It sounds funny but we just feel revitalized after having got the tubers in the ground and the seeds planted. The garden plot looks hopeful again, not abandoned and unloved!


So now we have 83 potential hills of potatoes, two areas of onions, planted closely for scallions, 12 cabbage and 16 broccoli. Then four rows of mixed greens that should just be fun to watch grow. I can hardly wait for the first radishes of the season mixed with greens into a fine spring salad! Oh and new potatoes Oh MY!



 

6 comments:

  1. Oh, good for you! I am right behind you. Well, way behind you. Given the fickle nature of real estate, I think this was an excellent plan!

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    1. You have had SNOW to deal with...we will be going out to cover the broccoli and cabbage for the next three nights...23 degrees or so! Ahh to be growing things though!

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  2. It's below freezing here tonight in the Smokies. I think alot of people will lose plants. I can't remember it's being this cold this late before.

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    1. We may have jumped the gun...it is going to be near 20 tonight...the pails kept the plants safe last night and hopefully tonight. I think we who garden are optimistic to a fault, not a bad thing!

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    2. We may have jumped the gun...it is going to be near 20 tonight...the pails kept the plants safe last night and hopefully tonight. I think we who garden are optimistic to a fault, not a bad thing!

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  3. How could a gardener not plant at least something! Good for you,anyway. It's never a waste to plant!

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