Since it is not quite time, here in the Texas panhandle, to put the garden in, all of the plants I have bought so far are in pots. Not to mention, I haven't even gotten my raised beds ready yet. I used "Mel's Mix" in my pots, as that is what I will use in my raised beds. Mel's Mix is the growing medium used/created by Mel Bartholomew, writer of Square Foot Gardening. This is the method I am using to garden this year.
At harvest time, with just the plants above, we will have 7 types of fresh heirloom tomatoes, tomatillos, rhubarb, POPCORN!, 4 types of peppers, spaghetti squash and patty-pan squash. All of that is in the pots in the photos. This week, I plan to add pickling and slicing cucumbers, zucchini, yellow squash, butternut squash, watermelon, okra, cantaloupe and pumpkin...in plants.
Once the garden is in, late in May (yikes, 6 years here and I STILL cannot get used to the last frost date of Mother's Day) I will be planting seeds for lima beans, green beans, green peas, purple hull peas, black-eye peas, pinto beans, black beans, red beans, radishes, carrots, corn, mustard greens, turnip greens, collard greens and gourds. WHEW! I am so excited for harvest time already!
For the first time ever, I have an herb garden, too!
Top shelf to bottom, left to right: basil, chives, sage, thyme. cilantro, lavender, spearmint, parsley, lemon verbena, rosemary and chamomile.
I still would like to get some calendula.
That old set of stairs was here when we moved here and it is a fantastic plant stand. I bought some white spray paint this weekend and will get it painted this week.
I used marigolds for natural insect repellant.
I put one marigold plant in 3 pepper plant pots and 1 tomato pot. Hopefully it will work. I will have the marigolds interspersed within the raised beds, too.
It is a cool, mostly overcast day here today. It is also supposed to storm this afternoon/evening. I thank God for the rain...but really wanted to work outside today. That means it is indoor work for me today.
Have a wonderful Monday!
I love your "garden." I found you through the Homesteader Blog Carnival and I think I am your newest follower. It would be very hard for me to get used to the late plating date as well. I am on the Florida panhandle and our last frost date is in February. Thanks for posting and good luck!
ReplyDeleteI love your garden. I have a late frost date too. The nurserymen tell me never to plant into the soil before Mother's Day. I don't listen and usually pay for it, but now I have plastic hoop row covers. I hope my garden gets a head start this year. Your container herb garden looks fabulous too. I love the stair steps. It's perfect. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHeidi
I love the stair shelf for your herb garden! I did something similar for mine...the same pots (lol) stair stepped in an old wicker bench. I love that herbs can be in containers! Would you mind sharing this post on my Link-up too? I think my readers would enjoy seeing how you used the pots to get started!
ReplyDelete( http://www.likeamustardseed.com/2012/05/01/learning-herbs-rosemary-and-a-new-tuesday-link-up/ )
you have a great start!!! looks fabulous...good luck and have fun!!!
ReplyDeleteWe have to wait until the end of May to plant...too many frost possibilities...but my herbs look great...they are more hardy.
I am your newest follower..pls follow back if you can.
happy gardening!
Your garden is so adorable! I just started putting mine together. Your information is helpful to me. Thank you for sharing it at WJIM.
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