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Garden Gate:  What are you planting spring 2011?  |
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Arctic Flower
True Blue Farmgirl
85 Posts
Marjorie
Nenana
Alaska
USA
85 Posts |
 Posted - Dec 03 2010 : 2:14:52 PM
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Living in the interior of Alaska poses a gardening challenge. Every few miles here are micro-climates and we are in a semi-arid micro-climate. For the last few years we have been getting heavy winds and with the dryness, watering has become a big challenge for the above ground fruiting crops. So this spring we are building a 20x30 foot greenhouse to house tomatoes, peppers, melons, leeks, cucumbers, beans and corn by using intensive planting in raised beds. This will keep these plants safe from the harsh winds that dry out young seedlings and help with water conservation. Then the rest of the garden will be planted with cold ground loving plants like potatoes, peas, strawberries, carrots and zucchini. I was so eager to get my garden going I have already purchased all my seeds so I can get a good early start. I start all my seeds inside under grow lights and then set them out in my attached greenhouse on the side of the house that has a wood stove that I keep going for a few months until the weather warms. I know it must seem like a lot of work but as gardeners know there is nothing like the taste of that first ripe tomato or a fresh pot of string beans. Every summer here offers new challenges, but of course what kind of gardener would I be if I didn't like challenges. I still love looking at seed catalogs and they are yet to come. I may have to buy a few more seeds. I never think I have enough.!!! LOL
Believe in the power of Love! |
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rough start farmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
3331 Posts
marianne
The Beautiful Pacific NW
Washington State
USA
3331 Posts |
Posted - Dec 03 2010 : 2:39:23 PM
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My hat's off to you, Marjorie. Sounds like you have a pretty good plan to combat your dryness. I am always moaning about the shortness of our growing season . . . which really means I should give my plants a better head start indoors. Best wishes. Hope to hear some updates come spring.
Marianne |
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paradiseplantation
True Blue Farmgirl
1277 Posts
julie
social springs community
Louisiana
USA
1277 Posts |
Posted - Jan 04 2011 : 06:34:36 AM
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Since I'm finally getting to build my dream raised bed garden this year, the sky's the limit for me. Here's my list:
Slicing Tomatoes (red, yellow and Yep! White!)
Yellow Pear Tomatoes
Roma Tomatoes
Bell Peppers
Jalapeno Peppers
Yellow Squash
Cucumbers
Snap Beans
Okra
Assorted Herbs
Asparagus
Strawberries
Red Potatoes
Moon & Star Watermelons
Carrots
Assorted Leaf Lettuce and Baby Spinach
Colored Popcorn
Red & Yellow Onions
Garlic
Assorted Herbs
Blackberries
Mini pumpkins & gourds
Pie pumpkins
And on the flat (because we can't raise enough in raised beds)
Sweet Corn
Pinto Beans
Purple Hull Peas
And if I'm REALLY lucky, I'll get to plant another apple tree, two plum trees and another one or two pear trees.
In the fall, I'll plant more lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower and anything else I can find that will do well in our Zone 8 climate!
Happy Gardening, ladies!
from the hearts of paradise... |
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homsteddinmom
True Blue Farmgirl
441 Posts
Brandee
bullard
tx
USA
441 Posts |
Posted - Jan 07 2011 : 08:01:22 AM
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i am adding more to my list
yard long beans
leeks
pumpkins
celery
i know the seeds are out in stores in now so will be seed shopping SOON!
Homesteading Mom in East Texas. Raising chickens, Rabbits and goats here on my farm! |
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LadyInRed
True Blue Farmgirl
6740 Posts
PeggyAnn
Vancouver
WA
USA
6740 Posts |
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smiley
True Blue Farmgirl
650 Posts
lea
pea ridge
arkansas
USA
650 Posts |
Posted - Jan 08 2011 : 7:58:25 PM
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| I am excited to think of this years garden. St. Patty's day I plant potatoe's and then first of April I plant onions.The fifteenth is our last frost date so in goes lettuce, radishes and members of the cabbage family. I wait till evening temps are in the 60's before I plant my tomatoes. Weather past 2 yrs has been different and what always worked before is anyones guess now so its a new challenge to figure out. |
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kittykill
True Blue Farmgirl
608 Posts
Pam
Portland
or
USA
608 Posts |
Posted - Jan 09 2011 : 10:11:12 PM
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I'm so excited about my garden this year. I am planning as we speak! I need to get my hands in the dirt.
www.fasterkittykill.blogspot.com
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HookAngel
True Blue Farmgirl
253 Posts
Bren
CA
USA
253 Posts |
Posted - Jan 19 2011 : 10:16:09 PM
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container garden is what we will plant this year. In our new place I am limited to containers on the patio, and of course anything I can grow inside, like herbs.
I plan on stringing peas from the eave onto the back wall, and of course a salad and greens bed will grow in the shade on the patio in a container. I hope to some how have a tomato plant, maybe a hanging topsy turvey one. I might even do an eggplant and a pepper in those hanging bags too. |
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AmericanHwyFlower
True Blue Farmgirl
57 Posts
A.R.
Yorba Linda
CA
USA
57 Posts |
Posted - Jan 20 2011 : 9:54:48 PM
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asian greens, bok choy, and watermelon radishes too!
Cherish Each Day |
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countrymommy85
True Blue Farmgirl
898 Posts
Krystle
MT
USA
898 Posts |
Posted - Jan 24 2011 : 08:07:09 AM
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I already have most of my seeds and my garden roughly planned out. I am planting onions, potatoes, carrots, radishes, lettuce, spinach, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, beets, peas, beans (pole and bush varieties), corn, peppers (cayenne, paprika, bell), tomatoes (beef steak, yellow cherry and brown cherry). Several different types of squash and pumpkins( of different family types to prevent cross pollination), cucumbers, watermelons, melons... I think that is it. It's nothing new this year for my main crops. I am going to utilize the big garden out back but I am also going to use raised beds and do the square foot gardening system for what doesn't fit. I am also going to try companion planting this year since I will be doing half traditional and half raised beds. Since our new place doesn't have an asparagus bed I am going to start one, and I will be putting in a raised bed for strawberries. I am thinking about doing raspberries, blueberries and blackberries too, but with some other first time projects I might need to wait. Is it hard to start the cane berries? How about blue berries? Oh we also have a bunch of crabapple and a few apple trees on the new property!!!
Jewel: I finally started having good success with corn after years of failure with using as much composted manure (mostly horse and rabbit) tilling that in then planting right away. I also use an heirloom seed and I wait 2 weeks after the farmers plant their field corn. One to reduce the chances of cross pollination with my open pollinated heirloom seed second the farmers can plant their treated seed a few weeks earlier than normal seeds can be planted because the farmer's seed has been treated to be planted sooner and not rot or die off. Well that is if you live around conventional farmers! I used to work for some farms before I was married so I learned a bunch of tricks they use. Now in my organic garden I know I can wait 2-3 weeks after the farmers get their seed in the ground because they plant early so when I get mine in I don't have to worry about cross pollination and also it will be warm enough for my seeds to sprout and not rot. Oh you also need to plant enough of it to grow so it pollinates correctly. I usually do 2 blocks of corn instead of a few rows. Last year I had 15 rows about 10 feet long and it was the best corn I ever grew. Hope this helps!
~We can make the world a better place for our kids and future generations by what we do today!~ |
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Sharon Finke
Farmgirl in Training
41 Posts
Sharon
Fink
Tx.
USA
41 Posts |
Posted - Jan 24 2011 : 4:08:42 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by star-schipp
Yikes! I haven't even thought that far ahead LOL
We can do no great things; only small things with great love - Mother Teresa
Star - farmgirl sister #1927
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kathyjane
True Blue Farmgirl
66 Posts
Kathy
Doniphan
MO
USA
66 Posts |
Posted - Jan 24 2011 : 4:45:05 PM
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Krystle, What variety of corn do you plant? And is your horse manure fresh or composted?
Kathy Jane
Farmgirl #2565 |
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Greenwoman
True Blue Farmgirl
55 Posts
Michelle
Oregon
USA
55 Posts |
Posted - Jan 24 2011 : 7:30:19 PM
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I just ordered most of my seeds today. I order from Victory seeds---all of their seed is heirloom or open pollinated, and they don't buy ANY seed from any subsidiary of Monsanto. Also, they are located here in Oregon so that's a big bonus in my book. My list:
Early Scarlet Globe Radish
Greenwave Mustard Greens
Rainbow Swiss Chard
Glory of Enkhuizen Cabbage
Georgia Collards
Nantes Improved Carrot
Yellow Bush Scallop Summer Squash
California Wonder (Bell) Pepper
Golden California Wonder Bell Pepper
All Year Round Cauliflower
Bloomsdale Longstanding Spinach
Boston Pickling Improved Cucumber
Italian Parsley
Mammoth Dill
Coriander/Cilantro
Sweet Basil
Waltham Butternut Winter Squash
Bush Table King Acorn Winter Squash
Dwarf Summer Crookneck Squash
Dark Green Zucchini Summer Squash
Small Red Cherry Tomato
Red Grape Tomato
Roma VF Tomato
Beefsteak Tomato
De Cicco Broccoli
We have seed garlic already, and we'll get shallots, onion starts, and seed potatoes locally. I want to try sweet potatoe--anyone know if they grow in Oregon? And start an asparagus patch.
We have apple trees and wild blackberries too, and we'll do meat chickens. Last summer was a rough one here, weather wise--cold cold cold, all summer, and not much sunshine. HOping for more summery weather this summer!
Michelle
http://greenwoman.wordpress.com |
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Garden Gate: What are you planting spring 2011? |
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What are you planting spring 2011?
