How Does My Garden Grow

Well, since this blog is also my online gardening journal for 2011 it only makes sense that I should list out what I plan to plant in my garden this year.  Here goes...

Veggies to plant in the 2011 Garden  (All started, or to be started, from seed)

• Alliums: Evergreen Long White bunching onions and American Flag Leeks (direct seed) and Red Onions (sets)
• Artichoke: Imperial Star variety (ordered and will start seedlings on 2/5/2011)Broccoli: Di Ciccio variety (seedlings started 1/8/2011)
• *Brussells Sprouts:  Bailey variety (ordered and will start seedlings on 2/5/2011)
• Carrots: Danvers Half Long and Kaleidoscope Mix (ie: red, purple, orange, yellow and white) varieties (direct seed)
• Cauliflower: Early Snowball A (need to start seedlings on 2/5/2011)
• Cucumber: Straight 8 (because I found the seeds in some of my mother’s old stuff), Poinsett 76 and Sumter varieties (direct seed)
• Egg Plant: Black Beauty variety (seedlings started 1/8/2011 - seeds are old and taking a while to germinate - but they’re getting there!) and Twlight (a hybrid I just ordered and will start seedlings on 2/5/11)
• Fennel: Zefo Fino variety (seedlings started 1/8/2011)
• Green Beans (Bush): Heavyweight & Royalty Purple varieties (direct seed)
• Greens: A Mix of: Red Salad Bowl Lettuce, Green Salad Bowl Lettuce, Black Seeded Simpson Lettuce, Tendergreen Mustard, Bloomsdale Long Standing Spinach, Bull's Blood Beet, Grand Rapids Lettuce, Oakleaf Lettuce, Prizeleaf Lettuce, and most importantly - Arugula because the bunnies hate it & it keeps them out of the lettuce & spinach! (direct seed)
• Melon: Heirloom Cantaloupe (variety unknown) (direct seed)
• Okra: saved seeds - variety unknown (direct seed)
• Parsnips:  Hollow Crown variety (direct seed)
• Peppers: California Wonder Bell, Jalapaneo and Sweet Banana (seedlings started 1/8/2011 - seeds are old and taking a while to germinate - but they’re getting there!)
• Radish: Sparkler, Champion, d’Avignon, Pink Beauty, Purple Plum, and Snowball varieties (direct seed)
• Shallots: standard yellow variety (sets)
• Summer Squash: Zucchini (Black Beauty) & Yellow (Early Prolific Straightneck) (direct seed)
• Swiss Chard: Bright Lights (direct seed)
• Tomatoes: Sweetie Cherry, Red Brandywine, Pink Brandywine, Black Krim, and Red Plum varieties (seedlings started 1/8/2011)
• Turnip: Purple Top White Globe (direct seed)
• Winter Squash: Acorn, Butternut, Carnival, Turks Turban, Rumbo (Cinderella type pumpkin), and Mini pumpkins (if I have room!) (direct seed)

I still need to buy:

• Herbs: Basil, Sage, Parsley, Cilantro, Chamomile (will probably buy the plants)

Other Perennial Plants already in the ground:

• Cabernet Franc and Petite Syrah grapes 
• Asparagus
• Strawberry
• Blueberry 
• Raspberry 
• Chives
• Dill (it might re-seed itself - if not I have seeds saved from last year)
• Garlic  
• Greek Oregano
• Peppermint (however, I think I might have killed it last year if that’s possible - they don’t like being behind Hot Tubs!)
• Thyme
• Beebalm and Echinacea (I plant them for their flowers but technically they are medicinal herbs)

Next on my list to post is a diagram outlining how I plan to actually make this all work since I’m going to use 4 to 6 4x4 raised beds.  My mother-in-law and her significant other have promised to make a drive up to our place to see my garden - assuming I can actually make it work in such a small space.  So there's my challenge!

Thank God I have a great husband who humors my idiosyncrasies!  His only two requests are to make it ‘look good’ and make it easy to mow around!

More to come...