Design from http://www.vegetablegardener.com/

Have you ordered your catalogs yet? or maybe they have already started coming in the mail from last year.  No doubt about it, this is the time to start planning your garden.  As a matter of fact, in our neck o’ the world you could have been growing cool weather crops right through winter with the right protection.  If you aren’t doing this yet then now is a good time to start planning that as well.  The sooner you can get it together the sooner you will be able to get your seeds going in the spring as well.  That gives you a huge head start.

Here is a great resource for information on all aspects of gardening, even if you think you have it figured out there is always something to learn from someone who does things differently from you.

A cold frame is a welcome addition to the garden plan.  There’s nothing like being able to go out and harvest fresh greens for a salad in the middle of winter or get that early jump on summer, especially if Spring happens to be extra cold and damp.

The cold frame is also a great place to harden off your seedlings before you put them out in the garden.  There’s nothing worse than to spend all that time ordering and planting the seed, watching it emerge from the soil and add leaves and grow to the point it’s time to go out into the garden and then watch it succumb to the elements because it hasn’t been hardened off properly.  Seedlings, when grown inside, don’t have to deal with wind, direct sun and drastic temperature changes.  These experiences need to be introduced in small doses before it is stuck outside in the ground where it is then working on building a new root system.

I think a cold frame is necessary for any serious gardener.  There are many different ways to have yourself a cold frame.  Below are some more examples.

CLICK ON THE LINKS BELOW TO GO!

Grow Organic – Peaceful Valley

Johnny’s Select Seeds

Wild Garden Seed

Or do your own search for organic garden seed.

The Garden Plot Episode 1

• You have the seasons which cycle as sure as the sun comes up every day.
• Linked to your seasons you have the cycle of changing day lengths.
• You have the cycle of life and death.
• Then there are your migrating cycles.

All of the cycles relate to each other, depend on one another

Man somehow finds a way to defeat the cycle when he needs or wants.

• He puts up a greenhouse.
• Provides light when it is dark.
• Heat when it is cold.
• Sustains life beyond the cycle of death.

I wonder how much man throws off the cycle of nature with his controlling ways?

This question has often been debated when we argue the “greenhouse effect”, pollution, organic vs chemical.

What cycles do you depend on, appreciate, or try to control?

April showers bring May flowers...But what about when you get snow?

Spring is one of the four temperate seasons, the transition period between winter and summer. Spring and “springtime” refer to the season, and broadly to ideas of rebirth, renewal and regrowth. The specific definition of the exact timing of “spring” varies according to local climate, cultures and customs. At the spring equinox, days are close to 12 hours long with day length increasing as the season progresses.

Gardening in our location can be a definite challenge, case in point ~ it is currently snowing outside!

There are many season extenders we can use to help up achieve success even in our area.

First, in the garden, if you have mulch down in an area where you would like to begin your planting then particularly on sunny days you will want to pull that mulch back so the sun can reach the earth. Mulch will keep the soil underneath it cooler and you want to begin warming the soil underneath.

Sample cloche can be used early in the season and later to protect plants once they're bigger.

Second, build a cloche. A cloche is a small version of a greenhouse and will have the same affect in gathering the suns warmth within the enclosure and help warm the soil. ( Initially, before we plant the intent is to warm the soil for the plants feet, once the plant is in the ground we protect it’s head from freezing temperatures: )

Third, get your seed started now so you have a head start on anything you plant from seed in the garden.

Seed starting is a whole other subject and I will be writing about that soon so stay tuned.

Using your notes from last year it’s time to get the drawing board out and plan your garden.

• What to grow
• How much to grow
• Are you going to plant a row for your local food bank
• Do you want to try and sell at your local farmers’ market
• Are you going to try to grow something new this year
• Are you going to go organic or use chemicals
• Are you going to buy seed or plant starts
• Are you going to buy local or have it shipped
• What can you do to build your soil
• How can you get the family/kids involved in the garden
• Are you going to compost…what about a worm bin

Okay, there’s a beginning list of many of the things you need to consider when you start planning your garden.  How about you sit down and make your own list.  It will get you started thinking about Spring and hopefully it will bring you fond memories of gardens past and wishful thinking for gardens future.

Perhaps some of you remember this month-long event from last year…

 One of the easiest ways to fix clay soil is to plant daikon radishes in it and leave them in the soil to grow to their maximum size.  Don’t harvest at all but leave them to decompose.  By the 3rd crop you can harvest if you want.

Cut the radishes off at the soil level and leave the tops laying on top of the soil where they grew.  Plant inbetween with each successive crop.   The third crop can be harvested, if you wish. 

The radishes will break the soil a bit as they grow and with each successive crop the root does it deeper.   As they decompose in the soil it becomes richer.  The soil critters will mix all of that in with the existing soil giving you rich pliable soil to work with with not much work at all on your part. The hardest part is having patience to let nature work it’s magic.

Here’s a great article on taking care of your seedlings until they are ready to put out in the garden. 

Up in the North where we garden, you want to be prepared to protect that seedling once it has gone out in the garden until the weather has settled.  There are many ways to do this. 

Heat the soil by putting down a layer of clear plastic on the soil and make sure the edges are pressed down against the earth.  The sun shining through the plastic will create a greenhouse effect for the soil and heat the soil for the feet of your plants.  Soil temperature is just as important as air temperature.

There is a garden aid called a Wall-o-Water.  It is a circular piece of plastic made of tubes which when filled with water cause the plactic to form a tepee structure over the tomato plant.  Water is a good insulator, absorbing heat from the sun during the day and releasing it at night as the temperatures drop.  Another way is to plant in a hot bed that has a lid that when closed gives enough room for the tomato plant without the top leaves touching the lid.  Or you have a cloche which holds the earths heat in which it has absorbed during the day.

One more thing when you are choosing a tomato plant.  I know it is sooo tempting to choose the plant that already has tomatoes forming on the plant.  But just remember the roots.  If the roots are root bound then your plant may not set very many more tomatoes than that, and you have a whole season so set fruit.  Better to choose a healthy plant with a healthy root system, that will thrive and produce a bumper crop of tomatoes than to have a plant that will provide you with a handful of tomatoes and struggle all season.

Not only will you have  a struggling plant but it will be suseptible to pest and disease as well.

And if you smoke, don’t handle your tomato plants until you have thoroughly washed your hands.  Tobacco carries a virus which if you infect your tomatoes you might as well toss it on the compost heap. Don’t run your hands over, or even touch, your tomatoes or peppers if you have handled any tobacco.  Nasty infections of tobacco mosaic virus can result, and the only cure is complete eradication of plant and sterilizing of the soil. Nasty, ugly stuff.  If you have emptied an ashtray, handled a pipe, smoked a cigarette or even shaken the hand of one who has, wash your hands and dry them completely before even thinking about touching your plants.

As the season progresses we will revisit the topic of tomatoes and talk more about watering, pruning, feeding, harvesting, ripening and recipes.

One word on feeding your tomatoes.  When you transplant your plants, plan on putting crushed egg shells and worm castings in the soil.  Your tomatoes will love you for it. 

Take care of the Earth and she will take care of you.

Saturday, June 12th from 9:00AM to 1:00PM 

Slow Food Spokane River will be pecking around the South Hill this year for our 4th Annual Urban Chicken Coop Tour. We’ll scratch around at 3-4 backyard coops of different sizes and styles to help you hatch ideas for designing a coop of your own!

Once again, you can complete the tour via foot, bicycle or carpool.

After the tour, gather back together for prizes, egg eats and to get to know fellow egg-ceptional chicken lovers!

Cost : $10 Buy tickets at: www.brownpapertickets.com

For more information see attached flyer or contact Erika at dekruger@msn.com or 509.951.7431.