Seeds!!!

As promised, week one of my four week venture to plant my garden has come to a fruitful (or should I say vegetable) end. With four varieties chosen and paid for I have finalized my seed selection. 

Been a While Eh?

Ray's Garden has been on an unannounced hiatus for the past month. Those of you reading now, thanks for not abandoning me.

Life for this novice gardener has been a little hectic as of late. Some great changes have been happening in my life which has, unfortunately, kept me from devoting time to this lovely blog of mine. But, never fear for I return with great hope for the future...

The spring is fast approaching. Winter's benumbing weather has begun to break and I now wake to the warming sun. I've begun to see sprouts of grass growing in my yard and my garden is starting to fill with the perennial annoyance of weeds. So, I say to myself, "self, it's time to get back to it".

With that in mind, I've made a weekly goal checklist. My hope is that by the end of the month and beginning of April I will have a fully planted garden ready to start growing.

Baby it's cold outside...

I woke up this morning to 7 degree weather and a ground that crunched at my feet. Stepping outside I look around at the trees that look so dead. The last leaf fell weeks ago and has begun feed the earth. My garden has done the same.

I shiver at the cold and at the idea that there are no plants to tend. The frozen soil is beyond all hope of tilling and even if I could break the ground I know that nothing would grow. So, I turn to my memories of the time I spent planting, growing, tending, and harvesting my garden.

But, I have more than just memories of my garden. As I look back in nostalgic bliss at the garden that kept me warm, I realize that I am fortunate to have recorded the season and enjoy knowing that I can share this warmth with you too. 

DIY Cold Frame

My most recent post got me to thinking about the home gardener and just how 'high tunnels' can be applied to the small garden. It's great that there are options for the gardeners who's livelihood depend on their crops. But, what about those of us who just want to grow some lettuce in the late fall and early winter? To that issue I say, cold frame.

Now, those of you familiar enough with Ray's Garden may notice that this particular plot looks a little alien. That's because this is not Ray's Garden. It is, in fact, The Mountainside Garden. Today's post is going to be a first. I'll be talking about the experiences of another fellow gardener. One who is much more seasoned than I am and has chosen to take on the task of building a cold frame. A task, which I have learned, is not too difficult. Even for a beginner gardener such as myself.

Let's talk cold weather gardening

So, winter has started to peep it frosty head out of hiding. The days have begun to shrink as the light begins to fail earlier. Gardeners wake up to a sharp white frost layering the ground and covering their crops. And with that frost comes the end of the season. For some at least...

Some professional gardeners are turning to government subsidized options and building 'high tunnels'. This is revolutionizing the availability of local produce. Click on the picture to take a look...

'high tunnels' extend growing season for local farmers

Thinking Ahead

Well, this season is starting to come to a close. Naturally I've begun to think about what I want to grow next year. I ponder the past season's triumphs and losses and think about what I've learned. Next year will be about trying to ameliorate my troubles by honing my gardening skills further. 

I want to see more tomatoes and not make the mistake of caging them late. I will find creative and inspired ways to avoid the pests that destroyed my yellow squash. I plan to keep the rabbits at bay with new fencing and perhaps I can save my beans. There you have it--I've chosen three crops already.
 

Another change my garden will see next year is a reduction of plants. I found this year that five was just one species to many. My garden is small and my plants grew well. So, next year I will grow four types. Some quick math will tell you that I have room for one more vegetable, then. 


So... Ray's Garden is having a survey!

I've added a poll to the site asking my readers what they think I should plant next year. So, it's up to you to decide. What will be? Corn? Cucumbers? Okra? Or onions? I look forward to finding out.

The poll will last till January 31st. On February 1st, I will declare the winner. 

Production, Harvesting, Reaping What You Sow, or Whatever You Feel Like Calling It

Countless hours have been spent, back bent, sun beating down on my neck, sweat pouring from my forehead as I till, hoe, rake, plant, weed, weed, and weed some more. All this time telling myself not to be upset if nothing grew. Yet still, knowing the disappointment that would come from so many lost hours. 

I am excited to say I am not disappointed.

It Happens to all Gardeners at Some Point, it's Nothing to be Ashamed About

Last week it rained. All week. A few weeks ago I may have been very upset by this. But now, with my garden planted, I loved this. My lettuce was growing at an astonishing rate. Tomatoes were poking up through the soil. Oh my, my green beans, well, just look at them.

Now, comes the sad part. This past weekend the rain finally stopped (no that's not the sad part), the sun came out (still not the sad part), and I went on a little trip (definitely not the sad part). When I returned, all of my lettuce was gone (that's the sad part). It seems I have a little bit of a bunny issue. That's right, rabbits have eaten my crop. It was so young, so new, I didn't even have time to take pictures of it. Something must be done!

Yeah, that's a fence. Let's see if the rabbits can get past that! 

From the Soil...

Ok, so I've gotten a "little" behind on the posting.

Last time we saw my garden it looked like this.

Now, it looks like this.

 Yes, that's right, what was just an area of land infested with weeds has become a plot of soil which will (with any luck) produce a beautiful vegetable garden. 


Here's how I did it.

Making the right choices

Decisions decisions...For a new gardener like me it's hard to know exactly what to plant. Looking through all of the differnent seed magazines, scanning the thousands of websites, and standing in front of the display at my local hardware store became a daunting task. So, finally I just force myself to go into to the store and pick 5 vegetables. In order to have a good shot at actually producing something I chose a few items that I'd grown as a kid. But, I didn't want to limit myself, so I chose a few items I'd never grown before. Here it is, the rundown of what I will plant.

All of my seeds are Ferry Morse brand. The descriptions I'm giving are what Ferry Morse uses on the back of their packets.

1)Big Boy Hybrid Tomato
       Description: One of the most popular hybrid tomatoes! Indeterminate plants produce large, deep red slicing tomatoes, some up to 2 pounds. Great for salads, canning or juice. Plants will produce until frost.

2)Derby (bush) Garden Beans
      Description: This All-American Selection has capacity to produce new pods throughout growing season. Stringless pods are very long and straight; most tender when 5-6 inches long. Disease resistant. 

3)Yellow Summer Crookneck Squash
      Description: A popular yellow summer squash with firm, tender, pale cream flesh. For best flavor, eat young fruit when 4-8inches long. High in vitamin A. 


4) Long Imperator #58 Carrot
      Description: Large, straight, smooth roots. about 8 inches long when fully mature. The flesh is firm, and the flavor is excellent. Perfect in fresh salads. One of nature's best sources of vitamin A. 


5) Bibb (or Limestone) Lettuce
      Description: A butterhead variety considered a real delicacy. Easy to grow. The small somewhat loose head is tender with distinctive flavor. Early starting is advised to avoid bolting to seed in hot weather.  

So there you have it. The lineup as it stands now.