Today was supposed to be the day to plant potatoes and asparagus crowns. Potatoes got planted, but also took care of the delivering of the new chicken coop. We’re now a two-coop household, or more like a giant coop with a link to the smaller one (where dear God let them lay their eggs instead of laying them in some hidden nest!!) I’m tempted to call the new coop something special like the Coop 9000. It’s like a spaceship, really. See how it dwarfs the old coop?
The idea is that with all this space they can live out here year around. I’ll put a small heat lamp in there in the winter.
This has been one of the least stressful garden planting season I can remember. Here it is April 28, and the onions, leeks, radishes, greens, beets, lettuce, parsley, and potatoes are planted. Even though there was a foot of snow on the ground ten days ago, all the “cool-weather” planting are in before May.
One thing that made this planting season less stressful is that there was snow so late– it was very clear that you couldn’t plant yet. Then when the snow melted, the temperature got consistently above freezing (after all, it’s almost May!) and so one could feel safe putting the potatoes in the ground.
The other thing that made this season less stressful is that I’m giving up on the large area behind my garden where I used to plant potatoes, onions, beans and, last year, winter squash. I’ve been amending that clay for six years and it is still horrible soil for planting potatoes and a real pain in the neck to dig. Also, I have to wait for Steve to till it and bring in compost. And that is super stressful. So I’m going to just use my 19 raised beds (!!), 5 in the greenhouse and 14 outside. And how great is that! I planted 24 row feet and four grow bags of potatoes in a mix of compost, leaves, and mushroom compost today. I can put my watering system in place and water them easily! And there will be many fewer weeds and it’s just such a better environment. Hopefully they will be very productive and we’ll have lots of potatoes.
I also am so happy that we have greens in the greenhouse! I planted them back in March, and they grew a tiny bit then just hung out during the snow storms and freezing nights, until the last 10 days they shot up and filled the box! Salad last night and salad tonight. I made a pasta sauce with the last of some frozen cherry tomatoes (really sweet, paste-like sauce) and have one more jar of tomatoes. I’m so glad to have fresh greens! And in April– right on time.
I’m working on the garden plan, and still have to get some new asparagus plants in a raised bed. But really, all the things that “must” go in before May 15 (the final frost date) are in. The tomato and pepper seedlings can go to the greenhouse for their final growth, and cucumbers can also be transplanted and the trellises put up. All in good time.
I adore your newsy garden posts, Susan! You’re a marvel. Your posts take me into a gardening fairy land—inspiring cherished memories of our big home garden years ago when the kids were young…I had the joy of gardening in the most amazing dark, soft sandy loam in the Puyallup river valley, in WA. You’re so careful. Attentive. I’ve never had chickens but I almost feel I have because of your stories. You must have the most delicious and nutritious meals ever. Happy spring!
So wonderful, Susan. I imagine you and Steve sitting down to months and months of fresh food bought about by your own hand. There’s something truly magical in that. Remember that I’ve been city-bound for the past 32 years! Rochi gave away our blueberry plants and won’t plant tomatoes this year–we’ll be gone before they’re really ready. The rhubarb is just starting to give and I’ll have to give it away.
I wish you healthy growth in your garden and copious eggs, as well health and strength in yourself.
Oh, there are some tulips I still miss from my old house. Hard to give away the plants! But in Hawaii, I bet you can grow year ’round and different things than you can grow in Tokyo– like a pineapple tree! At least be sure you have a lemon tree. We had one behind the apartment complex where I lived in Southern California and it was my favorite thing– along with the rosemary hedges!
Thank you, Jenny! Yes, the eating is good around here! And at every single dinner I end up clicking off in my head what ingredients came from the garden. Except for some deep winter months when I do Indian and Middle Eastern food that sometimes doesn’t use anything I’ve grown, I can usually name at least one ingredient.
Hooray Susan! Looks delicious😊😘
And your photos and writing almost makes me want to be a gardener and raise chickens! Love your enthusiasm👏🌞😁
Thank you.
Love
Kathy
What an achievement, Susan, and what a feeling of accomplishment you must get from your garden! Fresh veg is the best! It took me all day just to dig some manure in my 4m square front garden….