New Garden Seeds!

Posted on Tuesday, January 29, 2008 at 12:58

The first batch of garden seeds arrived in the mail yesterday.  The kids were really anxious to try their hand at gardening this summer, so we're planting a children's garden in addition to mine (yes, I know this really just means way more work for me!).  They picked some of their own seeds- Matthew chose popcorn, Anna wants sugar snap peas, and Cora wants watermelon.  In addition, I chose some that we've never grown, but I thought the kids might enjoy.  We got a rainbow mix of carrots- red, purple, white, etc.  We got brussels sprouts, kohlrabi, rutabaga, broom corn, Indian corn, bushel gourds, heirloom tomatoes in a variety of colors, and parsnips from Gurney's.  I also ordered a pixie crunch apple tree, which will, of course, be delivered at planting time.  I'm also planning on buying bright lights Swiss chard, huckleberries, Job's tears, and possibly some others for the children's garden.  In mine, I always plant 100 tomatoes, 1/2 Roma, and 1/2 beefsteak.  This year, I'm increasing to 75 bell peppers, as I ran out again with 50 last year.  I'm decreasing jalapenos from 30 to 15.  I also plant sweet potatoes, red potatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, spinach, lettuce, eggplant, onions, and garlic.  I may try a few new plants in my garden as well this year.  The strawberry patch needs to be tilled under and started anew.  We're planning on putting up a tee-pee trellis in the children's garden, and planting kiwi on it.  Oh, yes, and I'd like to plant some pawpaw, pear, and persimmon trees this year!  The apple trees, apricots, and cherry bushes should have fruit this year- they had tons of blossoms last year, but then a late frost came along and wiped them all out.  The red and black raspberries did wonderfully last year, so I expect another good harvest from them.  The rhubarb patch should also be ready to pick from this year; and hopefully the blueberry bushes, currants, and saskatoon blueberries will have small crops.  We have a huge patch of wild asparagus that we pick from, and lots of gooseberry bushes in the pastures, as well as several mulberry trees.  And finally, the rose hips from my rosa rugosa bushes should be plentiful this year as well.  I can't wait for spring and summer!

A cold, windy, snowy day like today just makes me long for it all the more, although I am glad to have my pantry shelves stocked from last summer's bounty.

Untitled Comment

Posted by homesteadmama4 on Tuesday, January 29, 2008 at 02:03 - Link

I really enjoyed reading all that you are going to grow. It sounds wonderful.

Wow!

Posted by mom2zjh on Wednesday, January 30, 2008 at 09:18 - Link

The Lord has really blessed you. How wonderful that all sounds. The children and I were looking at seed catalogs today and I had them write out their garden plans.
Our first snow is on it's way here in North Central Arkansas. I hope it's not to much!
I would love to see some of your recipes on all the stuff you canned last summer.
Oh and do you make goat milk soap? I am looking to buy some.
Blessings,
Holly