I took some time after work today to do some measuring in the back yard. We live in a condo so there’s not that much space available, but I think that I’ll be able to set aside around 90 square feet of space for the garden. This means that almost all of the space that’s not patio or deck (except for a small chunk for Emma to play in) will be dedicated to the garden. We won’t be able to grow everything we want in that space but Amber’s parents have generously offered us space in their backyard and we’ll put the squash there because they just take up too much space.
I’m going to try intercropping and other intensive gardening techniques that I’ve been reading about and am very interested in how well we’ll be able to do this year.
This evening I’ve spent a few hours on the Peaceful Valley Farm & Garden Supply website and we ordered a bazillion seeds. Yeah, so it’s not that many, but when you buy 20+ packets and some of them have over 14,000 seeds (Oregano) it sure seems like a lot.
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February 3rd, 2006 at 6:39 am
Save some of the extra bazillion seeds for the ones Emma experiments with! That’s a big part of the fun. I think we replanted radishes six times one year b/c James (he was 2 or 3 at the time) at first thought they were weeds. Then wanted to see if anything was growing under there yet. And finally just thought it was kinda fun.
We LOVE gardening!
Dy
February 3rd, 2006 at 8:20 am
*chuckle* that’s funny. I can totally see a young child pulling them out just to see. At least they grow fast.
In the gardening book I’m reading, They recommend using succession planting. That is, you plant a set of radishes, then in another couple weeks, plant another set, then another set. Keep that up throughout the growing season and you’ll never be out - you just have to find something to do with them. I wonder if you can make relish from radishes…
We’re definitely going to set aside a plot of land for Emma to grow in. She helped us plant last year and really enjoyed it and is looking forward to helping again.
-Matt
February 13th, 2006 at 9:54 am
Oh. :-l Well, that would make much more sense than the way I’ve always done it - we have radishes and other foods coming out our ears for about two weeks, and then we’re done. No more food. Geez, and it makes so much more sense…
Dy, feeling just a wee bit stoopid at the moment…
February 15th, 2006 at 8:48 pm
Well, I can’t claim credit for the idea. I’ve been reading “The Postage Stamp Garden Book” (Bookfinder.com) and that’s where I learned about the ideas. It’s a really approachable book that I can definitely recommend for learning some new stuff to get more from your garden.
February 20th, 2006 at 10:51 pm
Matt, we’ve had great success with succession planting: radishes, green onions, peas, green beans - really just about anything that produces in a small window of time.
When the kids were little, we used to get some kind of “mystery packet” of seeds. It only cost a dime or so and I imagine it was the “sweepings” off the factory floor
The kids loved trying to figure out what the seeds were - what would grow. Then came the waiting. And then the wonderful summer of surprises. Ah, fun memories.