Spring
Spring is finally here, although in Colorado we still get quite a bit of snow in Spring. That fact aside, the days are slowly getting longer, the weather a bit warmer, a little more often and Spring fever is in full swing! I long for warmer weather, sunshine and to see the garden in full bloom.
Andy and I planted our seeds for the peppers, tomatoes, pickling cucumbers and luffas and I’m please to report they have sprouted! Andy’s peppers are showing the greatest success as every seed took, even the ones he harvested from last year’s peppers!
The next set of success are my cherry tomatoes, all but one seed took, and they are starting to get their second set of leaves. The next warm weekend, I think I will ask Andy to help me hang the hooks for the two additional hanging baskets. The plan this summer is to have three hanging baskets with tomatoes.
I told Andy he could plant his peppers in the bed formerly used for herbs. I will plant the pickling cucumbers on the red steel tomato cage so they can grow vertically with maximum support and forgo growing larger tomatoes this year. That is located across from the Espalier apple tree in the area we call the Putnam Farm. I’m hoping my Rocket Snapdragons have again reseeded themselves and look forward to seeing what else survived the winter in this area of the garden.
The Luffa seedling, as I’ve only got one presently will be planted in the sunniest bed (the Back Forty) with the Zinnia seeds and Cosmos seeds that my Friend Laurie gave me for Christmas.
Still to be ordered are the Patio Strawberry plants, they will be a new experiment this year. Tessa’s Strawberry plants from last year didn’t make it in the green house so I’m hoping this experiment works so she has her special garden plants and can partake in the joy of gardening with us.
Another experiment, I think we can start designing is a DIY hoop house (or tunnel) that will go over the Victory Garden to protect the various lettuces from the various critters that like to eat it as much as I do! It is still too early to plant those seeds as well as my various flower seeds but it’s never too early to dream and plan. I’m hoping when I get back from my trip to Palisade next weekend that we can bring the fountain out and get it going for the season. Once that is out, I can sit by the fire pit on the covered patio and brainstorm on where to place the plants that are still in the green house and which pots that I might fill this season for a bit of color. I am planning on dialing the garden back this year, but one still needs a bit of color, herbs to cook with and flowers for bouquets!
