Monday, April 26, 2010

In the Garden: April 2010



I was able to get a head start this last weekend by planting a fair amount of the vegetables in the raised beds. It was a beautiful sunny weekend that had lots of us at the nursery. The selection at the nursery was still somewhat limited.

There are a few empty spots in the beds still for new things. But I am a month ahead of where I was last year. Of the six romaine lettuce plants I planted in November, two are still going. They are getting a bit tough so if I pull those up there will be even more room.

So far:
  • Tomato - Two Roma and one Brandywine.
  • Basil - Six plants. Two less than last year so I may plant a few more in pots.
  • Lettuce - I liked the Red Sails that I planted last year so I bought a six-pack again.
  • Broccoli - Nothing better than fresh broccoli.
  • Strawberries - I have one in the ground and two pots with three each. I am concerned that the squirrels will get them but I thought it was worth a shot.
  • Soy Beans or Edamame - First time attempt on these. Not sure what to expect. This site offers some growing tips.
  • Herbs - Last year I planted a bunch of parsley in the bed and it was too much for the two of us. This year I opted to use a pot we picked up at the Alameda Antique Fair and plant a mix of parsley, oregano, and chives. I left room for thyme which was not in stock at the nursery. This herb pot will sit out on the back porch where I can easily access it whenever I want to add some fresh herbs to a recipe.