The garden is terraced which makes it a little more challenging but each level is exactly that, "level". There are 2 beds to each level. We're planning on covering 4 beds with the house. Should the broccoli need to go out before the hoop house is built, I'll put a cold frame over one of the beds and make due that way.
We've got old windows that we saved for this purpose but never actually built the frames. Writing this, I'm thinking that our garden arrangement would be put to better use by using the lower 2 beds as cold frames every year for the cool season veggies to get an early start while saving the hoop house for warm season early starts. This way it can stay up as long as we need it to without being concerned about the cool season veggies getting too warm.
These lower 2 beds don't get as much sun as the upper 4 beds and are perfect for the greens and such. Since we also have a 2' x 10' bed we will still have the space to rotate the plantings from year to year for 3 years rather than 4. It's very easy for me to move the dirt from within each bed around so I could get 4 years if I felt I really needed to. Our insect enemies are the squash bug and the flea beetle. For veggies prone to attack by these pests ~ I would certainly move dirt around. I've had infestations of them both some years. I will not use chemicals on our food so my best methods of counter attack is to make the plants smell and taste like something else. A good spraying of tomato leaf tea seems to work as long as I do it often enough.
I am working on warming the soil with black plastic so that when it does become workable my seedlings will go in. The broccoli will move to the window sill for now. This would be a perfect time for the garlic to arrive, as it can take the broccoli's place under lights.
In the meantime, I'm starting:
- Bright Lights swiss chard
- Nero Di Toscana kale
- Giant Noble spinach
- Parsley Root
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2 comments:
I enjoyed my time outdoors today, the weather has been dry and mild. I do believe Spring is on its way in my garden too. I really like Bright Lights chard, but have yet to see the other varieties of vegetables you have chosen. My dad gets flea beetle on his rocket, I must tell him about the tomato leaf spray, thank you so much for the tip. x
Doesn't it feel so good to be out there after a break? I'll do what I can to show you the varieties I'm growing this year. Many are new for me as well.
I almost feel like a new gardener with trying to figure out planting dates for some of these. When to remove the hoop house, etc... I guess I have to wait and see what the weather is as we go.
Your welcome about the tomato tea :)
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