peas planted!

Monday, October 14, 2013

frost

We had our first frost last night at Rock Meadow. Right on schedule. The squashes, tomatoes and peppers have all wilted back.

Sunday, October 13, 2013

starting up my new garden - finally ....

It's been a lot of work to move! Finally I am making some progress on my new garden. I think fall is a good time to be starting it, so I'm pleased with our timing.

Using string and stakes, today I marked out a space that I think would be good for my new garden. Then I moved the stakes. Then I asked my husband's opinion and we moved the stakes yet again. Its a big mowed grassy area and I want to maximize sunlight for the garden and still leave good grass space for other activities.

I have a bunch of little fall seedlings and I'd love to get them in the ground soon and protected with hoops and row cover. I have beets, spinach, lettuce, endive and escarole. I'd like to put up double hoops and see if they will overwinter and give us some nice March vegetables. This used to work well with my plastic cold frame.

Once I get the stakes settled, I'll bring in a load of compost and spread it over the whole area. I'll turn a small section where the fall seedlings will go. Then I'll plant and cover them with hoops and row cover. I'm thinking the row cover will deter the rabbits and deer. (Not sure - my first garden in deer territory.) In the spring, we'll put up fencing and turn the rest of the garden. I think spreading compost on the grass will allow it to break down over the winter adding some organic matter to the soil.

Anyway, that's the plan!