It's time!

[Jim Murphey]

There's not much more time until the "oldtimers" say you should be planting (i.e., around Memorial Day). I, on the other hand, prefer to put stuff in early, and protect. I'm already eating spinach from last fall, and my arugula, beets, kale, carrots, snow peas, mesculin mix and potatoes are up and growing, albeit slowly. I've constructed a plastic/pvc greenhouse for tomatoes, tomatillos, peppers, spaghetti squash and watermelon, which I started inside my house and planted last weekend, as well as some other tomatoes (in Walls O' Water), broccoli and basil in outside beds (and pray they all survive this weekend), plus a bunch of volunteer mustard, beets and spinach from the pile of soil where I threw much of my "trash" after it froze last fall. My brand new hop plants are about 6" tall, my strawberries are blooming, and I've got sunflowers sprouting. I've also got a couple of plum trees on the verge blooming, and my raspberries seem to be starting off the spring well. I spend nearly all of my waking hours when it's light outside in my garden, which is exactly where I want to be. I can't remember the whole "oath," but I seem to remember that it ends with, "We are gardeners!" As us old folks used to (and still do) say, "Right on!"

[1,000 New Gardens]

Congratulations, Jim! You and your early plants should get some welcomed company once the sun comes out again and you're able to plant some more on account of your winning the first blogging prize--a $10 gift certificate to Cashman's. Best of luck and I hope to see your continued updates online and at Dig Days!