Do you garden with a partner or is it "
all yours"? We two share in the decision making regarding many things here but our approach is different when it comes to planting seeds. He likes following the packet directions: Lettuce "Butterhead Speckles".. seed depth 1/8 inches; seed space 1 inch; row spacing 8 inches. I tend to ignore the packet totally, make a line in the soil and throw the seeds in, twenty seconds or less and I'm done! Actually, no line at all would suit me just fine...fill the entire space with seeds and let them fight it out..it's all good, early, green eating. What has evolved in the partnership is what you see above...a compromise ;-) rows planted intensely.
Arugula, India Mizuna, baby red Pac choi, tiny lovely new D'Avignon radish, first crescents of spinach, spears of early Egyptian Walking Onion and garlic...the whole lot tossed in a sweet and mildly vinegar/lemon dressing... there's punch in them there greens!
True Confessions...I was not always fussed about bitter or hot pepper tasting greens...nope! I didn't like arugula at all three years ago. However, I found out, these types of home harvested European style early greens do not compare to store bought. Most impressive..they love growing in cool temps here in Nova Scotia, so, we are able to eat a great salad, sown in April or even March under a cold frame or fleece, that feels soft in the mouth, and a joy to the taste buds.
Transplants are growing big and strong and are hardening off. Weather, quite frankly, has been the shoots, with a day here and there to make you think 'it won't be long now'..but back to rain and gray and more gray and rain. Trying to keep upbeat...tulips just about ready to open and heh...hyacinths are now in bloom!
Love following your blog. Your Spring looks to be a few weeks behind ours, so far we've had an early Spring it's been very sunny and too dry.
ReplyDeleteI just chuck the lettuce / leaf seeds in and hope. We had our first radishes and chard and spinach this week - not bad so early in the year. Your seed beds look so professional
ReplyDeleteOH Bren..... I have to get E out there in the cold frame and get things going....now that we are not doing farmers markets!
ReplyDeleteOh my, you two sound like us ... Andy is orderly and I am much more of the "just scatter the seeds" type!" Ha! Everything looks like it is coming up nicely! And your hyacinth picture is beautiful.
ReplyDelete~Michele
I have often wished I had someone to share the "work" with, but am glad, in some ways, that the garden is all mine to do with what I please. Still, gardening is a huge passion of mine that my husband has 0 interest in. It might be nice to share that passion. Your greens are coming along so nicely. My daffodils and hyacinths are open, but like your tulips, mine are waiting for warmer, sunnier weather.
ReplyDeleteWe do some things together but I'm usually the driving force - he will do some of the fencing and so on...I am, like you, a throw in a bunch of seeds and let them go - except carrots - I cannot thin which is crucial obviously, so last year I got the carrot tapes -brilliant! I'm so behind this year that I'm not sure what I'll put in. I am outa energy this spring so it might be a weird planting...
ReplyDeleteHow nice that you and your husband both enjoy being in the garden together, despite the differences in opinion. I've got the yard all to myself which can be nice but sometimes I drag hubby out and force him to help if only for the company.
ReplyDeleteDear Bren, How yummy your garden looks just now. I am with your way of planting . . . lots of thinning greens to harvest and toss with flavorful oils, herbs and lemon. I think you have a successful compromise. Rabbits do not seem to like these tart greens either. I am envious of your salad medley and hope to get mine in soon. Thank you so for your kind words and forgive my absence. It is not as I would wish . . . I hope to be back very soon. Carol
ReplyDeleteLove your blog, Bren. :) In our small garden, I seem to be in charge of planting and harvesting, but my s.o. contributes an awful lot of sweat equity - building beds, fixing fences, and (the latest) constucting trellis' for our peas. I'm eyeing up your cold frame - maybe that will be next year's project. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Bren! I am the free soul when it comes to gardening. Neil is into square foot gardening which is VERY organized. We have our system where he plants and I harvest. He designs the garden shapes for the flower gardens and I plant. Its worked for forty years! I love all your garden structures. Great post! :)
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