Sound the trumpets!

And we're back! 2009 is gong to be a great year in the garden I can feel it. I thought this was a pretty good sign. I found it on a branch  in the garden. It's an egg case from a praying mantis. They're good for the garden because they eat the caterpillars and beetles that I am not glad to see. 

    You heard right- we've already been out there! Some warm weekend in March we raked out the corners and got most of the leaves out, cleaned up and debris from last fall and winter. Last weekend I mixed some peat and fresh compost into the new area I am planning for greens. Planted arugula, mustard greens, kale, radishes, spinach and snap peas. This year I am using inoculant on the peas and beans? we'll see how that goes. Also I'm not bothering with starting early seeds. I figured for all the trouble I have trying to keep them warm and damp, but not too warm and damp without a proper green house or sunny enough window for that matter and I don't have enough space to set up with lights....not yet anyway...so for now my method is direct seeding and starting trays outside once it gets warmer. For my small garden I figure I can grow enough stuff I like direct with great success and then purchase the few things I can't direct seed or start early enough  like tomatoes, eggplants and peppers. I have planned to shuffle the beds around to hopefully fix the mistake I learned last year.  A new corner for the greens that will be much more shaded in the heat of the summer, a sunnier spot for the cucumbers, more room for the squash and melons, more potatoes! Last years favorites, chard, leeks, cabbage, kale; we're also trying some new stuff like broccolini, bush beans, parsnips, turnips, asian greens and winter squash. Since I'm direct seeding I bought a soil thermometer and I'm taking weekly readings to know just when the ground is warm enough to germinate each seed. I'm psyched.