Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Seed Shopping List

I've been scouring the Rohrer Seed catalog in anticipation of the annual pilgrimage to their shop in Pennsylvania. Following is my current shopping list. All the seeds I need for the 2010 garden with the exception of the basil, oregano, and parsley seeds I've already bought from Lowes.

Corn1/4 poundSeneca Snowshoe$5.79
1/4 poundArgent$4.59
MelonspktAmbrosia$2.99
pktEarli-Dew$2.99
pktBush Jubilee$0.99
SquashpktBlack Beauty Zucchini$0.99
EggplantspktLong Purple$1.69
Peas1 poundEarly Frosty$4.99
Spinach1 ozBloomsdale Long Standing
Melody Hybrid
$1.99 $3.99
TomatoespktAmish Paste
San Marzano
$1.79 $1.59
Nasturtium1/2 ozWhirly Bird$5.99
MarigoldspktSpry Boy$1.99
TurnipspktPurple Top White Globe$0.99
BeetspktBaby Ball$2.79
Pole Beans2 ozKing of the Garden$1.99


From Lowes I already bought Ferry-Morse Oregano, Sweet Basil, and Plain or Single Parsley. I've started some indoors under my new grow light. Perhaps I'll be able to harvest some before the outdoor garden even gets started and freeze it in ice cube trays with a little water or oil for use in spaghetti sauce later. I've seen recommendations of 2 Tbsp olive oil to 1 cup of herbs. I'll grow some of these herbs in the garden too.

Edit 3/4/2010: I changed my mind about the varieties of Spinach and Tomatoes, and decided to add Pole Beans to the garden. The edits have been added to the table above.

Monday, February 8, 2010

Planning the Garden Schedule & Layout for 2010

Here's a rough outline of things to do for the garden and when to do them:

  • Till the cover crop under - ideally mid-February, but definitely no later than mid-April. If you wait until planting time to till it under, the rotting plant matter will inhibit germination of the seeds. The mid-February target gives 4 weeks of rotting time before the peas and spinach get planted in mid-March. If the snowy weather prevents this, tilling it all up when I plant the peas and spinach should give plenty of rotting time before the warmer season veggies get planted.
  • Start tomatoes & eggplants indoors - March 1 - April 1 suits both plants. Eggplant can get started as early as 2/15.
  • Plant peas and spinach - March 15 - May 1, aiming early around St. Patrick's Day so I can reuse the row for herbs and bug-deterring flowers.
  • Start melons, herbs & flowers inside - April 10 - May 1.
  • Sow Corn May 15 - June 1.
  • Sow warm season veggies (eggplants, tomatoes, melons, zucchini, herbs & flowers) outside - May 20 - June 20.
  • Edit: Sow lima beans outside - June 1 - July 15.
  • Fall turnips and beets - July 20 - August 15.
And here's a rough layout for the garden, in 8 rows from left to right:
  • 4 rows corn with an early variety near the house and a later variety further away; the early variety may be replaced with turnips & beets in the fall. Because of the arrangement of the irrigation hoses, it'd be easier to re-till the closer part of the rows without disturbing the hoses too much than the further part.
  • A row of cantaloupe, honeydew, and bush watermelon. I should be able to fit 4 of each type in a row.
  • A row of zucchini and eggplants, possibly interplanted with herbs (basil, oregano, parsley) and bug-deterring flowers (marigolds and nasturtium).
  • A row of peas and spinach to be replaced by herbs (basil, oregano, parsley) and bug-deterring flowers (marigolds and nasturtium) when done producing.
  • Italian tomatoes for making sauce - 12 plants.


Note: I chose 8 rows because I can water all 8 rows with a hose splitter at the garden spigot connected to two hoses carrying water to the garden. At the garden, each of the two hoses is split with a hose splitter and connected to two drip hoses long enough to water two rows each. More rows would complicate irrigation. Fewer would limit the varieties I can grow.