Spring 2011

I have already sowed spinach and swiss chard seeds from Burpee in my raised garden bed. Swiss chard was unsuccessful for me last year, so I hope to see something this year. Spinach is easy to grow and it was great in the freezer. I was able to put spinach in soups and pasta dishes throughout the fall. When you buy spinach in the supermarket, it's often full of dirt and you have to triple wash it. When I went to harvest my spinach from the garden, I left off the first 2" to compost and only picked the leaves. It made cleaning a cinch.

I seem to have lost my seeds from last year, so I ordered new seeds from Renee's Garden Seeds.

English Cucumbers

Pickling Cucumbers

Sugar Snap Peas

Heirloom Tomatoes

In a container, I started some yellow pear seeds in seed starting mix.

Like last year, I'm going to buy nursery started kale, celery, escarole, and parsley. Kale was so prolific and was great sautee and in soups. It's incredibly good for you too. The reason I buy nursery started parsley is because it does take weeks for it to grow and when I need it, it's not ready yet and then later in the summer I don't need it when it is ready.

2011 Tomatoes

I'm very happy with last year's yield. Next year, I would like to branch out even further and try new varieties. I'm pretty confident with my garden skills now, so I don't make taking some risks.

From Renee's Garden Seeds:

"Mini Pear"

"Garden Candy"

From Baker Creek Rare Seeds:

"Copia"

"Green Zebra"

"Pink Accordian"