2011 Garden Notes

I tried to have a blog last year and had pictures for it and everything. But since I didn't know what I was doing, or the program I was using I ended up with a bunch of weird text and just gave it up. But I'm trying again, and don't plan on using any foreign programs this time!

After the problems I had last year with starting too many plants indoors too early, I want to be better prepared for my garden this year. It's the 3rd year I'll be having this garden, and I want it to do better this year. Id like even more of a variety this time. and I want to get a sprinkler system installed this year too. I want to be realistic about what I grow, It will have to be something that I'll use often. The odd colored pumpkins don't really count tho, those are just a given in my garden. Much like my varied Sunflowers.

So I'm finally making a list of what I want to get from my garden this year, things I know I'll use. I know I want Strawberry Rhubarb pie's, Homemade Salsa, Salad's, Stuff for my Chili, lasagna, and casserole's, and just some fresh veggies and fruit's.

With those dishes in mind that means I would need: Onions, Tomato's, Cilantro, Jalapeno's, and peppers; Lettuce, Cucumber's, Spinach, Broccoli, Cherry Tomato's,Yellow Squash, Zucchini, Asparagus, and I want blue or red potato's this year.

I want to add more fruit too, so I'll probably have to add some big pot's to the garden to bring them indoors over winter. The Strawberries, and Rhubarb were planted over the previous 2 years so they should come back on their own. Hopefully the raspberry and blueberry bushes will too. The Goji berry bush just needs taken outside since I got it pulled out of the garden right before it froze to death last season. It's been trying to survive, but need's some real sunlight.

I will add another dwarf banana tree, passion flower vine, a pineapple plant, and hopefully a couple grape vines.

I want a few fruit trees for the lake house too. They would take a while to get established but one tree in particular that I want has nectarines, plums, peaches, and apricots. Who wouldnt love picking 6 different fruits from one tree?! I also want to put a cherry plum tree out there, I just wonder if all the critters would get all the fruit before we did. Maybe I'll plant the tree's in some big movable pot's.

I'm going to have my hands full this spring apparently! But Ive been eager to get back into the garden ever since the first freeze started killing stuff off last Fall!