Seeds & Sidework

Leave it to me to get sick just as the days are becoming more dependably pleasant. I'd gotten out a couple days ago to direct seed a few more vegetables and do a bit of cleanup along the north side of the house. By that evening, though, I felt the telltale tickle of a sore throat. Two days later I think I'm on the upswing, but I'm totally bummed to have missed what seem to have been very pleasant days. Thanks to all the well-wishers, though.

My last tromp through the yard turned up a promising start to the peony I moved a couple years ago. Now that we have the new gate up I hope this poor thing will actually have a chance this year. Usually the dogs have had access to it, and it unfortunately would end up trampled after serving as a mattress for a certain Chow-Lab.

Since the little guy was taking one of those lovely three-hour naps, I also had time to get more seeds in the ground. I'm sticking with the square-foot gardening method that I had such success with last year. More production in a small area. The bed I was working in this day is about 4' by 8' and was already hosting peas, spinach and lettuce.  The spinach is perking up after being transplanted from inside. I have a few more seedlings still in the house, but just in case I direct sowed more. 

I marked off one foot plots using old trumpet vine twigs. You can get fancy and build a grid but I've never gotten around to doing that. Each plot is dedicated to one plant.  I double checked what was likely safe to plant during an earlier reference check with The Maritime Northwest Garden Guide by Seattle Tilth. So, with my roughly-sketched diagram in gloved hand, I got to sowing:

Arugula - Rocket

Beets - Chioggia

Broccoli - Green Sprouting Calabrese

Cabbage - Savoy?

Carrots - Coreless, Half Long, Rainbow Blend

Chard - Bright Lights

Lettuce - Gourmet Blend, Red Sails

Radishes

Spinach - Tyee Hybrid

Now, about that side work. This is a term I picked up as a waitress in high school. You know, all the stuff no one wants to do but it needs to be done so everything runs smoothly. On this particular day it included spreading a fresh layer of mulch along the paths. Unfortunately, I ran out of steam halfway through the task. It will be the first thing I resume once I get back in the garden. Another little addition is this short (literally two pavers) path bridging into the neighbor's yard. I'm hoping it will be a landing strip for the mail carrier that sometimes tromps through to shorten the route.

Ahh, bluebells. These things are like rabbits. I'm forever yanking them out of areas where they're threatening to take over plants I actually want! This batch was uprooted from when I erected the bean teepee several weeks ago. It had been tossed in a corner by the fence and doesn't seem any worse off. Definitely a weed ...