APRIL 20, 2021
The Container Gardens
Since I don’t have raised beds in place yet, I’m mostly using the containers I used at my apartment for early-season plants right now.
Spinach
Radishes
First time growing these, they seem to be doing ok despite my chaotic seed sowing methods. They grew really quickly; I’ve had them in the ground maybe a month.
Iceberg Lettuce
This is my first time growing iceberg lettuce (my husband prefers it over Buttercrunch, which I grew last year). It is a drama queen and requires a lot of water to prevent wilting. Not sure if I’d do it again lol.
Potatoes
I’m a big fan of growbags after using them for my herbs garden last year. It makes it really difficult to overwater your plants-- the fabric allows the ground to dry out adequately. I was watching a youtube video about doing the same thing in larger pots with potatoes, so here we are:
Each of these bags is 15 pounds, and has three to four ‘starter’ potatoes in it. I’ve planted Norland Red, Russet, and Kennebec potatoes. Last year I did a red variety in a plastic tote and was surprised at how well that actually worked (3.5 pounds of potatoes), I’m hoping for even better results this year. Hell I might even add some more later.
Those That Returned From Death
Sage
I grew this sage from seed last year on our windowsill before moving it out to our apartment patio. Surprisingly, it also survived the ice storm back in February. I thought for sure it would be dead but it’s sprouted right back once the temps got warm enough. I may plant it in the ground eventually.
Mint
Thrives on neglect and carelessness. <3 Grown from a seedling at Lowes, it took over this entire box.
The In-Ground Plants
Lavender
The first plant I put in the ground at the new place, an English Lavender ( Lavandula angustifolia). This spot is pretty sunny (which lavender loves!) but the soil is a heavy clay (which lavender hates…). I amended with some gravel and organic matter so hopefully it will do ok there. This should also be a perennial for our zone, but time will tell.
Blueberries
One of these is technically a ‘Returned From Death’-er: I planted it in a container last year and even got a tiny harvest (enough for a topping on some banana bread, whoopee!). It also survived the Icepocalypse and has started sprouting again.
I have also planted two smaller varieties, called “Perpetua”. They should give me two harvests a year, once in the Spring and once in the Fall. I amended the soil for all three plants with a soil acidifier and pine needle mulch from the woods on the back part of the property. I have also been watering them with coffee grounds as an additional fertilization method/acidification method, but the internet is VERY divided about how effective that is, so I guess we’ll find out!
Side note: this soil meter is awful lol. Do not recommend.
The Experiments
Celery
I have never grown celery before, but I saw a meme video that said you could regrow it from scraps. I put an old celery bottom into a pot of water for a couple weeks until I saw roots, and now it’s in the ground. It does appear to be working?! (I’ll never have to buy celery again! Produce departments don’t want you to know this one neat trick!)
Onion Greens
In the same vein as ‘growing shit from scraps’… I’ve never tried this before but I hope it works. Just repotted the root portion of green onions from the grocery store.
The Natives
Maple Trees
There are several maples on the property. Unfortunately none are the sugar variety as far as I can tell, though I believe the silver/red maples can still be tapped for their syrup as well. That may be a project for next year…
…Apple? …Peach? Trees?
I’ve heard two tales about the orchard in the back of the land. The previous homeowner told me they were apple trees; while my neighbor says they are peach. I’ve looked at the blossoms online and I’m leaning towards apple, but this is another ???. I likely should have pruned these back, but unfortunately I didn’t know that until I looked them up-- after they started to bloom.
Wildflowers
Red Clover PURPLE DEADNETTLE
The bees LOVE this, and it’s all over the place. I’ve actually asked my husband to avoid mowing over it in several places; I think this is likely an early-season food for insects. (EDIT: Log has corrected me, these are purple deadnettle!)
Violets
You can make an herbal syrup from these little purple flowers. It’s okay. I tried it last year. It does make a pretty lemon drop martini though.
Onion Grass
I imagine most of you have probably seen this before. It’s actually an edible! Very strong smell. I noticed we have a lot of these around the old orchard, which makes me wonder if the original planters were trying to companion plant there. I’ve read that onion is a good friend of apples.
Mystery flowers
I just thought these were cute. I find these along the woodland areas under the cover of larger trees a lot. Any info would be appreciated if you’re good at identification!
OK I THINK THAT’S IT, HOLY COW. Literally almost everything growing in my yard currently. More details to come, likely in a video format soonish(?!). We’re due for a cold snap the next couple days so several of the smaller seedlings have been brought in for safety. Fingers crossed.
