Adventure #2620 - Spring Planting

Per the "rules" in March the weather is unpredictable. Hot, cold, hard frost, springlike, hot, cold....When we would think there would be a break in the weather to get the plots tilled it would end up being too cold or rainy.

Last weekend the weather finally broke. It was a beautiful weekend, clear skies, and in the low 70's. Phillip was so excited to be outside and getting the plots ready! For me the most exciting part...was learning how to drive the tractor! Our neighbor lets us borrow this tractor each year. It makes the work so much easier and quicker so we can get to what really matters - planting and growing! I guess I'm a real farm woman now.

Then that beautiful weather disappeared and left us with a week of rain. It has been a soggy and muddy week and we are expecting more rain today and tomorrow.

We plant by the signs and according to the Farmer's Almanac. They are predicting good planting today and tomorrow (April 18-19) but we need to be cautious of the rain. We may not get a good planting day in until the end of the month or the first of May.

Several folks have asked what we are planting. This year we hope to be able to sell at our local Farmer's Market. On the docket is:

• Corn (feed and sweet)
• Green beans (blue lake and greasy)
• Okra
• Onions
• Carrots
• Radish
• Cucumber
• Garlic
• Spinach
• Collard Greens
• Kale
• Swiss Chard
• Lettuce (multiple varieties)
• Peppers (sweet and hot)
• Tomatoes
• Chicory
• Basil
• Cilantro
• Sage (over wintered and reproducing!)
• Thyme (over wintered and reproducing!)
• Chives
• Parsley
• Lavender
• Watermelon
• Strawberry
• Sunflowers

We definitely have our work cut out for us! But we enjoy being outside and the satisfaction of eating what you grow is second to none!