Plants

I've briefly mentioned it here before, but this year I am growing a garden.  My grandfather and father used to always plant huge gardens.  Then my grandfather and father started getting older and had more health concerns.  Last year my grandfather had jalapenos, tomatoes, and garlic.  This year, I'm having...oh I don't know, about 20,000 more things than that!  I literally have a lot of things I am planning on planting.  I am also unsure as to if this is a good thing or a bad thing.  I have plenty of space for everything.  I’m just kind of scared once everything starts to produce I may be a little bit overwhelmed!  Yesterday I went ahead and made some starters for some of my plants that need to sprout and develop a bit before going outside.  I had tomatoes, jalapenos, cayenne, Serrano’s, rosemary, oregano, lavender, basil, and thyme.  It felt like it took forever!!  I’ll show you guys my process for getting my seeds in there snuggly dirt homes.

First you’ll want to have your supplies at hand and ready!  We bought sphagnum peat moss and Styrofoam cups.  This is what my dad said would be best, and I trust him cause he’s a farmer!

Then you’ll want to put dirt in all your cups.

Next, you'll want to creat a little divot that you'll be putting your seeds into.

Then pick out the seeds your using.  Usually anywhere from 2-4 seeds.

Then, place your seeds in your divot and...

Gently cover!!

And you’re done!  Just repeat a bazillion times! 

I’m very excited about my seeds.  If everything goes well, I’ll be able to can my jalapenos, dry my chilies, and dry my herbs.  Talk about organic!!

This weekend, weather permitting, we’ll be planting our cool weather veggies.  These veggies include…

Beets
Bibb Lettuce
Sugar Snap Peas
Cabbage
Spinach
Radish
Black Seeded Lettuce
Collards
Meschlun Gourmet Greens

So, sometime before the weekend I need to go out with my husband and figure out where everything should be planted, and I also need to make my cute little garden signs so we know where everything is.

So far, I really have to say gardening really makes you realized how much faith it takes to grow something.  It seems insane that these little itty bitty seeds I’m covering with soil will grow and feed me.  I cannot imagine what it must have been like back in pioneering days.  When what they planted was their lively hood.  You just have to plant it, and let it grow, and hope it gets enough water, but not too much, and enough sun but not enough, and hope no insects eat it, or some disease kills it.

I have a feeling this experience is going to teach me a lot.