We set out to plant sugar snap peas. We planted a lot more this year because we I like them so much.  But instead of hoards of sugar snap peas, we have an assortment.  Go figure.

Hint: They’re all fruits, veggies, or herbs.

The first red strawberry of the year!

I’d love strawberries all summer long so I’d like to introduce one of the newest members of our garden…

Since we’re on gardening, I’ll continue with a belated update on our garden.

In late April, our asparagus finally made its appearance.  We’ve not enjoyed a large harvest but the spears we have cut have been extremely tender and tasty (even the really thick ones).

The romaine is doing fabulously in our makeshift green houses. This picture is actually from April. They were large enough to separate into individual heads today.

The mesculan greens mix is growing well, too. Again, this picture is from April. Today we could have harvested a single serving of salad. I planted some more seeds today so we’ll have a rotating harvest.

Patrick’s been working hard to set up climbing structures for the cucumbers and beans and snap peas.  We (minus his blistered hands) are pretty excited for how these turned out.

In other garden news…

• We had too much frost for the Asian cucumbers.
• There are tomatoes growing from our compost all over the garden and they’re super-hardy.
• We put the peanut plants in the ground today.
• We ended up buying already-started seedlings for many pepper varieties, basil, cilantro, and eggplant.
• The decorative gourd I was too lazy to throw away last year sprouted. We planted it.

Yesterday I was beyond excited when Patrick discovered last year’s dill had seeded and was popping up all over the garden.  I’m hoping to make refrigerator pickles again (which call for a lot of dill) and it will be one less herb plant I have to buy!  Who knew little green sprouts could be the source of so much joy?

I also get excited when I eye up a pot of leftovers and come out of the tupperware drawer with not only a matching top and bottom but a container that’s the perfect size for said leftovers.  Is it sad that I consider that one of my talents?

Yup, sometimes it’s the simple things.

What are your simple pleasures?

On Good Friday (4/2), we put a good number of seedlings (snap peas, pole beans, and cucumbers) into the ground.

Since we spent a good bit of time in Colonial Williamsburg over the past year and we both have a fancy for the way things were done centuries ago, we decided to make good use of our brush piles to build sturdy structures for our peas, beans, and cukes to climb.  Last year we used flimsy tomato cages and ugly trellises.  Here is the pea/bean tent that Patrick created.  He blogged a little about our inspiration here. 

I’d also like to note here that we he used duct tape to attempt to keep the strips of landscaping material together so we could roll it up to add compost and till.  It mostly worked. 

Sometime the week after Easter we sowed corn, lettuce (Romaine and a baby green mix), and spinach directly into the ground.  We had major rabbit issues last year so I’m protecting the spinach (and the bottoms of the peas and beans) with upside down plastic cups (with the bottoms cut out for the peas and beans).

Sunday, 4/11, Patrick put the sqaush, zuccini, and melons in the ground. 

Note that there is really no rhyme or reason (or gardening expertise) behind our “schedule” for planting.  This is just how it’s happening this year.

I also am discovering by happenstance that some herbs are perennial.  The sage and mint are back in droves. 

The oregano came back last year but not so much this year.

Generally everything is doing well (everything that’s come up, that is).  We’re still waiting on rosemary, chives, and a couple peppers.  It also turns out that the lettuce and broccoli seedlings doesn’t do well in all day sun.  I think they’re a little too fragile.

How’s does your garden grow?

For the record, we planted the following on March 7th:

• pole beans
• tomatoes (rainbow, big beef, cherry)
• snap peas
• peppers (jalepeno, pablano, cayenne, sweet bell)
• cucumbers (asian, ???)…hoping some turn out to be pickling
• herbs (cilantro, chives, rosemary, parsley, basil)
• romaine lettuce
• soy beans
• onions
• yellow squash and zuccini
• broccoli

Although we bought little biodegradable trays for starting, we found that cardboard egg cartons worked well, too.  We are not big fans of the seed starter soil we used this year though because it’s difficult to water.

Here’s what the seedlings look like a week later.