Must be January 'cause I am thinking about the garden.

[wildeyed]

Time to build new beds, order seeds, etc.....


My overall plan for my large suburban yard is to convert all un-used lawn to either food producing or low maintenance native plants.

So this year I want to add blueberries, strawberries and asparagus. If anyone has recommendations for varieties that do well in the SE, let me know.

This years tomatoes will be old favorites; Brandywine, Yellow Pear, Early Girl and some sort of paste tomato. I have a dehydrator now, so I am planning to preserve the extras.

I liked the monster squash vine from last year, Zucchetta Rampicante, but am worried about space and how to keep it contained. On the other hand, it produced consistently all summer with little care and the squashes were yummy, so that was nice.

I will do green beans and cukes again this year, even though I was *extremely* disappointed with last year's results.

Need to start broccolis, cabbage and the like inside for the spring garden. Also, I may add hoops over one of the garden beds for some weather protection and start lettuce and spring mix early.

This year I am not even going to attempt a fall veggie garden. I forced myself last year, but never got the results harvested. I am too burned out by fall, even though it is a great time to garden in the south.

I would love to re-do the deck out back and include a native plant wildlife garden in the plans, but I doubt we have the $$'s this year, even if we do a lot of the work ourselves.

So those are my random winter garden thoughts. Any one else making plans?

[jillan]

1. It's so funny reading this -

I live in Arizona and it's so crazy.
I garden when most of the country can't, and most of the country gardens when I can't.

Right now I have beautiful lettuce and spinach.
My tomato plants are getting big. Waiting for my carrots and onions be ready to be pulled.
Just planted some red potatoes.
Gotta get it done before that 100* sets in.
Then, I'll come here and be jealous of all of you and your great stories of success while I watch my vegies fry...

[hippywife]

2. We're in the midst

of a huge ice storm. It's been freezing rain and sleeting since last night and it's showing no signs of stopping yet on the radar. Will probably continue through most of tonight, too.

Somehow, our garden isn't quite on my mind at the moment. :cry:

[wildeyed]

3. Ice storms are the worst.

We get them around here. Breaks tree limbs off onto the power lines. The year I was hugely pregnant with my second, we had one that knocked power out for a week. Then the ice melted and caused the basement to flood because the sump pump was out. Fun winter, that one.

Hope all is well, your power stays on and the larder is well stocked :hug:

[hippywife]

4. Oh my gosh!

Ours was out for almost a week last year but I certainly can't imagine going through that pregnant and with a child in the house, too. Glad you guys made it okay.

Our roads out here are extremely slick and my other half got his truck stuck for a short time but we are hunkered down with plenty in the larder.

:hug: