impatiently waiting for spring

[kelzey]

next year will be my second year of gardening and all i do is think about things that i could grow next season (well between thoughts of getting chicks in the spring and making plans for a second coop). but anyways, i was wondering if some of y’all could tell me what you plan on growing? so that maybe i can get more ideas and such, i’m always open to trying new things

 

[FluffyBottomBantams]

Maybe look into flowers, plants, herbs etc that your chickens would like? I know people grow things like marigold and whatnot to give to their birds.

 

[kelzey]

Maybe look into flowers, plants, herbs etc that your chickens would like? I know people grow things like marigold and whatnot to give to their birds.

yes i thought about that! i bought some pot marigold and nasturtium seeds, but i’ll definitely look into herbs too

 

[FluffyBottomBantams]

We tried that last summer. I was awful about remembering to water them so they didn’t make it through the season haha

 

[Sally PB]

1) Grow what will grow in your area.
2) Grow what you like to eat.
3) Grow what chickens like to eat.
4) Grow what you have time to take care of.

There are a lot of greens that will grow up north where you are. My chickens really like kale and spinach. I love spinach; kale is only so-so. I grow it for the chickens.

Oh, man, am I ready for spring too. I've been getting the garden porn seed catalogs. This time of year, I tend to buy way too much, thinking everything sounds good. Last summer, garden seeds were hard to come by in some places, due to Covid. I bought most of what I'm growing next year in August, telling myself that I don't NEED to buy any more seed. Yeah, right.

So next year will be tomatoes, butternut squash, potatoes, onions, garlic, asparagus, strawberries, and blueberries. I tuck greens in where I have room, and I'll try some mangels next year for the chickens.

Here are some things that worked well for me (or maybe it just worked out well this year? who knows):

Plant a lot of onions in with potatoes. No potato beetles that I saw. Best onion and potato crops I ever had.

Plant marigolds near tomatoes. No soldier bugs that I saw. (Had a bunch the year before.)

I'm trying some different tomato varieties next year. Still had to buy some this season to can all the 'maters I'll use in a year.

I retired last spring, and I spent a lot more time weeding. It really showed, and I had the most productive garden ever, even though some things were a total flop. (Melons, I'm looking at you. Grrr.) So that's why I say plant what you have time to take care of. I happen to like playing in the dirt.

 

[Artichoke Lover]

I’m starting a bed for perennial fruits and vegetables this year. Currently all I have in the ground is strawberries and garlic but I plan on adding kiwi, asparagus, blueberries and artichokes.

 

[Sally PB]

I love perennial stuff! Takes the planning out of everything. It's just there, every year. It also works as a marker or divider. The potatoes are south of the asparagus. The tomato beds are north of the strawberries.

What kind of garlic did you plant? I planted one called "Music" and it may have only 4-5 cloves per bulb, but they are HUGE! I give some to friends and tell them that these are the small cloves, because you save the big ones to plant. Then they see how big they are and do a double take!

 

[Artichoke Lover]

I love perennial stuff! Takes the planning out of everything. It's just there, every year. It also works as a marker or divider. The potatoes are south of the asparagus. The tomato beds are north of the strawberries.

What kind of garlic did you plant? I planted one called "Music" and it may have only 4-5 cloves per bulb, but they are HUGE! I give some to friends and tell them that these are the small cloves, because you save the big ones to plant. Then they see how big they are and do a double take!

Just some locally grown hardneck from the grocery store. None of the local stores have garlic for planting in the fall so if I want a particular type I have to order it.

 

[Sally PB]

locally grown hardneck

OOooooo! So you get a double harvest! Scapes! Yum! More exclamation points!

 

[ChocolateMouse]

Everyones climate is gonna be different! But there's what I ahve so far

Celine Bush Bean
Dragon langerie bean
KY wonder bean
cascadia peas
Nufar Basil
celery
tomatoes (plum regal)
cherry tomatoes (Matts Wild)
lettuce
potatoes (purple viking and peter wilcox)
squash (brulee butternut/honeynut)
Kale
carrots
Zucchini (costata romanesc)
Black Futsu Pumpkin
Bloomsdale Longstanding Spinach