So much is happening in the gardening, it is such a fun time! My yard is split into various zones. In the backyard, I mainly grow food (though I do have three apple trees, a sour cherry tree, herbs, a grape vine, and some berries out front). I have a large (about 16′ x 16′) vegetable garden I have completely redone the garden layout for this year, drawing on raised row gardening. I also have some perennials and fruit trees in that garden (asparagus, strawberries, one grape vine, one fig tree, and two peach trees). So far, in the garden, I have planted some marigolds, garlic (probably not going to do as well as if I had planted in fall), onions, a lettuce mix, arugula, and spinach.
Outside of the vegetable garden I have lined the fence with blueberry and raspberry plants and interspersed some daffodils.
I also planted four new fruit trees this week. The trees were from Stark Brothers and were a Dwarf Granny Smith Apple, a Dwarf Black Tartarian Sweet Cherry Dwarf, a Semi-Dwarf Starkspur Red Rome Beauty Apple, and a Semi-Dwarf Emperor Francis Sweet Cherry. My plan is to train them to line the path sort of like espeliar but a bit less formal. I am also trying to keep them small and manageable so I’ve been following the advice in Grow a Little Fruit Tree by Ann Ralph. She recommends lopping them off at knee height when you get them to make a strong trunk and keep the tree from getting too large. It was very painful to cut off two feet of my new trees, but we’ll see how it goes! Also, as per tradition, I put some of my dogs’ ashes in the trees for good luck and so I can think of them when they fruit and flower. (Gromit and Bella were good dogs!).
Out front is mainly for flowers. So far the crocus, daffodils, snow drops and hellebore (lenten roses) are blooming. The hyacinths, fancy daffodils, anemone, and tulips will be blooming soon!
I also have a large maple tree that is putting out pretty red buds (that will turn into the little helicopter seeds).
In the basement, the seedlings are continuing to grow. Unfortunately, I neglected the plants a bit and some look very sad since they didn’t get enough water. I gave them some extra TLC today and hope they snap out of it.
| Indoor Plantings | Source | When Planted | Germinated |
| Basil (Genovese) | Baker Creek | 4 Weeks BLF | ??? |
| Tomato (White Tomesol) | Baker Creek | 4 Weeks BLF | ??? |
| Tomato (Cour di Bue) | Baker Creek | 4 Weeks BLF | ??? |
| Tomato (Paul Robeson) | Baker Creek | 4 Weeks BLF | ??? |
| Tomato (Black Cherry) | Baker Creek | 4 Weeks BLF | ??? |
| Tomato (Wood’s Famous Brimmer) | Baker Creek | 4 Weeks BLF | ??? |
| Snap Dragons (Black Prince) | Baker Creek | 7 Weeks BLF | ~3 Weeks |
| Broccoli (Hybrid Mini) | Johnny’s | 7 Weeks BLF | ~ 3 Days |
| Cauliflower (White Amazing) | Johnny’s | 7 Weeks BLF | ~ 3 Days |
| Kale (Blue Curled Scotch) | Baker Creek | 7 Weeks BLF | ~ 3 Days |
| Brussels Sprouts (Catskill) | Baker Creek | 7 Weeks BLF | ??? |
| Cauliflower (Hybrid Specialty) | Johnny’s | 7 Weeks BLF | ~ 3 Days |
| Cabbage (Brunswick) | Baker Creek | 7 Weeks BLF | ~ 3 Days |
| Ancho/Poblano Peppers | Eden Brothers | 7 Weeks BLF | ~2 Weeks |
| Peppers (Jalapeño Early) | Eden Brothers | 7 Weeks BLF | ~2 Weeks |
| Peppers (Brazilian Starfish) | Baker Creek | 7 Weeks BLF | ~2 Weeks |
| Peppers (Doux D’Espagne) | Baker Creek | 7 Weeks BLF | ~2 Weeks |
| Tomatoes (Purple Russian) | Baker Creek | 7 Weeks BLF | 1 Week |
| Brussels Sprouts (Catskill) | Baker Creek | 10 Weeks BLF | XXX |
| Broccoli (Waltham 29) | Baker Creek | 10 Weeks BLF | ~ 3 Days |
| Cabbage (Brunswick) | Baker Creek | 10 Weeks BLF | ~ 3 Days |
| Cauliflower (Rober) | Baker Creek | 10 Weeks BLF | ~1 Week |
| Kale (Blue Curled Scotch) | Baker Creek | 10 Weeks BLF | ~ 3 Days |
| Peppers (Jalapeño) | Me | 10 Weeks BLF | XXX |
| Peppers (Jalapeño Early) | Eden Brothers | 10 Weeks BLF | ~ 3 Weeks |
| Peppers (Poblano) | Me | 10 Weeks BLF | XXX |
| Snapdragons (Black Prince) | Baker Creek | 10 Weeks BLF | ~ 2 Weeks |
| Stock (Antique Pink) | Johnny’s | 10 Weeks BLF | ~ 1 Week |
| Stock (Katz Formula Mix) | Johnny’s | 10 Weeks BLF | ~ 1 Week |
| Outdoor Plantings | Source | When Planted | Notes |
| Sweet Cherry (Emperor Francis) | Stark Bros | 4 Weeks BLF | Back Path |
| Sweet Cherry (Black Tartarian) | Stark Bros | 4 Weeks BLF | Back Path |
| Apple (Red Rome Beauty) | Stark Bros | 4 Weeks BLF | Back Path |
| Apple (Granny Smith) | Stark Bros | 4 Weeks BLF | Back Path |
| Spinach | ??? | 5 Weeks BLF | Veggie Patch |
| Arugula | Baker Creek | 5 Weeks BLF | Veggie Patch |
| Lettuce (Cosmic Crimson Mix) | Baker Creek | 5 Weeks BLF | Veggie Patch |
| Heritage Red Raspberry | Stark Bros | 4 Weeks BLF | Back Fence |
| Ringmaster Onion | Stark Bros | 4 Weeks BLF | Veggie Patch |
| Italian Late Garlic | Stark Bros | 5 Weeks BLF | Planted with Strawberries Probably Wrong Time |
| Marigolds (Varios) | Baker Creek | 5 Weeks BLF | Probably too Early – I got Excited |
| Grape | ??? | 5 Weeks BLF | Transplanted along fence of Veggie Patch |
| Fig | Farmer’s Market | 5 Weeks BLF | Transplanted inside of Veggie Patch |
I went out to Vintage Hill about a week ago and bought some butterfly bushes and Lantana for the front fence to create a vibrant butterfly garden along the front for others to enjoy. I will plant those out in April. I need to transplant lots of things and I am also going to build a pond in the front, so lots of things in the works!
In terms of resources, I am totally loving Gardener’s World with Monty Don. I’ve been watching through Amazon Prime with the free trial of the Inside Outside. add on. The show is just delightful and informative and I watch while I cycle in the basement. I’ve learned so much from the show and gotten to see gardens from around the UK.
Until next time, happy gardening!
Dirty Britches 
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