Purple Hyacinth Bean

I planted purple hyacinth bean seeds about 3 weeks ago in a seedling flat and nothing has come up. I am wondering if anyone else has had problems with germination or growing this plant. I am so excited to have one on display on my deck this summer.

Spring is here. Peas are in the ground and the seedling flats are thriving!

Last Wednesday night, April 15th, I planted a variety of peas in one of the raised beds; including, sugar snap peas, shelling peas, giant snow peas, and flowering sweet peas. I am hoping all will be in full bloom and ready to harvest by mid-June.

It is still very dry and I need to rig up some sort of irrigation system ASAP!

I am also hoping to take advantage of this upcoming warm spell and plant some lettuce tomorrow, more details later.

A Rival of Recession Gardens

An article in the NY Times today caught my attention- The Starter Garden, A Novice in Search of Bounty. The author is a first-timer starting a backyard garden in Minneapolis.

We should let him know about Share Your Greens!

Garden tasks for this coming weekend

It sure has been a cold start to spring.  Regardless, I am hoping to get my peas planted next week. Tasks for this week include incorporating finished compost into the raised beds and cleaning up any mess from last fall.  

I am going to plant some flowering sweet pea along with the sugar snap peas this year.  I just love fresh peas. 

Happy Spring! 

I met my deadline! Seeds planted before April 1st.

Whewww I didn't think I was going to make it but the seeds are ready to go!  

This year, with a new baby, everything is behind schedule.  I ordered my seeds two weeks ago from Johnny's, Baker Creek Heirloom, and Burpee.  Here is what I planted in 4 flats yesterday:

- A variety of peppers, including Ace F1 (dependable, I grow it every year), Carmen (a sweet pepper that turns red fast), Ancho San Luis hot, and Romanian red (left-over seed from a few years ago, I have not idea if it will germinate) and a purple hot pepper that is mostly for color in the garden.  This family loves peppers!

- An assortment of Asian eggplant, once again leftovers from a few years ago... germination will be sketchy.  

-Purple hyacinth bean that I plan to grow in one pot on the deck (I know I will have extras!)

- Radicchio, this should be fun and interesting, I have never grown this before. 

- Beets

- Bianca Di Maggio onions

- Red long of tropea onion

- Carentan leeks

Now I just wait and hope for good germination.  

A Victory Garden at the White House, Finally!

From the New York Times:  

Obamas to Plant Vegetable Garden at White House

Spring is almost here and it is time to order seeds people!

Here is the start of what I will be ordering:

1. Hybrid Pepper, Ethnic Sweet Carmen F1 from Johnny's (the best!)
2. Hybrid Pepper, Green to Red Bell Ace F1 from Johnny's (another good one)
3. Cucumber, Specialty Diva from Johnnys (I WILL pickle these this year)
4. Hybrid Cucumber, Asian/Burpless Tasty Jade F1 from Johnny's (so yummy)
5. New varieties of carrots.  I loved growing carrots last year, need to order more seeds but I not sure what variety yet.  
6. More lettuce and spinach.  
7. Rainbow chard
8. Zinnia seeds, I am going to try to move all my flowers to a new bed this spring.  
9. Maybe eggplant.  
10. Maybe edamame.         
11. Maybe green beans (I didn't like the selection at the farmers market last year)              

P.S. I don't bother growing tomato seeds anymore, I just buy the seedlings from the St. Paul Farmers Market.  Same with all my herbs.