GardenHelp.org

Summer Garden Party

December 2008 has been a rough month for Seattle gardens. Even before the first day of winter, snow and ice blanketed garden beds and temps stayed abnormally low. Now that the first round of real winter weather has passed, I find myself planning and plotting for the warm months of 2009.

Earlier today I read a disheartening article on gardenrant.com warning that what may appear to be organic isn’t necessarily so. And, it isn’t just that the organic food we pay a premium for could be the same as the non-organics. The problem is that the amendments we gardeners and farmers are buying may be tainted. So, short of building all our own fertilizers, soil, and raising our own seed, we may not ever be sure if our organic garden really is 100% so. Still, I have hope.

And I hope to translate that hope into reality this year by planning to start as much of my edible garden this year from seed as possible. It may be surprising to hear, but I often find myself picking up organic starts for many of my edibles. I go to local plant sales and reputable nurseries for them, and I grow them on in my little greenhouse until the time is right to set them out in my garden beds. Why? Well, honestly, I’m a very busy professional gardener, so my personal gardening time tends to suffer. But, this year I’m getting a jump start on things!

Over the past weekend, as I watched the last patches of snow melt away, I sat in my dining room with a notepad and seed catalog in hand. Recently, I discovered a local Washington seed supplier Irish Eyes. Irish Eyes offers a fantastic array of seed, much of which is certified organic and many are heirloom. To me, this is critical. In a world where Monsantos and others are buying up seed and claiming patents on what nature created, I seek to buy from the little guy who keeps ancient strains going and maintains seed that isn’t “Roundup-Ready”. So far my list includes several types of potato, carrots, broccoli, kale, lettuce, and beans. My pen is marking the pea and parsnip page, so my list isn’t done yet!

Greenhouse Abundance in August

As well, I spent some time walking our garden spaces with my husband to determine the best spots for some of our garden changes for next year. Bob has a knack for building, and this year (along with all his other projects) he hopes to build a real greenhouse for us. (Last year we made due with a pvc-wire and plastic-zipper one that was a great start but doesn’t hold up — especially when I’m sick during a snowstorm and neglect to knock off the breaking snow weight. ) Bob determined that the footprint of this structure’s plans would work in our back garden. We also discussed tearing out the raised beds in our front garden to put in a second greenhouse there, but that may come in a few years and would allow us to keep a lot of food going year-round!

Red Fingerling Potato Plant

And, I do need to mention that we’re both very excited about putting in wooden bins for potatoes this year. In the past I’ve grown them in nursery tree tubs, which has worked pretty well. But, we’re up for a new technique that may yield much more food while looking a lot prettier than the ugly black tubs.

So, for those of you wondering what to do in the garden right now, my best advice is look and plan. Unless you have broken branches that need trimming, best to leave the garden be for now. The beds are saturated and susceptible to soil compaction if you start tramping on them. Perennials and annuals that finally gave up the ghost in this last freeze aren’t going anywhere. So I suggest spending your energy on planning for the months ahead. Get out those seed catalogs, measure beds, and dream of garden fresh tomatoes, fragrant summer phlox, and juicy blueberries. Order those seeds soon or a few months hence you may find yourself standing in line to buy spendy packs of seedlings instead of early-harvesting seed grown greens you can be proud of!