{"id":1745,"date":"2021-03-13T08:58:31","date_gmt":"2021-03-13T13:58:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplestead.com\/?p=1745"},"modified":"2021-08-29T11:32:35","modified_gmt":"2021-08-29T15:32:35","slug":"vegetable-and-spice-garden-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplestead.com\/?p=1745","title":{"rendered":"Vegetable and Spice Garden Time!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Spring is nearly here. That means its time to get gardening in earnest! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have written tons of posts and made lots videos about gardening over the years. So, below, I’m going to detail what I’ve got going on in my garden right now and what’s coming up in the near future. Then, I’ll also intersperse links to some of my related posts. That way you can get a sense of the timing of planting things and click out to read more detailed articles on the vegetables or spices you’re interested in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, if you are a first time gardener, check out my 10 post series about starting and enjoying your first potager on my Everyday Potager<\/a> page. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let’s get into the garden and see what’s going on!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

General Garden Preparation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The past few weeks have been all about mulching to minimize weeds, compost amending to nourish the soil, and generally getting the garden in great shape for planting. I did a lot of rearranging in my large potager. So, after all that soil disturbance to rearrange beds and walkways, covering and protecting the soil to keep it weed-free and protected until the plants start growing in was my top priority. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vegetables <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I’ve put my first potatoes in the ground in one of my edible landscape areas. These were planted in 4 inch furrows that I’ll mound over once and then harvest as new potatoes in late spring. My long storage potatoes will be planted about 8 inches deep in prepared garden beds this weekend. I am also going to grow some potatoes in grow bags toward the end of the month when it’s warmer. I love planting potatoes because they are so easy to grow, so calorie dense, and have such beautiful foliage to help fill in the garden early in spring. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

7 Critical Tips to Improve Potato Production in Beds and Containers<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Onion sets went in the ground last week. Normally I plant them at the end of February, but I got a late start this year. I also have onion plants growing in pots in the greenhouse that will go out next week. I grow both sets and<\/strong><\/em> plants because once I lost my plants to extreme weather events in early April. The plants just weren’t well-rooted enough when hurricane level winds came through and they were ripped out and blown all over the yard. The sets, however, are started deeper, rooted earlier, and haven’t let me down yet. The plants, though, potentially grow larger and are less prone to early flowering since they’ve never gone dormant. So, that’s why I hedge my bets and plant plenty of both. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Art of Growing Onions<\/a> <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

It’s also time to direct sow lettuce, arugula, carrots, beets, kale, spinach, cabbage, turnips, peas, and a few more. They may take a couple of weeks to germinate due to our temperature fluctuations outdoors. They also often germinate irregularly when early planted which means I might have plants maturing at different rates. Personally, though I consider that a plus so I can stagger my harvests without having to stagger my planting. Still, I always plant extra seeds at this time of year to make sure I get good germination overall. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Grow a Salad Garden from Seed to Table<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

All Hail, Kale! Growing Kale at Home (With Recipe)<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Growing Arugula: The Rocket in Your Salad Bowl and Garden (With Recipe)<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Indoors, I am getting peppers and tomatoes going. I also direct seed some tomatoes in May to keep the harvest going strong into fall. Also, just in case I get some early pathogens, my later started, entirely outdoor grown plants always seem immune to those fungal pathogens and help guarantee my harvest. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I planted some more asparagus too. We’re up to about 60 plants. Supposedly you only need 10 plants per person. But I think that’s only true if you don’t like asparagus as much as I do!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Growing Asparagus: How to Plant, Grow, and Harvest Asparagus<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Spices<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It’s also spice time in our garden. While I was writing the book on how to Grow Your Own Spices<\/a>, I devoted a lot of greenhouse, garden, and office area to grow spices so I could test their temperature tolerances, find out their fertility needs, etc. Now though, I am more in love with those plants than ever. So, I’ve been creating dedicated planting areas for my spice collection both indoors and out. I’ll share more about that as the warm weather sets in. But for now, here’s some info to help you get started growing spices in your garden. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Grow Spices At Home<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Some of my breadseed poppy plants have already emerged. But I am still waiting for the new seeds I sowed not too long ago to come up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
<\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>
<\/path><\/g><\/g><\/g><\/svg><\/div>
View this post on Instagram<\/div><\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div><\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div><\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/a>

A post shared by Tasha Greer (@exploresimplestead)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>