[TennesseeChicken]

When is everyone going to sow starts for the spring garden? What are you planting? Is anyone going to try anything 'different' this year? What are you using for potting soil for the starts?

I'm in southern middle Tennessee and will be starting cabbage soon, along with some onions, kohlrabi, leeks, and broccoli. Plan to start some snow peas and green beans in late Feb. I already have some tomatoes and lettuce, kale and spinach growing--can't wait to transplant the tomatoes! I tried artichokes last year but didn't get any--now they seem to have died from the frost! Hopefully they will come back. I've had good luck starting with a coir, manure compost, wood ash (instead of lime) and sand mix.

Mary Bowers
www.bowersfarmtn.com

 

[stephanie]

I have to wait til april to put any thing in the garden and even then it can be iffy due to freezing temps or snow fall. most stuff doesn't get going good till late march here in western washington state. so I spend april threw late march slowly planting seeds then any starts if I do them go out in may at the earliest.

 

[veggiewhisperer]

I have decided to start over. I'll be growing EVERYTHING in raised beds in order to make room for our chickens. We are so excited! I'll be using 1/3 of vermiculite, 1/3 compost, and 1/3 peat moss. The hubby has already put together 3 for me. Purchasing your own lumber, screws, and nails are far more cheaper than buying a ready made raised bed. I definitely want to go for a colorful garden this year. I want to grow a rainbow of carrots, potatoes, green beans, tomatoes, etc... I think growing the golden beets last year and the yellow flesh watermelon the year before sparked my interest. I am sure my children will love it as well.

 

[stephanie]

great, love the raised beds makes for easier time weeding and harvesting, remember those crazy chickens can jump/fly short distances. I have a few things to do before allowing my chickens back into the garden area so they don't get confused on how to get back into their coop.
goofy girls and boys. have one hen that decided winter was the best time to go broody on me so she is sitting on 5 eggs and has been for the last week!
I just got some of my materials to make 2 more raised beds this spring looking forward to expanding the garden space.

 

[Errol]

I am well on my way in starting my seedlings for this spring. I do the wintersowing as many of my friends do here in middle tn., I am also in southern middle tn not far from you Tennessee Chicken. you all should check into wintersowing if you want fun getting alot of seedlings cheap! I will post a picture of my 2013 wintersowings so the ones of you that don't know about wintersowing will have an idea about WS"

 

[PHONETOOL]

Thank you for the tip on wintersowing Errol

 

[Julie]

Hello! I am new here and I live in Iowa, zone 5. I will not start seed until April. We have a hard freeze. I am gathering seed. Does anyone want to exchange/share. This will be my 2nd year of gardening in my new home as I am a newly wed. Looking forward to digging in the dirt again.

I wanted to share how you can get FREE Butterfly seed assortment: Send a self-addressed stamped envelope to: Free 6-Pack Butterfly Seed Assortment, Shady Oak Butterfly Farm, 12876 SW County Rd 231, Brooker, FL 32622.

 

[PHONETOOL]

Thank you Julie for that information

 

[stephanie]

this is a good video for helping.

 

[Hart63]

Very beautiful roses indeed.
I have also put a shade on them for this hot months and allowing only 2 to 3 hours of morning sun...