My fellow backyard gardener, Bill Hitt, orders seeds from multiple catalogues. As a result, he’s on every gardening mailing list in North America. The postman needs a wheelbarrow to get the catalogues up his driveway. I, however, am on just a few lists but already my contacts are sending me seed catalogues. I am beyond ready to get seeds in the ground and to get my garden going.
Another fellow backyard gardener, Tim Tigner, gave me a Christmas gift of a yard of garden soil. He delivered it in his pickup and together we scattered the dark brown soil on top of my dormant garden. For the first time ever, I am not going to plow or till. I will simply sew the seeds directly into the topsoil. I have heard that many gardeners who employ this tactic get great results – something about the plowing that disrupts the underground chemistry.
As I said, I am eager to get going.
My annual problem with this eagerness is a tendency to over-buy when it comes to seeds. I only have a small plot, but each year I buy enough seeds for a 600-acre farm in Iowa. I can’t resist – too many choices. Then, because I have way too many seeds for my small plot, I plant too closely and crowd my rows.
Not this year, dammit. This year I will only but enough seeds to fill my needs. I will not go off the deep end.
Here is my meager list for my early garden.
Radishes, Leaf Lettuce, Kale, Collards, Beets, Rutabagas, Turnips, Chard, Broccoli, Potatoes, Cauliflower, Carrots, Asparagus, Parsnips, Brussels Sprouts, Sweet Peas and Cabbage
See, I told you I wouldn’t overdo it!