We’re supposed to have a couple of days of rain so I thought it was the perfect opportunity to go ahead and plant our green beans. Our average date of last frost was the 15th so I think we’ll be ok. I’m really, really hoping to get enough to can this year.
Benjamin helped me plant the beans. We’re still working on raised beds but since we have about 14 beds, they’re not all getting done this year. This is a handy little seed planter that my mom gave us. Thanks, Mom! It has a little hopper that you put the seeds in. It makes a rut, drops the seed, covers the seed and pats it down. I probably wouldn’t go out and buy one, but it’s fun to have.
We have several hot pepper plants that have survived the winter and are growing peppers. We also have a bell pepper plant. I’m the only bell pepper lover so one will be plenty for the year.
Our Swiss Chard is doing great. We planted Bright Lights variety and an all green variety. The Bright Lights are beautiful. I think they all taste the same but my children think the all green is better. No one but me likes it just sauteed, so I’ve been putting it in eggs, lasagna, chicken alfredo and soups. No complaints when I add to something they already like.
So maybe the cauliflower wasn’t an epic fail after all. It’s just a late bloomer. We’ve been enjoying a lot of cauliflower the past few weeks.
Benjamin found some more sweet potatoes in the patch where we grew them last year. I’m going to try to grow them in rows this year to make harvest a little easier. Looks like we’re going to have some sweet potato pie soon.
Here’s our lemon tree. The crazy thing with citrus, and lemon in particular, is that they can bloom year round. This tree bloomed in the early fall and so we have about 20 small lemons already growing. I think it’s fun to see blooms and fruit on the same tree.
Our orange tree also has lots of blooms. We didn’t get any oranges last year so I’m anxiously waiting to see if we get some this year.
Although I’ve enjoyed the warm winter, I’m afraid we might also have a hotter than normal summer, which isn’t so nice.
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This post is shared at Barn Hop #100, Backyard Farming Connection, Garden Party Tuesday,
Stacy
Wednesday 6th of March 2013
Wow, how nice to have beans planted! I have heard that having a lemon tree is wonderful.
Visiting from TGP and now a new follower.
Angi Schneider
Friday 8th of March 2013
Welcome, Stacy. We're glad your here.
Taylor-Made Ranch
Sunday 3rd of March 2013
We're currently starting our heirloom seeds indoors so we'll have seedlings to actually put in the soil when the danger of the last frost has passed here in Texas. I can't wait until spring - I need to get out there & get my hands in the dirt. Thanks for sharing this post. (visiting from Homestead Barn Hop)
~Taylor-Made Ranch~Wolfe City, Texaswww.taylormaderanch.com/blog
Angi Schneider
Monday 4th of March 2013
I love your little "greenhouse". I need to restart some of my tomato seedlings. We had 40mph winds last week and it killed a few of them. Thanks for visiting.
Heather
Tuesday 26th of February 2013
All of that swiss chard! I am so jealous! We are months away from fresh garden veggies...I am just starting seeds indoors now :-) And I hope that I can get some fresh herbs going soon to at least have in the house until I can plant in the Garden (in June :-)).
Angi Schneider
Tuesday 26th of February 2013
wow, June? I met a lady from England the other day and she said she had only a 3 month growing season. But that she was able to start quite a bit indoors, too.
Fresh herbs will be nice.
Nancy
Monday 25th of February 2013
Looks like you have a great start to a beautiful garden! We love Swiss Chard and I am growing "Bright Lights" this year too. I like all the colors in the garden and we use the leaves in lots of dishes too...thanks for the post!
Angi Schneider
Tuesday 26th of February 2013
The colors of the bright lights is what made me want to grow them, too. I love them.
Sadie
Monday 25th of February 2013
Beautiful garden! We are just getting started with greens going in soon!
Angi Schneider
Tuesday 26th of February 2013
Thanks, It think greens are my favorite to grow - they're easy and don't take much maintainig.