Planted My First Garden Crop This Year

First Crop In!

In my favorite book, The Encyclopedia of Country Living, written by homesteader, Carla Emery, she tells of planting the first seeds in the early spring, which were peas. Since she was in Idaho, her spring was probably much colder than mine here in upstate New York. I always read that part when spring is here and I can't start planting yet. Peas are a cold weather crop. She said you could plant them in the fall and they will come up in the spring on their own. Just remember they are there, and don't plow them up in the spring.

First Bed Is In!

My husband had plowed up a couple of my raised beds already on one of our nicer days. So I planted a whole raised bed of peas. Just had to poke the seed down an inch and cover it back up. Took me all of 20 minutes. We are still having cold nights, but cold weather crops should survive those nights.

More beds to do!

As you can see, the beds that haven't been worked on yet, look terrible. I am embarrassed to admit, I did not put them to bed for the winter properly last year. My father's death, and working on putting his house in order to sell, left us totally exhausted. We lost all our harvest and wore ourselves out. We aren't twenty anymore! We will make up for that this year!

Another bed ready to plant!

Our spring has been very cold, the temperature is in the twenties in the morning. Yesterday morning, we had frost. I hear our weather is supposed to be nice for the next five days. If that turns out to be right, I hope to get more beds in shape and ready to plant. Memorial Day is the day in our area, when most people get their gardens in. I try to beat that, but many times end up starting my plants in containers and transplanting them. I will keep some in containers though,  in case I need to take them with me when we move from here. Happy planting!

Copyright © 2013 Kathleen G. Lupole

All Photographs Copyright © 2013  Kathleen G. Lupole

My Garden

As I told you last week, I have a new blog that I had to get started for Homesteading On The Internet. The biggest reason came to light to me yesterday when I put this blog's URL into the Whois box, and found out my name doesn't come up at all. This blog is owned by Blogger. Not me. So I am getting started right now, moving my posts from here to the new one. I am doing this myself and taking my time. Until then I will write a post with a link to the new one. I hope this works for you. It will for me.

My new post is Watching My Garden Grow and I'd love for you to stop by there and check it out!

Copyright © 2012 Kathleen G. Lupole

All Photographs Copyright © 2012  Kathleen G. Lupole

The Cool Weather Garden

My favorite place to be!

We have had such an unusual winter and spring here in New York this year. I am thrilled to have actually planted seeds in my garden already! Never, have I been able to do that in all the years I have lived here. Using the wheel hoe we plowed up our raised beds on the side of the house. The wooden ones. Once that was done, I could not wait to plant something in them.

All planted!

I decided to plant some cold weather vegetables. These are vegetables that like cold weather. They actually do better being started in the early spring, as soon as the ground has thawed. Every year though, we usually cannot  start the garden until late May or early June. That means it is too late to start the cool weather plants. After these plants are harvested, probably in late May, it will be time to plow the beds up again and plant the seedlings I started in the house. Haven't started them yet, but will be doing that within the next couple of weeks.

Called the "snake bed" due to its shape

I spent a couple of days this week planting peas, kale, spinach, beets and cabbage. I have already planted two small raised beds of lettuce and salad greens. Chives, lemon balm and rhubarb are coming up too. My husband also dug up one of our rock raised beds, this one is the biggest and usually the hardest to do. We call it the "snake bed." I planted peas in it. Now we'll wait and see if the weather stays cool, but not too cool, so they do well. Have you been able to start your garden yet?

Copyright © 2012 Kathleen G. Lupole

All Photographs Copyright © 2012  Kathleen G. Lupole

Planning The 2012 Garden List

Raised Beds in Winter 2011

As the old saying goes, "The days get longer, the cold gets stronger." It is very true. My husband walks around saying that to himself much of the time. We look forward to longer days, but not to the bitter cold of winter. So during this time of the year, what do I do? I ponder what seeds to start in March for my garden! Yes, it is that time of the year when the seed companies are busy sending me catalogs. I love to study them over and over.

These raised beds can grow an awful lot of food!

This year, I have promised myself to not waste an inch of space in my raised beds. That means planting only the vegetables we absolutely love and will eat. Some of our old favorites we will be increasing.

Cucumbers 

Cucumbers - I did really well last year with the Blonde Boothby. Will be planting that as well as the Lemon Cucumber. We really loved these and they were plentiful. Walking out to the garden and picking one to eat as a snack is something we all do. They are always there and there is no shortage.

Green Beans

Green Beans is a food that our whole family loves. My son would open a jar for supper every night if I didn't argue. So we need many jars of them. I never seem to plant as many as I need. Or we just eat more if they are available. I usually plant the bush type bean.

Yellow Squash

Summer Squash is a vegetable that we normally eat fresh all summer. If I can get it started inside and out in the ground pretty quick, we will have plenty and soon. I also can it and it has turned out to be a much better product than when I tried it before. The secret is to can it in cubes. Very good all winter!

Zucchini

Zucchini is a vegetable I always have in my garden. I can make so many dishes with it as well as pickles, relish, in salad, with dips, fried and in casseroles. What isn't there to love about this veggie?

Butternut Squash

Butternut and Acorn Squash is another vegetable that can be used for many dishes. I like to make a pie with it using a pumpkin pie recipe. Nobody ever knows the difference.

Copyright © 2012 Kathleen G. Lupole

All Photographs Copyright © 2012  Kathleen G. Lupole
Updated July 2016

Projects We Are Working On This Week

Worked out here this morning.

This morning my husband and I spent outside working on our projects. He is rebuilding our stairs from the cellar to the pantry. So he was tearing the old ones out to put the new ones in. He is also changing the direction of the stairs so it will be easier for me.

The old cellar stairs are history now.

I did some laundry outside and then worked on getting some of the raised beds planted. I also started some seeds in containers. Every year I have some on the walls of the various raised beds. This year you can not have too much food growing. We will be canning most of our harvest for the winter.

Raised beds made of rock.

So I worked as much as my knees could take and then the mosquitoes started coming around. So I figured it was time to go in. Tomorrow I will get some more seeds in. Putting in a little more each day. I mix together radish seeds, a couple varieties with carrot seeds and plant them any place I can stick them in. By planting them together you can always tell where the carrot is going to come up by the radishes which come in usually very quickly.

 Copyright © 2011 Kathleen G. Lupole
All Photographs Copyright © 2011 Kathleen G. Lupole

First Plants Of 2011 In The Ground!

Today even though it was raining most of the day, my husband prepared two of our wood raised beds. He had to weed them first as they had really filled up with grass and weeds something awful. Then he used the wheel hoe/cultivator to plow it up. Then added fresh new compost from our compost pile. This is compost that has been sitting for a couple of years. It is very rich, dark and full of good things. Then he plowed it again.

After he did all that hard work. I had the job of bringing some of the plants from in the house and planted them in the first raised bed. I put the Green Hubbard Winter squash there. Six of them. I had eight, but broke two of them when trying to transplant them. That is because they had gotten quite big and I usually transplant them before they get that size. Next year, I will not start them so soon.

I did not get the second bed planted yet. Hopefully, I will get that one planted tomorrow. These beds are in the side yard, sort of out of the way. That way when they spread out they are not such a pest to my husband when he mows the lawn. He is very particular about the lawn!

Copyright © 2011 Kathleen G. Lupole
All Photographs Copyright © 2011 Kathleen G. Lupole

Raised Beds Make Gardening Easier!

Raised beds look bare presently!

I have been so busy lately I can hardly keep up. My seedlings grew so much I had to transplant them. Today, I am going to try to transplant them yet again! Then start some more seeds. In our climate here in upstate NY, we can keep starting seeds right up the June or even later. I can start seeds inside all summer and when the plants outside are finished producing, I can transfer these out there.

Can't wait to plant in them!

Eventually, we plan on changing these beds over to rock beds. But when we built these back in 2005, it did not cross our minds that we would eventually build any out of rock. These we did together. My husband built them and I filled them with compost, as at that time my knees were fine. When my husband rebuilds these, he is planning on making them higher. That way I don't have squat down to work in them. Last year, I started using a stool from the house to sit on when working in them.

No bending! 

These beds are what I use for lettuce and salad greens. There is no bending involved. You can use just about anything for a raised bed if you find something that might work. Just as long as it has good drainage. When I plant my salad greens, I buy a bunch of different varieties of anything that can be used in your salads. Then I mix all the seeds into one container. And plant! They are awesome and you have the greens and lettuce that you like or want to try. Include some spicy types for a variety of tastes. What a tossed salad you will have!

A bed made of rocks!

I cannot understand why everybody does not grow most of their own vegetables during gardening season. My father, at almost 92, is probably outside today working on his garden. He has always had one and still does. Every year he tells me that next year he is going to have a smaller one, or not one at all. Then I go up to see him, and he shows me what he planted. It is usually the same size. Look at the prices in the store of lettuce alone! Then bring it home and see how quickly you have to use it. If it was growing in your own garden, you could leave it out there until you use it. If you have never had a garden, go buy one packet of seeds today. Then plant one container and eat it all summer. You will love it!

Copyright © 2011 Kathleen G. Lupole
All Photographs Copyright © 2011 Kathleen G. Lupole

New Life Around Peaceful Forest Homestead

Tiger lilies along our road!

It is a sure sign that spring is here when the tiger lilies start showing their little heads. I love to see them knowing that in July they will be full and thick, and showing off their beautiful orange flowers. But this is how they look when they first start out.

What many people don't know about them is that you can eat them. Yes, especially these little shoots in spring. They can be added to salad or cooked like asparagus. In the summer you can eat the flowers. They can also be dipped in batter and fried.

For the past week the paddock is very muddy. The horses have not been coming in to the barn except for a drink and then heading back out. It is very hard for my husband feeding them out there as he has to walk through deep mud. They find little islands and stand there hoping he will bring their food to them. He scatters the hay around though, so they do have to move to get to that.

The lawn is very green and trees are budding. But the lawn is very soft so I try not to walk on it too much. Soon it will be all soaked in and and I will be planting my plants in my garden. I can't wait for that. It is my favorite thing to do.

Copyright © 2011 Kathleen G. Lupole
All Photographs Copyright © 2011 Kathleen G. Lupole

Gardening Season Is Almost Here!

I have been awaiting anxiously the time to plant my garden. My seedlings have all been sprouting and some of them I am transferring into bigger pots today. They have grown too big for their flats. Need room to spread those roots. I will not jump the gun and stick them in the ground too early. It is a good thing too as they are saying we will be having snow showers tomorrow. I know New York weather only too well! I try to be patient as much as I can.

With the prices in the grocery stores for food you have to be crazy not to grow a garden this year. We all need food. You can easily plant some seeds or plants in containers if you are afraid of the effort of putting in a regular garden. It is great if you like certain vegetables that are out of sight price wise. Not to mention the safety issues and of course, taste. Nothing tastes better than a tomato picked from your own plant! I know because I never buy tomatoes in the grocery stores as they have no taste. What are you paying for? Cardboard? Cucumbers are the same. Horrible! Yet the ones I grow in my garden are so good I can eat a whole one like an apple.

My father is the gardener I have learned from. He is still gardening and next Thursday he turns 91! My mother and him always had a garden but it was his baby. He worked it. She just would go out and pick some vegetables for supper. She has been gone now for over seven years and he is still gardening. He is the type of man who needs to keep busy (like my husband).

Memorial Day is the normal planting day around here. So I will work on the plants I keep in containers. I like to grow as much food as I can in every single lick of space there is. Our raised beds hold our rich, black beautiful compost and it is worth having because our plants usually are very strong and productive. There are some plants that I will start from seeds in the ground but I have even started cucumbers and squash inside this year to hope to get a quick start on the garden.

I already have some lettuce and greens growing as they can be started in cool weather. Soon we will be having some tasty salads with them, adding in some wild greens too. Easy to make a big salad with what we have. Not having to worry about the nasty stuff (E-Coli) from the stores is a big relief.

Copyright © 2010 Kathleen G. Lupole

Preparing Our Raised Beds For Planting Season

We have been so pleased with our spring time weather this year. Sunny here for the last few days. The only trouble is that my husband and I both caught colds and they are really bad. So we don't feel good but we aren't letting that stop us. It is spring and perfect time for getting our raised beds in shape for planting. We can't plant here in New York till around Memorial Day but I like to have it ready so all I have to do is put my plants and/or seeds in the ground.

We do not use a rototiller. In fact, we have never used one or would we. We like to keep our garden as organic as possible. My husband put a bicycle tire on a wheel hoe and that is all he uses to plow our garden. You can use it in a regular garden or in the raised beds. I can use it because it is so light and easy to maneuver. Best of all, is not having gasoline fumes to breathe while you are working..........no gas and no fumes on your garden and plants!

The last two days my husband plowed up a few of the raised beds and added compost to them. Our compost pile comes from our horses. We have three piles. One is the one we add to right now. The second pile is the one we added to last year and is setting this year. The third one is the we use this year  because it has already set and composted. It seems to compost pretty quick. The dirt that comes from that compost is very dark, rich dirt. Everything grows big that comes from it.

Our raised beds are a variety of different materials. The wood ones were built from rough cut lumber. Do not use railroad ties as they are not safe to use, since they have been treated and you don't want that around your food. That applies to lumber that is treated not to rot too. I can never understand why people who plant their own food would use unsafe wood to plant their food in. Don't take the chance with it.

I have one raised bed that is made from cinder blocks. That one is a really good bed and the food grows great in it. My friend, Jamie named it "the jurassic bed". The zucchini I grew in that bed was huge! Sometimes I didn't even know it was there, and would come back to see if there was anything to pick yet.  And I'd have a huge zucchini!  That is okay with me as I love zucchini (a low carb vegetable!).

The rest of the beds are made of rock. Our land is full of rock. When my husband started digging to build our battery room he had the problem of all that rock that he had to move. Well he moved it out back and built me more raised beds. Two of the rock beds I built myself, hauling rocks from the horses' paddock. These beds are our favorites. The rock beds look great and people always comment on them. They are easy to do and we did not use mortar or anything to put them in place. They stay in place pretty good and even with a few feet of snow on them during the winter they don't fall down or anything like that.

Raised beds make gardening easy. For one thing you do not need to plow or wait for someone else to plow your garden for you. Just go out and start digging in it. Or in my case, push the wheel hoe through it. They are good for a wet or a dry climate. So easy to take care of. And you can easily hoop a few of them for your winter garden. In the fall after we pull up the plants we can add leaves to the beds for over wintering. Easy. They can also be built higher up, so that if someone is in a wheelchair they can be comfortable working in the raised beds from their chair. Try building one this spring and see what you think!