It’s the 3rd week of March already and the weather is running hot and cold. We had a fresh covering of snow just last week in Pennsylvania, followed by 70-degree days this week. Hello Spring!
Last weekend, with paper and pencil in hand, I began my garden to-do list: Take an inventory of seed packets—check. Reassemble indoor greenhouse—check. Pick up seed starting mix—check.
We tend to 250 sq. ft. in our local community garden. And while some plants are perennial, vegetables and some herbs require growing and planting every year, which requires lots of planning! So, I sketched out our plots with where the perennials are.
Above: Perennials that grow in our gardens: Betony, Marshmallow, Catnip, Lemon Balm, Echinacea, New England Aster, Yarrow, Lady’s Mantle, Self Heal, Brown-Eyed Susan, Phlox, Figwort Oregano, Thyme, Chives, and Strawberry.
Next: Fill in the Gaps
Our 1st plot, the “vegetable garden”, has the least number of perennials and is where most of the vegetables are planted. My partner loves hot peppers and every year much of the plot is filled with them. He plans on growing 20 different varieties this year to pickle or make hot sauces with! In addition, we love growing baby and slicer tomatoes, sweet peppers, snow peas, yellow squash, and zucchini.
I save seeds every year, so I never need to purchase much. My zucchini and squash seeds were a little too old last year and didn’t take, so those are on the list to buy from Strictly Medicinal Seeds (I’m not affiliated, I just love this company!). We will also be trying carrots and broccoli for the first time this spring, and I’ll be planting more Echinacea purpurea.
I’m also adding some new annuals and perennials to our 2nd plot, the “herb garden”! My Strictly Medicinal Seeds cart includes onion and Nasturtium seeds, as well as potted plants of St. John’s Wort, Motherwort, and Skullcap (I haven’t had any luck starting these herbs from seed, so I am buying them as potted plants instead this year—I hope that they take!). I’ve put aside some sprouted organic garlic cloves for early spring planting, and I already picked up Zinnia seeds to further bring beauty and bees to our little slice of heaven.
Seed Starting in an Apartment
Currently, we have very limited space in our little home, but we’ve managed to successfully start our seeds indoors for the last 3 years using an indoor greenhouse and grow light strips. The clear cover on the indoor greenhouse prevents my cats from wreaking havoc on my growing enterprise!
This year’s indoor greenhouse set-up.
Extra, Extra
We always end up with extra seedlings at planting time, but fortunately they either end up in the kid’s plot we manage at the community garden, in the large container gardens we have on our porch, or to friends, family, or neighbors!
Stay tuned for monthly garden updates!