Winter Dreaming

I love this time of year. Most everything in the garden is dormant, but the possibilities for the coming spring and summer are endless.

And, plants like the winter blooming Witch Hazel is a reminder that spring is on its way.

So, today I am arming myself with seed catalogs, graph paper and a cup of tea as I set about dreaming up this year's garden. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last summer Mark and I added a community garden plot to the mix. And, in early October we planted a variety of winter greens, broccoli, cauliflower, garlic and shallots. It was quite a sight to see since I was eight months pregnant! 

 

 Mark spread hay over the soil last month, so now we just have to wait for those crops to come in this spring.

 

 

 

 

Since the community garden plot is mostly planted, my efforts turn to the garden here at home.

 

On the list for spring are potatoes, favas, carrots, lettuce, beets, kohlrabi, spinach and sorrel. Fortunately, the springtime garden will be mostly self reliant thanks to Portland's maritime climate and abundant rainfall. Good news for us since baby Hazel will need a lot of our attention in the coming months!

 

So, the plan is to carve out 10-15 minutes per weekend through March to plant new seeds and otherwise prep the beds. The spring crops will start going in the ground next month - with potatoes one weekend followed by favas the next and so on, so it won't be overwhelming. Then we can leave the rest up to Mother Nature.

Summertime will be a different story since the warmer, drier weather will require us to water and care for the garden more regularly. Still, with a little planning we can minimize that too.

 In just a few weeks, we can roll up our sleeves and get those hands in the soil again. 

 

Happy gardening to all!