Today is Sunday, April 18, 2010. It was cool today, but definitely not the cold of a winter waiting to return. The wind died down today, a calm amidst the last 4 days of a cold wind out of the NW. It hasn't rained since we go and inch or about 8 days ago. I also don't believe that it will snow again, but remember that we are in Wisconsin.
We continue to move forward with the garden. Thanks to my friend from work, Brent Winebar who was good enough to share some All Blue and Carola potatoes from the ones he was planting in his own garden. I was able to get 3 full hills planted when I supplemented them with some Rose Finn Apple potatoes that I purchase this week. I utilized the plant in the fill technique and then encircled the hill with wire mesh and covered with 6" of leaf mulch. All the potatoes had good swollen eyes and were showing the first signs of roots. Potatoes were planted in #14, which is one of the new beds starting this year.
Earlier this week I planted #13 with onion plants that I started on 3/5. Both red and yellow onions planted in multi-plant blocks, similar to the suggestions of Elliot Coleman. We've had 2 frosts since then and they are doing just fine.
#11 was also planted today with transplants of spinach, swiss chard, and beets. I also planted seed of leaf lettuce, spinach, more beets, and carrots. The entire bed is covered in a plastic hoop house as I suspect we are going to have at least one more good hard frost. Maybe not this week, but definitely the potential exists.
The last bed we planted was #15. Super Sugar Snap peas went in. I will put up the metal fence panels that I use for the trellis this week to make sure I don't kill too many plants by waiting.
I still owe people pictures. It is on my list.
Happy Gardening, 2010 is here!
Bill
