Lettuce, Canteloupe and Cilantro! Oh, my!

And peas. Kinda. Maybe?

I went to bed Wednesday night to nothing, and woke up to these suckers in my cilantro pot. They're going to make excellent salsa one day.

Today, I discovered some sprouts in the lettuce and cantaloupe squares of my garden. Plus, there's one square that I was supposed to plant peas in, but I thought I forgot to plant them last weekend. So, I was going to switch them to green beans and plant them this weekend. But, there's something sprouting in that square. So maybe I planted the peas there. Or maybe it's a weed or a blade of grass. I'll wait until the square that I know has peas in it starts to show some progress and compare.

Because everyone loves pictures of dirt, here's my cantaloupe. Isn't it cute?!

Planting Round 2

Supplies
6-pack of strawberry plants (Meijer ~~ $5.99)
Liquid Fence (Meijer ~~ $12.99)

Strawberries (Quinault)
Plant in full sun.
Everbearing variety produces fruit throughout the growing season.
Water 2-3 times per week until established.
Grows to 8" tall
Space 8-12" apart
After planting, cover soil with mulch (straw is preferred) to deter weeds and to keep the fruit off the soil. This will keep your fruit clean and prevent rot. Will bear fruit year after year.

I got some strawberry plants at Meijer and planted them this morning-- again, between the rain storms. They seem pretty healthy, but who knows. I put six plants in four squares. I need to get some mulch or hay to put down under them. I'm wondering if I could just tack down some weed fabric instead. If the purpose is to keep weeds out and give the strawberries something besides dirt to lay on, it seems like that would work just fine. Maybe I'll give it a try since I already have most of a roll of fabric.

I got some Liquid Fence which is for deer and rabbits. I don't exactly think deer are my problem (haha!) but I definitely think it's the cutesy bunnies that are digging in my garden. I sprayed it in the grass around the perimeter of the garden. It smells putrid...so of course, Laika loves it. Immediately after I sprayed it, she came over and was all, "Whoa! This is the best smelling stuff I've ever smelled! I need to hurry up and lick this delicious goodness off this grass!" I'm definitely going to need to make sure it's dry before letting her out.

Planting Round 1

I planted some seeds this morning. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that the neighborhood critters stay away from them. Everything in color is what I planted:

I'm going to pick up some strawberry plants this afternoon and get them transplanted today or tomorrow.

Also, per a recommendation from Kelly and one that I saw online, I've been saving my coffee grounds. Kelly said to put some in the hole with the seed and I've seen online to mix it with the soil. I just sprinkled it over top of everything. I assumed that the watering would help it mix up with the soil. Could be a bad assumption, but I didn't remember my coffee collection until after I had already planted my seeds.

Herb Germination

My herb pots have been inside almost since I planted them. We had some cold nights and I didn't want to take any chances. After exactly seven days, I saw progress in the basil and oregano!

The cilantro had a 14-21 day germination time so I'm hoping to see it next week.

If I can find a break in the rain this weekend, I'm going to plant some seeds outside. I'm starting to have doubts about some of the seeds I bought. For example, I'm wondering about having space to plant pumpkins and watermelon. At least they're going on the sides so they can grow over into the yard if necessary.

And, I noticed a couple days ago that something has been digging in my empty garden. I'm hoping whatever it is has given up now that it knows there's nothing in there. I really don't want to have to put any kind of fencing/chicken wire around my box. So ugly. I wonder if there's some kind of spray that I can use to deter critters.

The guilty party is leaving his mark in other places too. Apparently, he enjoys eating corn in our lawn chairs.

Square Foot Garden Setup - Part 3

Supplies

Bag of peat mixture (Meijer ~ 3@$4.99)

Bag of potting soil (Meijer ~ 1@$5.49)

Can of green twine (Meijer ~ 1@$4.99)

I added the extra three bags of peat to my box. It's still a little low but I'm done adding stuff.

Using the screws that I bought for the corner brackets, I put one screw per foot to tie my twine to.

Next I tied my green twine between the screws just using single knots.

And the final product:

I haven't planted anything in there yet, but I planted my herbs in their pots. Green is cilantro, purple is basil and blue is oregano. I planned on them hanging out on the porch but all three want max sun so maybe I'll set them out near the garden in the morning. They all take a long time for germination. I'll be patiently waiting...

Square Foot Garden Planning - Herbs

Oregano
Brand: Burpee
Purchased from: Home Depot ($1.07)
Sun/Shade: Full Sun
Depth: Barely Cover
Spacing: 12"
Height: 18"
Use as a spicy flavoring in tomato sauces, egg and cheese dishes, vegetable stews, meat and chicken dishes and pizza. Perennial, zones 5-9. Sow outdoors in full sun after danger of last frost or when temperatures remain above 45 degrees F. Barely cover seeds. Keep moist. Seedlings emerge in 10-21 days. Thin to stand about 12" apart.

Oregano is planted in the BLUE pot.

Sweet Basil
Brand: Burpee
Purchased from: Home Depot ($1.07)
Sun/Shade: Full Sun
Depth: 1/4"
Spacing: 12"
Height: 12-18"
Prized for pesto. Also use with tomatoes and mild-flavored vegetables such as squash. Excellent with meats like veal and lamb. Annual. Sow in average soil in full sun after danger of frost. Sow seeds about 6" apart and cover with 1/4" of fine soil. Firm lightly and keep evenly moist. Seedlings emerge in 7-14 days. Thin to stand about 12" apart when seedlings are 1-2" tall. Harvest when buds begin to form up until frost.

Basil is planted in the PURPLE pot.

Cilantro
Brand: Burpee
Purchased from: Home Depot ($1.07)
Sun/Shade: Full Sun
Depth: 1/4"
Spacing: 12"
Height: 12-28"
Use leaves in Oriental, Mexican and Mediterranean dishes. Use the mature, citrus flavored seeds in sausages, marinades, curry powder and pastries. Annual. Sow outdoors in full sun after danger of frost. In frost-free areas, sow from fall to early spring. Sow seeds thinly and cover with 1/4" of fine soil. Firm lightly and keep evenly moist. Seedlings emerge in 14-21 days. Thin to stand about 12" apart.

Cilantro is planted in the GREEN pot.

Square Foot Garden Planning - Beans

Beans (Gourmet Green)
Brand: Livingston Seed Company
Purchased at: Meijer ($1.39)
Type: Annual
Planting Depth: 1/2"
Thin to: 10-12"
Sun/Shade: Sun
Height: Approximately 12"
Days to Germination: 5-7
Direct Sow: After Danger of Frost
Maturity: 58-60 Days
Gourmet has it all! Stringless with great taste. Grows in containers or in your garden, and is just the right size at 4" to 4 1/2"! Plant every two weeks in the spring and early summer for a steady harvest of flavorful beans. Can be planted again in late summer for a fall harvest. Enjoy your Gourmet Green Beans prepared as you would any green bean.

Sounds easy enough.

Square Foot Garden Planning - Cauliflower

Cauliflower (Snowball Y)
Brand: NK Lawn & Garden
Purchased at: Meijer ($1.69)
Plant Spacing: Row: 2 1/2 ft; Plant: 1 1/2 ft
Planting Depth: 1/2 in
Days to Germination: 10-15
This high-quality variety produces smooth, white 6-7 inch heads with mild flavor. Can be harvested over a long period. Dwarf plants. Begin harvesting in 65-75 days. Planting and Growing Tips: For early harvest, start seeds indoors 5-7 weeks before outdoor planting time. May also be seeded directly outdoors after frost. Sow 2-3 seeds together every 30 inches. Thin to 1 plant per grouping when seedlings are 1 inch tall.

The package indicates I should plant in April/May.

Square Foot Garden Planning - Cantaloupe

Canteloupe (Imperial 45)
Brand: NK Lawn & Garden
Purchased at: Meijer ($1.49)
Plant Spacing: Hill: 4 ft, Row: 4 ft
Planting Depth: 1/2"
Days to Germination: 5-10
Perfume in hot, humid areas. Big yields of round, netted melons with sweet, thick salmon flesh. Keeps well. Harvest in 87 days. Growing Tips: Seed directly outdoors in a sunny location. Sow 6-8 seeds around a 12-in-diameter hill. After germination, thin to 3 seedlings per hill. If planted in rows, thin to 12-18 inches apart. Seed may be started indoors 3-4 weeks before planting outoors. Transplant with care.

The package indicates I should plant between April and June.

Square Foot Garden Planning - Onion

Onion (White Lisbon Bunching)
Brand: NK Lawn & Garden
Purchased at: Meijer ($1.49)
Spacing: Row: 12 in, Plant: 2 in
Planting Depth: 1/4 - 1/2"
Days to Germination: 12-14
Silvery white, crisp, mild and fast growing. For bunching, green or table onions. Not affected by long or short days. Harvest in 60-110 days. Growing Tips: For the finest onions, seed directly outdoors in full sun and well-drained soil. Scatter seed in the row at the rate of 3 seeds per inch. When seedlings are 3 inches high, thin to stand 2 inches apart. Begin harvesting as soon as onions reach pencil size.

Packet indicates I should plant between Feb and May.

Square Foot Garden Planning - Pumpkin

Pumpkin (Jack O' Lantern)
Brand: Livingston Seed Company
Purchased from: Meijer ($1.19)
Type: Annual
Planting Depth: 1"
Thin to: 5'-10'
Sun/Shade: Sun
Days to Germination: 7-10
Maturity: 110 Days
Direct Sow: After Danger of Frost
Start Indoors: 4 Weeks Before Last Frost
Create your own fun with our Jack O' Lantern. Perfect for Halloween decorating. Averages 8 to 15 pounds. Plant 3 or 4 seeds per hill. When plant starts to produce fruits, keep watered for best performance. Harvest when color is developed, and the vine is dried. Garden tip: For a tasty snack, roast the seeds!

I think I'll try to grow a giant pumpkin. What do I need to do? Inject sugar water into the stem?

Square Foot Garden Planning - Watermelon

Watermelon (Black Diamond)
Brand: Livingston Seed Company
Purchased from: Meijer ($1.19)
Type: Annual
Planting Depth: 1/2" in Hills
Thin to: 6'-8'
Sun/Shade: Sun
Days to Germination: 7-14 Days
Maturity: 90 Days
Direct Sow: After Danger of Frost
Start Indoors: 4 Weeks Before Last Frost
What would a summer be without watermelon? Black Diamond is sweet and juicy, averaging 35-40lbs. The rind is nearly black, which makes it bruise resistant. Watermelon contains cancer-fighting antioxidants. How can you resist growing one? Garden Tip: Harvest watermelon when the bottom of the melon is yellow and when the little "curlicue" of the stem dries up.

Seriously? Could I possibly grow a 35-40 pound watermelon? Sweet!

Square Foot Garden Planning - Lettuce

Lettuce (Iceberg)
Brand: NK Lawn & Garden
Purchased from: Meijer ($1.19)
Plant Spacing: Row: 18 in, Plant 12 in
Planting Depth: 1/4"
Days to Germination: 7-10
Yes, you can grow Iceberg Lettuce like the supermarket has, but better! Iceberg makes icy0green, medium-sized heads solidly packed to the center with crunchy leaves. Harvest in about 62 days. Growing tip: Sow directly in garden as early as soil can be worked in spring. Or start seed indoors 5 weeks before outdoor planting time. Transplant with care. Grows best in cool weather. Sow again midsummer for a fall harvest.

The packet says I should plant this in March - May.

Square Foot Garden Planning - Peas

Pea (Dwarf Grey Sugar)
Brand: NK Lawn & Garden
Purchased at: Meijer ($1.19)
Spacing: Row: 2 1/2 ft, Plant: 2 in
Planting Depth: 1 1/2 in
Days to Germination: 8-12
This heirloom, edible-podded snow pea produces sweet, crunchy pods that are eaten whole before the peas inside develop. Harvest in 65 days. Growing Tips: For best results, sow seed directly outdoors in full sun, in spring or fall, when temperatures are cool. Scatter seeds at the rate of 1-2 seeds every 2 inches. After germination, thin to 1 plant every 2 inches. Bush plants require little support. Harvest and use as soon as pods are filled out.

The packet says I should plant these in Feb-April so I better get to it!

Square Foot Garden Planning - Peppers

Pepper (Jalapeno Chili)
Brand: NK Lawn & Garden
Purchased from: Meijer ($1.19)
Plant Spacing: Row: 2 ft, Plant: 18 in
Planting Depth: 1/4"
Days to germination: 10-12
Essential in southwestern cooking. Each 3-inch, dark green, meaty pepper is packed with fiery-hot flavor. Peppers turn red at maturity. Harvest in 70-75 days. Growing Tips: For early harvest, start seed indoors 6-8 weeks before planting outdoors. Grow in a sunny window. Transplant outdoors when seedlings have 5-6 leaves. Performs best planted in full sun. In mild climates, seed directly in the garden. Keep fruits picked to encourage production.

The packet indicates that I should plant these in March - May.

Pepper (Hot Mix)
Brand: Burpee
Purchased from: Home Depot ($1.19)
Planting Depth: 1/4"
Thin to: 18-24"
Maturity: 75-80 Days
Sun/Shade: Full Sun
Equal amounts of: Anaheim TMR 23, Ancho, Long Slim Red Cayenne, Jalapeno M and hungarian Wax. Use fresh or dried. Start indoors ina warm, well-lighted area about 8 weeks before planting outdoors. Sow seed 1/4" deep into individual containers filled with seed-starting formula. Keep moist. Seedlings emerge in 10-21 days at 75-80 degrees F. Before transplanting, move to a sheltered area outside for a week.

These will be planted directly into my garden. I think this brand, Burpee, always says to start indoors.

Bell Pepper (Color Mix)
Brand: Livingston Seed Company
Purchased from: Meijer ($1.89)
Type: Annual
Planting Depth: 3/16"
Thin to: 18-24"
Sun/Shade: Sun
Height: 2' - 3'
Days to Germination: 6-10 Days
Direct Sow: After Danger of Frost
Start Indoors: 4-6 Weeks before Last Frost
Maturity: 75-80 Days
Bright, crunchy, spicy sweet peppers. Abundant harvests of three to four lobed fruits ready to add color and tasty flavor. Perfect fresh from the garden, grilled, sauteed, or roasted. Garden Tip: Bell Pepper Color mix can be added to your container garden.

I cannot wait to put these peppers in my chili! Summer's not really chili season but who cares! I think I'll also have to find a good salsa recipe.

Square Foot Garden Planning - Broccoli

Broccoli (Green Sprouting Calabrese)
Brand: Livingston Seed Company
Purchased from: Meijer ($1.29)
Type: Annual
Planting Depth: 1/4"
Thin to: 24"
Sun/Shade:
Sun/Patrial Shade
Height: Approx 20"
Days to Germination: 14 Days
Maturity: 80 Days
Direct Sow: When Soil Warms and Again Early Fall for
Second Crop
Start Indoors: 6 Weeks Before Last Frost and Approx Again 7-1
Green Sprouting Calabrese is an easy way to eat healthy. Try out tasty broccoli fresh from the garden with dips, steamed for a side dish, or as a new creation all of your own! Broccoli is easy to grow. It is a cool weather plant which means you can have a spring crop and another in the fall. Garden tip: Harvest central head and lateral clusters before flower buds open. This is a good producer so freeze extra for a later date!

Well, what can I say? "Broccoli is easy to grow...this is a good producer": I think it's obvious why I chose broccoli. I'll be direct sowing it and I think I'll do it very soon since it's a cool weather plant.

Square Foot Garden Planning - Cucumbers

Cucumber (Straight Eight)
Brand: Livingston Seed Company
Purchased from: Meijer ($1.19)
Type: Annual
Planting Depth: 1/2"
Thin to: 36"
Sun/Shade: Sun
Days to Germination: 7-10 Days
Maturity: 58 Days
Direct Sow: After Danger of Frost; Every Two Weeks until Midsummer
Start Indoors: About Same Time as Last Frost in Peat Pots
Straight Eight is a slicing cucumber that has become an all-time favorite. As its name suggests, Straight Eight is a straighter, dark green variety. It is best picked when it is about 8" in length. Grow on a fence, trellis, or in your garden. An easy plant to grow wherever you choose. Garden tip: Regular moisture is vital to cucumber production. Vines will wilt quickly when soil is dry. About 1" a week should be sufficient under normal weather conditions.

These will be direct sow. "An easy plant to grow wherever you choose" -- perfect! I think I'll stagger these and plant one plant per week starting this or next weekend.

Square Foot Garden Planning - Tomatoes

Tomato (Beef Maestro)
Brand: Livingston Seed Company
Purchased from: Meijer ($1.89)
Type: Annual
Planting Depth: 1/8"
Thin to: 2' - 3'
Sun/Shade: Sun
Height: Indeterminate
Days to Germination: 3-8 Days
Direct Sow: After Danger of Frost
Start Indoors: 6-8 Weeks Before Last Frost
Maturity: 80 Days from Transplant
Beef Maestro is the tomato to be respected! This tomato plant bears large yields of deep red, firm fruits. Worthy of its name, Maestro's fruits are extra-large beefsteak type tomatoes. Tasty and vigorous, this indeterminate also resists cracking and splitting. Garden tip: Does well in harsh conditions and has some disease resistance. Benefits from support.

These will be direct sow. "Does well in harsh conditions and has some disease resistance." That means it should be harder for me to kill, right?

Tomato (Roma)
Brand: Burpee
Purchased from: Home Depot ($1.07)
Planting Depth: 1/4"Thin to: 3' - 4'
Sun/Shade: Sun
Days to Harvest: 76 Days
Superior paste-type fruits with meaty interiors and few seeds. Compact, determinate plants. Harvest in 76 days. Start indoors in a warm, well-lighted area 6-8 weeks before planting outdoors. Sow seeds 1/4" deep into individual containers filled with seed starting formula. Keep moist. Seedlings emerge in 7-10 days at 70-75 degrees F. Before transplanting, move to a sheltered area outside for a week.

I'm not going to plant these indoors first either. I'm going to go straight for the direct sow. Bad idea? I don't know. Maybe I'll plant them directly and start a few in pots indoors and compare the progress. Does "seed starting formula" = dirt?

Square Foot Garden Planning - Part 1

This is the plan:

The herbs will be in small pots on the porch. The sizes of the herb pots above are, obviously, not to scale.

Supplies:

Colorful flower pot (3@$5.98 ~ Home Depot)

Colorful saucer (3@$2.89 ~ Home Depot)

Seriously, how cute are they?!

Square Foot Garden Setup - Part 2a

I finished the de-clumping today with a much better helper.

After all the de-clumping, the soil level was still a couple inches below my stain level (about 6 inches deep total) so I need to pick up a couple more bags of peat. 

I picked up something fun at Meijer last night for $15. Sadly, it's broken so I'll have to exchange it. It's still totally cool though.

Square Foot Garden Setup - Part 2

Supplies:
black wood stain (1@$4.45 ~ Home Depot)
roll of black weed fabric (1@$5.99 ~ Meijer)
bag of peat mixture (3@$4.99 ~ Meijer)
bag of composted cow manure (12@$1.39 ~ Meijer)

I propped the box on a couple cinder blocks and used the ol' rag method for staining. I stained the sides, top and a couple inches down on the inside. Perhaps black stain wasn't the best idea. It looks kind of crappy but it's fine. I think my vision was more like black paint than black stain.

After putting the box on the ground in position, I filled the bottom with weed fabric and stapled it to the insides-- 3-4 staples per side just to hold it still while filling.


Next, I dumped all the stuff in the box. I put 6 bags of compost, followed by 3 bags of peat, followed by the final 6 bags of compost. That's something like 550 pounds. And with that, my square foot garden became a permanent fixture in my yard.

The plan is/was to de-clump it all by hand and give it a good mixin'. I spent about an hour de-clumping and mixing and made it about half way around. The compost was super clumpy. My helper (below) was not particularly helpful. Her idea of helping is frolicking in the freshly cut grass and sticking her tongue out at me. I've recruited a better helper for tomorrow...one with opposable thumbs.

Square Foot Garden Setup - Part 1

Supplies (all from Home Depot):
10' 2x10 pressure treated lumber, halved (2@$11.97)
corner brace 4-pack (2@$3.59)
#8 x 3/4" wood screws (1@$4.47)

Home Depot cut the 10' lumber in half for me so I ended up with four 5' boards. After that's done, it's all just assembly. I put two corner braces per corner, a couple inches from the top/bottom. I didn't measure, just eyeballed it since it's all going to be covered by dirt anyway. I also found no need for drilling pilot holes.


The whole thing took less than 30 minutes to put together with the help of husband's ankle supporting the outsides while I screwed in the braces.