Week Six- Starting from Scratch: the Absolute Beginner's Guide to Gardening

Week Six- Deck Garden Set Up (kind of)

So here's the thing. It rained for the last 4 days. I mean. POURING.This does not happen very often in Steamboat Springs. We enjoy 242 days on average of sunny days. To put that in perspective, Phoenix, AZ gets 211 sunny days on average and Seattle gets 164 days of sun. Yeah, we don't get 4 days in a row of clouds, let alone torrential rain.

I had all kinds of grand plans for setting up the Deck garden. This is actually what got accomplished:

Blue Buckets

Bell Peppers

Summer Squash

Sugar Snap Peas

Actually, I planted these last weekend. All I did this weekend was put them on the deck. Yeah. Rain makes me unmotivated. 

One thing to note at this point in the game, is that seedlings need to be transplanted. Mama Jo sent me this problem picture:

If your seedlings are this big and still in Dixie cups, transplant them. I have also noticed that Squash seedlings like their soil to be completely dry before watering. Over watering can also produce sick plants. Let me know if you have any problem plants. 

Let me know if you have any questions! I post every Tuesday! 

Week Five- Starting from Scratch: the Absolute Beginner's Guide to Gardening

Week Five: Planting Frost Resistant greens

Timeline: As soon as the ground can be worked and then additional plantings every few weeks until winter.  I started this step in late April.

This week we are going to talk about plants that thrive up here in high elevation. 

Lettuce

Broccoli

Kale

Carrots

Cabbage

Chives

Peas

Radish

Swiss Chard

Spinach 

These plants are awesome because they can survive snow and frost. My friend Bek planted kale in her window box last winter and had it grow very slowly all winter. Very. Slow... but it still stood up to 40 degrees below zero temperatures! 

In both my deck garden and my plot garden, I will be planting (have already planted) lettuce, kale, spinach, swish chard and peas. Chives are already coming up in my garden from a previous gardener. 

I have chosen not to do cabbage, carrots, radishes or broccoli. Kyle and I found that we are not huge fans of radishes. Carrots, cabbage and broccoli take too long for our needs this summer. Also, when you can buy a bag of carrots for a dollar at the store, it is hard to justify the cost and time. 

Step One: 

Make Even Rows. 

Tie a piece or twine or rope to a steak and stretch it across your garden. Make a line in the dirt under the rope. Make sure to read your seed packet for planting depth.

Step Two: Get Seeds 

Step Three: 

Plant Seeds in pre-made line and cover with soil. Press down.

Step Four: 

Water and watch them grow.

Step Five: 

Repeat steps one though four every two weeks for continual harvest all summer.

This photo was taken last July. Just some inspiration to get in the dirt and play:) 

Let me know if you have any questions! Up next week: Deck Garden Set Up!