latest posts – Page 12 – Planet B Gardens

gardening in winter

Artichoke seedlings!Just as important as growing vegetables to me is the planning. Winter is the perfect time for: evaluating what went well (starting seedlings early in the hothouse, planting in straw bales) and not so well (planting all at once) last season considering what I want to try for the upcoming season checking out seed catalogs and websites (ones I like so far are Baker Heirloom, FedCo, Johnny’s, and High Mowing), purchasing seeds, and ordering trees for spring delivery putting hothouse seed starts on the calendar figuring out staggered planting times and length of time to maturity so plants and trees ripen throughout the growing season instead of maturing all

February 2, 2016

january tomatoes

Tomatoes in the hothouse looking good!

orchard and berries

This year’s orchard plan includes: Apples (Honeycrisp, September Fuji, Granny Smith, Red Rome Beauty) Peaches (Contender, Burbank July, Reliance, Delicious) Cherries (Northstar Pie, Starkcrimson, Hansen’s Bush) Blueberries (Elliot, Chandler, Herbert) Additional blueberries (Northcountry, Northblue) are going into containers on the deck, along with more herbs and flowers. Now to figure out fencing to keep out the local deer.

center garden plan

Center garden area planned, seeds I either have or are on the way. In the center garden this coming spring I’m trying: Tomatoes (Solar Flair, Cherokee Purple, Black Beauty, Black Cherry, Purple Bumble Bee) Artichokes (Imperial Star — seedlings already started!) Crookneck Squash (Early Golden Summer) Cauliflower (Purple of Sicily) Cabbage (Mammoth Red Rock) Broccoli (Waltham 29) Beets (Chiogga, Crosby Egyptian) Leeks (Megaton, Lexton) Swiss Chard (Five Color Silver Beet) Carrots (Atomic Red, Purple Dragon, Pusa Asita Black, Yellow Bunch) Lettuce (Flash Butter Gem, Flame, Garnet Rose) Orach (Magenta Magic) Chilies (Purple Jalapeno, Green Jalapeno, Goat’s Horn, Chocolate Habanero, Cayenne) Flowers (Nasturtium, Poppies, Sunflowers, others TBD) Red Currants (Rovada) Gooseberries

January 30, 2016

local craftsmanship

A place to stash boots and coats in winter was missing at the homestead. After scouring antique and second-hand furniture shops for a piece that would fit the small entry space, I came across a woman who offered to build me an armoire to spec. Turned out nicely, don’t you think?

sunrise

Longer days begin…

calm before the holidays

I love this time of year on the homestead. Freshly-fallen snow, winter animals peeking in windows to see what’s up inside, fireplace burning, and relaxation before the next wave of holidays. Our formerly rarely-seen Pileated woodpecker has become a regular visitor, too.

winter purple

The light at Winter Solstice fades to purple early in the afternoon this far north.

rarely-seen beauty

We have lots of nuthatches, chickadees, downy woodpeckers, gray jays, stellar’s jays, and other songbirds around here in winter. It’s rare to see the pileated woodpecker, though — especially one so close to the house. For scale, the bird feeder is 22″ long. Impressive and beautiful birds.