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At a Glance
by Author
Proof of Life
In springtime, when the planting season rolls around, I’m always reminded of how patience truly is a virtue. I grew up in Kansas, where the summers where abysmally hot and humid, frequently topping out above the 100 degree mark, and the winters were snowy and Arctic cold - single digit temperatures weren’t uncommon. But since my arrival in the Pacific Northwest in 2004, and it’s famously “mild” climate, I’m still surprised by how green it stays year round. It wasn’t until I moved up here did I have any concept of “Year-Round-Gardening”.
The “Tulip Tree” Growing in My Backyard
Last fall, I decided that I would investigate this idea of the winter garden by building a cloche, and growing salad greens as an experiment. So, I went to the hardware store and bought PVC piping, constructed a cloche I thought to be a wonder of basic engineering, and it promptly sat unused through the winter. Conflicting work schedules and life had gotten in the way, and sadly I would miss a winter’s worth of opportunity to see if lettuce could truly be grown over winter.
The cloche that mocked me through much of the winter.
But, as this spring approached, it would be a fine opportunity for me to get a good start on my gardening adventure. Without snow, and exceedingly cold days to quell my need for diggin in the dirt, my desire to start planting now begins some time in January. Of course, even in the Pacific Northwest, that’s too early to start very many new plants. So, I waited patiently until February, until President’s Day full of eagerness to start peas. And on March 10th I actually started them. I am no stranger to procrastination, and I’m reminded year after year that in gardening, like much else, to “strike while the iron is hot”. The following couple weeks, however, would be grey and dismal and get no warmer than about 45 degrees. This would make me even more impatient, and unhappy.
After planting peas into their allotted space in the garden, I decided I would also start things under the cloche. And, a week later, I did. Here is my diagram/plan for the cloche and pea space, and I actually followed the illustration! Yay me!
The space in light blue is what is under the cloche.
Today, after much anticipation, I have discovered the first signs of life. Tiny pea sprouts have emerged from the soil to greet my happy face, and under the cloche radishes have begun to emerge.
The red arrow points out the tiny pea seedling
as it pokes through the soil.
Radishes emerge from the dirt!
If you’ve never grown radishes before, I highly recommend it. In general, I say only to grow vegetables that you like and will eat, but even if you don’t like radishes, you should plant them. They’ll give you a swift sense of accomplishment, and they’re the first to be ready to harvest. Give them to your radish-loving friends if they aren’t your style, but do plant them. You’ll feel like a gardening rockstar when the first one is ready a month later!
As it is, the little sprouts remind me to be patient, and enjoy what the garden is giving you right now. For the moment, I have fresh herbs, and gorgeous cherry blossoms and tulips… it’s a good day in the garden.
Tags:cloche peas springPosted by Les on March 26th, 2007 under Garden Planning, Starting Plants, Year-Round Gardening
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