Green Jean

Planted the spring garden yesterday, but then too tired to post right away. I put into the ground three varieties of Lettuce (all saved seed from last year's garden). Also Carrots, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Peas, Swiss Chard and Celery. Also some Beets.

Used a bit of different method for each one. The Lettuces, just dug a groove into the soil, scattered the seed in, and afterwards layered compost between the rows (remembering how well it did with just a compost mulch the first year). The Carrots and Celery, turned over the soil, raked in compost, scattered the seed and then sprinkled dirt over top. Carrots got watered with steaming hot boiled water first, that worked well for me last year in helping the seed germinate (whereas the seed strips I made in fall pretty much failed). Chard got the soil turned lightly with a garden fork, compost raked in, then planted in two rows.

I was pretty pleased to find that the soil was much easier to work this spring than last, when I hadn't yet dug in any compost. Before it was heavy, sticky clay with a sour odor. Now it's easy to dig the shovel in, crumbles pretty well and smells like good dirt. It also worked out perfect that the spot where I'd planted Clover last year, was where I put Carrots this year (clover makes deep roots that loosen the soil; carrots need well-worked soil to make nice deep, straight roots).