Preparation for early outdoor planting.

Today I made a pdf file of every veggie I wanted in my garden, how/when to plant, harvest, and misc info for each. Armed with this info, Husband and I set off to Lowe's on this crisp 55 degree Saturday. We were on the look-out for cucumber and lettuce seeds, good dirt, and a couple containers. I was also hoping to get some young onion plants - but the only plants they have right now are tulip bulbs, roses, blooming trees, and pansies. So no onions. And it's kinda too late to start them indoors so I'll just keep hunting at Lowe's and plant them a little later than usual.

So this is our backyard after winter:


Normally the pots would be cleared out but for some reason the cold snuck up on me last fall and I didn't get to it. That's Husband back there in the yard, digging up a small 2'x6' plot for the potatoes. I've decided to put them in the ground and try my luck.

Now before you say, "WHOA THERE, you have PLENTY of room for giant garden!" Our yard barely gets any sun. This early in the spring, we're lucky to have 2 hours of sun in any one spot. 2 measly hours of sun does not a great garden make. Typically my deck is sunny, but today, it didn't get a speck of sun until 3PM. Whatevs. I'm planting anyway.

This is the spot that gets the most sun...


It's kind of hard to see, but there's a 1'x4' plot there in front of the fence - - which sadly doesn't get much light during the day because of the fence. BUT - - Husband had a great idea of using hanging tomato baskets on the other side of the fence, hanging over our driveway. This is what would be the sunniest spot in our yard. Perfect for sun-loving tomatoes! I also like the idea of the hanging baskets because we won't have to trellis/cage them.

Okay, this is what husband dug up for my potatoes:


Notice the shade. BUT, this spot had at least 4-5 hours of sun first thing in the morning. So I'm going to try it. (This pic was taken at about 2:30PM.)

Now there is a long strip of tied off space along our back fence - - but when the leaves come in on the trees overhead - it'll be the shadiest, wettest part of the yard. The only thing that would grow there well would be hastas.

Here's Erik, saying to himself, "God mom, this place looks like a DUMP:"


But after a good hour or so of raking, trimming, mowing, pulling, and trashing (in the case of that rotting, wooden planter back there), it now looks like this:


I found these two plastic planters at Lowes for $18 each, and I may end up putting them in the yard on either side of the potatoes:


I also bought a couple large bags of quality (HEAVY) dirt:


....and a couple packets of cheap-o seeds:


When I came back in from cleaning up the yard - - I promptly took a two-hour nap. And now it's 6:30 - - so the planting will have to wait until tomorrow. But I still feel like we got a lot accomplished!