Unfrozen

Well the ground is starting to unfreeze. It unfreezes from the brick path and works its way toward the neighbor's fence. I was being optimistic and uncovered the whole length of the pea bed and fertilized. Then I started to turn the soil over. Well the first 9' were unfrozen. So I decided to at least plant half of the bed.

Don't you just love that people take photos of their dirt this time of year. I have no real pretty plants to show you, so I show you the dirt that I planted in. It does show you that I put in my supports before I seed. Putting them in after destroys roots so I like to get them in early. I only plant peas in a one foot strip along the back of the bed. You can see that I've sloped the soil to catch the sun. I'm hoping it warms up faster that way. Right now it is pretty cold. But the peas can handle it. They take longer to germinate in cold soil and occasionally the insects find them before the plant get get established, but usually it works out well.

Yes more dirt. I planted my fava beans too. This year I went with even wider spacing than last year. I planted every 12 inches in a grid. I use a soil innoculant - at least when I remember. And I did remember this year. It really helps the plants grow well. I use it on the peas too. Usually you need different strains for different plants, but I use one that has a wide mix of rhizobial strains so I can just buy one and use it on everything.

I'm so excited. My first seeds are in the ground. The weather looks promising. From now on, everyday that I have time and the weather is decent, I'll be out preparing the soil and getting more seeds in the ground. I still need to plant carrots in front of the peas. And the spinach when that bed defrosts. And radishes and turnips. These can all be put out pretty much as soon as the soil defrosts. For plants I have my onions, first lettuces, and first baby Asian greens almost ready to be planted. I can't wait until I can pick these. Not even H-mart had mizuna for sale around here. Last year it was my favorite plant. I wonder which one will be this years favorite? Every year it seems to change.