Last year I tried to give updates on our gardening as we planted, harvested, etc. I hope to continue that and give good updates with dates as we garden (Zone 5)!

April 16- the kids and I got a lot planted! Brassicas (we did broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, and cauliflower) about 48 plants. Onions- around 1 and 2/3 rows. Carrots- two half row length (15 feet) sections of four rows each- radish seed interspersed. Shell peas- four rows, close set. Lettuce- remaining 1/3 row after onions. Herbs- here and there seeded with brassicas.

April 18- planted 2 new fruit trees to help our current ones thrive (we hope!). Peach- Contender; Pear- Kieffer

April 18- spinach in pink tub

April 23- mulch newly planted raspberries ‘Heritage’

April 23- we also planted our potatoes! The day before, we dug trenches. Then, on this day we dug a bit deeper and got two rows planted of Red Pontiac and two rows of German Butterball. Wow. We were exhausted. Digging trenches is no small feat.

April 29- this is a grub. Get them out of your gardens! They aren’t good- let the chickens eat them! They grow into nastiness that eat your crops! My 11 year old and I quickly replanted about 36 more brassicas we purchased because rabbits had been eating them! Ugh. 13 year old was mowing. 7 year old was having quiet time.

April 30- we got the row covers on the brassicas for the time being. It was super windy and sprinkling on us. But at least they aren’t available to the bunnies right now! The foil pans have helped with this! But it has been so windy, they are blowing off!

May 1- I have been setting my plants out for most of each day, rain or shine. They are thriving! It is too wet to plant them yet. But they’ll be hardened off when it’s dry!

May 8- the kids and I accomplished a lot. We added arches to the t-posts for our green bean trellis; we gathered our tomato cages and rounds of piping to use as help for our tomatoes; we planted 12 tomatoes, 8 peppers, 3 basil, and 2 dill plants plus 4 marigolds. ALL from seed! Isn’t that fun?! We were also able to get the small metal arches we use under the row cover to help hold the cover up while the brassicas grow.

May 10- after hauling four large leaf bags from the local yard waste piles yesterday, we got up this morning and added leaf mulch around the tomatoes, peppers, basil, onions. The kids are amazingly helpful! We also added a trellis and 2 t-posts for the cucumbers and zucchini to grow up. We mulched there too.

Isn’t gardening this time of year such a beautiful thing to be a part of? I am ever thankful to my Heavenly Father for such a season as spring.

If you haven’t checked out our Facebook page lately, click on the link below. I have been posting a ‘photo of the day’ throughout the month May! Enjoy!