Garden Bed, Part Two

We let the soil sit for two weeks, turning it every few days. There are more worms in there than when we started, which is a good sign, and I'm sure after a few good rains, there will be many more.

We went to Portland Nursery to buy seeds and mushroom compost. We combed the compost over the top of the soil about half an inch thick and then planted the seeds directly into the compost. It will help with nutrients and act as a mulch. We then diagrammed the beds, sectioning them up and planting seeds according to how much distance each plant needs. The packages give great directions as far as how close to plant the seeds, how far to space the rows, and how deep to push them into the soil.

We planted on a cool, cloudy Saturday morning and a few hours after we were finished, we received a nice, gentle sprinkle. Then, we had sun for a day and rain for three days. I figure those seeds are liking the weather, although personally, I could be happy with more sun.

Most plants will start to come up in a few weeks, at which point we'll have to keep the birds and cats out of the beds. Maybe chicken wire? A screen of some sort? In 40-45 days we will be able to pick the lettuce. Following the lettuce will be carrots, various herbs, radishes, beets, chard, broccoli, collards, cilantro, peas, etc.

In about a month or less, we will plant our summer squash, tomatoes, spinach, green beans, and anything else we start to crave. I will keep you posted.