Change of Plans

Sometimes I procrastinate. This small patch in the corner of the garden between the front lawn and the fruit trees grew a plentiful crop of tomatoes and lemon cucumbers last year. Since this area is only connected to the rest of the garden by a small spot on one end, it takes more time to get the rototiller in and turned around than getting the spot worked up. Last year I was kicking around the question about what to do with this spot.

Looking at options, I came up with the idea of an asparagus patch. The family loves asparagus, and once it is established, with continue to produce every spring for years. That would save all the issues with trying to get the ground worked up each season.

I should of pulled the rototiller out of storage near the end of February when we had a glorious week of mild, dry weather. It would have been easy to get the ground broken open where it could dry before tilling it to a fine loam. But I was too slow, or too busy, or just not in the mood.

The opportunity was missed, all the local nurseries, garden centers and feed stores sold out when I had finally got around to looking for the plants to purchase. So the plans were changed for this year. Once the weather warmed enough to prepare the soil, I did get in there and tilled the patch. On the very far end is a tomato quad, that is four tomatoes planted in a square with those round wire tomato trellis cages. A large plastic bag surrounds the four pack because we can still get frosts. The bag is opened up during the day for fresh air, sunshine and water when needed. These tomato seed were started in the house in February and even though they are still only about four inches tall, will grow well down at the end of this area.

I planted rows of vegetable seeds. The rows now make it impossible to get the tiller in there. The options for the space are hoeing out the weeds weekly, or, fill up the space with something. I opted for filling the space with vegetables that are taller and harvest later than the produce that is growing in the original three rows.

The taller vegetables are from left to right are broccoli, red cabbage, green cabbage and cauliflower. I planted the broccoli on the outside because I harvest them several times. I get the first big heads, then smaller flowerettes following the main harvest. For a space about the  size of 10 ft. x 30 ft., this area will produce wheelbarrows of food, and hopefully will not have room for many weeds!

I am still going to try to prepare this area after all of this year is harvested for the asparagus planting early next spring. I’ll cultivate it well, then put a layer of mulch down to keep it from compacting too much during the winter time.