Virgin Harvest 2011

I don't know if you all knew this, but I was featured on a blog last year.  Yep.  I'm pretty famous ya know. 

Actually, I was mentioned in Nici Holt Cline's blog, when I signed up for her 2010 Virgin Harvest list.  It was a list of first-time gardeners, or pro gardeners who wanted to try somethin different.  I think I was like 74 on the list, and my goal was to "start a garden from scratch."

And that's exactly what I did. 

Sure, not everything worked out.  I highly underestimated the groundhogs, rabbits, and other wildlife that made a visit to my backyard veggie stand.  I planted peas very late, I didn't water the zucchini enough, and I didn't really do my homework. 

It was an impressive start. 


Here are my goals for this season:

1. Actually reading what each veggie needs rather than just sticking a seed into the ground and praying.  I don't know what my excuse was.  I have several books, and really the instructions are on the back of the packets.  Sigh.



2. Sow consistently throughout the year, so I can have my favorites last longer. Imagine fresh lettuce throughout the spring months.  Imagine. 


3. Grow out of the box. I don't want neatly organized rows of carrots and corn, I want a garden that evolves and gets a little out of control.  This is what I'm excited about.  I'm going to utilize every single single square inch of the backyard.  And parts of it that I'm pretty sure we don't own.  But, suck it condo association. 


4. Making sure that the neighbor groundhog does not get a single heirloom tomato. IT. IS. ON.


5. Growing so much that I beg friends and family to take produce from me. That sounds pretty pretentious, huh? 

My momma told me that she's giving us money for Valentine's day for a nice dinner and such.  Well, part of it is going to seeds. 

In this year's garden, I will be attempting to grow more heirloom tomatoes (red, yellow, and cherry), corn, carrots, beets (golden and red), cucumbers, green beans, peas (shelling and sugar snap), pumpkins, zucchini, squash, cippollini onions, bell peppers, sunflowers, morning glory, and nasturtiums.  Plus a variety of lettuces and herbs.  I don't want that much basil though, it was overwhelming. 


And, I'm even going to try to grow a watermelon.  I don't know if that's even possible in this climate, but you know what, I'm game. 

Anyway,  I encourage YOU to join Virgin Harvest 2011.  You won't regret it.  Visit Nici's site for more information.