All it took was one day of snow here in the deep south and I’m done with winter and ready for spring! Unfortunately, as I write this, I have 19 more days until it’s officially spring (yes, I’m counting down). Hopefully though we will begin to have more and more days like this past Saturday. It was sunny and warm and I couldn’t help but get my hands in the dirt.
Every year, I plan on starting my seeds around the first of February, but that is our coldest and wettest month. It just doesn’t seem right starting seeds when it’s so cold and dreary out. So I usually end up waiting until March and then all my plants get a late start. At least this year, I did get them started before the end of February, but it was still later than I planned. And as you can see in the picture, I had a helper! That always makes it more fun. 🙂
So far, I have tomatoes, broccoli, peppers, cucumbers, squash, zucchini, onions, garlic, and cauliflower planted. The next dry day we have I plan on starting some lettuce in some planters outside since it does well in cooler weather. All my seeds are heirloom, so my goal this year is harvest seeds from all my plants to use next year. I harvested some seeds last year and I can’t wait to see if they come up.
Gardening is such hard work, but it is so fulfilling. Getting your hands dirty while planting seeds. Knowing those tiny little things contain all the information to make a huge plant! Watching them sprout and grow. Harvesting the crops when they come in, and finally enjoying the bounty God has blessed you with. There really is nothing better than a sun-ripened strawberry just picked or a crunchy, sweet pepper off the vine. I’m getting hungry just thinking about it!
If you measured success by my harvest, you would say, many year I had failed as a gardener. But every year, I learn more and improve a little. I’ve learned to not judge my success by how much I harvest, but by how much I’ve learned or improved from previous years. (Don’t get me wrong, I want a huge harvest, but I know some things are out of my control-weather, pests, etc.) That’s why I am constantly reading and researching and I want to share my knowledge and mistakes with you. One way, is by letting you know about a great book that has taught me so much about gardening. It is a must have for beginners!
Making Vegetables by Shoshanna Easling is one of the best books I have on gardening. If you are a visual learner, this book is for you. The multitude of pictures made is so much easier to know what my plants should look like as they grow. The best part is that IT IS 50% OFF UNTIL THE END OF THE MONTH! Clicking on the picture will take you to their site to order the book and display a code for 50% off until 3/31/15.
Now that you are inspired to grow something and are armed with info, go ahead and GET DIRTY! But don’t forget to share what you’re growing and your tips on making it a success.
Have fun Herbing (And Growing) ItUP!
Brigett 
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