I have two raised beds and for the most part the plants fall into two groups that like each other. \u00a0Below is the larger bed (which is 3 1\/2′ x 7 1\/2′ in case you were wondering.)<\/p>\n
In the back on the left is a tomato of the Sweetie variety. \u00a0On the back right is the tomato Matina variety. Only one has a cage since the other cage is still guarding the potatoes from Opie. \u00a0 In the front center are two pepper plants, mixed color bell. \u00a0(I like to get the variety pack and see what we end up with.) \u00a0In the right front corner are the basil seedlings. \u00a0In the left front corner are the parsley seedings that have little chance of making it (since they are too tall and weak as discussed earlier in the seed update) but I figured what the hell. \u00a0Since I don’t expect much from the parsley, I also threw more seeds in around the seedlings. \u00a0Unlike the tomatoes, the herbs have a short growing season and don’t need to be started inside. \u00a0If they don’t grow you can try again.<\/p>\n Here is the smaller raised bed (3 1\/2′ x 6 1\/2′). \u00a0Instead of nerds and band members, this clique features broccoli, beets and cucumbers.<\/p>\n What’s that you say? \u00a0You don’t see anything? \u00a0Well that’s because the members of this group are all started from seed. \u00a0I was supposed to start the broccoli in March but once again this year I didn’t get them in until May so I don’t expect anything to go well. \u00a0They like cool weather and need to be in early to grow before the heat gets here. \u00a0The beets can be planted from March until May so I am ok sort of. They like cool weather also so if it gets really hot before they get a chance to grow I won’t have much luck there either.<\/p>\n Also, a note on spacing. \u00a0Right now there looks to be a lot of room to plant more plants. \u00a0Do not forget that these plants will get bigger and you need to leave room. \u00a0In the directions on the seed pack you will see the spacing for the plants. \u00a0Follow it. \u00a0They don’t just make this stuff up.<\/p>\n On the right you will see the large cucumber frame I built myself. \u00a0Directions for this will be posted shortly. Last year the cucumbers took over this whole bed with it’s long vines no matter how much I cut it back. \u00a0This year I decided it needed somewhere to go and thought up would be a good idea. I looked around for a bunch of ideas and this seemed look a good cheap idea. \u00a0There are tons out there on The Google so look around for an idea that uses what you already have. \u00a0The seeds are then planted at the base of the frame on both sides in small hills. As they grow I will train them up the frame instead of letting them just go everywhere.<\/p>\n I also picked up a pack of seeds for a mesclun lettuce combo that I planted in a pot by the growing spinach and arugula. \u00a0For the herbs, I started more seeds of basil and parsley in pots because you can never have enough of those (remind me of this comment come July). \u00a0I bought a chocolate mint plant because it smells awesome and will give us another option when making mojitos. \u00a0This also went into a pot because mint in EXTREMELY invasive. \u00a0It will take over everything. \u00a0When you try to rip it out there will be a tiny part of the root left over and it will regrow. It’s amazing actually. \u00a0Last year my potted mint sent out a shoot over the pot edge and into the adjacent pot to take that over.<\/p>\n And finally, last year I planted arugula. \u00a0It didn’t go well and I never got anything to eat. \u00a0I didn’t properly clean out my pots from last year. \u00a0As I go to reuse the pots this year I see that there is a bunch of new seedlings in the window box I tried arugula in. \u00a0At first I think it’s just weeds but soon realize that, lo and behold, it’s arugula.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/tomatoes-out-1024x539.jpg\" "\\"tomatoes")
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