Comments

1. Denise Foerter says 04/01/10
   Hi Sara! This year we are going to be doing tomatoes, peppers, basil, cilantro, thyme, oregano, chives, dill. For lettuce, we are sowing seeds of Black Seeded Simpson, Arugula, Mesclun, Green Ice and Buttercrunch. I'm sowing the seeds today. We do all our gardening in containers.
2. Justyn Carbajal says 04/01/10
   Sara I LOVE this blog! I can't wait to see more from your garden. Is Reba your rescue chicken/hen? How adorable! I haven't decided what we will plant this year but I know I will have Basil, cilantro and peppers for sure. Just not sure whether I will plant in the ground our in containers. Happy Gardening Sara!
3. Kate says 04/07/10
   I am planning on building raised beds this weekend. I can't decide between cedar or treated lumber. What did you use? It seems like since treated lumber doesn't use arsenic anymore, it should be fine for gardens, but I would like your opinion as well. Thanks!
4. JANE MASON says 04/07/10
   Sara, so fun to see your garden. Looking forward to see the next step!
5. Sarah Emory says 04/07/10
   Hey Sarah! I love looking at your blog- we are about to replant our raised beds that we started last year as well! We are replanting beans, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, celery, carrots and all the herbs that didn't make it through the summer; and we are adding corn, garlic, cantelope and peas this year! One thing I will say is that I planted our lettuce (3 different kinds) from seed, and it did incredibly well all spring/summer long.
6. Sara Stubbs-Farris says 04/07/10
   KATE: I used recycled treated lumber to build my raised beds, but cedar would work just fine too! Cedar has an upscale look and is a natural pest deterrent. Treated Plywood would be the most economical option but will not last more than a few years outdoors.
7. Linda says 04/07/10
   Thanks Sara, for sharing your garden with us! This year I will be growing Chives, Garlic Chive, Lemon Thyme, Mint (and someone please kick me for not planting Mint in a pot...it's taking over the entire garden and I wake up with nightmares of MINT climbing through the window and choking me in my sleep LOL!), Lavender, Rosemary, Basil, Cilantro and Salad Burnett. These are the ones which come up from seed or root almost every year, and I'll probably be adding more. For veggies, I've planted lettuce and swiss chard so far...adding tomatoes and peppers later : ) I'm especially interested in your raised garden beds...because of the terrible Mole problem we have here. I've heard of wire being used at the bottom of beds (during preparation), to keep the Moles out. Any suggestions re: raised beds would be appriciated! And thanks for this blog...it's great fun and I love the gardening tips! Blessings to you, Linda
8. Trish Ahten says 04/08/10
   Last year was our first year with raised vegetables beds. I stained treated lumber. We were very happy with the results. Easier to weed and water. We are adding two 3'x30' raised beds this year as soon as things dry out some. I have started green peppers and tomatoes indoors. I am sure there will be volunteer tomatoes to transplant. Wish I could have gotten the potatoes, onions, cabbage, and lettuce planted before this last rain, but it sounds like it could still get pretty chilly at night. This is a great forum to exchange ideas and information.
9. Debbie Fetters says 04/08/10
   Hi Sara, am enjoying your blog! We have 4 raised beds that have worked out great and am hoping to put in 2 more. Already planted sugar snap peas, lettuce, spinach, & broccoli. Will be planting maters, cukes, zuchinni & patty pan squash. Question for you~ squash vine borers hit me every year. Any suggestions to avoid these buggers? Thanks!
10. Sara Stubbs-Farris says 04/08/10
    LINDA: To keep moles out, I would recommend using mesh around the perimeter of your raised bed. The mesh would have to be fine enough to keep the moles out. Also, be sure to securely fasten it to the frame to keep them from pushing it back.
11. Sara Stubbs-Farris says 04/08/10
    DEBBIE: Borers can be a real pain, but there are a couple things you can do to control them. -Plow your soil in fall and spring to destroy any cocoons that may have over-wintered. -Some gardeners like to plant a “dummy” crop of very early squash, which will alleviate damage on later planted varieties. -Place a barrier or cover over the stems to prevent borers from laying eggs in the first place -Catch and destroy the moths, best done at twilight when they are resting on the upper side of the leaf bases. -After you harvest the fruit, destroy the spent vines to kill any larvae which may be hiding inside the stems. -Use an organic insecticide as a LAST RESORT, but pay attention to the timing of application, which is crucial to success.