Is it Spring Yet???

March 21, 2012

For those of us living in the Pacific Northwest (more specifically the Portland Metro area), Winter came late this year; I can't remember the last time we had more days of snow on the ground in February & March! When that goundhog predicted 6 more weeks of winter this year, he wasn't kidding! While my location didn't receive the "snow-mageddon" that hit the southern valley last week (Salem/Eugene), it was still enuf to make the morning commute treacherously beautiful.

corn salad & leeks

I will admit, I have not done anything in the garden this Winter. We had a really nice day a couple Saturdays ago where I finally got the front yard looking somewhat presentable, but my raised garden beds still lay dormant with last year's potatoes (which are still delicious!), while others are luschously green with mache (corn salad) and leeks that remarkably made it thru the crazy weather the last 3 months. *The corn salad acted like a living mulch, which has proven to be a great double-duty edible!

Though the weather is still cold and rainy (10-15 deg below normal), I can no longer wait -  it's finally time to get planting! Lettuce, spinach, radish and peas will all get planted this weekend, followed by cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower. As mentioned in earlier posts, I have these wonderful raised beds that allow me to garden practially year-round. Not only do I have warmer soils - when I use row cover - I have amazingly friable soils & can dig these beds even after heavy rains, usually the next day!

So if you can, get planting!
And don't forget, it's still not too late to get your tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants started (indoors, of course).

PEAS OUT!
~GP