Already the soggy community garden plot beckons. Barney, my adorable golden retriever, and I walk by it regularly in the local park. It doesn’t look very appealing at the moment; even the Tibetan prayer flags that flew above my tomato plants last year look sad and appropriately faded and ragged. Yet I just placed a call to see if I could “inherit” the abandoned plot next to mine.
Perusing an article in a recent issue of Urban Farm, it discussed crop rotation recommendations to minimize plant pests. Coincidentally, two of my favorite seed catalogs recently arrived in the mail: Nichols Garden Nursery (YGP booth #537 & 539) and Territorial Seed Company (YGP booth #554 & 556). Both will offer a good selection of seeds at the Yard, Garden & Patio Show.
I have a tendency to give into impulse and buy too many seeds. This year, I have a plan: Review my copy of Seattle Tilth’s “Maritime Northwest Garden Guide,” select what I want to plant seasonally, map out my crop rotation, then spend some time selecting varieties from the catalogs before arriving at the Yard Garden & Patio Show. If I get that second garden plot, a trip to One Green World’s booth (YGP booth #336 & 338) will be in order for cane berries.
Good intentions? You bet! Actual probability that I’ll stick to my plan and not give into impulse? Mmmm…probably nil.
What varieties do you plan to plant this year?