Drycreek Blog

Progress on the Raised Bed Continues...

2010-03-22T12:05:00-04:00

It's just not true what some local gardeners will tell you about not planting anything until Peavine Peak is free of snow. It's a confused notion because while it might be true that tomatoes and eggplant and peppers should wait, nevertheless, there are lots of plants and starts that can go into the ground right now.

It all depends upon where you plant and the degree of protection you provide. Some plants will need to harden a bit before spending a chilly night out. With these starts, we hardened them by first letting them feel the cool evening air until bedtime, then we brought them in. Then we let them spend a few nights on an open air, though covered porch. Then we planted them in the raised bed, covering them at night with a clear plastic frame.

Lettuces, beets, cabbage, kale, collards, Brussels sprouts, brocolli spinach, onions, leeks, chives, parsley and other hardy herbs and vegetables can take some cold at night. We cover the box as a precaution until the roots have settled in and the leaves get used to the microclimate of the backyard. During the day we remove the plastic cover to let the sun shine in and to make sure they new plants don't overheat.

It's all fun. And in the high desert, each season is different; each planting is experimental. It gives for good writing in the garden journal.

Right now we have in stock all the vegetable and herb starts mentioned above. This week, too, we've received shipments of hardy perennials that can also be planted before the snow leaves Peavine Peak. Some are early flowering natives. This is also a great time to plant shade trees like the Norway maple and the honey locust. Certainly, if you're itching to start work on the garden, turn your back on Peavine Peak and drive down to the Reno nursery. We're in the gardening mode already; we'll show you what can be planted today.

Celebrating the Vernal Equinox

2010-03-21T11:06:00-04:00

Yesterday was the Vernal Equinox! And if we couldn't actually feel the intersection of the equinoctial points or the fact that night and day were almost equal in length and that the center of the sun passed vertically across an exact point on the Equator, it sure did feel like a day for planting!

This year, our plan for this raised bed is to grow salad vegetables. We will get a head start by planting some six packs of various lettuces, cabbage, beets, leeks and onions. We will at the same time plant seeds of lettuce, kale, spinach and carrot.

To stay organized, it's easy to mark the rows with a straight edge, then place a yardstick next to the line drawn for spacing the plants and seeds. The straight edge and ruler combination can also serve to draw the seed lines to their proper depth.

As we plant the seeds, of course the local song birds watch from nearby branches and ledges as if this yearly springtime ritual is for them. But, we will cover the frame to allow the seeds to sprout and to protect the starts from any sudden dips in nighttime temperatures.

Happy Spring!

Preparing the Soil

2010-03-20T10:33:00-04:00

Today in downtown Reno the daytime temperature is expected to reach 68 degrees. This is an iffy time for planting non-hardy plants, of course, since the city is actually perched on the edge of the Sierra. We're at an elevation of around 4500 feet, so night temperatures will dip and a cold snap won't come as much of a surprise. Plus, there is still snow on the mythic Peavine. Still, this is a good time to make sure the soil is ready for planting and soil work is a great excuse to get out in the garden with this welcomed daytime warmth.

The soil pictured here in this raised bed has been turned and mixed with last year's compost, which, thanks to the mighty earthworms, was dark, rich, luscious and sweet. In addition, Dry Creek recently received a new shipment of organic chicken manure, so we added a good dose of that as well. After raking and leveling, the box was treated to a nice deep watering.

At this time of year, this box acts as a cold frame for cold hardy vegetables like lettuce, onions, beets, cabbage, kale, spinach, leeks, garlic, collards, broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts. In the upper right of the photo you can see the clear plastic covers we use to protect from any unexpected hard frosts. The cover intensifies the daytime temperatures, too. And it keeps out any wandering cottontails and the neighbor's sweet kitty that likes to use the freshly turned soil as its own private cat box.

Happy Spring!