I wanted to create a garden where we could grow what we want to eat and have fresh veggies all the time. It has been a challenge as we neglected the garden for several years. Last year I purchased “garden soil mix” from a nursery 1 1/2 truck fulls. It had way too much sand in it and was impossible to keep any of the plants watered adequately, esp. since we changed to rain barrels.
We got almost no tomatoes, few peppers, few egg plants and just enough other stuff to get by. The squash all got bugs. we were able to harvest a few. The pickles did great, esp the ones in pots. The carrots did great but I grew the short ones so not great quantities. NZ spinach was a stellar performer. Lettuce did very well all year. Got barely enough okra to put by for soups. Basil and oregano did great as they were in pots. I was able to save the basil plants in the greenhouse this year and do many more harvests. Mint is hanging on—putting it in the end of the compost row really helped to remember to water it.

My plans for 2011 include trying out a variety of peppers and tomatoes in buckets using the global bucket technique with vinyl/plastic mulches. I want to plant as much spinach, NZ spinach and lettuce as possible in spots where we can have a constant supply. I want to grow lots of pickle cucumbers and can them again. Because we are growing carrots in bins, I think I can grow regular ones and get a better harvest yield. We will grow the broccoli and bok choi in an area that gets afternoon shade so we get a spring crop as we lost our winter crop.

I got a couple of small greenhouses from Big Lots and they are stellar for starting plants. I have them inside next to the grow light and with red Xmas lights on for warmth. Have been able to keep the room over 50 even during the coldest of the days and nights. Am trying a heating pad on low for germinating the peppers.