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Real Life Farmville 2013

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Its that time again, folks... Spring time is here!  Warming weather, flowers blooming, happy people everywhere... But one of my favorite parts about the Spring is starting my vegetable garden.  This will be my fourth year having a garden.  Ive learned a lot from my mistakes over the past three years, and Im ready for this year to be the best yet!  Anything worth doing is worth doing badly, thats what I always say.  No one is good in the beginning, just do it.  Just do something.



So Real-Life Farmville 2013 is underway, and Id like to share with you what Ive got going.  Ive been buying my seeds from Seed Savers Exchange every year.  Theyve got tons of unique, heirloom varieties of vegetables, and theyll send you an amazing catalog showing you everything they offer... highly recommended.  I like trying different stuff since my uncle, who shares the garden with me, always grows the common veggies like cucumbers, tomatoes, and summer squash.  Im a little more adventurous.

First up is the herbs... this is a new addition this year.

Herbs: Parsley, Cilantro, Dill

Got this little guy as an Easter gift in one of those easy-grow pots.  It came with blocks of dry soil, all I had to do was add water and plant the seeds and watch it grow.  Cant wait to use this stuff in my kitchen!

For the rest, I got 4 soil-filled flats from my family farm, Botticello Farms.  Ive been putting them outside every day and taking them in every night to avoid the cold weather, and theyve been doing very well on that regimen.  Its only been a week and a half and theyre looking good already!

Lets start with the kale, as this has been my most successful crop over the years.

Now

Later

Kale never fails.  Thats what Ive learned.  It always grows and its very resilient; it can be out in below-freezing temperatures, no problem.  It will also grow all summer long and give you a constant supply of leaves.  Good stuff.

Next up... this is my baby... a little yellow grape tomato called blondkopfchen.  

Now

Later

Ive had these the past 3 years and Ive saved the seeds every year, so I take pride in these little guys.  This is my third generation, and I just cant wait til mid-August when theyre ready to be picked.  Theyre like red grape tomatoes, but with a little extra sweetness.  Sweetness.

Next up Ive got some rainbow chard, a new one this year.  

Now

Later

We did plain old Swiss chard last year, but I thought Id try a more colorful variety.  Its looking strong so far.  Cant wait to try these, chard is great in my morning omelets!

Next!  An heirloom variety of tomatoes called Black Sea Man.

Now

Later

 Ugly looking?  Yes.  But they look super delicious and yummy.


Then we have some onions.

Now

Later

These are Ailsa Craig onions, which is supposedly an heirloom variety, although they look pretty much just like normal yellow onions.

And finally weve got 3 different types of lettuce... Grandpa Admires, Rossa di Trento, and Oak Leaf.

Now.  They all look the same at this point.

Later. Grandpas.

Later. Oak Leaf.

Later. Rossa.

This will be my first time trying to grow lettuce, and Ive got about 72 of these little guys so hopefully it works out!  Ill be putting those in the ground very soon.


Welp, thats it for my garden this year.  Super excited to be able to use this stuff in my kitchen, theres truly nothing like garden-fresh veggies!

Anybody out there starting a garden this year?  Tell me all about it in the comments!