I try to gang all my meetings and errands together. I pick a date to get them all done. I assume I will not be able to do regular work on that particular day.
This was supposed to be that day. But my first meeting ran over, bumping my second meeting out of the running—it was a lunch with a new user’s group, so no one would even miss me. Cool. My afternoon meeting was canceled due to illness, and so I found myself at home with nothing planned or pressing.
Part of me really wanted to blow the day off and do whatever struck my fancy—and I was close to it. Then I thought about the projects and tasks ahead next week and knew it was not my best choice. I opened my calendar to today and what to my wondering eyes should appear but this simple note? “Plant the pole beans.”
I have many projects that I plan out in advance and gardening is one of them. I’m not a seriously successful urban farmer (yet), and so I don’t naturally know when to do what. But I’m learning. After consulting sites on the web, the Farmer’s Almanac, and my mother, I’ve come up with a loose schedule of when to plant.
I spread the needed supplies and the items I’ve collected for seed starting projects. I think the toilet paper rolls will do nicely for this one. The beans I know will do well in them. I had success last year with this method. I’m also starting commercial broccoli seeds as well as broccoli seeds I’ve harvested myself. I’ll want to follow progress and measure results. The toilet paper rolls are nice as you can mark them up. I’ll make notes of the date of harvest, type of seed, and date planted.
I’ve labeled the rolls. Just tuck the lower sides inward to create a bottom and fill with dirt. Add water first. You’ll avoid upsetting the seeds that way. I sprinkle the broccoli seeds on top and cover with a thin sprinkle of dirt. The beans were harvested from my daughter’s garden last fall and did quite well so I have high hopes. The larger the seed, the deeper the planting. These guys are pretty hefty, so I’ll cover them well.
Now, I’ve placed all my rolls in an old wine box. Large pots or well cleaned laundry soap jugs make a great receptacle as well. Off to a sunny window for the lot.
Working with the soil in the sun felt so good it seemed like a guilty pleasure. I’m sure we’ve got more cold weather to endure, but the afternoon of planting did me a world of good. And with luck, come summer, it will do me more good in the form of delicious, homegrown, garden fresh vegetables!