Kale and Lettuce ready to eat !!! ... pic.twitter.com/ivut8uK6xl

— Organic Gardener (@backyardorgani1) June 5, 2017

Hop bines coming up. They grow about 1 foot a day now. pic.twitter.com/gBAKZSRanl

— Organic Gardener (@backyardorgani1) May 4, 2017

Frost is no problem if you use row cover. As you can see, the lettuce wasn't damaged from the frost. pic.twitter.com/3L0nUrJ0AN

— Organic Gardener (@backyardorgani1) May 4, 2017

Lilies, daylilies, and daffodils are popping up even though it's going to snow Saturday pic.twitter.com/KovR8V8Tu3

— Organic Gardener (@backyardorgani1) April 4, 2017

Aprils Fools !! snow... pic.twitter.com/EvLezc1TUo

— Organic Gardener (@backyardorgani1) April 1, 2017

Growing anything is a challenge with this amount of sunlight !!! pic.twitter.com/3j06qw2x5x

— Organic Gardener (@backyardorgani1) March 19, 2017

A 70's space movie movie ahead of its time. Watched by a little boy who grew up and now grows things... ...https://t.co/TslL9f27Of

— Organic Gardener (@backyardorgani1) March 8, 2017

Political signs can be recycled and the metal can be used in the garden to support plants or row covers ... https://t.co/5k1gahHlge

— Organic Gardener (@backyardorgani1) March 8, 2017

Free weights found in the trash can be reused to hold down your plastic row covers .. https://t.co/5k1gahHlge

— Organic Gardener (@backyardorgani1) March 8, 2017

Putting lettuce seedlings out for 1 hour to harden up.Will increase hardening 1 hr per day for week. Then plant . https://t.co/5k1gahHlge

— Organic Gardener (@backyardorgani1) March 6, 2017

Frost line where I garden is 4 1/2 feet deep ..

— Organic Gardener (@backyardorgani1) March 5, 2017

-7F in unheated hoop house last night. Romaine lettuce says, "No problem .. https://t.co/5k1gahHlge pic.twitter.com/UJrEGv6hka

— Organic Gardener (@backyardorgani1) March 5, 2017

Figured out how to add my tweets to my blog ! ..https://t.co/5k1gahHlge

— Organic Gardener (@backyardorgani1) March 4, 2017

Snow covering the hoop house but the lettuce is safe and very happy inside pic.twitter.com/pDi3nBt1un

— Organic Gardener (@backyardorgani1) February 17, 2017

75F in the hoop house. First full day of sun in 2 weeks !!!!!! https://t.co/5k1gahpJRE

— Organic Gardener (@backyardorgani1) February 18, 2017

65F ambient. Snow has melted. Venting hoophouse full of lettuce !!

— Organic Gardener (@backyardorgani1) February 24, 2017

Worm composting bins in my office are doing just great !! ... https://t.co/5k1gahHlge pic.twitter.com/Bk1vLedO6P

— Organic Gardener (@backyardorgani1) February 24, 2017

Another series of Bibb lettuce started ... https://t.co/5k1gahHlge pic.twitter.com/9ZNeNBTik6

— Organic Gardener (@backyardorgani1) February 25, 2017

Soaked peat pots. Started more lettuce mix pic.twitter.com/GTHSAasgl6

— Organic Gardener (@backyardorgani1) February 25, 2017

65F to 28F today. Rain->Sleet-> Snow and high winds. Go home Mother Nature. You're drunk !!!

— Organic Gardener (@backyardorgani1) February 26, 2017

I grow year round in Zone 4B and top ten in lower 48 for sun. As the song say, "If I can grow it here, i can grow it anywhere" ...

— Organic Gardener (@backyardorgani1) February 28, 2017

Getting everything ready to start seedlings. Double checking my checklist. I usually have 80 flats going at peak!

— Organic Gardener (@backyardorgani1) March 1, 2017

Getting everything ready to start seedlings. Double checking my checklist. I usually have 80 flats going at peak!

— Organic Gardener (@backyardorgani1) March 1, 2017

Nothing like the screeching and smell of a good old fashioned skunk fight ...

— Organic Gardener (@backyardorgani1) March 2, 2017

https://t.co/urOLLLDQFi

— Organic Gardener (@backyardorgani1) March 3, 2017

My gardening wingman. Almost 6 months old Siegfried the German Shepherd ... pic.twitter.com/llmBwrTzs8

— Organic Gardener (@backyardorgani1) March 2, 2017

March 3rd .. Lettuce seedlings are cozy upstairs. But outside it's going to 8F . pic.twitter.com/DDkzb1dC5X

— Organic Gardener (@backyardorgani1) March 4, 2017

Over 2,000 peat seed starters ready for use !! ... https://t.co/5k1gahHlge pic.twitter.com/ibdu17hXKo

— Organic Gardener (@backyardorgani1) March 4, 2017

Lettuce seed started. Each started 1 week apart. Last once today .. https://t.co/5k1gahpJRE pic.twitter.com/PZhCsYVen0

— Organic Gardener (@backyardorgani1) March 4, 2017

Seed Orders For 2017 Outdoor Garden ... Part 2

This is part 2 of the post: Seed Orders For 2017 Outdoor Garden ... Part 1

I bought these seeds from Park Seed  Park Seed  during a sale and free shipping! They are Zinnias, Rudbeckia, Marigolds, Basil, Cilantro, Tomatoes, Coleus, Cosmos, Radish.

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Cilantro will be used to make pesto. cilantro pesto recipe

Basil will be used to make basil pesto. basil pesto recipe

Nasturtium will be used near the vegetables because they deter some pests and is a great tasting edible flower. Nasturtium .

Marigold will also be used because it looks good and deters some pests and attacks pollinators.
marigolds

Cosmos will be used to attract pollinators

Coleus will be used in shady areas. 

Seed Orders For 2017 Outdoor Garden ... Part 1

I try to order seeds early to make sure I have them. I put my seed inventory into a few categories:

1. Old seeds
2. Seed saved seeds
3. New seeds

I make sure I have plenty of seeds of the plants I want to grow. I tend to start them earlier than I should to make sure I have enough plants. I try to use up the old seeds and then use the seed saved seeds. I also grow about 50% more plants than what I need. There is nothing worse than a possible blank spot in the garden. Or not having enough of your favorite plants. It is better to have seeds left over than missing plants at planting time. 

I bought these seeds from Johnnys  Johnny's Selected Seeds   during a sale. They are Zinnias, Rudbeckia, Coneflower, Lettuce mix, Kale, Collared Greens, Lettuce, Swiss Chard, Broccoli, Cherry Tomato

The flowers are annuals. The collard greens, cherry tomatoes, lettuce mix, lettuce, swiss chard, kale will keep producing new harvests. 

I will use succession planting to supplement the broccoli and lettuce growth. 

As you can see from previous posts, I use a lot of zinnias and rudbeckia in the flower garden. They attract bees, blooms last a long time, and the plants can handle the local climate.