Update

Have been a little busy this summer ... new house and new baby + lots of family and new garden = not much time to blog OR garden. I was curious to go through my ambitious list from early spring and see what I actually planted and how it did. This is a copy of my former blog with additions made to it.

Vegetables

• Lettuce: leftovers from last year, Black Seeded Simpson - DID GREAT, WASN'T ABLE TO HARVEST MUCH THOUGH (BABY); new, Waldman's Dark Green (Seeds of Change) - NEVER PLANTED; new, Red Deer Tongue (S.o.C.) - DID GREAT, WASN'T ABLE TO HARVEST MUCH (BABY); new, Heatwave Blend (Cooks Garden) - PLANTED TOO LATE FOR A FALL HARVEST
  

• Pole Beans: leftovers, Kentucky Wonder Pole - YUMMY AND PROLIFIC AS ALWAYS!
  

• Peas: new, Oregon Giant Snow (S.o.C.) - SOOO GOOD!!! PLANT MORE NEXT YEAR
  

• Tomatoes: I am trying these from seed for the first time this year...new, Caro Rich (slicing, S.o.C.) - LOTS! GOT HIT WITH BLIGHT THOUGH; new, Ladybug (cherry, Cooks Garden) - VERY PROLIFIC; new, Big Mama (Sauce, Cooks Garden) - DID NOT GET MANY
  

• Carrots: all leftovers, Sweet Salad Hybrid; Little Finger; Danvers Half Long; Nantes Half Long; Big Top - TYPES ALL GOT MIXED UP, AM STILL USING THOUGH.
  

• Swiss Chard: new, Bright Lights (Cooks Garden) - GREAT! BEAUTIFUL AND YUMMY
  

• Kale: leftovers, Red Russian. PLANTED TOO MUCH AND WASN'T ABLE TO KEEP UP.

• Radishes: new, Easter Egg - NEVER PLANTED
  

• Purslane:leftovers, Golden. - 2ND YEAR NO RESULTS
  

• Arugula: new, Sputnik (S.o.C.) - GREAT! CAME UP SO QUICK. USED A LOT.
  

• Fava Beans: new, Broad Windsor (S.o.C.) - DESTROYED BY APHIDS. NEVER USED.
  

• Red Pepper: First time from seed...new, Yummy Sweet (Cooks Garden) - DIDN'T BEAR FRUIT. BUY PLANTS NEXT YEAR.
  

• Cucumbers: new, Bush Crop Hybrid (Henry Fields) - 1 CUCUMBER. PLANTED IN POT. TRY GROUND NEXT YEAR.
  

• Zucchini: new, Jackpot Hybrid (Henry Fields) - 2 ZUCCHINI. PLANTED IN POT. TRY GROUND NEXT YEAR.
  

Fruit

• new, Top Hat Patio Blueberries (Gurney's) - NEVER BOUGHT.
  

Herbs

• Basil: First time from seed...new, Lettuce Leaf (S.o.C.); new, Sweet Genovese (Cooks Garden) - TYPES GOT MIXED UP. DIDN'T DO WELL FROM SEED. TRY IN POT NEXT YEAR.
  

• Mint: store - DID OKAY. DRIED OUT IN POT AND GOT WOODY.
  

• Cilantro: store - NEVER BOUGHT.
  

• Borage: new, store - PLANTED BUT NEVER USED (BABY). PLANTED IN POT - REALLY TALL! PLANT IN GROUND NEXT YEAR.
  

• Chervil: new, store - DIDN'T BUY.
  

• Thyme: leftovers, Common. - DIDN'T DO MUCH.
  

• Dill: leftovers, Fernleaf. - DIDN'T PLANT
  

• Lobelia: new, Great Blue (S.o.C.) - DIDN'T PLANT.
  

Flowers

• Zinnia: leftovers, Shades of Pink; Red Candy Cane; new, Pastel Dreams (S.o.C.); new, Ruffles Mix (Cooks Garden) - THESE ARE MY FAVORITE, BUT JUST DON'T DO WELL FOR ME. WILL TRY ONE MORE TIME. DIRECT SOW.
  

• Alyssum: collected seeds. - PLANTED FROM PACKAGE.
  

• Sweet Peas: new, Cooks Custom Mix (The Cooks Garden) - DID OKAY. GOT A LATE START. TOO SHADY.
  

• Cosmos: leftovers, Sensation; Bright Lights - REALLY LATE COMING UP; new, Mixed Seashell (S.o.C.) - DIDN'T BUY
  

• Candytuft: new, Snowflake (Seeds of Change) DIDN'T BUY
  

• Sage: new, Jerusalem (Seeds of Change) PLANT NEXT YEAR; new, Nemorosa (S.o.C.) ?
  

• Echium: new, Vipers Blugloss (S.o.C.) ?
  

• Kiss Me Over the Garden Gate:new(S.o.C.) DIDN'T PLANT
  

• Larkspur: new, Beauty Spire Mix (S.o.C.) DIDN'T PLANT
  

• Poppy: new, White Peshwar (S.o.C.); new, Falling in Love (The Cooks Garden) DIDN'T BUY
  

• Balloon Flower: new (S.o.C.) NO FLOWERS THIS YEAR
  

• Daisy: new, Shasta (S.o.C.) NO FLOWERS THIS YEAR
  

• Mullein: new, Phonician (S.o.C.) DIDN'T PLANT
  

• Primrose: new, Evening (S.o.C.) DIDN'T BUY
  

• Goldspray: new, Ridlfia (Cooks Garden) DIDN'T DO GREAT
  

• Verbena: new, Bonariensis (Cooks Garden) DIDN'T PLANT
  

• Mina Lobata: new, (Cooks Garden) DIDN'T PLANT
  

**if it's listed as new, it just means new to my garden**

This Season

So I read a little stat in Time magazine today
that said seed sales were up this season by 20%.
A recent poll I read reported that there will be a
large increase in first time gardeners this year.
I think this is so exciting! Whether it is due to the
economy, the focus on "green living" or a desire for
a more healthy lifestyle, I don't know. I imagine it
may be a combination of all three for many.

As I await my seeds to arrive in the mail, I've started
getting that overwhelmed feeling of the work I have
ahead. I still need to wash out my old seed planters,
buy the soil and figure out a better labeling system this
year. I saw a picture today of a potting room a lady has
off of her kitchen and it made me oh so envious. This is
another thing that makes me anxious - where am I going
to put all these seeds? I didn't mind too much moving
them around last year from window to window, but am
just not really looking forward to that this year. With the
growing belly and all, it's getting harder to bend over!
I'm also envious of those gardeners who have room to have
shelves for their planters - - and ones with lights! to top it
all off. Maybe someday.