Garden 2013

The boys and I have been working in the garden off-and-on for a few months now. 

First, we have a few herbs for use in the kitchen or that the kids like.  We've had the Mint plant in the blue pot for years.  We just sheer it down almost to the ground when it dies back in the winter and every year it pops out again...which is why I would never, never plant it in the ground.  The kids like to pick leaves to eat when they are playing in the yard.  So this year we added some Chocolate Mint (on the right).

The basil I planted in February didn't survivie the snow.  Happily, Basil popped up in the pot where I had it last year.  There are at least five little plants, so I am hoping a few of them will hang in there.  We use basil in salad dressing and some Italian dishes. 

Parsley: Curled leaf from years past and some flat leaf parsley from seed. 

Here is the main part of our garden.  We dug in two bags of compost this year.  And I am a little embarassed to admit that after it snowed in Feburary I was out there with a shovel turning the soil.  You see, Calvin and I read Farmer Boy this year and Pa called a light dusting of snow "poor man's fertilizer."  He hitched up the horses first thing in the morning and he and Almonzo tilled under the snow.  We'll see how it works.

I bought two jalapenos.

I also bought four tomatoes.  One is an heirloom called Mr. Stripey.  And there are two Romas and one Cherry tomato.  I've already moved my pretty tomato cages a couple times trying to find the configuration I think will work best.

And rounding out this desert garden we have:

Yellow squash

Cucumber

Zucchini

And four bell peppers

What is growing in your garden this year?
Any recommendations for tying up tomatoes?