Woah woah woah! Never feel bummed! Take your successes and run with them, take your failures and learn from them. My first garden, I planted about 8 different kinds of seeds. You what I would up growing? Beans, and that was quite by accident! That year I even tried growing 2 indeterminate tomatoes in these tiny little containers with less then 1/2 a bag of soil each! (The coup de grâce was when I woke up one morning and all my beans looked like they had been in a fight with a weed whacker, covered with a layer of hail that looked like it had snowed). Then, the first time I tried starting seeds indoors, I killed every single transplant, except for 2 cabbages, because I didn't harden them off. You talk about naivety and feeling bummed? Holy cow, and we are only on year number one! It's been a while since then, though not nearly as long as a lot of people here (not that I'm calling them old or anything ;P) and now my failures are no longer as daunting. And believe me, there are quite a few of them, but I also have a lot more success, too. It's a learning thing, and the coolest part bout it is that there is always new learning! You never know it all because gardening is not one size fits all. You have to try new things, and try to improve old things to fit you, and your current situation. As for your seedlings in question: The good news is that if you loose any, you have time to redo darn near all of them. -I don't typically transplant onions, unless they are really crowded and/or I start them way too early. -Lettuce, I always direct seed. So, if your lettuce started indoors doesn't make it, you always have direct sewing as a back-up plan, and you wont be behind anyways. -The tomatoes, I wouldn't throw those ones out, but I would put in another batch of seed just in case. There is plenty of time for starting tomatoes yet. in fact, here in my zone 5 climate I don't start my tomato seeds until mid-late march, and I know a lot of folks around here who wait until April so, you'd be right on schedule if you popped some more in right now, or even if you waited a week or two. -The cabbage type plants, I'd also give it a couple weeks or so and then start some more seeds, just in case these ones don't make it or don't transplant very well. You are still at least 2 months out for your last expected frost, which is plenty of time to start another batch.

I had to hold onto my onions far longer than I wanted to, but they are coming around as long as they don't drown. Leeks, on the other hand, are at maybe 40% loss. I'd say a fourth of the potatoes drowned; and if it doesn't stop raining I'll lose the rest to weeds. I'm afraid to till much because at least now the soil is compacted enough that most of the water runs off. Of all things, I'm also struggling now w/asparagus beetles. They've ruined probably 40% of the crop as well. I hold out little hope on all the lettuces, spinach, chard, and beets. We had pounding rain, which crusted the soil, and weeds are the only things coming through. Oh, and all the rain flooded our basement --twice-- till I figured out gutters were clogged as well as the window well. The first time the sump pump float got stuck. It's getting nearly impossible to keep up 2 places and work 3 jobs. My allergies this year have also just knocked me down. The pollen is so thick this year that the pond is coated w/a film of it. Thank God summer is almost here, but I am ridiculously behind. Then again, so is everyone else. It's currently raining yet again.

You don't say how much space between the beds but I like a min. of 3ft. between mine. 4ft for the things that stretch outside the beds when growing. You'll know more as things grow OUT. I do like the mulch around the beds. So many people want grass right up to the beds. Be careful the mulch doesn't harbor ants (or termites) so close to the house. It looks good to me. I think you will like this way of gardening. I think gardening is one huge experiment. There is always next to to improve on things. Be sure to write any ideas or changes for next year in your garden book. Else you will forget IF you are like me. obtw- which way is the sun coming from?

* Posted by coconut-nj (My Page) on Sat, May 30, 09 at 11:27 Sally, anywhere that has alot of British imports would probably have it. I was checking out who had it online the other day and while you might not want 6 bottles of it.. smiles... Amazon has 6 bottles for $27.05. It's free shipping too. Most places sell it for between five and six or up to eight dollars, so that's a great price. They say they're 15 oz bottles. Maybe somebody else would want to go in on it with you?? I've always heard of it described as a mayo with more vinegar and also with a mustard taste. Sounds good. Smiles. My DW used it when she used to travel to the UK all the time for buisness. Surprised she didn't bring any back. I have a head of savoy cabbage so I'm going to make my easy 'stuffed' cabbage casserole that I described above. It makes it so easy and quick which is just what we want on a Saturday night. Steam the cabbage briefly, layer it with dirty rice, pour some tomato juice mixed with onion and garlic powder between layers and on top and bake for about 40 minutes. I'll see if I can manage to take a picture. I seem to be terrible at that. The camera is always in the other room and it's a kind of big house and by the time I'm done cooking I'm not walking very well. LOL.. We will see. Oh btw, I always make two dishes of this because Christy gets burnt out on "red" since I always have something made with red sauce around I make her a version with just some broth on it. I do stuffed peppers for her the same way. No red. I do love the red on it but prefer tomato juice since it's nice and light although I'll just water down tomato sauce or puree with chicken stock/broth, if I don't have any handy.