Nobody would use me for an inspiration, I have not found all my seeds yet, but all it would take to get me started would be some warm weather.

I still remember the first year I started seeds. I had bought the old house I grew up in, and built a greenhouse and attached it to the back of the back of my house where I had 3 windows side by side. The windows were about 5 feet off the ground, and the 3 windows together were about 10' wide. I removed the screens and made a large low table to sit on the floor and was the same height of the bottom of the windows inside of the house. ( you can do things like that when you are single and live alone ) Because the house was so high in the back where my greenhouse was, the winter sun could shine in on the large table ( greenhouse was on the south side of the house ) I could start and grow my small plants without any grow lights. I had attached the greenhouse to the seam between the top and bottom halves of the windows in such a way that I could pass the plants from the greenhouse back into the my house through the open windows, onto the large low table I had made to sit on the floor of my second bedroom. I was also able to use the heat from the greenhouse to heat my house.

Anyway I started my tomatoes on the 25 of January that year ( I started some later also) anyway, some of my tomatoes were near waste high by planting time, the grass in the greenhouse was around knee high, and even though I had about a 40' x 90' garden, I still had too many plants.

I had a 1/2 hp electric pump attach to the artesian well to pressurize the water so I could run 3 sprinklers at a time, I had dug ditches along 2 sides of the garden for 3/4" water lines and places sprinklers on tee post to be able to water the entire garden be just turning valves.

Anyway, I got the itch to get married, and did not think my wife would want to live in an old red neck house without central heat and air. My cost of living is much higher now, but it is worth it. My health had gotten to the point that I was unable to continue remodel the old house, and I needed a break anyway.

As you can see, nobody needs my inspiration, even though I had a ton of fun.

I'm working on it, but not ready yet. Ron needs some kind of list with dates. It's not enough to say time to plant xyz. Any suggestions?

Jen, I'm very excited about your many options. So much fun. And about your future tractor! And that Cliff can drive it!

I do have my list ready. It's not inspiring and rather boring. I must get my head together, but still want to grow lots of food.

Onions: Patterson, Texas Legend, and Southern Belle Red

Garlic is already planted.

Radishes--I'll just clean out my old seed and not buy any new. I think I have Cherry Belle and Daikon

Turnips--white egg (a smaller salad type)

Carrots -- also will just clean out old seed

Cabbage

Broccoli (just a few plants in the hoop house)

Lettuce, arugula, spinach, and kale. Maybe collards and swiss chard.

I'm cleaning out a lot of older seed in the "cool season" category this year and will start with fresh seed next year.

Rick is planning to put red potatoes and green peas in the Survivalists Garden.

I like calendula. Honestly had I known we would stay somewhat "cool" well into June, I would have planted a lot more of it. I made some nice bath products with it. <3

My advice: if you want asparagus, spend some time thinking about the best place for it and get it done this year. If you do crowns, you'll be able to harvest in 2024. Dawn and others advised (way back in 2015) to put it on the north side of the garden. I love asparagus and dedicated 2 8 ft. beds to it. When it's in season, it goes crazy. I always have too much of it. I don't like to freeze it because it gets mushy. If I had to do it again, I would only give it one 8 ft. bed. It's enough for our family. And because I don't freeze or preserve it, it's just a seasonal treat.

Think hard about trees too. If not this year, try to get them planted next year. It's something I wish we would have done earlier. Even fruit bushes like blackberries and elderberries.

I would like to add my 2 cents worth on trees. Madge loves trees, and when we moved here, I think she wanted to plant them like grass. I had to just put my foot down about planting trees on the south part of our lawn. I also did not want them near the garden, which is a battle I lost, and had to let one be planted east of our driveway, which was rather near my north garden. Well 15 years later I have a lot of shade on the garden I had invested a lot of time and money in.

To make a long story short, plan, and re-plan on where you place your trees. Trees don't stay small.

I really love trees. Really love trees.

I am so worried that at some point I'll have to take down the tree that is to the west of our kitchen garden. Whatever kind of tree it is (I still don't know), it has the sort of roots that crawl just below the ground and above it too. They are getting too close to the house, which could cause damage.

That tree gives wonderful shade in the late afternoon and evening. It allows me to work in the garden during the summer when otherwise, it would be too hot. It also gives the plants a break from the intense sun. They'll often perk back up when the shade hits them after they've wilted from the hot sun.

could it be a Maple? Their roots are pretty well at the surface, or above, as far as I know.

I have zero trees in the back yard, but a nice mess of electrical and other wires over my yard.

I planted a peach tree in the front a couple years ago, and yesterday an apple tree. I have a small plum tree (which I hope, it stays small enough) in one area where there is a bit of a break of overhead lines. I didn't really think, anything would come of it... but I put a handful of seeds/stones from plums there after I made marmalade from fruit from a tree at the lake.

I wish I had a tree, but my yard is small... and I will make some trellis' for sweet potatoes and some better tomato cages (height wise) and that should give me some shade. :)

Moni

Moni, I have electric easement in my back yard and city easement just outside the fence. Previous owner planted fruit trees outside the fence. One of the reasons we bought the place. City came through and cut every thoing down except the apple tree and Ron caught them before it went. Then one day the electric people wanted in the back yard when we were gone #and the dog tried to bite him. So he cut the flipping apple tree down and used a cherry picker to get to the pole. can't win for losing.