Early Season Gardening

I got up this morning and after a breakfast of oatmeal and coffee I got out my metal file and my good garden spade. I re-sharpened the edge nice and sharply. And then it was time to turn earth. I turned two smallish sections of the garden in preparation of planting some early season crops of peas, pole beans and various greens. About two-thirds of the first section was expanding last year's garden into the lawn, so that meant some back breaking sod cutting work and then turning. I finished both sections just before noon in time for the sections to receive some good afternoon drying sunshine.



I'm somewhat sore from my first of many days to come of shovel work. By the end of April I should finally have those muscles used to the work. If it looks like it will stay dry long enough tomorrow I am thinking about spreading some organic fertilizer, turning it one more time and...wait for it...
planting!! I may be jumping the gun but I'm willing to give it a try with these relatively cold weather plants.

I used the rest of the day to do the Big Spring Prune on my roses. I got through all but my big fountain roses near the driveway. I'll probably finish those off tomorrow. I usually do the Big Spring Prune around President's Day or when the Portland Parks have pruned the roses in Ladd's Addition. I noticed two weekends ago that the roses had been pruned over there.

I'll finish off with a picture of an egg from Rosie still in the nesting box of the coop. Tomorrow we have to move the coop. This time of year they are stripping the soil under the coop and it takes longer for plants/grass to bounce back. I'm going to start rotating the coop around various future garden areas to get those areas well fertilized.



All in all, it was a good, sunny, productive day.