Garden Planning 2.0

Peter and I are in the midst of planning and preparing for our 2025 gardens. Let's call last years version Ricklig Strom 1.0...we learned a lot. Here is the 2.0 plan so far...

We are using the app "Planter" for the design and to help us track all of the timelines for indoor sowing, direct sowing, care, and harvest for everything.

Main Garden: located in the open field by our fruit trees

Highlights of our main garden for 2025:

1. Size = 20x30 feet, with a perimeter fence and flowers/herbs outside the fence to deter wildlife

2. Raised mound planting with consideration given to the height of the plants/trellis/cages needed to maximize sunlight across the field

3. Two perennial plants added this year, which mean these will produce over many years = Asparagus and 3 varieties of strawberries with a staggered harvest timeline

4. Organic/heirloom seeds and bareroot plants (strawberries) purchased from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds (Rare Seeds) and Johnny's Selected Seeds.

   1. What's in the garden? Lincoln Garden Peas, Purple Plum Radishes, New Kuroda Carrots, Mary Washington Asparagus, Calima Beans, Orchard Baby Sweet Corn, Marketmore Cucumbers, Black Beauty Zucchini, Ozark Giant Peppers, Cherokee Purple Tomatoes, German Lunchbox Tomatoes, Classic Beefsteak Tomatoes, Sakata's Sweet Melon, New England Sugar Pie Pumpkins, Henry Wilde Sunflowers, Earliglow Strawberries, Jewel Strawberries, Sparkle Strawberries, and Lupines (for the bees)

   2. What's on the border of the garden? Marigolds, Mint, Genovese Basil, and Dark Purple Opal Basil

   3. We will be adding Nasturtium in between the melons and pumpkins, as they are combative plants. However, Nasturtium is a companion plant for pumpkins and won't bother the melons. We may have to reconsider placement of those, but time will tell.

Kitchen Garden: located closer to the house just outside our back door

Highlights of our kitchen garden for 2025:

1. Size = 10x16 feet

2. Raised beds with potato bags and rounds for a variety of vegetables/herbs that we use more frequently

3. Organic/heirloom seeds and potato seeds purchased from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds (Rare Seeds) and Johnny's Selected Seeds.

   1. What's in the garden? Monnopa Spinach, Heirloom Lettuce Cutting Mix, Winter Sun Beets, Early Scarlet Globe Radishes, Uzbek Golden Carrots, Long Island Brussels Sprouts, Bouquet Dill, Common Thyme, Rosy Rosemary, Yellow Sweet Spanish Onions, Akatama Salad Red Onions, VIKING PURPLE POTATOES, and French Fingerling Potatoes

   2. What's on the border of the garden? Nothing! We are hoping that the proximity to the house will deter critters, but we can easily add a perimeter fence if it looks like we have unwanted company!

We will add more perennial flowers/bushes to our existing flower beds that we prepped last fall, to include lavender, bee balm, and rose bushes.

We would also like to add more fruit trees in the field. We currently have 3 apple trees, 2 fig trees, 2 blueberry bushes, 1 cherry tree, and 2 patches of rhubarb. We found a really cool website with heirloom fruit trees (treesofantiquity.com).

Our additions for 2025 include:

1. Glockenapfel (German apple tree from the 1500's that is known for fruit that makes the best strudels).

2. Cinnamon Spice Apple

3. King of the Pippins Apple

4. Fantasia Nectarine

5. Frost Peach

6. Ya Li Pear Tree (Asian pear variety)

   
   

   Would you help us pick one last tree or berry bush to add to our gardens/orchard?

   Comment here on the blog or on our Facebook page to let us know what you would like to see grow in our garden!

   Our choices are:

   A - Honan Red Persimmon Tree

   B - Li & Lang Jujube Trees

   C - Eversweet Pomegranate Tree

   D - Tayberry Bush