Squirrels and Spinach

Last year, we battled the squirrels like crazy.  Unfortunately, the squirrels won.  So, this year, we decided to build a cage around our garden to keep the squirrels out.  It is 20x20 made of 1-inch chicken wire.  The doors are screened with chicken wire as well. Inside, we have our existing garden in the ground, as well as a new 4x17 raised bed garden built by Gardens by Gary -- a really, really nice guy.

Now it's time to start planting.

This weekend I went to two classes at Northhaven Gardens on winter vegetable planting and seed starting. I learned about planting onions, spinach, and cabbage. I bought some stuff then came home to plant. My first planting in the new raised garden is spinach, cabbage, Swiss chard, kale, leeks, red white & yellow onions, and celery. I didn't mean to buy the celery... I thought it was cilantro. Oops! Looking forward to watching it all grow! I have more onion bulbs to stagger planting over the next month. 

Now, to work on seed starting.  I made my own starter pots out of newspaper using this gadget.  Pretty neat and green.  When the time comes, these can just go right into the ground. Ordered a grow light and seed heating mat online (sorry NHG, you are double the price of Amazon, including the shipping costs!) and John cleared an area for me to use for the seed starting.  Planning for carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, peppers, and eggplant by seed.  If it doesn't work, I can always go back to the store and buy their starters.