Murphy's Farm ~ 2012

Spring is Coming

The crocus are in bloom, the daffodils

are shooting up and there was a hint

of Spring in the air yesterday.  I gave

myself a few hours off from work to

well, work, but in the garden.  That, to

any gardener is a work of love.

I prepped the raised beds, moving the

tomato cages to new beds for proper crop

rotation, clearing out anything left from

last year and turning the soil in the beds.

I also set out my frost jackets.  They

are a ring of plastic tubes that you fill

water and it becomes a mini greenhouse

to get a jump start on your planting.

I find the best way to set them up is

to place the plastic ring around a 5 gallon

bucket, fill the channels with water and

then remove the bucket.

I'll let the soil heat up for a week and

then plant a half dozen Early Girls.

With this method, I will have ripe

tomatoes by the 4th of July. 

Although Early Girl is not my favorite

variety, I'll take any ripe homegrown

tomato over a store bought one anyday.

I will also plant other varieties on my

last frost date of May 10 to enjoy later

in the summer.

Enjoy the great outdoors!