Here in the frozen tundra of Coastal Maine we are in planting zone 5b with an average last spring frost date of May 11th and a first fall frost date of October 1st. The backyard is currently covered in snow and the skies are blue and the roads are {currently} clear, and I am LOVING the winter slumber of the garden.
I love it because I know that once spring arrives and the ground thaws, we will be insanely busy in the garden creating {my version of} a little backyard sanctuary. Having acreage is cool, but so is living on a city lot and knowing that there is an end in sight when it comes projects because after all, there is only so much room.
Basically, the goal is to have the ENTIRE backyard planted {trees, bushes, perennials, vegetables} and a new back patio seating area in place by the end of June so we can spend the rest of the summer tending to the vegetable garden, and enjoying the sunshine with Miss Lucy.
I made a map! Who needs a computer program or an app when you have a sharpie and a piece of paper? I mean really, why over complicate things when you don’t have too?
Things We’ve Done So Far
- Planted a boxwood border
- Planted 12 hydrangeas and 1 common hibiscus
- Planted 900 bulbs {400 tulips and 500 grape muscari}
Late Winter Projects
- Prune yew trees along the back fence
- Prune {or rip out} azalea bush up front
- Work on planting seeds indoors
Early Spring Projects
- Re-seed lawn and hell strip
- Decide if we’ll be keeping or re-locating the lilac bush out front
- Line 18″ from the foundation to the garden spaces with pea gravel, then a light layer of crushed {and not so crushed, sea shells}
- Pick out patio floor {brick, slate, cobblestone, I’m not sure yet}
As Soon As The Ground Thaws
- Pull up brick patio area make room for 4 garden boxes
- Build garden boxes
- Build a teepee {or four} for beans
- Edge garden borders with bricks
- Finishing moving compost pile
This is a picture of me last April planting raspberry canes in our old garden. We had no idea that we’d get a letter in the mail a few weeks later and {eventually} decide to sell the house. Oh well, I get to plant some more here at the new house {and asparagus too!}
I plan to install 2 rows of raspberry canes just behind the blueberry bushes and I’ll probably have the HH build a raspberry trellis to support the canes as well.
The other day I organized all my seeds into planting groups so I’m ready to go.
I’ve already started artichoke, lavender and rosemary. {The lavender needs to hang out in the fridge for 6-8 weeks to germinate.}
And the artichoke and rosemary are hanging out in the sun room. It’s the best of both worlds really. The radiator keeps the soil warm and the seedlings benefit from the natural light during the daytime.
I love the fact that the radiator will hold 4 planting trays!!
I don’t know about you, but I am SUPER EXCITED for the planting season this year. I think it’s going to be a really productive and fun summer. BBQ’s and all. 🙂
Have YOU started your garden planning yet? If so, we’d love to hear about it
Have an awesome day everyone,
~Mavis
THE BIG LIST OF SEEDS {and CROWNS} I’LL BE PLANTING THIS YEAR
- Millennium Asparagus Crowns
- Nova Raspberry Plants
- We Already Have 6 Existing Blueberry Bushes {I don’t know the variety}
Tomatoes {start indoors April 1st}
- Japanese Black Trifele
- Artisan Bumble Bee Blend Pole Cherry Tomato Seeds
- Red & Yellow Pear Blend Pole Cherry TomatoÂ
- Sun Gold Pole Cherry TomatoÂ
- Ace 55 Tomato
- Long Purple Eggplant {start indoors April 1st}
- Beets – Detroit Dark Red {start outdoors May 1st}
- Sugar Baby Watermelon {start seeds outdoors June 1st}
- French Breakfast Radish {start outdoors as soon as the ground thaws}
- Early Snowball Cauliflower Seeds {start seeds indoors March 15th}
- Purple Peacock Broccoli {start seeds indoors March 15th}
- Sugar Snap Snap Peas {start seeds outdoors as soon as the ground thaws}
- Kentucky Wonder Pole Beans {start seeds outdoors June 1st} Note HH will need to build a trellis or teepee
- Green Globe Improved & Purple of Romagna Artichokes {start indoors February 1st}
Peppers {start indoors April 1st}
Summer Squash and Cucumbers {start outdoors June 1st}
Winter Squash {start outdoors June 1st}
Greens
- Salad Mix Sprouts Seeds {start indoors anytime}
- Red Veined Sorrel
- Sorrel
- Little Gem Romaine Lettuce {plant outdoors May 15th}
- Bloomsdale Spinach {plant as soon as the ground thaws}
- Bright Lights Swiss Chard {start seeds outdoors May 1st?}
- Red Russian Kale {start seeds indoors April 15th}
- Mesclun Baby Greens {start indoors anytime}
Flowers
- English Lavender {start seeds indoors February 15th}
- Purple Coneflower {start seeds indoors February 15th}
- Coleus Rainbow Blend {start indoors April 1st}
- Black Eyed Susan Vines {start outside June 1st}
- Marigold Cracker Jack Blend {start indoors April 1st}
- Alaska Shasta Daisy {start indoors April 1st}
- Sunflowers – Goldy Honey Bear, Sunspot, Elves Blend, Lemon Queen, Mammoth, Shock-O-Lat, Heirloom Beauties
- Morning Glory – Sunrise Blend
- Petunias – Laura Bush Blend {start indoors March 1st}
- Zinnia Fireball Blend {start seeds outdoors June 1st}
- Wild Bergamot
- Mammoth Magenta Celosia
Maxine says
Love how you’ve organized your seed piles. I need to get cracking on mine. I did get my first order of seeds. I’m going native! My big goal is to plant 100 native plants so I did a big seed order with Prairie Moon Nursery. Even though I’m in Maryland they had our natives too! Still need to do a flower order, which i’ll keep to heirloom varieties- bees and butterflies don’t often recognize plants if the petals are different or the color has been changed and although I haven’t seen any articles i’m betting some changes lack nutrition for them. ( See budburst.org – which I may try if I can find the plants) Dwarf varieties were mentioned as not being bad so far.
Can’t wait to see your progress.
Jeanine says
Wow…can’t wait to see pictures of your backyard when it’s full with plants. It will be beautiful and the bonus is you will be eating well, even with bbq meat the Hubby will be cooking. Will you be selling all the extra produce out front of your house? Or will you be recruiting the neighbors to help eat up your bounty. I’ll bet some of your new neighbors will want to come see your garden. At least, I would if I lived near by. It will lots of work…but so rewarding. I love to read your blog every morning. You are so encouraging to us all!
Linda Practical Parsimony says
This all looks exciting! Since all my pots and tools were stolen from my backyard along with tables and chairs to sit in, I am starting from scratch, absolute zero. However, I am in a university trial to see if gardening improves the health and life of the participants. They provide raised bed, tools, seeds, starts, fertilizer, pest control (which I will not use), gloves, gardening tools….everything. This will be a lifesaver for me. I wish I lived where I could grow rhubarb.
I got overly excited and bought two blueberry bushes, got home, called the county agent and discovered I bought blueberries for the North. sigh Now I have to return them and search for what I need.
Nancy D says
Oh Linda I’m so sorry about your theft! You have a wonderful attitude! Happy Gardening!
Mary Ann says
I started my first batch of sowings on February 1:
Tomatoes: Sungold, Purple Cherokee, Moneymaker, El Dorado, Brandywine, Roma and San Marzano. (I have more varieties to start next week.)
Cucumbers: Marketmore and Spacemaster. (More to start next week.)
Jalapeno and California Wonder Bell peppers
Basil
Oregano
Parsley
Eggplant
Everything is up and ready to be pricked out and potted on except the eggplant.
I still currently have carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, 2 types of radishes, dinosaur kale, Little Gem lettuce, beets, green onions, Walla Walla onions, and celery in the garden with more beets, Little Gem lettuce, Paris Cos lettuce, and Tennis Ball lettuce in cells waiting to go in the ground or containers.
It’s going to be a busy garden this year here in Southern California! 🙂
Pam Favorite says
Loving all your projects and can’t wait to see your progress. My curious mind would like to know, have you decided to leave the fence natural or will you paint?
Mavis Butterfield says
The fence will be stained white. 🙂
dj_1973 says
Nice work! I have two recommendations, as a gardener who once planted her 1/3 acre in a garden, a fruit bush patch, and peach, plum, and cherry trees.
1. When you plant your raspberries, plant them through garden fabric, so they don’t take over your whole backyard. They will still spread, but you can keep them away from places you don’t want them.
2. Set up irrigation (I’ve used the Irri-Gator kits here: https://www.johnnyseeds.com/tools-supplies/watering-and-irrigation/?q=irri-gator) so that you can water in the wee hours of the morning. It prevents wet leaves and, thus, disease, watering at night prevents evaporation, but watering before bed means water sticks around and can cause disease. And a “set-it-and-forget-it” approach means that you can go to the beach (or the bakery) and your garden will be fine, on those hot summer days.
Phyllis Pierce says
Mavis have you ever read any books by Louise Dickison Rich. She lived in maine. My favorite is We Took To The Woods. It was wrote in 1942 I believe. Anyway check it out!!
Lisa R says
I agree this is a great book for a Maine read. I loved it!
Mavis Butterfield says
I just ordered it. Thanks Phyllis!
Lynda says
My favorite book! I reread it every couple of years.
Holly G says
I ran into a video last night (during a bout of insomnia) that was beautiful and inspiring. I’m not sure if it’s okay to include a link so it can be found if you search for Aromath Farm. It’s a family that started a 1/3 acre farm in their orchard without removing the big , old fruit trees. I found it so beautiful that they left the glorious old trees and can still grow enough veg to have a small commercial venture.
Karen says
Wow, it is permaculture, and about 3 hours from me, beautiful!
Kim says
Great plans! Can’t wait to see all the steps of progress along the way!
Cass says
Your place is going to be wonderful AND delicious.
I started a LOT of seeds WAY WAY too early. My pumpkins are vineing out. LOL If they die, I can direct sow come spring. I am going to start my major seedlings at the end of February. HURRY UP SPRING, MOMMA NEEDS TO GET HER HANDS DIRTY.
Gigi says
Looks like a good plan for the back yard. You may wish to check out stamped/stained concrete for the patio. Pavers do not do well with freeze/thaw cycles. We ripped out all of ours because they were sinking and all uneven. Concrete also has less maintenance.
Sharon says
Kind of late commenting here, but I have a question for you, Mavis – do you pay attention to the dates marked on the seed packets, or plant regardless of the year acquired? I’m limited to container gardening on a balcony, but always get WAY too enthusiastic about what I can plant and end up with tons of extra seeds. In the past I’ve just thrown them out once it’s past the season, but after a while, that gets expensive! How long past the “packed for” date do you keep and use? Thanks
Mavis Butterfield says
I have planted seed packets that were 3 years old before, but not older than that. 🙂
Christa H. says
Love everything you have mapped out. Will be so beautiful!
Can you please share, maybe in a post, the steps you do to grow lavender? I heard it’s a difficult one and I haven’t tried it yet but would love to border a garden with it.
Mavis Butterfield says
Here you go: https://www.onehundreddollarsamonth.com/how-to-grow-lavender-start-to-finish/
Christa H says
Yea!! Thanks!