Yesterday I finally finished digging up all the dirt from last years pumpkin patch. It was a HUGE job and I am glad to have that monkey off my back let me tell you.
Do you see that nice, fat mound of dirt all piled up perfectly {thank you OCD} next to the greenhouse? Well I have a secret. I’m going to plant something really cool there. It’s so cool I’ve been dreaming about it since last summer in fact. I’m keeping my lips sealed for a little longer though.
Later today I plan on planting some seeds in the empty greenhouse pots. There are 4 of them and I still don’t know what to plant in them. I’m planning on planting some bush variety tomato plants in the black pots in front of the greenhouse later this spring {If I can exercise some extreme patience that is}.
Inside the greenhouse the stock tanks full of lettuce are coming along. 
This one was planted late last fall and the lettuce is almost ready to harvest. 
Check out the lettuce we have growing in pots. I’ll be harvesting this stuff later this week.
Have you checked on your herbs lately? Just outside the greenhouse we have oregano, purple sage, thyme and rosemary growing. Oh, and some chives too. If you’ve never planted chives before, you’ve got to give it a go. Chives are a perennial herb up here in Washington and I can pretty much harvest them 10 out of 12 months a year. They’re awesome.
That’s what’s happening in my backyard garden, how is yours coming along?
~Mavis
Gary W. Miller says
Dear Mavis: Our garden here in New England looks a little different than yours. Light snow today, about 8 inches, no snow tomorrow, more snow Wednesday. However, my first batch of seeds arrived today and will be planted under grow lights tomorrow. Soon as I finish shoveling. Best Regards, love your blog, Gary W. Miller
Mavis Butterfield says
Hang in there Gary, winter will be over soon. 🙂
Naomi says
Another New Englander chiming in here! We are at about six inches of snow in my little town in CT and I just came in from brushing snow off of the greenhouse roof. My seeds are on order and warming mats are on the way as well, so hopefully I can grab a little early Spring in a few weeks!
Keep planting and we’ll catch up soon!!
Larry says
I’m down in Southern California (San Diego), and I just picked a big red ripe tomato off of one of 4 plants that I planted late last summer. We have not really had any winter to speak of this year (although it did rain (read sprinkle) today). In my garden I have lettuce (3 different kinds), Mesclun, Broccoli Raab, Cauliflower, cabbage, potatoes (3 varieties), shallots, garlic, green onions, tomatoes and kale. I also have more cabbage (3 varieties), lettuce, and chives started in newspaper pots. I’m also seeing signs of life on some fruit trees…Dare I say spring is here?! Life in zone 10 is the pits!
absolutely love your blog! It makes me work harder on my little patch of land 😀
Mavis Butterfield says
You are a lucky duck!
Ellen in Clackamas says
Mavis,
perhaps I missed your response but I had asked earlier what you have in the bottom of the stock tanks? Is it all dirt? Emty milk cartons? And do you empty the tanks and re-fill every season?
Mavis Butterfield says
Milk jugs and planting containers. 🙂
judy says
Thank you, Ellen, I too, was wondering about the amount of dirt in the stock tanks. Seemed like overkill for lettuce. Mavis, do you replant later in the year with something else in the stock tanks?
Mavis Butterfield says
Yes! I use them for tomato and basil plants. 🙂
sandi says
The only thing that makes me feel better about the snow is that it will melt.I worry about California andthe water shortage. Looking at the seed catalogs and ordering seeds also helps. I’m starting my onion seeds this week. The dining room table gets taken over with heat mats, grow lights and plants. I bought one of those greenhouses that was on your site, but I don’t think we’ll set it up until mid March.
I’ve also bees starting seeds for winter sow and the number of milk jugs keep increasing!
Kim says
I think your lettuce is ready for harvest way sooner. I go through my garden and cut off leaves of various sizes a couple per plant. The plant continues to grow lettuce and I can eat a salad a day….that is when the garden isn’t buried under 15 inches of snow 🙁
JULIE says
what kind of green house is that? I live in Michigan and would love one – do you think it would be suitable for a place with such rough winters?
where did you get it from? I’m soooo jealous!
Mavis Butterfield says
It is a Magnum Glass Greenhouse in British Green. Check online for a retailer near you.
Joseph Janiga says
Hi Mavis. Love the layout with the containers. We are thinking of getting a greenhouse here in Portland Oregon with dreams to grow not just cold crop veggies in it during the fall and winter. Yours looks amazing in February even! You said you’re growing tomatoes in the PNW during the winter?
– Do we need to have the greenhouse heated to do what we want to do? Or just warming matts?
-Can we grow just about anything of heat is mandatory?