Gardening Season BEGINS!

I would like to say that we grow a LOT of our own food; I would like to, but I can't. Since we moved here we've sown a garden - at least tomatoes and peppers, if not more, every year. Unfortunately, lately Mother Nature has not been so helpful with our crops. Last year I gave up after the spring sowing because the weather was so bad I knew nothing would grow. The year before the tomatoes never ripened and all I got was this:

Now, I know that we can grow veggies. In fact, 4 years ago I was rich with tomatoes. I had six 10 gallon buckets of tomatoes at one time! (And anyone who likes tomatoes knows that there is NOTHING that can replace a homegrown tomato.) But El Nino, or La Nina, or whatever weather system that has been moving through these parts the last couple of years, have really done a number on our ability to grow, or ripen, vegetables.

Despite my luck the last few years I am trying again. And this year we are going big time.  Punxsatawny Phil better not see his shadow! Not only am I planting in my beds along-side the garage, the bed outside the kitchen window, and the regular garden, we are also going to rototille another area near the chick coop. My goal this year is to grow a large portion of the veggies we eat. Not only do they taste better, they are cheaper and I can grow them with organic fertilizer. Totally organic, no pesticides or other icky stuff.

Thanks to Brie'n and the pin she found on Pinterest, I'm following the direction from Sprout Robot on when to plant my starts inside, when to sow seeds outside, and when to transplant. All you have to do is enter your zip code and they will help you know when to plant, as well as how to plant. And, if you sign up, they will send you weekly reminders about what you should be doing any given week. I am excited to have "someone" helping me along. There is a lot to know when it comes to gardening and it is nice to have someone guide you along the way.

This week in the Pac West: time to start your cabbage indoors. I guess I will have to stop by the nursery tomorrow for some seeds. I didn't plan far enough in advance to order them online. Boo!

Are you growing a vegetable garden? Are you a seasoned gardener? Do you have any tips for me?