There is a great garden center a 20 minute drive north of us. FIL always went there, best selection best quality around. I buy plants maybe when I retire I’ll give growing from seed a try but right now I just don’t have the time. I planted my usual stuff. Moderate inflation this year, but not too bad. I spent 70 euros for this. On the left top to bottom, 6 celery, 4 zucchini. Center top to bottom, 6 eggplant, 6 yellow bell pepper, 6 red bell pepper, 8 mild pepper (wifey), 3 basil bushes. In planters (some not visible) 4 cucumber, 2 parsley, 3 strawberry. Right top to bottom, 6 salad tomato, 6 cherry red tomato, 6 cherry orange tomato, 6 red cabbage. Remaining from previous years, rosemary, sage, thyme, chives and 4 vases of strawberries.

Last year on a Sunday Gravey chat we were discussing gardening and I promised to give a start to finish report this season. Back in February I went over soil prep. It’s planting time now so we (and most of the region) are putting it in the ground. Prep is to do a good final raking to level the ground. Each weekend between fertilizing back in late February and now, I rake the soil real good to mix it up. I use matting material for a couple reasons. First is weed control. My garden is fucking jurassic by July if I go naked soil. Been there – no longer doing that. The weeding drove me nuts. The second reason is layout. See the grid pattern? When you lay out spacing, plant compatability and amount of sunlight are the main considerations. So the first year you pay close attention to that, cut your holes, and in subsequent years you are cookin with Crisco. I’ve been using these mats for the last 5 years, still in good shape. I think they help with moisture retention in the soil also which has been important in recent years. It has been unseasonably dry now for a couple years. I then lay the plants out and put up the vine poles for the tomatoes. I’ll post what it looks like planted, and what I plant here in a bit.

Marika heard that Hippo. She’s giving you that look…