The Great Cucurbita Experiment

Making lists soothes my soul just about as much as gardening does, and since I need some soul-soothing right about now, I'm going to make some lists.

THINGS TO DO THIS WEEK

• re-weedwhack the backyard
  
• re-pot some of my bigger squash seedlings
  
• re-pot sunflower seedlings
  
• fertilize tomato seedlings with weak fish emulsion
  
• fill up outdoor pots with potting soil
  
• prepare "Asian Soup Garden": drill holes in planter, top up with potting soil, start cilantro and Thai basil seeds inside, arrange concrete planters for mint
  
• prepare 3 more 4x4 planting sites outside
  

THINGS TO DO NEXT WEEK

• prepare 6 spots for incoming lavender plants
  
• start my manure tea
  
• re-locate thyme plant
  

THINGS LEFT TO BUY

• 3 bags manure/compost
  
• 6 bags garden soil amendment
  
• 24 bamboo stakes
  
• 1 cheap-o garbage can for manure tea
  
• over-sized watering can
  
• 4 mint plants
  
• garden twine
  
• (optional) rock mulch for Asian Soup Garden
  
• (optional) bird bath and pump
  
• (optional) garden bench
  

FINALIZED LIST OF THINGS I'M PLANTING THIS YEAR (and where)

• 6 lavender plants (along the north fence)
  
• 4 mint plants (in small concrete planters lining the "Asian Soup Garden")
  
• 1 crop of cilantro ("Asian Soup Garden")
  
• 1 crop of Thai Basil ("Asian Soup Garden")
  
• 3 lemongrass plants (in pots around "Asian Soup Garden")
  
• 3 Red Cheese peppers (in pots around "Asian Soup Garden")
  
• 6 Black Cherry tomatoes (north end of garden)
  
• 2 Riesenstraube tomatoes (north end of garden)
  
• 2 Green Zebra tomatoes (north end of garden)
  
• 2 Lemon Yellow tomatoes (north end of garden)
  
• 3 loofa plants (along the east fence)
  
• 2 Plum Yellow melons (along the east fence)
  
• 2 Tigger melons (along the east fence)
  
• 2 yellow scallop summer squash (along the east fence)
  
• 2 Costato Romanesca zucchini (along the east fence)
  
• 1 Red Kuri winter squash (along the east fence)
  
• 1 Black Futsu winter squash (along the west fence)
  
• 1 Sweet Dumpling winter squash (along the west fence)
  
• 1 Table Acorn winter squash (along the west fence)
  
• 1 Winter Luxury winter squash (along the west fence)
  
• various sunflowers dotted around the garden
  

Oh dear God. So much to do. So much to plant. And the growing season is getting shorter and shorter the longer this cold weather continues. I'll try and come back to this post and cross off things as they are accomplished.

I can't wait til it's all in the ground and all I have to do is water and weed, and keep my son from pulling it all up.

Addendum: I was worried about the primrose in the side yard, cuz at this time last year, it was pretty well re-established for the season, but so far this year: nothing. But this week it started springing up again in random spots. So no worries there. Welcome back, little guys!