NOTE that the general schedule in Tom’s Tips involve Starting Seeds Indoors (ssi), Starting Seeds Outdoors (sso), transplants (tp), through to harvest (h).  To adjust the growing season extending it both in the spring and the fall install a PVC frame with plastic,  (Please see Mel Bartholomew, All New Square Foot Gardening, Cool Springs Press, 2005, page 86.)

The simple,  easy way is to buy two, 8 foot long pieces of PVC pipe, 1/2 inch in diameter, bend it to create an upside down U, sticking the two ends right in the soil in opposite corners of a ground or border box.  Repeat this with the second piece of PVC  pipe and then tie the two pieces together at the top of the upside down U.  Next drape a piece of plastic over the hoop, holding the sides down with bricks, rocks, logs, or whatever you have available.  Remember, you will want to get inside from time to time.  The width of the plastic needed varies with the height of the box.  My 23 inch high box with hoop required plastic 20 feet wide to reach the ground. Ten (10′) foot wide plastic, spread over a hoop in a 6 inch high ground box, should be sufficient.

1.)  Start or continue adding ONLY vegetation to your compost pile.  You will soon get the idea, correctly so,  that I believe one of the most productive things you can do for your garden, especially your SFG garden, is to make your own compost.  The simplest and cheapest way is to just start a pile, if you have the space.  It will NOT attract critters unless you mistakingly add annimal matter, e.g butter, grease, meats, etc from the kitchen.

2.)  On 3/11/2010 Start Seeds Indoors – Broccoli [3rd crop]

3.)  On 3/11/2010 Start Seeds Indoors – Cabbage [2nd crop]

4.)  On 3/18/2010 Start Seeds Indoors – Lettuce (leaf) [1st crop]

5.)  On 3/18/2010  Start Seeds Indoors – Swiss Chard [1st crop]