Basil Starter and the Veggie Garden

Dear friends, the garden beds are ready for planting. Most of the vegetables will be planted this weekend.  The potatoes were planted earlier. As many of you know it snowed here last week, (I posted it on Instagram) our hardiness zone is 7A. So, all garden (flowers and veggies) must be timed right in order to grow tasty healthy vegetables. I’ve posted many times about my hubby’s veggie garden. It is one of his “happy places”. He is so content when he tends the garden and it brings me joy to see his hard work rewarded when he brings yummy vegetables from the garden to the table. Fresh is best (smile).

As I’ve established on many occasions, my thumb is not quite as green as my hubby’s. But I can pick and plant without any trouble at all.

We also plant mint and basil. But the mint is grown in a container not in the garden. The root system for mint is well, insane! We stopped planting it in the garden a few years ago. But my hubby is still digging roots out while preparing the garden this year. The roots will steal water and nourishment from the vegetables so they must be removed, and it is an arduous task. But well worth it.  Easy for me to say from the sidelines. (smile)

I start the basil from seeds grown on the kitchen windowsill, then it is planted in the garden.

Fresh basil in recipes is amazing. Add a couple of finely chopped leaves and a slice of fresh tomato to your grilled cheese sandwich and you’ll never go back to “bare” grilled cheese again. (smile)

This years vegetable planting list

• Potatoes
• Green Beans
• Bell Peppers
• Three Varieties of Tomatoes ( grape, early girls and big boy)
• Cucumber
• Zucchini
• Sweet Basil and Italian Basil
• Carrots
• Sweet Potatoes ( for our boy Izzy)

Are you preparing your vegetable garden? What are you planting this year?