Cold weather plants and year round planting

 Zone 5 planting 

                        We live in zone 5 our planting season is short compared to many others. In Zone 5 I can start in the house with little transplant things on March 1. But you have to really keep an eye on the sky on March 15th we were hit with a snow storm this weekend it was in the 70's we thought of pulling the taps and bam sap is flowing again due to the cold. This weekend our goal is to set up beds for long-term growing cabbage, kale, and swiss chard will go into a cold frame raised bed not in the full garden area so we can harvest it year-round. Our planting season does not really get started till after Mother's day or Mid May. We are outside much of May and May 1 the chicks meet the big chickens.
                        Last year we grew tons of lettuce and it did very well in early spring but it went to seed and got bitter in summer ( fun fact if it gets over 75* you lettuce gets bitter  ) so this year we are doing a smaller bed with 2 planting seasons. 
                    This year the plans are also in the works to get my greenhouse up and going I won't go into that much because that is another blog post altogether. Our main growth in the greenhouse will be greens and fresh things for winter. Also, some things to try like doing 2 different trash can growing potatoes year-round and it will also be a safe place to move all the chickens if need be.
            We were also approved by the state to get bees so now we wait on the village.

 

Planning for greener pastures

                                                       Planning the land 
        

            This year we are planting our full 32 seed pack and what was leftover from last year's planting. This will be the biggest garden we have ever had so we will upgrade our soaker system and tiller. I will link the seed pack we use at the end. We have had really good luck with it and this is with the tiny humans not a care in the world planting into the soil .... we really need to get better at spacing this year.
        

           This year we are planting an abundance garden to help our fellow man with food insecurities. But in planting a big garden you have to know your space. We have planted the garden plot for 2 years now. The first year we did a 12 by 12 plot and did the 3 sisters and tomatoes and that was it. The second-year we did our big space 1/4 of an acre and planted 4 kinds of lettuce, beans, peas, cucumbers, 3 different kinds of tomatoes, beets, turnips, squash, melons, pumpkins, potatoes, and tons of gords. Plus an herb and tea garden that we are still using into the new planting season. 

         Potatoes are to go in the soil next week. I uncovered all of the herbs from winter covered and hope to see a shoot in the next few weeks. Here are some pictures from the gardens past. As we plant I will update what goes in the ground when and how we harvest and preserve it. We are in Zone 5 and most planting can not go direct sow until after Mothers Day.
I can not for the life of me figure out why it went all capital ... 

         cucumbers ( these are going on a wooden trellis this year )

                                Tomatoes ( these will move ) 

                                   Radish and Beet late sow

                                    Trash can Potatoes

                            Herbs and rain collection system

Seeds