Getting Ready for Spring

So I am starting to get my first raised bed ready for next Spring. I plan on clearing it out completely and starting fresh using the Square Foot Gardening method. I don’t plan on using Mel’s Mix for soil, since I already have really awesome soil in there. I mostly am just going to be dividing it into squares, like with my second raised bed. So my tasks to finish before next Spring are (and by Spring, down here in zone 9, I mean February!):

1. Clear the bed. This one is tough, because I have a beautiful rosemary plant that is very well established (2 years lush growth) and fairly large. And I want to keep it. My plan is to put it in a large ceramic pot I have. Unfortunately, that pot has a Meyer lemon tree in it, which needs to be planted by the new fence that is in the process of being built right now. So, once the fence is built, I will plant the lemon tree, then transplant the rosemary in the pot, then be able to completely clear the bed. I also have a big parsley plant that I need to harvest and dry, and some chives. I pulled the thyme (previously harvested) this morning.

I plan on not putting anything perennial in the raised beds from now on. The space is too valuable for growing veggies.

2. Amend the soil. I am doing this as I can around the existing plants. I have placed two used gDiapers (only wet, completely biodegradeable, perfectly safe for composting, good for adding nitrogen), and a BIG bowlful of veggie scraps. I also have a couple dozen eggshells that will probably go in this weekend.

3. Add soil. I have a bag of good soil waiting for the bed to be cleared so I can top up the bed and give the seeds a layer of excellent starter material, while allowing the amendments time to compost.

4. Get DH to make grid. I definitely liked having the grid in my other bed, but I think I am going to insist upon a little more work, so the various boards don’t move around.

5. Seeds, lovely lovely seeds!! :) The best part, right? I mean, other than harvesting . . .