Gido’s Farm is soon to be in full swing, and our backyard this year will struggle to contain all its glory. Why? We installed a greenhouse last year and that means more seedlings than ever need a home in our garden.
by Leanne Smoliak
The planning starts with every square inch of our raised and ground beds plotted out by the Smo for his vegetable plantings. He carefully maps this out in January on graph paper. He checks his leftover seeds from last year, orders more from the seed catalogues and, while running errands and such, comes home hiding a brown paper bag, eventually confessing he accidentally ended up at the garden centre. (A similar story I have been known to tell, after coming home with a Winners bag.)
All these seeds are carefully planted using a special seedling soil Brad mixes up, and once potted they are set up on Metro racks. Our basement looks like a 1980s disco due to all the grow lights he has placed oh so strategically. Hundreds of little seedlings get watered and cared for like they are the most precious little creatures. (Which they are). When they are ready, they find their way into bigger pots and off they go to the greenhouse.
Mrs. Smo carefully planted her flower seedlings too. Then, the Smo pilfered her pots.
What madness is this? Where are the bright and beautiful annuals going to go?
This means war.
Negotiations began. After much give and take, we decided to companion plant on Gido’s Farm. Lots of marigolds to encourage the bees, plus zinnias and nasturtiums, and purple coneflowers tucked in here and there to add colour.
We finally agreed that the planters in the front deck territory stay floral. In exchange, Brad gains 12 pots for tomatoes, bush beans and cucumbers. Although I did put on a big pout, I am quite alright with this. It’s less for me to look after and more vegetables for us to eat.
Don’t tell the Smo though.