Planting a Backyard Garden was a breeze this year! This is the third year since tilling and establishing the little plot. By adding lots of peat moss and other composting material to condition the soil, there was no tilling this year. 
Here I am back in March. (not sure why I have one glove on). You can see the Orange Day-Lilies are up and the Bearded Iris are on their way. The garden is completely covered in chopped up leaves from the fall. The ground underneath is moist and very workable. While tilling is a must for starting a garden here in Rocky Top, it also mixes the roots and bulbs of perennial weeds into the garden. Over time, less tilling and more mulching will mean less weeds. 
So, it is time to plant some spring garden goodness. Lettuce, mixed greens and radishes are my favorite. I also love to grow Sugar Snap Peas and Snow Peas from time to time. You can also grow broccoli, onions, carrots and spinach in the spring while it is cool. 
As the weather permits, I start planting my summer crops. In order to save space, I have planted a row of bell peppers between the lettuce. The lettuce will not last all summer,but the peppers thrive in hot weather. I also planted some peppers in with the radishes because they are a cool weather crop as well.
This is the first time I have grown Kale and it is looking good! This crop is delicious and healthy right out of the garden in a salad, on a wrap or in a sandwich!
Another first is a row of strawberries that I bought at my local greenhouse. Since they are perennials I planted them on end row. 
These are little spice jars turned upside down on a wooden rod for row marking. I am growing some new varieties of tomatoes and peppers and I want to remember what they are. 
Here is a row of tomatoes directly after planting. All I had to do was to dig a hole, add a little Miracle Gro Organic Choice and plant. You can see how soft and workable the soil is. 
Tomatoes like to be planted deep, up to that first row of leaves. Like strawberry, they also enjoy mulching. I have planted this row of tomatoes next to the row of strawberries and added extra peat moss. 
This year I am trying something new with tee pees built from old tobacco sticks. This is a squash plant in the center and around the diameter I have planted green bean seeds which will climb up the sticks. I also planted my cucumber and cherry tomatoes under a tee pee. I am excited to see how this works out! Follow my garden progression this year by subscribing to our email list. 
Salad anyone? Here is the harvest on May 1st! Wild huh? Are you planting a backyard garden big or small? We would love to hear about your gardening adventures! Now for our contest!
1. I use eggshells to start seeds indoors, then plant directly in the ground when ready.
2. This was tough in the summer, my first thought was chicken and dumplings.
I have heard planting broken clay pots are good for plants.And my guess for the pot would be a kale salad.
I like the old tabacco sticks used as teepees for the tomato plants! My guess that in the pot is fresh picked strawberries!
1. Did not know tomatoes liked to be planted deep.
2. Fresh picked lettuces/greens in the pot?
I love using coffee grounds and egg shells when potting plants. Maybe you have turnip greens cooking in the pot.
I cut the bottoms out of gallon milk jugs to use as mini greenhouses over new tomato plants
you have zucchini in the pot
1. I like your teepees. I have a few bamboo rods and think I will try it also.
2. I guess you are growing herbs in the pot. ? It would make a cute planter.
It’s a pot of Kale, so good and healthy.
Pot of Kale, so good.
potato soup
Being honest, I have a black thumb! Everything I plant I eventually kill. I believe that I over water! So I enjoyed all of your tips! I am trying to plant tomatoes and zucchini! As to what’s in the pot, I am going to guess it’s carrotts!
Spaghetti sauce
I like to use coffee grounds and egg shells and also the water I cooked the eggs in 🙂
I think you have strawberry jam
Tip: we use paper feed sacks over the top of our homemade tomato cages to give our plants from the afternoon sun .
In the pot : kitty supplies. , that’s what I keep in mine
Herbs
I put wanna put farie houses in my garden when I move. So in the pot is a farie garden
I use egg cartons to start my seeds this year. Worked great.
As to what is in the pot? My guess is baked beans…
1. I really like the spice jar idea for row marking and the tee pees!
2. My guess is compost material in the pot.
Correct… We will contact you via email to get your information Julue! Congrats
Correct… We will contact you via email to get your information Julie! Congrats
There is nothing in the pot, absolutely nothing (movie quotation).
Otherwise there is anticipation. We anticipate a garden full of goods to make something wonderful!
We wait until the squash borer bugs appear on our single zucchini plant, then we plant seed for the several zucchini plants we want to grow. By the time the new plants are big enough to produce, the bugs are long dead. This way we only lose one zucchini plant.
The pot contains your other glove.
I say clothespins.. And I didn’t know tomatoes likes to be buried deep.
I think you have veggies in the pot
We surround our squash plants with tomato cages! Keeps them contained!
My guess for what’s in your pot is compost!
Preserves!