The Seedling Commitment

Last week, I bought one of those mini greenhouses that you start seedlings in. It's always exciting to push seeds into the tiny peat pots and dream about the harvest to come. I haven't always had the greatest luck and with these setups, usually because I lose interest and become negligent over time.

What kind of gardener is that? Answer: a lazy one. So I'm trying to turn over a new leaf, if you'll pardon the pun and really pay attention to those little tomatoes that have peeked their heads out of the soil. I do have such high hopes for fried green tomatoes, BLT's, salads, salsa, and fat slices drizzled with balsamic vinegar, topped with fresh mozzarella.

The planting schedule for them will be early April. That seems a long ways off, but not really. What kind of seeds are you starting now? It might be too early for your area, so you might be dreaming about the ideal garden as you thumb through the gardening catalogues. Count the cost of the kind of garden you want because they require more time and commitment than we estimate. I'm trying to hold back my enthusiasm and curb the desire for a whole new look in the courtyard while increasing the size of the vegetable garden. It's so exciting to think about the possibilities and how magnificent your garden could be.

While my husband sighs and braces himself for the onslaught of all these wonderful ideas and the pile of work it's going to create for him, I continue to scheme. Of course I help him. I'm a great supervisor and give clear directions. And yes, I'm willing to dig, plant, weed, and just about anything else. Who else could be his trusty assistant when he's putting an all those additional drip lines to the new plants? The infrastructure part is really my weak suit so that is all on his shoulders. He's really good at it.

So that now that it's public I'm starting my own tomatoes this year, I hope that the accountability to my readers will stir responsibility and proper commitment to the seedlings. Yes, there will be a garden report in early April.

If you're looking for ways to improve your heart garden, get a copy of Gardens of the Heart. That's a garden that's way more important than the tomatoes. So let's get growing on all fronts!

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If you're looking for ways to improve your heart garden, get a copy of Gardens of the Heart. That's a garden that's way more important than the tomatoes. So let's get growing on all fronts!

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