In the Garden with Pat Rubin

Bee garden writer Pat Rubin writes about everything that grows, from flowers and trees to vegetables and lawns. Pat volunteered for several years as a Placer County Master Gardener and has written about gardening for many national and regional publications. In addition to gardening, she spends time raising and showing miniature horses and miniature donkeys.

In the Garden will include news, events, advice and other gardening tidbits. Pat will also answer reader questions.

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January 18, 2008

Itching to get into the garden

This weekend my goal is to start cleaning up the vegetable garden. I've been eyeing it for some weeks now, making mental notes about what to cut back, what to take out.

I’m going to cut back the corn stalks that now look bedraggled, wet and limp. The datura plant that has reseeded itself in the raised beds needs to be controlled, and the old sweet pea vines ripped out. Somewhere in there onions ought to be ripening. And I absolutely need to get the garlic planted. I’ve been trying since November to get it in, and I vow this will be the weekend!

The other task on my list is to order seeds for this year’s vegetable garden. I tend to order more than I can plant, and more than I have room for, but I find it therapeutic and joyous to be looking forward to another gardening year.

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