The first two weeks of April, the beans should be ready to harvest. These are the bush beans, which means they all come ready at the same time, and I’ll have about 7 square feet of space in Bed One to replant the middle of April or slightly later. I could replant bush beans again and go for a second harvest, which if they are really tasty I might just do (more for the freezer and winter eating), but I like to have options. One option is a pumpkin plant or two. Not that we eat a lot of pumpkin, or even need any pumpkin at all, but how cool would it be to have a Jack-o-Lantern at Halloween that I grew myself? Or a pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving from home-grown pumpkin? I think that’d be pretty neat, and maybe worth devoting the space in the garden for … unless those beans are really tasty, of course. :)

My only fear still is tomatoes. I have never, ever started tomatoes from seed, so I am kind of out of my element. I don’t know what to expect from baby tomato plants, what they should look like, how fast they should be growing, and so I get a little stressed. I think tomorrow I’ll go buy a few hybrids at the nursery. I’m not 100% thrilled with the idea, but the thought of no tomatoes at all is even worse! So a couple hybrids in the second raised bed, and a few in containers, and well … let’s just call it insurance.

I’m starting to feel really positive about the garden this year. I made a plan. I have been following the plan. For the most part, the plants have been following the plan. Naturally, feeling positive about the garden is making me worry about failing. My inner pessimist just won’t shut up!

Tomorrow I plant the okra, and I guess run to the feed store to see if they still have any tomatoes. I’d rather buy from them than anywhere else. Support local businesses!

Time for bed. It’s been a long and productive day.