First seeding plan

Dear Gardeners,
Above is our first DIGS seeding plan for early and heat-loving bed rotation for this spring. More info to follow as we haven't yet planned for strawberries, or fully discussed leeks or the club-root prone brassicas. Herbs, flowers and winter crops can all still be decided as we go.

At today's seed meeting we tallied up the seeds we have from last year, and found that we only need to order a few kinds for this year:

Seeds to buy: choose varieties

Asparagus - (new crop; to experiment with permanent place)
Artichokes - (new crop; to experiment with)
Beets - red/yellow/orange, cylindrical?
Brussel Sprouts - (need to choose a variety)

Cabbage - (need to choose a variety)
Carrots - Nante suggested
Corn - (need to choose a variety)
Cucumber - Lemon Cucumber suggested(round, small shape, great taste) plus one new variety more like "english cucumber" (does better in greenhouse?)

Onion - green onion and storage onion sets suggested
Peas - Two kinds - edible pod, and shelling (choose varieties)
Spinach - (need to choose a variety - heat tolerant? tender? long-season?)
Swiss Chard - Bright Lights suggested - note: lots of chard lovers in our meeting group!

And that's it for our current DIGS decision making on which seeds to purchase.

All the rest of the seeds (except tomato perhaps?) we have enough on hand from last year. And I'd like to suggest that we store our seeds overwinter in water-tight containers in a cool place, and have about a dozen blue-white waterproof containers for free if anyone wants any. I'll put some empty ones in the social shed.
Please feel free to add to the above, and click on the comment button below if you like, to add your thoughts.
I love the idea of pumpkins and zucchini in large container pots or in the compost,( and, of course, we'll have to see how that works for deer if outside the fence.)
We may have to choose a bush-pea if we don't want to build another pea-support too for the second pea-bed.

We are very very very flexible, and this is our first plan...so changes will be put on this blog as they arise.
But so far so good, and WHAT amazing coffee cake! Thanks J. of the coffee-cake "to die for" recipes!

Three more flats of Oriental Mesclun planted today in greenhouse. Stop by and admire the sprouts that are up from last planting! (photos to follow.)

And.... Jim and Marg, if you're reading this from your palm-pilot on a NZ cruise, we're holding down the tiny fort; have a wonderful time!
Jen

P.S.
Questions from today:
1. What are some good (fallow bed) cover crops, and do any of them make flowers?

So far our fallow-cover-crop list is here:
buckwheat, crimson clover, fava bean, fall rye, hairy vetch, oats, phacelia, winter field pea, white Clover.
I'm not sure if any have any better flowers than purple "hairy" vetch, or white clover, but would love to know more myself. Jen :>)

2. What are the first things to be planted?
See this chart below; just double click right on the chart, and then use the BACK button to come back here again. Sorry that I can't seem to spell kohlrabi or cauliflower or even rutabaaaggggaa, but there you go...ur... Doh. Jen