• My account
  • Cart
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube

The Coeur d'Alene Coop

Raising Chickens and Urban Gardening

  • Home
  • About Our Heirlooms
    • About Candace
  • Garden Consulting
  • Shop
    • NEW/RETURNING for 2025
    • NEW! Culinary Planters
    • NEW! Flowers
    • Grown from Organic Seed
    • Heirloom Tomatoes
    • Heirloom Peppers
    • Heirloom Vegetables
    • Cool Season Vegetables
    • Herbs
    • Container/Small Space
    • My Favorites!
  • CdA Coop Blog
    • Gardening
      • Soil and Compost
      • Garden Seed Series
      • Growing Tomatoes Series
      • Growing Garlic Series
    • Backyard Chickens
    • Recipes
    • Garden Glossary
      • How Often to Divide Perennials & Winter Care
      • Q/A Sheet: How to Decide What to Grow in Your Garden
      • Ripe for the Picking: A Quick List of Common Fruit and Vegetables to Ripen On or Off the Vine
      • Vegetable Plant Family Chart
      • Seed Starting Charts
  • Contact Us
You are here: Home / Gardening / The Countdown to Spring

March 10, 2013 By Candace Godwin 2 Comments

The Countdown to Spring

Here’s to Sunshine and Longer Days!

Spring arrives in 10 days, but we’re already plenty busy with spring work at the 2nd Street Chicken Ranch.  Mild days have allowed us to get out into the flower beds and rake up the fall leaves, giving the daffodils and tulips some breathing room. It’s been a relatively mild winter in north Idaho, and the spring bulbs and bleeding hearts are a good 5 to 6 inches out of the ground.  The milder temps have also allowed for some early weeding; it’s great to get a jump on the clover before it has a chance to take over the beds.

Covered Raised Bed with Row Cover | The Coeur d'Alene Coop

A row cover is placed over the crops, adding an additional layer of protection.

Low-Tunnel Raised Beds Help Get a Jump on Spring Planting

The low-tunnel raised beds where once again a great success. Late last summer and throughout the fall, I planted three beds with spinach, kale, cress, arugula and lettuce.  We harvested some spinach and lettuce from one bed before it went dormant  for winter, and then added a second “blanket”  (row cover) about 3 inches above the crops inside the tunnels.

In early February we were seeing signs of growth, and just last week we had our first harvest of arugula — nearly 3 pounds from one cutting!  This was the earliest and largest harvest yet from overwintered crops grown in a low tunnel. The baby spinach, kale and cress are also ready to harvest, and once again we’ll be enjoying fresh, home-grown greens.

Early Spring Arugula | The Coeur d'Alene Coop

We harvested nearly 3 lbs of arugula from the low-tunnel raised beds.

The lettuce, unfortunately, did not overwinter as well. It grew beautifully, but was bitter tasting. Not so good for us, but it did make for some very happy chickens, who enjoyed the fresh greens (along with a few fat worms left clinging to the lettuce roots).  With the lettuce cleared out, I was able to plant several more rows of arugula, spinach and lettuce, which will be harvested before we start planting tomatoes in late May.

Spinach and Lettuce in a Covered Bed | The Coeur d'Alene Coop

Over-wintered spinach and lettuce in a low tunnel raised bed.

Having the low tunnels has truly allowed us to extend our growing season well into the fall and get a good head-start  in the spring.  It’s sheer joy to be working the ground and sowing seeds outside in early March!

But it’s now time to start sowing seeds inside…this coming week the entire operation moves inside the house, as we get our heirloom tomato plants started. And what an operation it is…mixing soil, filling peat pots, counting out seeds, labeling containers.  This year we are starting more than 20 heirloom tomato types, and will be offering our plants for sale again from the Ranch and at the Wednesday Kootenai Co. Farmers’ Market.  More on that and seed starting “how-to’s,” next week!

How are your garden plans coming? Let me know in the comments below!

Filed Under: Gardening

Get Garden Tips & More

« Glass Gem Corn, So Worth the Wait!
Growing Heirloom Tomato Plants from Seed »

Comments

  1. Karen says

    March 15, 2013 at 3:19 pm

    This is my first growing season in my new home/yard. I’m new to gardening except for helping my parents growing up. I’m looking for a local source to get seeds. I want to support local seed producers and avoid gmo or any brand or variety of seed that is owned buy monsanto. Any suggestions?

    Reply
    • Candace says

      March 15, 2013 at 4:04 pm

      Hi Karen,

      I purchase most of my seeds from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds (www.rareseeds.com); but I also purchase from Irish Eyes (www.irisheyesgardenseeds.com), they are located in Ellensburg, WA, and offer a great selection of organic seeds, garlic and potatoes. I buy my seed garlic from Irish Eyes. If you are in the CdA area, Pilgrims Market (on 4th) carries Irish Eyes seeds and they have a good selection. Both companies will send you a free catalog; it’s worth it to request one. Barker Creek’s catalog has over 1000 varieties of seeds! Hope this info is helpful. Thanks for reading the CdA Coop and please let me know how your new garden grows! — Candace

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Posts from The Coop

  • How To Plant Tomatoes Like A Pro: Timing, Tips, and Troubleshooting May 16, 2025
  • How To Garden Without Pesticides: Natural Ways to Fight Pests May 2, 2025
  • Heirloom, Hybrid, GM-Oh My! Understanding These Gardening Terms April 18, 2025

Search Our Plants Here

Shop by Category

Cart

the coop on facebook!

The Coeur d'Alene Coop The Coeur d'Alene Coop is attending an event.

3 hours ago

The Coeur d'Alene Coop
Our annual “Clearing the Greenhouse” Plant Sale is here — and it’s your last chance to grab garden-ready plants before they’re gone!Thursday, May 22, from 10 am to 3 pmFriday, May 23, from 9 am to noonSaturday, May 24, from 10 am to 1 pmWe’re opening the doors for three days only so you can browse at your own pace... but don’t wait, stock is very limited.We’ve got juicy beefsteak and cherry tomatoes, fiery and sweet peppers, fun eggplant varieties, squash varieties, tons of fragrant basil, and other delicious culinary herbs—all discounted for quick sale.💵 Cash preferred. No checks, please. Bring your own box or bag!1002 N. 2nd St., Coeur d'Alene ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

the coop on instagram!

thecoeurdalenecoop

#thecoeurdalenecoop
@thecoeurdalenecoop
Heirloom tomatoes 🍅🍅
Organic gardening 🥕🌶
& Urban chickens! 🐔🐓

I love the color of these Italian Red of Florence I love the color of these Italian Red of Florence bunching onions. This bunch overwintered... I thought they'd be soft and mushy, but they are perfect. A testament to their hardiness and prefect for our cooler region. 

#thecoeurdalenecoop 
#organicbunchingonions
#italianredofflorence 
#italianonions 
#organiconions
Follow on Instagram

Join the Flock!

Sign up to get gardening & chicken keeping tips delivered to your inbox.

Copyright © 2025 The Coeur d'Alene Coop · Coeur d'Alene, Idaho 83814 · Privacy Policy · Log in
Website Design: Godwin Marketing Communications LLC