what awaits the "last spring frost" (April 15)

Despite the fact it may get up to 90 (!) this week, the average last frost tends to coincide with the tax deadline. Here's my garden layout as of yesterday, when I stopped by to start my "potatoes in a barrel" scheme, as well as to transplant dill, cilantro, parsley and thai basil and harvest some asparagus. If I was less of a risk taker and had more room under the grow lights, the dill and thai basil would still be indoors until the 18th, when I'll transplant pretty much everything I've started indoors.

You can't see 'em, but there actually are very small spinach and lettuce plants sprouting up. The peas, however, did not make it. Each year I've tried, they've eluded me in separate ways. Meep meep.

My garlic is doing quite well. It's all cloves I bought from the co-op or farmers market over the past three years that planted after they started to sprout, and which subsequently produced seeds. Onions are not too shabby either. The big ones are from seeds I planted last year. And Ed the raspberry is almost getting so big that a pruning will be in order this coming winter/spring.

wine-not?

That's it. I'm dropping everything else and going into the wine business.

Apparently that was the sentiment of most of the other people who attended the Monticello class. Fortunately for them, Gabriele Rausse (the teacher), a native Italian who has grown grapes in the Albemarle County area for a couple decades, gave them a healthy dose of reality. Between the many diseases and hungry animals/insects all nefariously plotting against your investment (he estimates it would cost about $23K to establish a 10 acre vineyard, not including upkeep and maintenance), junk bonds seem to be a safer bet. Jefferson's own love of wine was one of several factors that helped drive him into debt. Pictured is a section of his vineyard.

Still, once I master the art of grape cultivation with those two concord vines, I could always expand ... OW. Just slapped myself across the face.

I got some great pointers on how to plant (like soaking roots overnight in copper sulfate to combat disease, shortening the roots, etc.) and a primer on pruning. Of course, there is patience involved since I can't expect any fruit for another 2-3 years.

After the class, we went to Mr. Rausse's place to try out some of his wines. Very impressive. Also daunting to see all the equipment that's needed for even such a small operation.

I think I've found a new favorite wine variety: Nebbiolo. Bit pricier than other varieties, but Mr. Rausse's was quite good and original ($35/bottle).

I've had decent luck this year starting my seeds indoors. This is what I've got sprouting so far:

riverside onions (transplanted 3/14)
Imperial black beauty eggplant
Sioux tomatoes
lettuce (transplanted 3/14)
stupice tomato
thai basil
bok choy (transplanted 3/21)
french dinant celery
slow bolt cilantro
sweet basil
Lebanese and suyo cucumbers
dukat pack dill

Outside, I'm looking for peas, spinach and carrots. There's much more to come. Unfortunately, the jalapeno pepper, Bolivian chile, and Italian parsley still have not sprouted indoors. Guess that means I'll be buying a few plants at the farmer's market.