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I must be crazy...

Hi all,
      Well, this weekend I couldn't bear it any longer. After way overspending
on seeds my first year I plan to garden, I decided I needed to get something
in the Minnesota ground. I woke up Saturday morning to a front page newspaper
article in the Star-Tribune reminding everyone not to plant until May, don't
be fooled. Bah, I said! I'm an engineer! So...
     In a manic state I dug up a 4x4 block, dug down 4 inches, buried some
screening to keep out the critters, and built the bed up 7 inches above ground
with Mel's perfect mix (or something pretty close). Then planted radishes,
onions, carrots, leaf lettuce, spinach, Swiss chard, beets & snap peas. With
about two minutes to spare, I managed to build a PVC-piping frame and cover it
with poly sheeting, held down by some bricks. Two minues to spare, that is,
before the first thunderstorm cell of the season hit drenching the yard - but
not the protected bed - with lots of rain. The same storm produced the tornado
in St. Peter that you probably heard about on the news. Maybe it was my skill,
maybe it was dumb luck, but that greenhouse held fast.
     I consider this  a relatively high risk endeavor, given that Minnesota
can get some cold temperatures this time of year. But I'm hoping the mini
greenhouse, combined with the frost-hardy nature of the crops chosen, will
combine for an early crop. Then I can mosey on over to the neighbor's house
(whose garden was still under 2 inches of water as of this evening) and offer
him a bite of one of my radishes. Of course, if I fail, nobody needs to know
what was under that plastic... :)
     I'm enjoying being on this list and trying a garden for the first time.
Thanks for all the help. I'll keep you posted on how things go. Now, to just
build the rest of my raised beds, planters for strawberries, gladiolus,...

Joel Kluender
Shakopee, MN (Zone 4)

P.S. I am growing Crsipy Hybrid Peppers, Supersteak Tomatoes, 4th of July
Tomatoes, and a free experimental tomato (all from Burpee) under plain-Jane
cool-white flourescents in my detached workshop. I started the plants on top
of the furnace (nice an toasty) and got 100% germination. I am psyched!
(Pardon the mid-80's expression)
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