![image.png](https://images.hive.blog/DQmRF9c6LaaARRB56wxc8gaRq7UwjgakYJynrUdK1UWLC3v/image.png)

 Greetings fellow gardeners! So I figured what better way to start the 2023 garden season, by ending the one from 2022. Even though it was basically over once the Yellow Watermelons fell through [2 months ago](https://hive.blog/hive-140635/@jonyoudyer/please-say-it-isn-t-so), it was fun holding on to hope the others plants would push on through as well. Even though I still have 1 of the Pumpkins in the ground, I am now looking to the future, and getting really excited for another year of growing!

https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/822620607577063475/1072315317285564546/IMG_7192.jpg?width=840&height=630

I am back! Well at least somewhat in regards to the content dept. Not a whole lot has been going on the past month, except for a lot of rain. California got hit with an Atmospheric River, and it dumped the most rain we have seen since 1995. Once the storm passed I was left with a lot of weeds to clean up around the property. Just the past week was I able to finally start on the garden area.

https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/822620607577063475/1072316353870049290/IMG_7242.jpg?width=840&height=630

<center>I plan to have a bigger space for growing this year then last.</center>

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Since I still have some time to get the garden prepped, I figured I would lay down some plywood, and see if this helps with the weeds. If not, I will just bust out the shovel, and shape the area that I plan to use.

<center>https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/822620607577063475/1072314871372337214/IMG_7181.jpg?width=472&height=630</center>

Before I go on, I first want to pay my respect to this [Chilacayote Squash](https://hive.blog/hive-140635/@jonyoudyer/rookie-mistake-is-my-middle-name). If it weren't for the seeds that grew in the compost, I do not think I would of started the garden at all last year. For that I will forever be grateful.

<div class='pull-left'>https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/822620607577063475/1072315325464444928/IMG_7200.jpg?width=472&height=630</div>


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<center>***But off to the compost you go!***</center>

<center>https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/822620607577063475/1072315036455931914/IMG_7189.jpg?width=472&height=630</center>

Here is the last remaining Pumpkin. I think it will be cool if it holds up through Spring, and starts to grow again. It has produced fruit for the second time, but I am not going to keep my hopes up for them. One has already fell off.

<center>https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/822620607577063475/1072315657846272120/IMG_7226.jpg?width=472&height=630</center>

Ok, here it is. The start of my 2023 garden! This is garlic that was sent to me from fellow Hiver,  @anewyorkminute79 all the way from New York. I have been meaning to plant it in January, but with the rains I did not get around to it. So I bust open a bulb, and pulled apart the cloves.

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I am going to plant the bigger ones for now. Being my first time, I do not want to mess this up, and have no more bulbs left.

<center>https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/822620607577063475/1072316145161474078/IMG_7231.jpg?width=472&height=630</center>

Before I bury these cloves, I picked a spot of the garden, and cleaned up any weeds still in the ground.

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I googled how to plant Garlic, and it says to plant **2 inches deep**, and **4 inches apart**. To make things precise I used an Yardstick to aid in planting. 

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That's basically it, just bury the clove, and make sure ground stays moist. In total I planted 7 cloves.

https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/822620607577063475/1072316305874620508/IMG_7240.jpg?width=840&height=630

<center>https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/822620607577063475/1072316310387699753/IMG_7237.jpg?width=472&height=630</center>

I marked where I planted with some stakes. This will allow me to keep the required area moist until I see some spears. I have read that Garlic are heavy feeders as well. By the time they need some nutrients, my compost in the bins should be ready. Until then I wait.

<center>https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/822620607577063475/1072316595831054407/IMG_7243.jpg?width=291&height=630</center>
<center>***And apparently this little fellow will be waiting too!***</center>

<center>***To be continued............***</center>

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