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The greenhouse has changed quite a bit over the past few weeks. The first photo shows what it looked like when I finally decided it was time to tackle it. There were boxes, bags, old cardboard, and all sorts of things that had accumulated over time. After a good clean-up (apart from washing the greenhouse … More Progress in the Greenhouse
Yesterday I was in the greenhouse, continuing the endless task of taking care of the tomatoes. While I was there, I decided to finally clean up one corner that had somehow become a “later” place. There were mostly cardboard from IKEA furniture and a few empty potting soil bags. Nothing exciting. Or so I thought. … More Surprise in the Greenhouse
In the weekend, me and Helmī spent some time gardening together, and honestly, those are the moments I want to remember. We planted beans together — the kind you eat whole with the pod. I made the holes in the soil with a poker, one by one, and Helmī carefully dropped the beans inside. Such … More Little Garden Helpers and Hopeful Foxgloves
After spending hours planting tomatoes in the greenhouse, carefully trying to fit every plant into its “perfect” place, I stood there looking at the remaining empty spaces between the beds and thought… “Well… surely I can still squeeze something else in here.” And that is how I ended up scattering calendula and marigold seeds all … More Companion Flowers for My Tomatoes
I spent almost the entire afternoon in the greenhouse on Friday — around 2.5 hours cleaning it up, planting tomatoes, moving things around, and trying to calculate what else I can still squeeze in there this year. A while ago I even wrote about it here: And honestly? I still have a complicated relationship with … More My Greenhouse Tried to Kill Me Again
This year’s experiment is about melons and watermelons. Usually, people here start them indoors early, carefully growing tiny seedlings on windowsills and protecting them from every cold night. This year… I did not do that. I simply dropped the melon and watermelon seeds straight into the greenhouse soil and hoped for the best. I started … More This Year’s Melon Experiment Begins in the Greenhouse
My very first harvest from the garden this year! I stepped into the greenhouse and suddenly realized how much the salad had grown already. And dill! And the best part — it had self-seeded. Without much planning or effort from me, there it was: soft green salad leaves and dill. Peaked at my rased beds … More My First Harvest This Year
Jānis decided that, considering the situation in the world — living next to an aggressor country and having Donald Trump as the president of the USA — we should plant potatoes! Honestly… fair enough 😅 My answer was simple: “No problem. Talk to your dad — he has a tractor and knows what he’s doing.” … More We Planted Potatoes 🥔
The first residents have moved into our new raised veggie beds! First, I planted out the leeks I’ve been growing from seed since February 21 — DE CARENTAN. They are still very small, but I hope they’ll love their new home and grow strong over the summer. I already can’t wait to harvest one for … More First Residents in Our Raised Veggie Beds
I got a question recently — why raised beds? The answer is simple: heavy clay soil. Our entire property is covered in it. If I want to plant something directly in the ground, I need to dig a hole by hand, bring in compost or better soil, fill the hole, and only then plant something. … More Let’s Talk About Soil
A week ago I mentioned that we were working on something bigger outside. Well… now I can finally show you what it was. Can you guess? Three long raised beds. Not pallet collars this time — proper wooden raised beds built from real planks. And honestly… it all started because I realised I needed more … More We Were Working on Something Bigger
The journey with my rhubarb started on February 25th, when I decided to sow rhubarb seeds that I got as a birthday gift. 🙂 Someone probably thought it would be a funny joke… but clearly they forgot who they were giving them to. I absolutely love growing things from seed, so of course I took … More Rhubarb From Seed
After what felt like an endless stretch of cold, ice, and even snow, today finally brought a little bit of relief — a warm 17°C (62°F). It almost feels unreal to step outside without that biting chill in the air. Check the pic of Marley 🙂 This change means more than just comfort. At last, … More Finally, a Warm Day
I got busy potting out my tomatoes. And yes… I did it the way I always do — sowing them all together in one container instead of carefully placing one seed per pot like a more patient gardener probably would. I know the “right” way. One seed, one pot, neat and simple. But somehow I … More Potting Out Tomatoes and Seeding Flowers
We planted 350 strawberries. Yes—three hundred and fifty! My in-laws decided it was time to start a new strawberry field, and suddenly there we were, with boxes of tiny plants waiting to go into the ground. It sounded exciting… until we stepped outside. It was freezing. Only +8°C, but the wind made it feel much … More One Freezing Day, 350 Strawberries
I was lucky enough to spent some time with Līga from Cēsis Medieval Castle garden. It was two-hour lecture about raised beds and kitchen gardening and seed swap. It all happend in Gulbenes Library. And somehow, it felt like a piece of the Cēsis Medieval Castles kitchen garden had travelled to us. Līga Eglīte’s kitchen … More A Medieval Castle Garden Came to Gulbene
The raised beds are ready. Weeded, mulched, and quietly waiting — just like me. Now it’s that in-between time where everything looks prepared, but not much is happening yet. The sun teases a little, but I know better. The last frost here usually lingers until late May, and anything not frost-tolerant still has to wait. … More Waiting for Warmth
The 100th day of the year has its own quiet rule in Latvian garden — peas go into the soil. No discussions, no overthinking, no checking the forecast for the tenth time. No matter what, the peas are going in. Some years the ground is still a bit cold, some years it’s perfectly ready. It … More Peas Go In on the 100th Day
Last week was full of outdoor work. It felt like the garden was slowly waking up after winter. At the beginning of the week there was still plenty of snow around. It’s always funny how quickly things change at this time of year — one day everything is white, and a few days later you’re … More Cleaning the Greenhouse and Starting the First Seeds Outdoors
In February, the author looks forward to spring gardening and begins sowing various seeds indoors and outdoors using methods like winter sowing. While some seeds thrive, others take longer to germinate or struggle. The post lists various seeds being grown, emphasizing experimentation and the joy of nurturing plants for future growth. … More February Seeds: Some Sprouted, Some Didn’t
The weather outside is getting colder, and the days are starting to feel shorter. Autumn is slowly settling in, and I’ve been preparing myself for the usual quiet of the garden as the season changes. But today I had a lovely surprise. Some say that when the weather gets colder and colder, zucchini stops producing—but … More A Surprise in the Garden
My back isn’t getting better. It keeps hurting and limiting my movement, which makes even the smallest daily tasks feel heavier than they should. Today is another hot one — hot and wet, like being trapped in a sauna. I’m all sweaty, struggling to breathe, and honestly, I’m not a big fan of this kind … More Hot Days, Tired Back, and String Bean Harvest
This morning, I stepped outside, still holding my tea mug, and saw it. A little burst of color, climbing on a string —my first blooming sweet pea. And honestly, I almost cried. They really earned their right to bloom. I started them way back in January, in little plug trays on a windowsill. It felt … More First Sweet Pea Blooms – Against All Odds
This is my first time trying – In a Vase on Monday! Thank you, Cathy at Rambling In The Garden. So this is my vase… Yesterday I was in the forest. I gathered what summer offered me: tiny wild strawberries and blueberries, nestled among fresh green leaves. There’s something magical about arranging edible finds—like bringing the … More In a Vase on Monday
Every summer, like clockwork, my mother-in-law’s garden bursts into full bloom—vibrant colors, lush greenery, and a sense of calm that only a well-established garden can bring. And every summer, I walk through it feeling just a little bit… jealous. Not in a bitter way. More in the way a beginner artist admires a masterpiece. Her … More A Walk Through My Mother-in-Law’s Blooming Garden
Yesterday evening, between bursts of rain and clouds that can’t seem to make up their mind, Linna and I ventured out into the field — straight into the furrows where our peas grow. They’ve been reaching out like hopeful little climbers, begging for something to hold on to. So, we brought out a roll of … More Peas, Mosquitoes, and Weather Swaps, Please…
Today I finally sat down and spent an entire hour replying to all the blog comments I’ve been meaning to answer for days. I truly didn’t expect it to take so long, but reading your thoughts, memories, and kind words always makes me feel like I’m catching up with old friends. Thank you for taking … More Catching Up & A Cry for Help
One of the containers I planted tomatoes in had a few holes at the bottom—nothing fancy, just enough for drainage. But with all the rain lately, it flooded a few times. Turns out, the roof rain collector was clogged, and all that water ended up pouring straight into that one unlucky container. My poor tomato … More A Surprise Under the Tomato Container
Yesterday, I spent way too long tidying up the greenhouse—and honestly, I don’t even like it. For starters, the entrance is a slippery slope. Literally. It’s built into a hill, and after any rain, it’s like trying to walk across soap. I’ve already slipped there twice and hit myself hard, and ever since, I tread … More A Love-Hate Relationship with My Greenhouse
I finally did it—I planted and seeded the furrows. This year I have 4! It’s ridiculously late in the season, I know. Normally by now, the garden would already be showing signs of life, and I’d be sharing photos of sprouting rows or eating baby carrots! But this year… this year has been strange. It … More Late Seeds, Soaked Soil, and a Bit of Hope
The excitement is building up—only two days left until Nelle’s birthday party! We are busy preparing and can hardly wait to celebrate together. Also, the weather is terrible! SO, party will be inside! Yesterday, we had a lovely potato planting “party” in the garden. In Latvian, we call such a gathering a talka — it’s … More Till Nelle’s Birthday Party Only 2 Days!
After sharing how I lost half of my tomato plants, I wasn’t sure I’d even write another post about them this season… but here we are. The second half of my tomatoes are now planted out—and I’m crossing all my fingers and toes. These are my last seedlings. They were struggling in their pots (plugs!) … More Garden Diary: The Last Tomato Hope!
One of the most satisfying experiments I tried this year was winter sowing—and I’m happy to report that some of those little seedlings are now thriving in the garden! Back in the colder months, I sowed several types of seeds outdoors in containers, letting nature do its thing. I wasn’t sure how many would make … More Winter Sowing Update: The Calendula Surprise
This weekend felt like a little celebration—I finally planted out the monthly strawberries I grew from seed earlier this year! Watching them grow from tiny specks in the soil (it takes a lot of patience; they grow slowly) to strong little plants has been a gratifying process. These aren’t your usual garden strawberries; they’re monthly … More Planting Out Our Homegrown Strawberries 🍓
Saturday night turned into early morning. I couldn’t fall asleep—wide awake until 4AM. Maybe it was the full moon, maybe it was the one cup of cola I had (and I never drink caffeine!), or maybe just life’s current chaos, but sleep simply wouldn’t come. I had restless legs, and I stepped outside, thinking some … More 4AM: Can’t believe my eyes
As you know, I ended up with almost 100 tomatoes by accident…. I was so ready for tomato season—so ready to get my hands into the soil, to watch those little green plants thrive. But reality had other plans. We lost about half of our tomatoes. It started with the weather. It’s been so cold—unusually … More Garden Diary: I Lost Half of My Tomatoes…
I can’t recall a spring quite like this one—so cold for so long! These past few weeks have felt more like late March than May, and it’s starting to wear on me. By now, I’d normally be busy in the new garden (at least in the greenhouse), hands in the soil, finally planting out my … More A Cold Spring and Tomato Troubles
We finally did it—all the trees are in the ground. Remember the trees I brought home from the sad nursery? Read here: https://latvianmom.com/2025/04/29/a-spring-trip-for-trees/ For years, we dreamed not just of restoring the house, but of bringing life back to the land around it. Last spring, that vision began to take root—literally. We planted magnolia for … More Spring 2025: Trees
A 100 km trip for new trees brought more than just magnolia and cherry saplings—it stirred memories of last spring and a surprising sadness for a once joyful place. Now, with soil under my nails and hope in my heart, I plant anyway. … More A Spring Trip for Trees
With the pallet collars at home, it’s time to dive into the layout! I want the garden to be both practical and beautiful — easy to care for, full of life, and a joy to walk through or have a chair in it to sit and enjoy. To plan it out, I used GrowVeg – … More Kitchen Garden: The Layout
I originally wanted to share everything once it was finished, but knowing myself, I might forget — so instead, I’ll post small progress updates along the way. This year, a big dream is finally taking shape — I’m starting our own kitchen garden!I’ve been gathering ideas for a long time, and now the first pieces … More Kitchen Garden: The Concept
I can’t believe it — it’s snowing! Everything is so green, and the plum trees are blooming! I already have seedlings growing in the greenhouse and a few things planted outside. The last thing we need now is snow and freezing temperatures (below 0°C)! And yet, in this chilly chaos, we had a little surprise: … More Snow Outside, Cucumbers Inside
This Easter weekend was just what I needed—family, fresh air, and a little bit of progress in the garden. My mom and my brother came over with his family, and we had a lovely time together. The kids were so excited for the Easter egg hunt, running around the yard, finding little surprises hidden among … More Easter Egg Hunt and Garden Plans
A few weeks ago, I decided it was finally time to sew some radishes. It wasn’t a big, planned-out gardening moment—more like a spontaneous little joy. I looked at one of our circular raised beds and thought, “Why not make it a bit more fun?” So instead of planting in straight rows, I made a … More A Spiral of Radishes
Back in February, I shared my excitement about starting seeds indoors and trying winter sowing for the first time. If you missed those posts, you can catch up here and here. It feels like just yesterday I was cutting open water bottles and gently tucking seeds into the soil under layers of snow and ice. … More Winter Sowing – Progress Update
As you know, I have land—a lot of land. Seven hectares (17 acres – for friends on the other side of the pond), to be exact. But what I don’t have (yet!) is a real garden. No flower beds, no borders bursting with color, no carefully planned layout. Just open space, dreams, and a greenhouse … More A Few Blooms, A Lot of Land 🌸
Back on January 30, I decided to try something new—growing cucumbers indoors in our growing tent. These aren’t just any cucumbers; they’re a special kind that doesn’t need pollinators, which makes them perfect for indoor growing. I wasn’t sure if we could really pull it off, but I figured, why not give it a try? … More Indoor Cucumbers: Progress So Far
Linna had to plant three seeds for a school project. She did that quite enthusiastically—one bean, one cucumber, and one mystery seed I didn’t even recognize. But then she looked up at me and asked, “Can I seed some flowers too?” How could I say no to that? Doesn’t matter if it’s 8pm and tomorrow … More A Small Project Turned Into a Flower Adventure
Last autumn (see here: https://latvianmom.com/2024/10/27/planting-tulips-and-daffodils-our-winter-greenhouse-experiment/), we planted tulip bulbs in terracotta pots and left them in the greenhouse (see here: https://latvianmom.com/2025/02/17/bringing-winter-into-the-greenhouse/), curious to see if they would sprout earlier than those in the garden. With winter behind us, we almost forgot about them—until about two weeks ago, when we spotted the first green shoots breaking … More Update on Our Tulip Experiment: A Surprise in the Greenhouse!
Remember this post? Yesterday, I finally made time (though I had absolutely no will) to prick out the tomatoes. It was one of those tasks I kept putting off, but I powered through… and now I have around 120 tomato plants. That’s 100 too many. I only need about 20—some for my garden, and maybe … More The Great Tomato Overpopulation of 2025
Sunday was a slow, calm day—exactly what was needed. We finally tackled the living room windows, which had been in a terrible state. Paint splatters, renovation dust, and who knows what else had built up, making them almost impossible to see through. Scrubbing them was no easy task, but Jānis took on the challenge. Out … More A Calm Sunday with Window Cleaning, Greenhouse Prep & Cucumber Blossoms
I had already seeded enough tomatoes for this season, so when I found an old packet of seeds—expired four years ago—I was ready to throw it away. They were so old, I didn’t even think they had a chance. But at the last moment, I thought, Why not? and decided to plant them in the … More A Tomato Surprise: The Ones I Almost Threw Away…
It’s that time of year — the gardening season is here! And for me, it’s extra special because it’s my very first gardening season in this house. But as exciting as it sounds, it also means one thing… it’s going to be hard! Everything needs to be built from scratch—nothing is prepared, which feels a … More Gardening Season Is Starting!
It all started when I opened my garden planning app and tried to register the plant I had just seeded—rukola (the Latvian name). But guess what? I couldn’t find it! Can you guess the right name (or at least the one you use)? Turns out, in a million years, I wouldn’t have thought to look … More Rucola, Arugula, Rocket, Roquette
At the end of January, I sowed many seeds — tucking them into soil-filled water bottles, leaving nature to do its magic. Now, as the days grow longer and the sun climbs higher, it’s time to check on them. The bottles have been sitting outside, exposed to cold, snow, and rain. Their lids off, letting … More Waiting for Nature’s Touch
On my birthday this year, on the 20th of February, I received a very thoughtful gift from Jānis – a Spider Farmer 6-Tier Plant Stand with Grow Lights. I meant to share this earlier, but somehow the days slipped away. With the gardening season on the horizon, this present couldn’t have come at a better … More A Birthday Surprise for My Green Dreams
I had to replant cucumbers already! The thing is, it’s true when someone says — don’t start too early, they won’t grow. I started my cucumbers (these cucumbers will be indoor ones, not for the field — it’s way too early for that here in Latvia) on the 30th of January and another two batches … More Replanting Cucumbers
This weekend, winter met spring in our greenhouse. With snow covering the ground and spring bulbs in pots, we had an idea—bring the snow inside. Our pots with spring bulbs have been inside the greenhouse since autumn. As the greenhouse warms during sunny afternoons, the soil dries out. Since the water isn’t pumped yet due … More Bringing Winter into the Greenhouse
It’s happening—my first cucumbers are out! 🌱 It always feels a little magical to see those tiny green leaves emerge, full of promise. And it’s not just the cucumbers—my leeks are starting to grow too! Of course, the cucumber is an indoor one. It’s way too early to plant them outside, but just knowing that … More The First Seedlings Are Sprouting!
I couldn’t make the title shorter, sorry :). As the days are still too cold in Latvia. We start sowing seeds late April or May outdoors. I can’t wait and I’ve been busy sowing seeds indoors and outside in water bottles – winter sowing. What I’ve planted so far. Winter Sowing ’ve already started a … More Starting the Season: What I’ve Sown Indoors and in Winter Sowing so far
I had all my seeds in the shoe box and in the plastic box with the lid. It’s not like I can’t live like this, but it’s so good to have a beautiful box that is made specially for seed packet storage. I love small beautiful things that make everything MUCH BETTER! As you know, … More Galvanized v.s. Frog Seed Box
I only meant to buy one seed storage tin. Really, I did. But after spending far too much time browsing, I just couldn’t decide. So, instead of choosing, I bought both! 🎉 And honestly? No regrets. I now have two beautiful seed storage tins from Burgon & Ball, each with its own charm and purpose. … More I Couldn’t Resist – So I Got Two Seed Boxes!
January feels like the longest month for gardeners in Latvia. It’s cold and dark, and there’s nothing I can start indoors just yet. But February is so close, and with it comes the first chance to start sowing seeds. The gardening year of 2025 is just around the corner, and I’m beyond excited—especially because this … More Dreaming of Green: Counting Down to Seed Sowing
With winter just around the corner, we decided it was the perfect time to plant our tulip and daffodil bulbs. 🌷🌼 Instead of planting them outdoors, we opted to keep the pots inside the greenhouse for the winter. It’s a bit of an experiment—we’re curious to see if the extra protection will give them a … More Planting Tulips and Daffodils: Our Winter Greenhouse Experiment
Remember my last tomato harvest? It was such a delightful surprise, thanks to the warm autumn weather! If you missed it, you can check out the details here. Well, guess what? Just three weeks later, I was in for yet another surprise harvest! I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw how many more tomatoes … More Another Surprise Tomato Harvest!
I recently picked up a bunch of autumn raspberries, and I can’t get enough of their juiciness and delicious flavor! There’s something special about these late-season treats. Unlike summer raspberries, which often come dry, autumn raspberries are a delight to enjoy without any bd surprises. This year, they still surprised us this late in October, … More Autumn Raspberries: A Juicy Delight!
This summer was like a juggling act gone wild! Between renovations and work, my greenhouse turned into a jungle, but surprise! My little yellow tomatoes flourished amidst the chaos. They’re so tasty that the kids can’t resist munching them straight off the vine. As it turns out, chaos can be delicious—who knew? Note to self: more tomatoes next year! … More Summer Chaos, Renovation, and the Tastiest Tomatoes
Since we bought our house, I planted a small patch of mojito mint next to the greenhouse. It’s been a constant struggle, with the surrounding plants overtaking its space and the soil not being ideal for mint. Adding to the challenge, I didn’t have a reliable water source for it. Despite these difficulties, I managed … More The Mojito Mint Comeback—A Garden Experiment
When you think of walnuts, Latvia might not be the first place that comes to mind, right? The first time I encountered a Latvian walnut tree was in Vērmanes dārzs, a beautiful park in Riga. I was struck by the tree’s majesty and resilience, knowing it had weathered countless harsh winters. Since that moment, I’ve … More The Resilient Walnuts of Latvia: A Hidden Gem
OMG! I give up (you know I don’t)! Even those who are gardening for ages haven’t seen so many weeds in one plot! Wow! If you walk to my furrows, you will get lost! You can’t find them! If you don’t know the potatoes, carrots, onions, beetroot, beans, peas, etc are there – you can’t … More Why I’m Leaving Gardening!
We are having a few very hot days in a row! Today it’s +29 C tomorrow it will be +30 C It’s hard to stay committed to blogging, had 5 photoshoot this week already. One more on Saturday! Means a lot of work for me! Not all are paid, I do free photoshoots – my … More Hot day!
Six photoshoots in a the row and I lost my fight with weeds!! I didn’t started this day with coffee and breakfast. Went streigt to the garden! Weeding is fun but not when it’s overgrown! If I’m not blogging… weeds took me over! Ilze
Oh my, I toss and turn and couldn’t sleep tonight. I finally got out of bed at 5:32AM. Went for a walk and realise I will need spring onions for tuna salad… Well – to the garden I went 🙂 Fresh wind in my hair and refreshing dew drops on my feet! This lilac is … More The First crop
Goodmorning Sunday, Yesterday after having fun we went to the manor, to do grass trimming and deal with greenhouse. Deal – because my eggplants and paprika can’t wait much longer! They need beds! Janis went trimming grass and I looked around for a solution to make beds inside the greenhouse for my plants. We ordered … More Working in the greenhouse
Can’t believe my Friday was so intense! I manage to deal with a lot of house chores and also spend time with girls while Janis was helping to build a playground for Helmī kindergarten group. This isn’t the first time he is helping and I’m proud of having such a nice hearted man in my … More Fully packed Friday
After getting home from “Fun Project” I cooked a meal for family and then went to “Chestnut Manor” (the name of our “new” house – translated from Latvian) and planted out cabbages (frost – stay away!) I grow from seeds and working on Greenhouse. Also, don’t know the English term of what father-in-law did in … More Gardening: Cabbages & Green House
We have a veggie garden, that is 40 meters long and 15 meters wide field. 19 rows in total. Don’t know if the word “row” is the right one, but check the picture below. If there is another word how to call this – let me now in the comments below! Why in rows!? Simply … More Veggie garden