Mike's 2026 Journal: The "Demolition & Rebuild" Project (Zone 7b)

[Mike]

I figure I better practice what I preach and get my 2026 journal started.

Current Status: To be honest, it’s a mess. As I mentioned in the tool shed section, I let the careless weeds win the battle last fall. I’m currently looking at a 5-foot-tall forest that needs to be taken down before I can even think about planting.

The Plan: I’m sticking to my standard "Valentine's & Easter" schedule this year.

1. Phase 1 (Now): Run the Hustler mower through the patch (set to side discharge) to knock down the canopy.
2. Phase 2 (Mid-Late Jan): Bring in the Troy-Bilt rear-tine tiller to grind up the roots multiple times, then mix in some fertilizer.
3. Phase 3 (Valentine's Day): Get my 1015 onions in the ground. I’m debating doing potatoes this year. I usually skip them to save space, but those potato towers I’ve seen online are tempting me. I'll probably get some broccoli seeds in the ground here too.

The Goal: This year, I really want to focus on maximizing the harvest for canning. We ran out of pickles way too early last year, didn't get nearly enough tomatoes to can at all, and I want enough onions to last us through the winter steak nights.

I’ll post pictures once I get the mower in there and start the demolition.

Who else is planning their 2026 layout? Feel free to start your own thread and log your progress!