early start

it's a couple of weeks earlier than i started last season, but the spinach i put in last april 2nd didn't hesitate so i figured it would be safe to sow today...my supplier tells me the turnips can go in a month before the last frost...when that might be is open to question...a short perusal of websites gave average dates for the last frost here ranging from april 15th to may 31st...so i ignored them and put the seeds in...if they fail i still have plenty of seeds to start another crop...this season is supposed to be annual root crops to compare with the perennial tubers' production from last year, but the rutabagas won't be going in until july so i thought i'd put in a stand of spiniach to utilize the space...it will be over and done with well before mid july...so far this year the garden is 200 pounds richer in organic matter as i added composted manure to the beds i planted today ( and the teosinte bed last week) as well as some i turned in on the east end of the garden because: 1) it is the low point where water pools when it rains and 2) i believe that it is where i will plant some spring wheat to go along with the winter wheat that is on the other end of the garden...encouragingly i found a number of earthworms while i was cultivating so i may not have to import them this year and i failed to find any stray jerusalem artichoke tubers....i find it difficult to believe that i gleaned them all last fall and i expect volunteers outside the are i have set aside for them this season...i will cull the herd as i go...i believe i will wait until april 1st to unmulch the chinese yams and the asparagus...the yams will not come out of dormancy until late in the month and i don't think a couple of weeks will hurt the asparagus...we won't be harvesting any anyway...that won't start until 2012 when they start their third season...that's about it from campus...now i'm heading out to the back yard to construct a couple more raised beds...the potatoes will be here in a few weeks and i want to be ready.