Monday, May 31, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
No Time for Tomatillos
I won't complain about getting rain, but I will say that it is really hard to get a garden going with such soggy soil. Along with the rain delays, I am preparing to be out of town for 28 of the next 36 days and I'm feeling a little time crunched...there's just no time for the tomatillos! The poor tomatillos have been waiting patiently for weeks...they are almost a foot tall! I would love nothing more than to tuck them into their new home, but it's just too wet. One thing to be happy about is that the weed cover worked. We took it up yesterday to help the soil dry out faster and when we pulled it back, there was nothing there, only hundreds of wiggling worms! It was great to know no weeding would be necessary for this soil prep. However, I didn't feel like prepping mud so I put off transplanting for another day. I will also have to find room for all of the eggplants as the prolific tomatillos will be taking up the space I had allotted for both species.
Hopefully, before driving 6 hours tomorrow, I will get a chance to pop in as many plants as possible. Another hope is that I will be able to get a few things done in the garden on those 8 full days scattered throughout June when I return home.
I'm including photos of the growth so far...it is star
ting to look more like a garden each day!
These are those poor tomatillos I was talking about.
The first (and probably only) strawberry of the season.
Cilantro!
Mud that was under the weed cover
Leaf Lettuce
Hopefully, before driving 6 hours tomorrow, I will get a chance to pop in as many plants as possible. Another hope is that I will be able to get a few things done in the garden on those 8 full days scattered throughout June when I return home.
I'm including photos of the growth so far...it is star
ting to look more like a garden each day!These are those poor tomatillos I was talking about.
The first (and probably only) strawberry of the season.
Cilantro!
Mud that was under the weed cover
Leaf Lettuce
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Soggy Peppers
It's been four days since I've worked on any gardening...
The last thing that was planted were the peppers, and I probably shouldn't have even been in there for that. The weather was perfect for transplanting, but the ground was still rather soggy. I planted eight pepper plants in all. I have three green sweet bell plants, three red sweet bells, one black Hungarian, and one Corno di Toro, a sweet Italian pepper. I am anticipating plenty of salsa, stuffed peppers, and stir fry!
So beside the soggy pepper planting, I continue to weed and thin. I'm sure it will be quite the mini-jungle by the time I can get back out there. But, honestly, weedng is rather enjoyable. Maybe it's feeling like I'm helping to protect and nourish another living thing that I like. Or maybe it's because the repetitive movements and fresh air put your mind into a trance-like state. Either way, I've determined that rather than dread the inevitable work of weeding that comes when trying to be "all natural", I can look forward to the many days I will spend hunched over with my hands in the dirt.
The last thing that was planted were the peppers, and I probably shouldn't have even been in there for that. The weather was perfect for transplanting, but the ground was still rather soggy. I planted eight pepper plants in all. I have three green sweet bell plants, three red sweet bells, one black Hungarian, and one Corno di Toro, a sweet Italian pepper. I am anticipating plenty of salsa, stuffed peppers, and stir fry!
So beside the soggy pepper planting, I continue to weed and thin. I'm sure it will be quite the mini-jungle by the time I can get back out there. But, honestly, weedng is rather enjoyable. Maybe it's feeling like I'm helping to protect and nourish another living thing that I like. Or maybe it's because the repetitive movements and fresh air put your mind into a trance-like state. Either way, I've determined that rather than dread the inevitable work of weeding that comes when trying to be "all natural", I can look forward to the many days I will spend hunched over with my hands in the dirt.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
"It's difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts while eating a homegrown tomato." - Lewis Grizzard
Oh the lovely tomato!
What a happy Monday I had transplanting my precious tomato plants in the breezy 67 degree partly sunny weather! What a beautiful day for transplanting! The tomatoes still look happy and so do I!
I planted 12 tomatoes and 6 marigolds in all. We have 3 Sweet 100, 3 Better Boy, 3 Cherokee Purple, 1 Green Zebra, and 2 Yellow Pear! Their semi-fresh, semi-earthy frangrance covered my hands until I finally gave in to washing. It's hard to explain how delighted I am to have the tomatoes in the ground. Nothing compares to that homegrown taste.
Here are a few pics of the day!
The prepared bed.
When planting tomatoes, you can cover up all of the bottom leaves...this will help the transplant establish itself faster and be healthier.
Nothing else is really worth mentioning, but I'll share some more non-tomato snapshots anyway.
Barn swallow buddies
A baby sunflower!
The beginning of a strawberry I hope to savor some warm June day.
What a happy Monday I had transplanting my precious tomato plants in the breezy 67 degree partly sunny weather! What a beautiful day for transplanting! The tomatoes still look happy and so do I!
I planted 12 tomatoes and 6 marigolds in all. We have 3 Sweet 100, 3 Better Boy, 3 Cherokee Purple, 1 Green Zebra, and 2 Yellow Pear! Their semi-fresh, semi-earthy frangrance covered my hands until I finally gave in to washing. It's hard to explain how delighted I am to have the tomatoes in the ground. Nothing compares to that homegrown taste.
Here are a few pics of the day!
The prepared bed.
When planting tomatoes, you can cover up all of the bottom leaves...this will help the transplant establish itself faster and be healthier.
Nothing else is really worth mentioning, but I'll share some more non-tomato snapshots anyway.
Barn swallow buddies
A baby sunflower!
The beginning of a strawberry I hope to savor some warm June day.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Weekly update
Yesterday was my first real day of work at the plot this week. With all the rain of last weekend, I had to wait for the ground to dry up to get out there. Take a look at that sodden soil...there was no way I was going in there!
By Friday, the heavy winds and 80 degree days had done the trick, and I was able to plant corn and some flowers like cosmos and cornflowers. Along with thinning carrots, beets, and lettuce, I also weeded the big hulk weeds that have sprung back in preparation for more planting and transplanting.
Although all of that took some time, the biggest task yesterday was hilling the potatoes. Apparently, I should be doing this potato covering until the plants blossom. I estimate we are a few weeks away from that...I am certain to run out of soil and mulch by then. The hills or mounds are nearly two feet off the ground! I'm just hopeful that my efforts yield lots of yummy taters!
By Friday, the heavy winds and 80 degree days had done the trick, and I was able to plant corn and some flowers like cosmos and cornflowers. Along with thinning carrots, beets, and lettuce, I also weeded the big hulk weeds that have sprung back in preparation for more planting and transplanting.
Although all of that took some time, the biggest task yesterday was hilling the potatoes. Apparently, I should be doing this potato covering until the plants blossom. I estimate we are a few weeks away from that...I am certain to run out of soil and mulch by then. The hills or mounds are nearly two feet off the ground! I'm just hopeful that my efforts yield lots of yummy taters!
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Another Rainy Weekend
Another rainy weekend means time to delve into other endeavors like cleaning and cleaning....and cooking!
So, last night we had some Aloo Gobi ( an Indian Cauliflower and Potato Curry Dish- I add spinach and onions to mine), homemade naan, and mango lassis (a refreshing yogurt drink)! Unfortunately, none of my ingredients came from the garden, but they soon will!
Speaking of the garden, I had some time to do various calculations and determine the overall cost and specific breakdown of my farming expenses thus far. I figured I could share them with you to give you an idea of all aspects of this project.
SEEDS/PLANTS SUPPLIES/RENTAL
51.00 - Seed Savers Exchange (SSE) 52.00 - Home Depot
33.75 - SSE- potato seed 12.03 - Lowe's
12.97 - Lowe's 15.92 - Marvin's
31.45 - Burpee 34.00 - Tiller Rental
25.00 - Findlay Market - transplants
SUB TOTAL: 154.17 SUB TOTAL: 114.35
GRAND TOTAL: $268.52
So, last night we had some Aloo Gobi ( an Indian Cauliflower and Potato Curry Dish- I add spinach and onions to mine), homemade naan, and mango lassis (a refreshing yogurt drink)! Unfortunately, none of my ingredients came from the garden, but they soon will!
Speaking of the garden, I had some time to do various calculations and determine the overall cost and specific breakdown of my farming expenses thus far. I figured I could share them with you to give you an idea of all aspects of this project.
SEEDS/PLANTS SUPPLIES/RENTAL
51.00 - Seed Savers Exchange (SSE) 52.00 - Home Depot
33.75 - SSE- potato seed 12.03 - Lowe's
12.97 - Lowe's 15.92 - Marvin's
31.45 - Burpee 34.00 - Tiller Rental
25.00 - Findlay Market - transplants
SUB TOTAL: 154.17 SUB TOTAL: 114.35
GRAND TOTAL: $268.52
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