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Wakin’ the garden up

The garden dozed off last fall without anyone noticing. We just left everything sitting out over the winter, including the deer netting and four patio chairs used to support it. There were even tomato carcasses still hanging from their cages.

But . . . we’ve only just spent two evenings plus one other time. So far we have whacked all the weeds–inside and out–and turned over four beds with the fork. Tonight we raked up and burned all the sticks that were littering the yard. Although there are plenty more, we got a good start.

One more shocker today: when I removed the cover on the seed pots I planted three days ago, they were coming up!!! Italian Heirlooms and Opalkas are our tomatoes of choice this year. I expect the Opalkas will take a little longer since the electric warmer does not seem to be working.

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purple-podded peas!!!

I was so busy looking at the pea blooms, that I missed this beautiful speciman. (There are scores of them.) We transplanted these on Easter Sunday after dinner, and it was cold and the plants were all tangled together, so we basically just threw them in the ground and then walked away while shaking our heads. They looked terrible for forever. Now look at them!!

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perimeter, continued

Imagine my surprise when we pulled in to show Colin the progress on the garden, and we found Dwight in the middle of digging his tenth hole of the day!! Lots of progress was made–and some decisions, too, regarding the gate and garden shed placement.

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Look what’s peepin’!!!!

It’s been exactly one week since I planted my first beans. Here’s what they look like. They were so cute that I planted another four rows after seeing these. I just hope that rabbits don’t like beans . . . who am I kidding?!

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different vantage point

Last night Dwight and I mowed and trimmed the property and then planted 160 onion bulbs (80 each of white and /red).  We scattered straw and then covered with the row cover to keep the straw from blowing all over the place! When I stopped by this afternoon on my way home from school, there were two rabbits sitting in the beds. We are going to have to get the fence going. I say this every day, but now it’s been several weeks, and time is running out.

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pepper plantation

The peppers appear to be quite content in my paper pots. Cabbage seedlings don’t seem to care for that environment so much. These pepper seedlings are about two weeks, I believe.

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full speed ahead

It’s a beautiful, busy Saturday. So many options, so little time. This morning when I arrived at Piper, Dwight had six 5-gallon buckets of water waiting for me to use on my freshly planted broccoli and cabbage plants.  So I watered them and spread some straw on the onions that are established. I also snipped off some of the onions I grew from seed. I read that in order to grow thicker stems/stalks, you can snip them, leaving three inches. Then the stalk will be grow out to pencil-thickness.

Then on to pick up Mom for a trip to a new nursery that has opened just south of Roseville, Sweet Briar. We found the visit very inspiring because the owner has such a positive attitude and seems undaunted by any circumstances. In addition to plants, she has 500 baby chicks (in addition to  probably 50 full-grown chickens of various breeds) and a 31-year-old horse.

Back to Macomb and to the Macomb Community Garden for a little wheelbarreling exercise. Then . . . time for lunch. I was just trying to remember what I did after lunch. Ah! How could I forget that Bill and I went over to Piper Stree and mowed and trimmed both properties!

Later in the day, Lisa and I planted the remaining broccoli/cabbage seedlings. Then we covered it with the rest of the row cover. Whew! When I arrived home, Bill said there was rain at the Mississippi River; I hope it is a gentle one!

Finished off the day with a repotting extravaganza. Repotted rosemary and the remaining cabbage/broccoli. Hopefully, Mom and Dad will have room for some of these!

another bed of broccoli and cabbage

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Friday night lights

Look at the tomatoes that Mom and Dad have raised! They are amazing! It’s the first of May and they are ready for the garden–but it’s still just a wee bit chilly. This evening after dark we worked on the garden sheds. Sheds? Yes, there will be two. Dwight’s idea is to borrow from the old hog sheds we had on the farm. It’s too hard to describe, so we will just have to wait for a picture.

2015 tomato crop–most of ’em

gorgeous!

photo credit: Dwight

shed floor #2