seedlings, L I F E

April 12, 2016April 16, 2016

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.

July 5, 2015July 5, 2015

beating the heat of the day

My objective this morning was to finish digging the second bed. I accomplished that and much more. I also pulled the first section of onions. About 10-15% of them were rotten, thanks to the wettest month of June–EVER!!! Anyway, they are drying in the wheelbarrow for the day. I watered all of the tomatoes, although rain is forecast for tomorrow. And, I planted the last of the pepper plants that I have babied from seed.

about 2/3 of the way finished

whew! two beds down, one to go

first bunch of onions

June 1, 2015June 1, 2015

planting frenzy

Thanks to some reinforcements, we were able to get some stuff planted today. Although all the gardeners have offered to help, it seems to rain for three days and then we have to wait for three more to dry out. Since they are all busy during the day, Mom and Dad and Dwight met me at Piper. We planted 11 tomatoes, then protected them with cages and deer netting. Â While Dad and I worked on the tomatoes, Dwight and Mom weeded the cabbage/broccoli bed. Then we interplanted probably 50-60 pepper plants in that bed. We covered that with row cover; hopefully everything will survive to adulthood!!! Finally, Dwight dug two more post holes and we now have the first hints of the gate! Oh, almost forgot: we spaded up the east bed again . . . so many weeds.

tomato cages

looking toward piper

This is the hand that held my hamburger.

the pepper, cabbage, and broccoli bed

looking west at those straight bean rows!

May 9, 2015May 9, 2015

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.

May 2, 2015May 3, 2015

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. Â 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 Â 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

May 1, 2015May 1, 2015

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

April 30, 2015April 30, 2015

double time planting

After dinner I left for Piper Street with two pans of broccoli or cabbage–don’t know which. After planting them, I watered and then covered with the row cover–in an effort to keep pests of all shapes and sizes from feasting on my seedlings!!

April 29, 2015April 29, 2015

the onion bed

Oh, my! This bed is full of onions–and I still have some left to plant. When I went to Piper this evening, I had every intention of planting some cabbage and broccoli because the seedlings are starting to lay over. I think they need to be planted where their roots have a little more room to grow–although I did read that these plants have shallow root systems. Instead, though, I weeded the entire onion bed, planted some more onions (row down the middle), watered them, and raked up some of the grass in the back forty. I was going to put the grass on the onion bed as mulch, but decided to let it dry another day or so–then I will do it. At work today, Joel mentioned that he had trouble with mold when he used grass. Hmmmm. Maybe I should use some straw? I will have to investigate that.

red onions

finished onion bed

overview

April 27, 2015April 27, 2015

“down the rabbit hole”

Lisa summed up this evening’s activities by saying that she was reminded of Alice in Wonderland’s trip “down the rabbit hole.” Four post holes were dug by as many people. The 4×4 posts are 12 feet long. The holes are three feet deep. In addition to setting the posts, the lawn was mowed and trimmed, and onions were planted and watered. Here are a few shots of the action: