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another week of rain

It has rained so much that I have been too demoralized to visit the garden. Today, however, the sun is shining and I am curious to know how the garden has weathered the latest downpour–more downpours are forecast for this coming week. In addition to this tomato, there are numerous San Marzanos that have just exploded! They are the size of tennis balls. The later tomato transplants are thriving, as well. And the broccoli is continuing to grow. Plus, there are green beans, but the plants are very wispy-looking.

one cherry tomato ready for eating

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trying to beat the rain

Okay, the ground was not dried out from the previous rain, but if I didn’t plant the last of the tomatoes today, they would probably have dried up in their tiny, little containers (is that redundant? –rhetorical question. yes.) So I planted nine San Marzanos and three Mexican Midgets, plus the last three of the broccoli. I also weeded the onions and rigged up a deer/rabbit barricade for the newly planted tomatoes. I arrived at the garden about 9 A.M. and left about 1:30 P.M.

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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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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.  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!

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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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Weekend farmer

Some people are weekend warriors; I am a weekend farmer–at least this weekend. Saturday morning I planted 225 pepper seeds and then finished transplanting the broccoli/cabbage plants (They have been mixed up, so I will be surprised later when we find out what they actually are.) I wasn’t able to finish up everything because I ran out of potting soil. That’s okay, though, because I’ve also run out of windows for all my crops!

local newspaper–the gift that keeps on giving

Sunday morning I went to Piper St with the intention of spending an hour. I arrived at 9 A.M. and didn’t end up leaving until 1:15 P.M. What was accomplished? I double-dug the north bed and the far west bed; dug half of another bed and then transplanted five clumps of chives that were growing throughout the yard. I also dropped off the firepit I bought from Laura and trimmed around the entire tree area. About 11:3o Kim dropped by on her bicycle to help with onion transplanting. We planted two rows. There are easier ways of getting food. We still have more to plant, but that was enough for one day. Note to self: buy onion sets next year. Transplanting DINKY little onion seedlings that have been grown from seed is tedious work. Did I mention that it was tedious? It is tedious. Yep.

I did not take a pic of the garden today, but will try to get it tomorrow afternoon. I’m sure it will look simply spectacular after the four hours of gentle rain we had today. Just a note: temps are predicted to be unseasonably cool for this entire week–nightly lows in the mid-30’s!

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farmer with a day job

I’ve been sitting around doing nothing related to the garden for about two weeks. Don’t know why. Anyway, tonight I transplanted 97 plants that were ready. I’m thinking that they are a mix of broccoli and cabbage, but I cannot be sure because I don’t recall my plant labeling system. It’s been too long!

I also went to Farm King for deer fencing and fishing line and K-Mart for potting soil. Hopefully, we can get some sort of protection against the deer going this weekend.