Category: The Garden

The lull

One of the main reasons that this blog exists is to remind me of the cycles of life. I will have a bout of depression in late winter, which will be followed by an intense need to build/grow/change, followed by a flurry of activity, followed by a lull. The plants don’t come up right away, the weather doesn’t cooperate, the plans to build and change hit a snag of indecision/loss of motivation/other uncontrollable factors.

The lull is almost bad as the late-winter-blues… but it gives me the distinct impression that all my work was for nothing.

It’s sunny outside. I want it to be summer; with a bounty of veggies, a room full of kittens, and a fully formed studio.

*deepbreath*

So this is why there’s a blog. So next year I can feel this way, then look back 52 weeks and see that the feeling isn’t new. Then go from there and see proof that given a little time, a little sun, and a little warmth it will all happen.

***

We’re past the “last average frost” now, so green beans went in. I changed them to South D because it was empty, and sad, and weedy. I also went a little overboard with the root veggies in West E, but many of them will be ready to harvest (fingers crossed) by the time the peppers and okra go out. I jumped the gun a little and planted the yellow bush beans too… I probably should have waited (they suggest soil temp of 65 and it’s 50 now /: ) but the last of the seeds were just sitting in the envelope all lonely.

And you know… The lull is dangerous!

I’ll hold off on the squash, maybe check soil temp tomorrow after today’s 73 degrees. (Squash want 60 deg soil.)

Here’s our false spring!

The weather is gorgeous, for a few days. I did a little wander through the garden- things are still happening slowly. I put a balanced fertilizer on the leafy veggies with the hope that it will inspire them to pick up.

The starts are looking amazing since I repotted them. That probably means it’s time to repot again (;

I traded out a few of the smaller ones from the greenhouse to see if they do better inside.

I also moved the greenhouse so it will get more fun. Sometimes I have to sacrifice aesthetics.

The little container tomato is hanging in there.

Remaining apple is starting to get leaves.

Strawberry and parsley baskets showing some growth.

Well, the weeds are happy.

We’ve only had a few days of sun. Enough that the grass has grown taller than the raised beds, but not enough for p to mow it.

The peas are still getting chewed and pulled up by something. I replanted them today- maybe they will be so excited by the weather that they will overcome all obstacles.

I also planted more chard and kale (this time in upper c) Willy nilly I tossed the seeds in the soil. I really want some greens.

I cleared a portion of the back rocks and spread allysum seeds. I just can’t seem to have luck with this plant that is supposed to reseed itself and be happy here!

The tomato, pepper, and okra starts seem to be tolerating the greenhouse, only doing a little worse than the ones inside. The one tomato plant I already have in a container is still alive.

Parsley basket might be getting started, and the strawberry basket is happy. Once it gets a little warmer I’ll hang them on the porch.

Fingers crossed on all of it.

Indian Plum

It looks like we have a volunteer Indian Plum tree over one of the rose bushes.

Mixed reports on if it’s edible or not… But the birds love it.

Back from the suncation

We had a nice trip- but it’s back to reality.

I guess there was a little sun here while we were gone. The garlic is looking happy, the onions are hanging in there, the radishes are getting bigger and the beets are starting to show sprouts.

The peas continue to be eaten by a mystery predator. I might just go out at night to see if I can catch them in the act. I’ve always hesitated to put out slug traps- but this might be my turning point.

The inside basil experiment is going well. I’ve had it under the hydroponic light. It’s happy. The others are basically dead outside. The greenhouse one might make it.

While I was gone the sprouts (tomato, okra, pepper) got a little drowned I think, and weren’t looking good. I transplanted then all to larger pots, and put the extra ones in a tray in the greenhouse.

When I was transplanting I noticed that they all seemed to want some deeper roots- especially the okra and peppers that maneuvered out of the bottom of their paper pots. Next year I need to remember that, and plant them in something taller.

Eh.

We have had the joy of living without half of our appliances for a week, because of a lack of 240 voltage and dependable electrician. It’s also been gross outside- including some snow, and lots of rain.

I am not happy.

So let’s start with what’s good in the garden…

The two blue hydrangeas are coming in quick. I fertilized them with the hydrangeas food today.

The two rhody transplants are settling in well.

The hops are coming up- p has been pulling extra shoots.

The rhubarbs all seem very happy.

Some root veggies are sprouting in west E.

NOW for the bad news.

Something has been eating my pea sprouts. I have a feeling it’s the pnw monster slug. I do not feel any warm feelings. I sprinkled Sluggo across the soil with ruthless abandon.

The garlic is not happy about the weather. There’s a lot of yellow showing. I don’t think there is anything I can do- but I put the tomato fertilizer on it while chanting. /:

Onions are also barely hanging in there, and got the same treatment.

The lawn looks like hell- although some of the clover and fleur de lawn seed seems to be catching. All the effort we made trying to smooth it may or may not have helped.

Here are the fertilizers I used.

The blue one went on the hydrangeas, camelia, and blueberries

The red one went on the onions, garlic, and the places I’m putting tomatoes.

In the process of writing this (and waiting for water to boil for my bath), the asparagus and raspberrys have arrived.

I begged P to plant them- since he has access to a shower at work.

Raspberries are going in west A, asparagus in west B.

The Grand Basil Experiment

I’ve been growing greens and herbs in an Aerogarden (turquoise, of course), and while they do great for a while, eventually all plants start to look a little sickly, and that was the case with the lettuces and basil I planted back in January.

After reading about successful transplants, I decided to rescue the 3 basil plants, and to try them out in different soil conditions.

Plant 1 will be inside in fresh soil

Plant 2 is outside in fresh soil

And plant 3 gets the maiden voyage in the greenhouse shelf.

We’ll see who is happiest.

 

** UPDATE: 4/30/18

Unsurprisingly, the two outside basils kicked the bucket. The one inside is going strong!

Seeds inside

It’s quite chilly outside, and we’re without hot water and electric heat, so I decided to work on some inside planting.

P got this really nice plant light for my birthday, and in using it with a heating pad to start some seeds inside (and try some microgreens). I’ve already got tomatoes and peppers going, and some cilantro, so today I started some okra (which is nearly impossible to buy as starts around here) and some peas to try as pea shoots.*

(*Here are a couple of how-tos for harvesting pea shoots – 1, 2 )

To make my little newspaper pots, I folded and wrapped a sheet of seed catalog around a juice glass, and secured the end with a water+flour paste.

Then I folded down the bottom part and glued it as well

Easy peasy.

Here’s what the flat o’seeds looks like now.

I’m watering from the bottom, which is what you’re supposed to do I guess.