Sun-day

Did a couple of chores around the yard today.

Chopped up the cover crop in upper b and upper c, and added amendment. I’m ready to get some greens in the ground! I’m hoping the cover crops and such will help with my nutrient deficiencies in there last year.

On Monday I started a bunch of tomato and pepper seedlings in side. I already have a bunch of tomatoes starting!

We set up the greenhouse/shelf outside, and discussed how we’ll use it. I’d like to do some starts out there when it gets a little warmer (okra?) and I’ll likely use it when my tomatoes and peppers are bigger.

More things are starting to come up- the perrenial sunflower has some activity at the root causing us to wonder about sunchokes… The garlic is going good- and the onions look terrible, but I think they always look terrible for a little bit.

Less related to the garden, I evened out the rocks and dirt in the spa-pit and moved the fire pit there (after replacing the rusted bowl.) Vegan s’mores will be had this summer.

treat yourself to perennials

That’s what I say. After the dentist today I decided to stop and look at the nursery, and grabbed some creeping phlox and gold allysum for the upper edge, and some Pekingese hens and chicks for the lower rocks.

Storm is rolling in, and should give everything a good soak.

Phlox and allysum

What things look like now.

Onions, Radishes, and Beets

72degrees! We’re about 6 weeks out from the average last frost (April 23)

I got a shipment of onion plants from Territorial today, a mix of Redwing, WallaWalla and Ringmaster. I’m not sure about the price ($29) value vs. sets at The Grange (~$5 each set) but we’ll see how they come up. About 120 starts total.

*instructions say to plant exactly 1″ deep, and no deeper.

Onions went around west c and west d. Tomatoes will go in center.

West E got a smattering of mixed beets and radishes. (1/2 deep) with space left for the bean trellis.

I also refreshed, filled and top dressed the pots. Planted parsley in one of the hanging baskets (the other has strawberries). A bonus onion found a home next to the borage.

UPDATE: Squak Mtn Nursery had bunches of WallaWallas for $4. So I guess if I order I don’t get a good deal, but I get what I want?

The Grange had all the same varieties- $5 each?

First real garden weekend

The weather was gorgeous this weekend, and we did a LOT of work. Two new raised beds (South D, West E). Put pavers down and dug out at the base of the rocks (Lower). We got a couple of orphan plants- 6 rhubarb starts (planted by huckleberry, upper bed C, and south Lower). New white rhododendron in the back north of the spruce, and a bonus sprout uphill from that. A couple of flowers- not sure their names /: One has pink carnation type flowers (planted in the pinks) and one has little blue-purple flowers like a viola (jumping some thing…) P filled beds and added soil amendment.

snap peas went in the ground at lower F. Territorial 2017 Sugar Magnolia on west, super snap on south.

Here’s the new rhody. The other one is a little tiny branch…

Plans for 2018

2018_gardenlayout

I’m sure this plan will change, and please oh please do not judge the quality of the sketch (I know it’s terrible.) Beds “South D” and “West E”  here will be newly built asap. Garlic is already living where it’s labeled, everything else is in flux!

Garlic-ville

Garlic is a good place to jump in, and this year I looked at the ease and volume of my first garlic harvest and quadrupled down. We have three beds of garlic, ready for 2018.

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Here’s a fast-forward several months after planting.
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Territorial Susanville Planted in South B – Soft Neck
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Territorial Western Rose – right side of South C – Soft Neck
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Territorial Western Rose Upper A Left Side – Soft Neck
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Territorial Metechi Upper A right side – Hardneck
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Territorial Western Rose- South C Left Side Soft Neck

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Territorial Duganski South C Right Side – Hardneck