My weekend was very productive! Not only did i get the path and strawberries cleaned up, the shrubs trimmed and fed, and some annuals planted; but I also planted the blueberry, weeded the big beds, and got started on a project to turn a triangular patch at the end of the driveway into a flower bed. I even managed to hack back about half of the blackberries. They were a mess, climbing over the fence from the neighbor's yard and taking root in my compost pile.
After all of that activity I checked on the weather, it looks like I can expect cool and mostly overcast days for the next week or so, but no frosts. There's a 10% to 50% chance of rain every day this week too, perfect for keeping starts watered without drowning them. So I moved my tray of hardy plants outside to get some (cloudy) sunshine, light rain, and cool temps. If it gets hot and sunny again I'll move them into the shade but I doubt that will be a problem.
With the way the weather is shaping up I may even be able to get things planted earlier than last year. It has been a rather mild March so far, especially compared to last year's pouring rain, freezing temps and snow. just right for getting things planted, but I don't want to jump the gun too much since a hard freeze just after planting could set me back by weeks.
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Friday, March 8, 2013
Finally Looking Like Spring
The weekend is looking like it might just be nice enough to get some work done. It's supposed to be sunny and in the upper 50s all weekend, so I'm looking forward to getting outside in the sunshine to trim up the shrubs and clean out the strawberry bed. Ugh, and mow the lawn. If I have the time and energy I'll also get the blueberry planted and a few annuals in the front yard, and feed the cherry tree.
The shade on my patio is now about 2 feet from reaching the garden beds, so probably about 2 more weeks before I can start planting. They are dry enough to turn and work in some compost though, so if Mother Nature continues to bless me with dry, warm days like today I will do my best to get the beds prepped for planting.
My starts are all doing very well, except the onions which just don't seem to be having good germination rates. I may have to purchase a pack of onion starts again to get enough for the summer and canning season.
My fingers are crossed that we'll have a much better season for tomatoes and peppers this year.
In other news... I ordered potatoes for planting and they should be shipped sometime in the next week or two, only problem is I have no clue where I'm going to put them. The best thing I can think of to do is clear more (newly grown) blackberries and move the finished compost into the middle of the back yard and plant potatoes in it. That's a lot of work though and last year they didn't fare too well in the pots I put them in. So I either have a lot of work ahead of me, or need to get bigger pots, OR somehow build some large potato growing crates.
I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
The shade on my patio is now about 2 feet from reaching the garden beds, so probably about 2 more weeks before I can start planting. They are dry enough to turn and work in some compost though, so if Mother Nature continues to bless me with dry, warm days like today I will do my best to get the beds prepped for planting.
My starts are all doing very well, except the onions which just don't seem to be having good germination rates. I may have to purchase a pack of onion starts again to get enough for the summer and canning season.
My fingers are crossed that we'll have a much better season for tomatoes and peppers this year.
In other news... I ordered potatoes for planting and they should be shipped sometime in the next week or two, only problem is I have no clue where I'm going to put them. The best thing I can think of to do is clear more (newly grown) blackberries and move the finished compost into the middle of the back yard and plant potatoes in it. That's a lot of work though and last year they didn't fare too well in the pots I put them in. So I either have a lot of work ahead of me, or need to get bigger pots, OR somehow build some large potato growing crates.
I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
Friday, March 1, 2013
Kicking off Spring
Well folks, I am all recovered and ready to rumble!
Got all of my cool weather starts planted February 19th. Onions, lettuces, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbages, Swiss chard, basil, dill, cilantro, and leeks. A few garlic survived the winter nicely, which is a good thing since I didn't manage to get more planted in the fall. As soon as the sun starts hitting the beds I'll be direct sowing peas, beets, and carrots in them.
This year we're really going to need the garden at maximum production! With the medical bills from my surgery and my husband learning he has diabetes our diet has changed to involve many more organic veggies and our costs have risen as well. All the more reason to save on our grocery bill by growing our own food.
Since I don't have to buy the equipment for a grow room this year, or many seeds the garden costs should be especially low. I bought beet seeds, potato sets, and some new onion seeds so far. I also picked up a Patriot blueberry bush to plant near the strawberries. Other than perhaps a few flowers that should be all the plant costs for this year. Of course, I know better! I will likely still end up buying a bunch more plants because I just can't resist.
Last year the garden had a lot of trouble with aphids, my best guess is that the malnutrition of the starts combined with my desire for them to grow faster in a cool, cloudy Spring and Summer were major contributors in the aphid problem. I will try this year to be more patient and cut back on my use of fish emulsion. ;)
I'm also hoping that this year I'll see some actual growth in the cherry tree, it lived through the summer and winter just fine, but didn't do much growing last year. So my fingers are crossed that with the warming weather I'll start to see it taking off and putting on some healthy growth to let me know it's doing well. I'll probably hit it with a foliar feeding of compost tea once it shows signs of life to give it a little boost and some protection against disease and pests. Though I highly doubt I will actually see any fruits off it this year.
I'm getting more excited for the garden season every day, so far this year is looking like a major improvement over last year. The weather has been warmer and drier than last February, and looks like it will be continuing on into March that way.
Got all of my cool weather starts planted February 19th. Onions, lettuces, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbages, Swiss chard, basil, dill, cilantro, and leeks. A few garlic survived the winter nicely, which is a good thing since I didn't manage to get more planted in the fall. As soon as the sun starts hitting the beds I'll be direct sowing peas, beets, and carrots in them.
This year we're really going to need the garden at maximum production! With the medical bills from my surgery and my husband learning he has diabetes our diet has changed to involve many more organic veggies and our costs have risen as well. All the more reason to save on our grocery bill by growing our own food.
Since I don't have to buy the equipment for a grow room this year, or many seeds the garden costs should be especially low. I bought beet seeds, potato sets, and some new onion seeds so far. I also picked up a Patriot blueberry bush to plant near the strawberries. Other than perhaps a few flowers that should be all the plant costs for this year. Of course, I know better! I will likely still end up buying a bunch more plants because I just can't resist.
Last year the garden had a lot of trouble with aphids, my best guess is that the malnutrition of the starts combined with my desire for them to grow faster in a cool, cloudy Spring and Summer were major contributors in the aphid problem. I will try this year to be more patient and cut back on my use of fish emulsion. ;)
I'm also hoping that this year I'll see some actual growth in the cherry tree, it lived through the summer and winter just fine, but didn't do much growing last year. So my fingers are crossed that with the warming weather I'll start to see it taking off and putting on some healthy growth to let me know it's doing well. I'll probably hit it with a foliar feeding of compost tea once it shows signs of life to give it a little boost and some protection against disease and pests. Though I highly doubt I will actually see any fruits off it this year.
I'm getting more excited for the garden season every day, so far this year is looking like a major improvement over last year. The weather has been warmer and drier than last February, and looks like it will be continuing on into March that way.
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Convalescing.
My surgery went off without any hitches, I feel fine now but am still not allowed to do anything productive or lift anything over 10lbs. for two more weeks though. My sister refuses to indulge my winter gardening bug though and won't go to the store and carry home a bag of potting mix for me. >.<
Since she is being so uncooperative about the whole thing I have resigned myself to doing a bit of online shopping instead to kick off my garden season. I'm going to give beets a shot this year since I've heard such lovely things about them, I'm also going to try out a new variety of carrot, and purchase more seed potatoes because I lost mine somehow during the remodeling. I am stocked up on the rest of the seed I need though, so probably (I say probably because I am a terrible impulse shopper when it comes to the garden) this will be the only seed I will purchase for 2013.
I'm hoping this year to improve my potato production, and get a harvest from the rhubarb and artichokes I started last year.
Along with my cancer diagnosis, my husband found out just before Christmas that he has diabetes, so our joint New Year's resolution was to make an effort to improve our health in 2013. Part of this will be eating more fresh veggies from the garden, another part will be doing more yardwork for exercise, and lastly we plan to quit smoking. Quitting smoking will be the hardest. Improving our diets has gone very well so far and I'm very impressed with his ability to keep his blood sugar under control so far.
So, all in all, despite the freezing temperatures here, I am absolutely itching to get things started for this year's garden... sadly, until the doctor gives me the okay I'm stuck with just ordering seeds. :(
Since she is being so uncooperative about the whole thing I have resigned myself to doing a bit of online shopping instead to kick off my garden season. I'm going to give beets a shot this year since I've heard such lovely things about them, I'm also going to try out a new variety of carrot, and purchase more seed potatoes because I lost mine somehow during the remodeling. I am stocked up on the rest of the seed I need though, so probably (I say probably because I am a terrible impulse shopper when it comes to the garden) this will be the only seed I will purchase for 2013.
I'm hoping this year to improve my potato production, and get a harvest from the rhubarb and artichokes I started last year.
Along with my cancer diagnosis, my husband found out just before Christmas that he has diabetes, so our joint New Year's resolution was to make an effort to improve our health in 2013. Part of this will be eating more fresh veggies from the garden, another part will be doing more yardwork for exercise, and lastly we plan to quit smoking. Quitting smoking will be the hardest. Improving our diets has gone very well so far and I'm very impressed with his ability to keep his blood sugar under control so far.
So, all in all, despite the freezing temperatures here, I am absolutely itching to get things started for this year's garden... sadly, until the doctor gives me the okay I'm stuck with just ordering seeds. :(
Friday, December 7, 2012
Just checking in.
The garden has not been doing anything since my last post, the beds are covered, tools are all put away... it looks like a scene from the apocalypse out there.
The perennial herbs have been fantastic suppliers of fresh herbs for cooking over the winter, including rosemary and sage sprigs to put in the Thanksgiving turkey, and mint for some soothing wintertime teas. Mina's little garden gave us chamomile, lemon balm, vervain, and yarrow for teas also; which are delicious and tasty! While Alex's little garden is trying desperately to grow the four pea seeds he planted in September, and may end up overwintering a couple carrots he threw in it as well.
Surprisingly the camellia I planted beside the house started flowering in October and is still producing lovely pink flowers in December. I think it's confused, it must think that this is Spring weather...
Sadly, I got some bad news about my health recently, not as bad as it could have been, but still a big issue. It will set back my plans for buying a house in the near future, and may impact my garden as well depending on how things go.
My doctors found a tiny spot of invasive cancer on my cervix. From the multitude of biopsies they did, it doesn't look like it spread any further than that tiny spot, but they will be performing a hysterectomy next month and depending on what they find once they cut me open i may have to undergo more treatment. I am ridiculously scared of chemotherapy, so my fingers are crossed that surgery is all that is needed to nip this in the bud. Of course, I'm ridiculously scared of surgery too... ;) Anyway, it has been a stressful few months and will probably continue to be for a while longer, but I am doing my best to keep my sense of humor about it and stay optimistic. But there are certain perks to having cancer, like being able to win any argument and get to eat the last cookie by playing the "I have cancer" card. (Sorry, the joking helps keep me from being too overwhelmed by my fears).
So that's what has been happening around here, I have high hopes that my surgery will go smoothly, I'll be down one major organ, and up on my feet in plenty of time for the upcoming garden season. I'm not a religious person but I am always grateful for a little prayer or positive thoughts sent my way, so thanks in advance to everyone who will be thinking of me.
The perennial herbs have been fantastic suppliers of fresh herbs for cooking over the winter, including rosemary and sage sprigs to put in the Thanksgiving turkey, and mint for some soothing wintertime teas. Mina's little garden gave us chamomile, lemon balm, vervain, and yarrow for teas also; which are delicious and tasty! While Alex's little garden is trying desperately to grow the four pea seeds he planted in September, and may end up overwintering a couple carrots he threw in it as well.
Surprisingly the camellia I planted beside the house started flowering in October and is still producing lovely pink flowers in December. I think it's confused, it must think that this is Spring weather...
Sadly, I got some bad news about my health recently, not as bad as it could have been, but still a big issue. It will set back my plans for buying a house in the near future, and may impact my garden as well depending on how things go.
My doctors found a tiny spot of invasive cancer on my cervix. From the multitude of biopsies they did, it doesn't look like it spread any further than that tiny spot, but they will be performing a hysterectomy next month and depending on what they find once they cut me open i may have to undergo more treatment. I am ridiculously scared of chemotherapy, so my fingers are crossed that surgery is all that is needed to nip this in the bud. Of course, I'm ridiculously scared of surgery too... ;) Anyway, it has been a stressful few months and will probably continue to be for a while longer, but I am doing my best to keep my sense of humor about it and stay optimistic. But there are certain perks to having cancer, like being able to win any argument and get to eat the last cookie by playing the "I have cancer" card. (Sorry, the joking helps keep me from being too overwhelmed by my fears).
So that's what has been happening around here, I have high hopes that my surgery will go smoothly, I'll be down one major organ, and up on my feet in plenty of time for the upcoming garden season. I'm not a religious person but I am always grateful for a little prayer or positive thoughts sent my way, so thanks in advance to everyone who will be thinking of me.
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