This month I have pushed hard to get as much as possible planted early. The higher food prices rise, the harder I work. Our last frost was a few days ago so now its time to focus on the warm weather plants.
Bill was able to plow this section by stopping to rest and breathing carefully. It wasn't easy, but he did it. I'm so proud. We are slowly getting everything done.
Deep paths were dug between the rows to create water drainage if (when) there is a huge storm. The garden is situated on a sloping hill so rainwater runs down the field across the garden and into the woods. I learned this lesson the hard way after losing the whole garden my first year. Weeds, leaves, and twigs are going to be thrown into the deep ruts so eventually, the paths will become full. This saves me the trouble of hauling stuff to the compost pile, waiting for it to decompose, and then carrying it back to the garden.
Before / After
The second row will be fast-growing beans followed by sweet potatoes. The potato vines will be allowed to spread to the right over the path and into the squash bed. It will be a mess but should produce an abundance.
This will not happen again, I vowed.
The next row over is the garlic, onions, and romaine lettuce. The lettuce seeds were saved from one plant two years ago. I didn't think they were viable and so I broadcast heavily. Oh, was I wrong! Every seed germinated! It has encouraged me to focus more on seed saving.
The next bed to the left is a narrow row that has bok choy, napa cabbages, and anything fast-growing. All will be harvested soon then peppers will be slipped into the empty spaces between the onions. Come July, the onions will be finished but the peppers will produce until frost.
The next sections are in the process of being planted.
The assorted kales in the second to the last row close to the field fence are from the winter garden and are bolting. Some are being saved for seeds but there is too much for us to use so they will be frozen or shared. Okra will be planted here and after it is tall enough, late beans will be put underneath.
At the beginning of this month, we dug four trenches in the back of the garden for potatoes. As they sprout, the soil is hoed up around them. This is the first time I have tried growing them like this. Last year covering them in hay worked great but now I don't want to take a chance it may have been sprayed with something toxic.
Three weeks later after a few warm sunny days, the potatoes sprouted.
The back left corner has a patch of Bloomsdale spinach. It is the first time I have ever been successful at growing more than a few plants. I learned the secret - plant early and plant a lot.
"Scooter darling, will you please move over so I can take a picture and brag about my successful spinach?" I politely asked.
As always, your garden is beautiful! Are you going to eat all the spinach fresh, or freeze some?
ReplyDeleteI planted my tomatoes today. It's pushing the envelope on our last frost date, but I looked ahead and it doesn't call for any in the next 10 days anyway and then it should be safe, around the middle of May. The plants were getting very leggy, so I buried them deep. They will root along their stems, so that should work.
Today I did a major harvesting of spinach, kale and lettuce to send home with two of my sons that are visiting for the weekend. They have eaten salads and hot homemade bread all weekend. They will take a huge amount back and put what they can't eat fresh in their freezers. I have never frozen it but this year I am going to give it a try. The kale is bolting so the flavor is changing but is still good enough for stir fry. I picked all of the spinach leaves except for one on each plant. I love the fresh flavor so was quite greedy.
DeleteScooter to the rescue! I so enjoy seeing what you're growing and trying each year. I've never had much luck growing spinach, so I need to remember the plant early and lots principle next year, because we love it. Hopefully, your tomato prep will produce a bountiful crop. Nothing beats just harvested lettuce in salads.
ReplyDeleteFresh spinach is one of my favorites but I have never had more than a few plants survive. I got a big bag from the co-op so there was plenty to broadcast. Something got into the garden and began munching so I threw a bent up piece of broken fencing over the spinach and that seemed to deter whatever was nibbling. It tastes too good to share with a little thief.
DeleteP.S. I meant to also say how good it is to hear Bill is making progress in his healing, and hope it continues.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for asking about Bill. He continues to do better - not 100% yet, but I am not complaining. He will forget and do something strenuous then suddenly have to stop talking mid-sentence to focus on breathing. I am just so glad he is alive.
DeleteWow you have been working hard in the garden this month, glad Scooter provided some help too! Sarahx
ReplyDeleteScooter is good at laying down in the mud, getting dirty and having to be bathed. That is his best skill.
DeleteOh smart Scooter!!! I wish I knew more about how to do succession planting! I love how you use your garden to the fullest, planting one thing when a previous thing finishes growing!
ReplyDeleteSusan, just stick something in the soil when you have an empty spot. That's how I learned. Empty soil has to be weeded so keep anything growing.
DeleteLooking good! You have a nice little helper, don't you? I wish I had more sun so I could grow more edibles. Happy spring!
ReplyDeleteI have had to move the garden over 30 feet south toward the house and away from the woods because the trees in the woods have grown so much. Shade has become a problem for me also. The long path in the back area going across the garden from right to left (in front of the potatoes) is the boundary marking the sunny side from the shady side. Right now the trees haven't leafed out yet so all of it is sunny. It is hard to grow things in the shade. The potatoes will be in the shade because I want to know if they will do better.
ReplyDeleteGrowing our own is so important these days of rapidly rising prices. Your garden looks wonderful and you will have an amazing harvest. Our last frost date isn't till mid May so we are a bit behind you,
ReplyDeleteOur last frost dates seem to be getting later and later. I have begun starting more and more things inside early. It has been a real pain to haul everything inside on cold nights and the kitchen floor has often become quite crowded. However, the family is cooperative since they get to eat the food.
DeleteYou sure have been busy...
ReplyDelete...and exhausted. I went to bed at 5:00 yesterday afternoon and slept until 4:00 am this morning. I am only still sitting here now because I haven't finished my coffee. I want everything planted before the hot weather arrives. It seems, the older I get, the less I can bare the hot sunshine.
DeleteNext time you'll listen to the Faithful Dog! :) You get 'em, Scooter! (Actually, the rats in my dad's corncrib were the size of CATS. The cats avoided them -- and so did I.) So glad to hear your garden report...reassuring to hear that life may be going back to 'normal' for you.
ReplyDeleteAlas, it is not the case here in Colorado. We're up pretty high (6250 ft) and every warm, spring-y day is followed by two or three of freezing temps, snow, etc. My onion sets and seeds are waiting... take care, Jeannie, Friend.
Cindy, Scooter warned me something was amiss in the shed. He kept running around outside sniffing around. I discovered it was inside because of the droppings and stench. I put out poison which disappeared by the next day but it didn't make a difference. Purchased a huge mouse trap and added enticing peanut butter but that was ignored. It wasn't afraid and walked out to glare at me when I went inside to get a tool! I called my great hunter, Bill. He bravely entered the shed equipped for battle and the monster rat didn't even run. It popped its head up out of its nest (my favorite flower pot which has now been trashed) and dared to challenge Bill. The Second Amendment has once again saved our lives!
DeleteHi mom. This your son josh. Both phones are down. We have all called both phones multiple times. We are not even getting text replies. :(
ReplyDeleteYes, my love. When all three technical savvy sons leave home, we old timers are left to defend ourselves against the horrors of technology. If only you were here to save us. Alas, you were not.
DeleteFor my readers, my phone service Republics Wireless did an upgrade and it wiped out everything. I have dealt with a nightmare situation for two weeks now, one where getting a person, or even a response to a work order was impossible. Every single step of the process has had a technical issue, one that I had to search the internet or YouTube videos to show me how to repair. I am in the process of transferring to a new carrier and at least have some service now.
Joshua, darling, we will be using carrier pigeons for communication now. I am tossing all technology to save my sanity. I will be giving you a pair of pigeons the next time you return home so you can contact me whenever there is an emergency. Included will be a bag of birdseed so you can keep them in your city apartment. I'm sure your all bachelor, partying roommates won't mind the smell.
Love, Mom and Dad
You have been working hard. Great job!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful blog
ReplyDeleteHi Mom, I can tell you're concerned about the coming food shortages. I can picture you looking at your seedlings and yelling "BATTLESTATIONS!"
ReplyDeleteGood thing the rat monster is gone. It was worse than the Irritating Expectant Mother that moved into the shed.
Hey Sweet Pea! We worked all weekend and almost have everything planted. If it wasn't for sore muscles and exhaustion, we would be finished. I'm very concerned about the food shortages ahead. Listening to the farmers talk about how they aren't planting this year is worrisome. The garden isn't a hobby anymore. It might be all the food we have this winter.
DeleteOk. This is what is really happening. The truth. I have been planting petunias all weekend. We went to the hardware store this weekend and they had all of their annual bedding plants marked down from an outrageous $4.79 to $.89 for a six pack!!! I was shocked! This is peak season and normally people are fighting over them but even at that low price, nobody was buying. Something is really wrong. The vegetables were not marked down, only the flowers. Well, even though I have sworn off buying flowers, I WENT WILD! I filled up my shopping cart. Its your Dad's fault, he didn't stop me. Just sighed and handed me his credit card.
I hope your garden is growing and you're not working too hard! I know you ARE! I posted a pic of Pawpaw and I can't do that without thinking of you and how you wrote all the words to the song that time! heehee! Hope you are well and your hubby is doing good. Take care! Your buddy, Diane
ReplyDeleteI am working too hard but the garden is almost out! Almost done! All that is left now is to get the peppers planted but I can't do that until the cabbages in that spot are harvested. They can't be harvested until Joshua and Dustin come home this weekend to eat them. Bill and I can only take so many greens. Now, finally, I can sit back and breathe. I am heading to your site to check out the Pawpaws.
DeleteJust dropped by to say hello. Your garden is so crisp and green and beautiful! Oh my, you have large rats like the ones that live here on the grounds. Your little dog is so cute!
ReplyDeleteThat rat was fearless. It didn't run when we entered the shed unless we threatened it. I don't like that at all. I moved some things and discovered it has chewed up some of my winter hoop house row covers. That has really angered me! Hopefully, another one won't find my shed.
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