This is my new motto.
With June and the weather god smiling upon us, I have taken every opportunity possible to be outside in the garden. No TV and computer time at a minimum if the sun is up! The garden will not get away from me this year; I am more committed than ever.
This picture is for Layanee - this is what the raised beds look like right now. The picture I posted last time was from last August when the garden was in full bloom!
August 2008
Things are just starting to grow - but we did get our first sunflower bloom today.
Nothing says summertime like sunflowers.
After seeing all of the beautiful gardens while we were in Chicago last weekend, I was inspired to make a couple trips to the nursery to pick up some color for my yard. My red daylilies and selected Nasturtiums are blooming in the backyard, but I needed some other color - I planted zinnias (orange), cosmos (purple), daisies (white), sweet potato vine (black), moneywort (lime green), and verbena (pink). It's looking better already.
We planted Farmer Fred's pop corn when we got home where we just pulled out the garlic and greens that had bolted. Hopefully we can fend off the racoons! I know they sneak about the garden at night, without any damage right now.
The tomatoes and peppers are looking great this year! I am really looking forward to canning and preserving. The tomato cages are concrete reinforcing wire (huge thanks to my father-in-law for giving it to us), and typical tomato cages work very well for the peppers. I've been feeding them weekly with half-strength Peaceful Valley Farm Supply's OMEGA line of fertilizers - at first using the 6-6-6 and then moving to the 1-5-5 when flowers appeared. They seem to be liking the attention. I also bought some Sluggo Plus to take care of our roly poly problem (never mind the slugs that love to live in the mulch), only around plants I want to keep and not indiscriminately around the garden. Seems to have helped the peppers and tomatillos.
Tomatoes
Aunt Ruby's German Green
San Marzano
Abraham Lincoln
Amish Paste
Gardener's Delight
Old German
Garden Peach
Peppers
Habanero
Jalapeno
Serrano
Greek Golden Pepperoncini
Plain Golden Bell Pepper
Green Crimson Bell Pepper
After writing all this down, it doesn't feel like I do all that much in the garden. I know weeding, mulching, watering, fertilizing, and tending to plants takes much of the time I am outside, and I love every minute of it.
Jun 7, 2009
Make Hay While the Sun Shines
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10 comments:
Kate, I think it sounds as though you are doing a lot in the garden. I am very impressed with the number of raised beds you have in a small space. Your tomatoes and peppers are really showing your tender loving care and I'll bet you have a bumper crop. I remember when my girls were young and I did a lot of canning and freezing from our garden-every day something was ready to be picked and worked. But it was a lot of fun and gave such a feeling of accomplishment. Plus it sure tasted great in the middle of winter.
I think I see your waspinator!
I'm sending you good vibes on your heirlooms toms. I planted 8 different varieties and ended up pulling all but 2. I could not get them to set fruit and the plants were getting enormous. I Googled my problem, but couldn't get a definitive answer. I pulled them before it was too late to plant the Home Depot hybrids (sigh).
My garden and I have a date every night after dinner. I love it out there!
Hey Katie, what lens do you use on your camera? Its got a really nice wide angle to it...
I can't wait to read about your tomato varieties. I'm growing San Marazano as well but I was tempted to try the Amish paste and Aunt Ruby this year.
Also I love peppers but I never know what to do with all of them.
mmm...habaneros...you can never have too many peppers!
Beckie - Thanks! I am really looking forward to a bumper crop of tomatoes and peppers. They look great and are dark green - no sign of any issues.
EAL - Yes, Waspinator is a fixture in my spring/summer/fall garden!
CeeCee - Thanks for the heads up. Did you use a nitrogen-heavy fertilizer? Sometimes that causes the plants to put on lots of lush growth at the expense of any fruit...
Ross - I use a wide angle 10-20mm almost exclusively when I take pictures of my garden. I like to show thewholething!
notsocrafty - I am hopeful for the tomatoes this year. Lots of TLC. We freeze our excess peppers, and look forward to canning/sauces this year, but we end up eating many of them too.
rambleonrose - Yep! No such thing as too many peppers.
Yeah, that last sentence about the weeding, mulching, fertilizing, I know that takes a bunch of time. Also, the fact that you have a full time job is part of what of you do. Your garden looks splendid, and now that we know each in person, it is even more fun to read your blog.~~Dee
Can you write a post about HR 875/S425?
http://www.factcheck.org/askfactcheck/would_a_new_bill_in_congress_make.html
Your garden looks great! All of our veggies are planted directly in the ground ... It works well, but it's kind of messy looking. I definitely want to do some raised beds next year.
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