Today, a couple of friends were in from out of town and came to see my garden. They noticed that I haven't blogged for quite a while. So, they inspired me to do so! Rather than worrying about all of the things that I should have posted about and am behind with, I figured I would just start from the present rather than trying to go back.
The weather has been a bit frustrating this early spring. It has been very chilly and rainy. We have one nice day, then quite a few that are very cold and very wet. All in all, the garden is coming along--slowly but surely. We have dug, tilled, and amended the soil in my new plots. Several of us rented a truck to make repeated trips for compost and manure. The raised beds are formed and the paths are made. A few beds are planted. Most of the space in my old plots is planted. Only part of one bed is left for planting more eggplant and pepper plants.
I am just starting to see the rewards of all of the hard work. The asparagus that I planted a couple of weeks ago is starting to pop up. That was pretty cool to see! I was actually able to see the growth taking place throughout the day. I noticed the spears yesterday, and every time I walked by the bed during the afternoon, they just kept getting taller and taller as the day went on! Unfortunately, it cannot be harvested this year as all of its energy needs to go into growing strong roots for the coming years. The same goes for the strawberries and rhubarb I planted this year. But, how nice it will be next year! After all, my grandma's rhubarb I planted last year is up and growing beautifully this year -- ready soon to be harvested for the first time. My other perennials are also budding and blooming - blueberries, blackberries and raspberries.
While grocery shopping last week, I was disappointed in how terrible the produce looked. It really made me realize how glad I am to be growing my own food. I bought very little produce from the store this past year. We enjoyed a delicious spinach salad for dinner last night from the bed that I planted in the fall. I can't wait for the other veggies to be ready for harvesting.
I have been experimenting with growing my own seedlings this year (a hundred--or maybe two hundred?). This has proven to be a juggling act - 16 hours under the grow lights, 8 in the dark - rotate the next set, on and on . . . I am keeping a journal of what I would do the same or differently next year, i.e., I started too many tomato plants too early this year. Many of them are so big and really need to get into the ground. Some of the leaves are starting to dry around the edges - too wet, too dry, poor drainage??
I am also experimenting with the Wall o' Water season extenders. They allow you to plant warm weather crops 6-8 weeks earlier than normal. I have seven tomato plants, two eggplant, and two peppers planted in them. When I put my hand down inside, it is "toasty warm" in there! So far, this has been successful. We'll see if I can get my first tomatoes in June or if the other plants just end up catching up.
My first planting (3/22) of broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage was met with an unexpected cold snap (temps in the 20's). At first I was very upset that I lost the beautiful seedings that I started from seed and nurtured for weeks. But then I reminded myself that it's all part of gardening - no big deal - just go out and purchase some nice seedlings from the nursery, which I did.
Planted out in the garden so far this year are potatoes, peas, garlic, onions, shallots, fava beans, chard, beets, arugula, baby romaine, salad mix, buttercrunch lettuce, Napa cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, sweet peppers, eggplant, asparagus, strawberries, rhubarb, carrots, radishes, green beans, wax beans, royal burgandy beans (a little early for planting beans - another experiment).
I also decided to mix my own organic fertilizer this year. It consists of 4 parts soybean meal, 1 part bone meal, 1 part kelp meal, 1/4 part agricultural lime, 1/4 part gypsum, and 1/2 part dolomitic lime. Many of these ingredients can be purchased at agricultural stores (such as Southern States) for a fraction of the cost of what you would pay for a small quantity at a nursery. For example a 4 lb. bag of kelp is typically $17.99 -- a 55 lb. bag at a feed store is $75.
My two new plots can be described as "saturated". Basically, they sit at the bottom of a slope and tend to be very wet after the heavy rains. I had planned to plant my asparagus there, but was worried that the crowns would rot. I am hoping that this will prove to be a good thing during the summer months when it is so dry - especially if we have the drought conditions we had last year. Time will tell . . .
My friend Gale and I were interviewed at our community garden for a Montgomery County TV show featuring the South Germantown Park. I really don't like being filmed, but it actually turned out to be a fun experience. Hopefully, any "unbecoming" shots will be edited out! Carly was horrified when I told her. She said, "OMG, how embarrassing - I'm going to be known as the gardener's daughter". I told her she really didn't need to worry, her friends don't watch this TV show!
A few lessons learned so far -- turn lots of shredded leaves into beds in the fall again. This kept my soil from freezing and compacting. It also attracted TONS of worms. Sow several beds of spinach again next fall for overwintering -- this has been very easy, successful and rewarding. Start only a few tomato plants in early February next year.
When I feel stressed and burned out from the chaos and routine of everyday life, it really is therapy working in the peacefulness of the garden. I really enjoy spending time and chatting with the friends I have made there. We can so relate to each other - like when Gale said she wasn't staying long the other day -- only stopped by to do a few things. Two hours later, she was still there! Latoya who is crazy like me -- started with one plot and added four more! Laurie, who I've been dragging with me on my gardening adventures for the past year and finally got to garden next to me. As we say, we are all "cut from the same cloth"!
Debi and Leah -- this post is for you - thanks for taking the time to visit my garden and inspiring me to get back to my blog! I'll post some pictures soon!
