Status thus far

Well we've got the raised beds allllllmoost done.  We have the okra bed and the melon bed out front to complete.  Come April we'll also have the potato condo to worry about.  Still though, progress is being made.  Edward finished the next raised bed which will be our home for 3 different varieties of tomatoes, 3 different varieties of cucumbers, 1 variety of eggplant, and possibly basil.  All depends on space.  The plan is to go on somewhat of a Three Sisters Planting Idea
. (however we will not have corn OR squash in our back yard.  Not enough sun, really unbearable soil for any SORT of squash!)
We're planning in BED 4 Tomatoes, Cucumbers, 2 Eggplants, Basil and loads of Marigolds to fend off bugs.  FYI, to those who did NOT know, Marigold & a lot of bugs don't mix.  They don't like the smell.  Or maybe it's just the taste.  Or both.
BED 3 is going towards Bell Peppers, Tomatillos, 2 Brazalian Oval Orange Eggplants, Mild & Hot Jalepno, Cubanelle and maybe one tomato plant.  These two are our FULL SUN HOT area.
Next, BED  2 is our cool weather Spring or Fall Crops.  Swiss Chard, Peas (4 different varieties), Italian Rose Beans, Golden Purslane and Red Russian Kale, thanks to a friend in Pennsylvania!  We will also be planting a small row of Leeks here soon, if only I can figure out where to plant it!
Last is our BED 1.  This one already has seeds or sprouts in it but we've yet to see much happening.  I think that all is because the seeds have simply not warmed up enough.  In the end we did go with a cold frame half hoop sort of idea however the first week we just went with what we had which left the seed getting pretty cold at night!  Lows in the 30s', highs in the 50's.
I'll have pictures later this week on what has actually been accomplished in our back yard.
Seeds in BED 1 are Carrots, traditional American (son's selection); Spring Onions (YUM), Broccoli Rabe (aka Rapini); Mesclun, Mixed Salad Greens, Spinach, Romaine, Turnips & Cabbage.  My personal feeling on the turnips and cabbage that it was a bit much.  I don't think they'll grow all that well with the limited space provided to them but of course, I could be wrong.  I often am.

The little seedlings themselves are doing quite well inside now.  The cukes and peas and beans being the most impressive growers.
The tomatoes are catching up and bell peppers & hot peppers are in the rear, as usual.  We have some that came from seeds from LAST year that have barely germinated at all, no surprise there.  Just disappointment.
Some have been slow growers from the start.  The Burpee Twice as Nice Melon has repeatedly disapointed us as it germinates and then fizzles out in mold.  I have read other reviews of this melon.  I do not think we'll be planting THIS variety again!  This week I planted the Marina di Chioggia Squash as well as the Brazalian Eggplant.  I am really looking forward to how these produce and all!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Oh my, where to start!

Image
It's now been, what? Almost a month and maybe even a week since I've written.  I kept having the best intentions to write and then.....something always got in my way. First I injured my left foot while walking through the garden, next, was my laptop which decided right now was a perfect time for an epic fail.  Then next hubby having yet another TDY, while my son and I were sick. Nice, real nice. Hell, as it stands right now we're in the middle of a Severe Thunderstorm Warning and watch (thank God it's not a T---ado watch or warning!).  Thunder is rumbling outside and the sky is lighting up as if someone has thrown fireworks up into the clouds. So with all that happening I still rush to hurry and write. My God, where do I start? First, we had a few successes.  Our battle with the slugs is going well, thanks to about 4 beer traps we set weekly. My hope is that when I put in our second seeding of mesclun, arugula, romaine, and other mixed greens the slugs will be ...
Read more

Compost Tea = MASSIVE GROWTH

Image
I've been looking at photos from the past few weeks, especially since I found some recently on my Facebook page from last year at almost exactly this time, and well....I really have to pat my husband and I on the back. This is what really made the impact. The left side was from last year.  No compost, no raised beds, No compost tea, no extra soil. Nothing. This year we've added raised beds, extra soil, extra compost, compost tea, vermicompost and bonemeal along with loads and loads of backbreaking work. So I guess I cannot attribute all of our success to the compost tea.  However, the tomato plants in our planters are doing awesome ! We have diligently been following a schedule of compost tea one week, miracle grow fertilizer the next. The end result? Can you believe this!?  What amazing growth! Next is our tomato and eggplant/pepper beds.  Again just really awesome growth here.  We've been out here almost nightly now so it's easy to miss how ...
Read more

Canning Four Bean Salad

Image
Okay I admit it.  Dilly beans are not our favorite side dish.  We eat them but not in massive quantities.  My son usually wrinkles his little nose up at them and says they stink and they taste bad.  So while my husband and I enjoy them, we only produce usually three to five pints a year.  More or less, one time of canning them. So, I am always on the look out for a new good canning recipe for green beans as I get nervous keeping so much in my chest freezer.  God forbid, the power goes out for days on end and I'm left with rotting food and wasted money. Recently we purchased a rather large box of green beans that were at an awesome price from Brad's Produce so this weekend we had our work cut out for us! This morning, I just so happened to come along a recipe for Three Bean Salad at Doris and Jilly Cook that looked promising so this is how we'll be preserving a bit more of our green beans in a way that does not include dilly beans.  Now just a FYI, ...
Read more