Weekend Review

I started writing this post on Monday. But then I went and got all responsible and started working on my taxes. Now that they are completed it's time to play!

I spent the weekend doing more clean up and transplanting. The weekend was warm and sunny unlike the past two days. Raining and cool.

Lets take a tour and see what's growing now that spring is here.
All but two of my brussels sprouts bolted with the warm weather we had all last week . Click on photos for a larger view.



I still have hope for the two remaining plants. But they better kick it into gear because I will need to pull them in two weeks to plant the tomatoes.



About two weeks ago I was getting some garlic out of the cabinet when I noticed the ginger I had in there had sprouted. I had no idea how ginger grew so I googled it. Guess what? I planted it. Turns out they're easy to grow. We'll see.



My potted Nectarine tree is in full bloom. It's looking healthier than in previous years. This could be because I repotted it with fresh soil and food. Now if I can keep the squirrels from stealing all the fruit before I can get to them.



The raspberries seem to have grown over night...



They are starting to fruit.



About the time Jenn over at Gamine's Garden was trying to decide which apple tree she was going to buy I was also toying with the idea of getting an apple tree. I know I have no space for an apple tree let alone two. But I ordered them anyway. Yes I ordered two Columnar Apple Trees. More fruit to keep the squirrels away from. But I have three years before I have to worry about that.



Here is one of mine starting to bud out.



Bed 2 is looking so fine. The broccoli looks healthy.



The cucumbers seem to be adjusting to being moved out of the greenhouse and into the bed.



I even have one seed sprouting. Click on the photo to see it better.



Another view of bed 2. You can see the potatoes in the background.



One of the potato plants is starting to flower.




Other things blooming on the garden...

Chives...



Sage



and in the greenhouse the Brandywine tomato....



I have a little garden shed on the side yard. It's a 2x7 but with all the stuff I cram into it you would think it was a 10x10



On Sunday I opened the doors to get something and it just exploded... Well not really but I couldn't find what I was looking for. What better time than to pull it all out and reorganize.



What was it that I came here for?.... I can't remember now but the next time I'll be able to find it.



I'll leave you with a photo taken from the kitchen door.



My next post... Avocado Tree?

Garden Forks, Birds and Bed 2

Dan Started it
Granny dared us
Ribbit has the cutest little one
Here are my....

Garden Forks....
Click on photos for a larger view...



You know it's spring when you have a pair of birds building a nest in your morning glory vine. They were busy all weekend flying around the yard gathering materials for their nest. If I was spending too much time near the nest they would sit up on the fence and chrip at me. I guess I won't be cutting back the Morning Glory this year.



Bed 2 is now completely planted...



In stead of potting up the cucumbers I planted them in bed 2 in six out of nine squares of the back row. I also planted some cucumber seeds to replace the ones that didn't make it. The bed will stay covered for the next few weeks to keep them warm. The night time temps are in the low to mid 40's with day time temp ranging from the mid 60's to low 70's



I have a wide range of plants growing in this bed. Cucumbers, purple and green broccoli, parsley, onions, lettuce, and cilantro.




Each square was treated to some home made compost, all natural fertilizer
and a deep watering.







I have been over wintering some onions but I don't have much hope for them as they are not looking so great.

Happy Spring!

Week in Review

As I'm sitting here writing the air is warm and the smell of onions is wafting through the air. I love this time of year. In just two days Spring will be here but today it feels like Summer.

Last Friday night I started my first batch of compost tea. By Sunday it was ready to use. Mother Nature gave my garden a good watering on Friday and Saturday. Sunday I applied the compost tea. Within two days I could see the difference it made for the brocolli. They seem to really perk up.



With the weather warming and more sun in the garden things are starting to grow a little faster.

Photos below: Click on photos for a larger view.

Early potatoes. I have finished hilling these up. From this point on I will just let them grow. Though I'm wondering if I can pinch them back if they start to get too big and wondering if I do pinch them back will it put more energy into the roots?



I put the last set of boards on the mid season potato bin. They look so healthy.



The main season potatoes are taking their sweet time. Hope this is a good sign.



I've never grown brussels sprouts and I must say they are fascinating to watch. The leaf stems were tight and close to the main stem. Now they seem to be opening up. One of them is starting to flower. Don't know it that is good or bad. Still hoping I will get a harvest before I have to pull them to make room for the tomatoes. I have about four or five weeks before I need to get them planted out. I can pot up the tomatoes one more time before that.



Photos below: Lettuce.
I started some lettuce seeds in the green house about two weeks ago. I couldn't believe how fast they were growing. I had put seeds right into some of the beds and they seem to be growing so slow. So I replaced some of them with the green house seedlings. I think I will start lettuce in the green house from now on.






I love using these plate covers to protect my seedlings. I went to the dollar store hoping to get some more but they didn't have any.





Photo Below: The raspberry canes are coming alive.



Photo Below: I brought the seedlings out Sunday morning to get some sun. I did lose three cucumber seedlings two days later. So now I'm debating if I should start more seeds in the green house or direct sow them right into bed 2.



Photo Below: The sweet potato only had one large slip. The rest of them are not putting on much growth. I may need to order some slips for this year and do a better job starting my own next year... that is if I can even grow them. This year will be the test.



Photo Below: I broke down and pulled my lovely purple vine out. I can't remember the name of the vine. It was shading the strawberry bed and most of bed 2. I did manage to pull a good size root ball and planted it into a pot for now. I will use the free space for a few pole beans. They won't get as thick as the flower vine did so the shading should not be a big problem... I hope.



This weeks harvest gave me baby carrots shown below and two hand fulls of sugar snap peas not pictured...



Also some lettuce, a few more peas and chives for last nights dinner.



This weekend I need to get my pole and bush beans started as well as pot up a few more seedlings. Everything will get a nice deep watering.

March Garden

After spending Saturday morning at the Haven garden (see post before this one) I needed to get working on my own garden. It seems this time last year I had a lot more already planted out in the garden. It's probably a good thing I'm a bit behind since winter is holding out until the bitter end. It's been much cooler this year than it was last year.

I'll start you off with a garden view from the roof...
Click on photos for a larger view.







I repotted bell peppers, summer and winter squash, more cucumbers, and one more tomato.



Photo below: Some of the pumpkins will be ready to pot up this next weekend.



Photo below: The tomatoes and cucumbers are looking very healthy.



Photo below: All the seedlings I have started so far. I'll be starting bush and pole beans in a week or two.



Photo below: I added the last board to the mid season potato bin. They are growing so fast.



Photo below: Spinach sprouting in bed 4.



Photo Below Onions sprouting in bed 4.



Sunday was a good day to do a little pre spring cleaning on the patio. The potted plants in the beds next to the window needed to be cleaned up. I repotted a few plants that were root bound and added soil to others and gave every thing a good watering.

Photos below: Patio before and after photos.









Once the greenhouse comes down in April I'll be able to move most of the pots next to the garage and get the patio furniture out again.



After all this work over the weekend on my way home from work today it starts to hail and we are going to have frost in the morning. So I had to move the banana into the greenhouse and the rest of the pots on the patio were moved under the eave. The potatoes were also covered. Like I said, old man Winter is holding on to the bitter end!