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So Much Promise

4/27/2014

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This is the Hummingbird plant or Trumpeter vine that I had moved a few weeks ago.  It had a very long taproot that broke off at the end, so I was a little concerned it might have damaged the plant permanently.  Obviously, that is not the case.  In fact, I think it really likes it over here.
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Another plant I was concerned about was this new berry I planted.  Long after the other three had sprouted, this was still just a stick in the ground.  It has recently decided it likes where it is at.
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This is how far ahead the other berries are.  They have berries!  Two of these are blackberries and two are 'golden' blackberries.  Curious to see what (golden) taste like.
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If you look closely you will see some plastic water bottles I am using for some Blue Hubbard squash I planted.  It acts as a greenhouse of sorts.  I am also using them to protect the plants from rabbits (and maybe birds).  They have only been in the ground a few days, so I don't think the rabbits have discovered them...yet.  I am glad that I put the cover on these because it has turned cold here for the last few days.  The ones that weren't covered look just fine, too.
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I am planting small sweet pumpkin, Blue Hubbard squash, and Waltham butternut squash around the trees and berries.  Have I said that ALL my new seeds are heirloom, non-hybrid seeds?  Anyway, those are space consuming plants that take a while to mature. 

I thought, if I plant them around these other plants I can run soaker hoses, fence it off, and I can pretty much stay out of there until the fruit on all of this starts to get ripe.  That will keep the dogs from running all over them and knocking fruit off.  I will be putting compost around all the plants.  It will help feed the plants and keeps the moisture in the soil, which should cut the need for water.  If I had a chipper, I could cover this whole acre in wood chips too and that would help lower the water bill.  At least, that is the plan. 

I have covered the beds in compost/mulch for that very reason.  I can really see a difference since I did that.  I was told to till it in the dirt a little, but I resisted.  THIS time. 

A few years ago I was told the same thing.  I did till and my seedlings died.  I planted several times.  And they still died.  I later found out the reason that happened was because I tilled it in.  It was because the compost/mulch still needed to decompose, which takes nitrogen.  It is the nitrogen that the new plants need, too.  Sadly, the new babies lost out.

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This is another area I am considering fencing off, along with the area above.  The dirt here is pretty good.  We had other trees here and some asparagus, if I remember correctly.  I think it would be fun to plant something "climbing" all over the swing set.  Like melons.  I have six kinds of watermelon seeds to try out. 

It is supposed to warm up this week so things should start to POP around here. 

I love this time of year...so much promise.

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Bad News/Good News

4/25/2014

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"I am afraid I have some bad news..."  (Bad News Barrett)

A lot of my hard work has been destroyed.  I put my plants outside to harden off, and it was too hard on them.  I lost almost everything.  A few tomato plants and Bok Choi survived. 

Needless to say, I am sorely disappointed.

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The cups in the trays are the only ones to make it.  I really hated to lose all those seeds. 

I have to look at this as to timing.  MAYBE...I will have to do other things so I won't have time for a bigger garden.  I have been nursing my dog back from a horrible accident (I will spare you the BLOODY details) for the last 5 weeks and it is still not over.  OR...I could be going away for a vacation.  I am leaving room for anything to happen.  I just hope it is something wonderful.

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The rabbits have found a way back in the garden.  I have been actively trying to close up any holes I THINK they have found to get in.  THEN...I have to wait and see.  I guess I can also put up the old pie tins and soda bottles to swing around on strings and bang into things to help scare them off. 

It has been a tough month...but I just keep plugging away.
 
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I trimmed up the elm tree a bit.
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More branches to chip up for covering for the acre.  More about that later.
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On a happier note...this bag has a million seeds from two Bok Choi plants.  I can afford to be generous!
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I also have a new planter box.  Actually...I have two.
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It has a really nice bottom.  Nice enough to be a fence.  The box is about 4 1/2 foot square and about two foot high.  Tall enough to keep rabbits out.  Now...I need to fill with dirt/compost. 

I need to decide if I want to use the bottom for fencing.  If I do...then I need to separate the sides from the bottom, staple wire to the bottom (to discourage critters who dig), and place where they will be staying.  I think they would make great asparagus beds.  (I have 75 heirloom asparagus seeds to start).

As you can see, I have been busy.  That is only the half of it.  I have decided to plant the viney things around the bottom of my fruit trees.  I am talking Butternut squash, small sweet pumpkin, and Blue Hubbard squash.  I am fencing it off today after I lay down some soaker hose.  That way they can grow all over the place and will be protected from the dogs (mostly) because they like to run the fence.  Once the plants get big enough the rabbits won't eat them.  Then I will have to protect the fruit. 

In the last week I have planted green beans, yellow beans, pinto beans, two kinds of pickling cucumbers, 5 kinds of beets, parsnips, turnips, Bok Choi, a few zucchini (more squash to come), radish, rhubarb, and strawberries.  Today I need to plant tomatoes (2 kinds so far), Peppers (at least 5 kinds) kale (3 kinds) and spinach.  I hope I have the rabbits at bay so all this work doesn't go to waste.  Last year I fought them all year. 

I am expecting a much better year this year.

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I Have To Try

4/7/2014

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A few days ago I took my cups outside to harden off before they go in the ground.  Notice all the plastic bottles?  I am filling them with water.  I am experimenting. 

I read somewhere that when you put water bottles in a cold frame, the Sun heats up the water during the day and releases the heat at night.  Just wanted some insurance.  I also covered it with plastic.  Seems to have worked just fine.

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This is compost tea...that I am using to water my plants.  I put a shovel of compost in here and turned on the hose.  I use this on seedlings once a week and use plain water the rest of the time.
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One of the things I have been trying to work out in my head is...where to plant strawberries, and rhubarb.  They are long term projects.  So...I have decided to plant the rhubarb along the South end of this garden.  I have a hard time kicking a shovel so I can't dig too much with out getting hurt.  But I did pull it off for the rhubarb.  Maybe because this is mostly sand.  For now.
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These little cups have cilantro and spaghetti squash in them. 
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These are two different kinds of cucumbers...from my heirloom seeds that The Lad gave me for my birthday.  Thanks, my Son.  These will be mostly pickles...I hope. 
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I have a bunch of lettuce coming up.  Future salads.
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These are pepper plants.
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Where I live, it gets too cold for Lemon trees to grow outside.  This is a Meyer lemon tree I found at Lowe's the other day.  See all the white blooms coming on?
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Well...it also has a small, green lemon.  I am so very happy about that!
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This is what red leaf lettuce looks like when it is going to seed.  I am collecting the seeds from these...for sharing.
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This mess is a new project I am starting.  I mentioned earlier that I am trying to figure out where to make permanent beds for my strawberries.  THAT is a problem.  I need some burly guys to do some digging, and I need some landscape supplies to make a raised permanent bed.  The problem is, I don't have the money yet, but I do have the plants.  I could put them in my West wing garden because it is ready to plant.  I don't want to do that, though. 

What I decided to do was to make portable planters for now.  I went to the dollar store and bought these laundry baskets for $.99 each.

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I also bought two rolls of this weed block fabric for $10.  So for $17, I have enough stuff to make seven planters, with room for runners.  It is a great design, if I do say so myself.  More on that later. 

Sometimes the ideas in my head do not work out like I see it in my head. But I have to try.

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