Keep in mind, all you East Coasters, Midwesterners and Pacific Northwesterners, in my neck of the woods, the growing season starts in March. My plants have had a couple more months to grow. And before you hate, remember that I'll be crying and my garden will be dying in July when the temperatures hit 110.
Can you guess what this is? Grapes! After two years of nothing but vines and leaves, I'm going to have a few grapes this year. I can't wait to send the kids outside to pluck their snack. Of course, with all the spider webs, they may run screaming instead.
This is the herb garden. I've obviously been trying to achieve a Zen like state by creating a rock border. And, just as obvious, Elizabeth has been following behind and moving the rocks. She's not much for straight lines.
Please note the olla in the very middle. Fingers crossed that it works.
Also, I just realized that my design has a very skull and crossbones vibe. Ummm...
One more thing...none of these plants - except the strangely flamboyant dill - are from seed. The seed plants all died a horribly frosty death.
Ahhh...squash. Zucchini and yellow, to be exact. And this year I decided to just plant one of each. Instead of six. Of each. Moderation, I've decided, is key.
This is a view of the main garden area. Remember my schematic? It actually worked out pretty well. This also gives you an idea of how little space I'm working with. The garden takes up almost half of our main yard area. I'd take up a bit more if I didn't think the kids would launch a rebellion.
The tomato box. I'm, um, a little over according to the Square Foot Gardening book. But...it's not my fault! I can't help it if my friends drag me kicking and screaming to a tomato sale.
I wasn't really kicking and screaming. More like running and dragging them behind me.
Please note, however, that there are a few empty squares as evident by my high tech rock marking devices.
This is my most mature box. And yes, the Zen seeking struck here as well. I've had this planted since early March. We've got basil, spinach, onions, garlic, peas, carrots and two blank squares. Oh and bolting cilantro. I have no idea where it thinks it's going.
In the front, I have bell peppers. And another olla.
The sides are beans, the middle cucumbers. The empty boxes were supposed to be cucumbers as well. I even made groovy little dirt mounds. But so far, nothing has sprouted. Five out of nine's not bad. Right?
This is the corn. There's supposed to be four per square, but, as you can see, a lot didn't pop up. I may try to plant this weekend and just have it staggered a bit. You'll also notice that some of it looks a little flat. I think I'll blame Maggie.
The little mound to the left is a mini pumpkin. All six of the seeds I planted sprouted. Of course. So now I have to pull some up. Totally messes with my Zen pursuits.
Besides being a handy towel rack - I have no idea why there's a towel out there - this is my potato bin. The sweet peas are the "walls". Inside, I have a big potato plant that I keep covering with mulch and dirt. The goal is to have a ton of potatoes when it's all said and done. We'll see.
And yes. The sweet peas are already dying from our 80* days.
This is the chicken coop garden. Joseph picked out the decorative touch and I have to say, I love it. I've got strawberries and marigolds going here. The berries are starting to get brown leaves, which bodes ill. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I can get them to live long enough to produce a berry or two.
And that's it! A tour of my garden. I have a few random things growing around the yard - blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, a tiny lemon tree, my espaliered apple tree and, of course, the mint that has taken over the BBQ area. But, for the most part, everything is contained this year.
So far.
I'm a bit worried about the tomatoes taking over. They're like that.
What do you have growing?
10 comments:
I think this is the best so far...i do know if you over plant in one spot they tend to all kill each other...strawberries need little mounds. So for us, tomatoes are in, peas have been for some time, on our second round of cucumbers, watermelon, pumpkin, cantelope (dad didn't listen to me of course), and we have to wait until June to plant the corn, beans, and squash. Remember we are still dropping in temp at night (hence the first kill). I really think you take after your dad in the gardening area...your stories are his stories...looks good though...how about an update on those girls...I would love to see a photo or two.
this is looking spectacular!! love the gnome in the last pic... what the heck is an "olla" - do I need to goggle that? and I agree with Maxine - pics of the chicks?? are those being posted soon?
An olla is used for irrigation. It's supposed to be clay pots, but I sealed two terra cotta planters together instead. :) (There's a tutorial on here a few months back.)
And the chickens get their own post. Monday.
Monday, Mom. I'm posting about the girls on Monday. :)
My dill went crazy too. And there's like three things ine can make with dill: Potato salad, dip, and something else. Help!
Pickles!! If the cucumber get moving.
I'm actually hunting for pickling cumumbers so I can make them up in the next couple of weeks. They're super easy and if you just do a jar or two, you don't even have to can them. Just stick 'em in the fridge.
And by easy I mean, boil vinegar. Slice cucumbers and put in a big jar. Add dill, garlic, pepper, pickling spices. Pour vinegar over it all. Put a lid on it and let them sit in your fridge for a couple weeks.
Mandy that is amazing!!! We are working so hard on our garden and it's just not growing fast enough for me! =( Not to mention that the squirells are eating ALL my strawberries and I think they are eating my squash flowers!
I think next year we're going to do the WHOLE yard and not just a little 3 foot by 12 ft area!
It never grows fast enough! Until mid-summer when you yell at your tomatoes to stop growing. lol
I'm so sorry about your squirrel problems. Have you put up a net?
We just put up a net, I hope I don't need something over the top!
You are basically my hero...
Post a Comment