What have you done today in the Garden?

Six cuttings of Salvia Greggii put into small pots to root, two unexpected basil plants in small pots because the basil unexpectedly,rooted in water on the windowsill, and put up the supports for the strings for the sugar peas trellis.

 

Some more weeding and watered the tubs under the kitchen window.

 

Poor 'Arry. But I'm glad you have a new friend. Could it be Megh'n looking for ''Arry?

Garden season is hard work! You deserve the hot soak.

 

Wow, hard work day. I've been hoping to get the sauce tomatoes into the ground so they don't dry out and die in their containers. Hot dry weather. The challenge for the sauce tomatoes is the sides of the raised bed splayed out and it was unstable. I forgot to take photo. I had to dig the soil out of the sides, pile on top, and remove the side planks to rebuild it.

The system is unstable. It's made from concrete corner blocks, with channels for 2 x 6s. Moles tunnel under the bed, and the corner blocks start to lean outward until they fall. They have a central hole for a rebar to stabilize them, but it isn't enough.

So, I dug out all of the soil from the sides.



Then added soil under the corner blocks and replaced the planks. I line the inside from upcycled plastic chicken feed bags. They are tough and reinforced, and keep the wood from rotting.



I used longer rebar, sticking out the top. The I drilled holes in each end of recovered treated 2x4 lumber. That wood is hard! It took a lot of effort to drill the holes. Then I slipped the 2x4s over the rebars. For some reason, this made me think of Tinkertoys.



I really think that will cure the instability problem. The corner blocks can't tilt in any direction now. The wood is a little warped, but I'm not building a spaceship, just a raised bed for sauce tomatoes.

Then I evened out the soil. I also had this, from the Starbucks by the clinic. Coffee grounds.



So I mixed a bag into the topsoil. It's not a lot, but I like doing it, the worms like it, and I like to think it improves the soil.

The soil was rather dry, so I watered.



Weather permitting, tomorrow there will be a bed of Roma and Supremo sauce tomatoes.

The slicing and salad tomato plants
good, so far.



I also finished the corner pieces of the "new" planter box (upcycled cedar fencing). Then I applied a coat of sealer / water block to the inside.



Then I'll need to stain the outside and it will look new and (I hope) last along time.

The garlic is looking good. Theres a big variety and a smaller variety.



A few days ago I planted stocks seedlings among what's left of the brutalized snowpea plants. So far, so good.


I was going to plant the last potato starts, but I'm too sore and exhausted. I feel very good about the garden progress.

I still cant get over this Redlove Era espalier.



Tomorrow: Plant the sauce tomato plants in their refurbished new home. Start new seedlngs - snowpeas (I don't give up easily LOL), squashes, summer squashes, cilantro, marigolds, four o'clocks, who knows what.

It's also time I set up the drip irrigation system.

 

Already?



I have a second plant of this variety, also blooming. This might be a early one!

 

not much today the rain that moved in Saturday & Sunday has been sticking around with showers through out this week. Plus the cool temps in the 50's made me not so motivated, Did plant the Clematis yesterday. But temps are going up to the 60's and 70 by Sunday so it's catch up time. Need to get Beets done and get my veggie beds ready. Maybe get those perennials planted too.

 

@Daniel W nice set up you got there.

 

Everyone is busier than the proverbial bee. Gardeners at work and play. Sorry if I can’t distinguish the two when it comes to being outside.

 

Thanks @Clay_22.
I keep hoping to reach a point where it's just about puttering, and no new "Infrastructure" projects. It's getting closer to that, but it may never actually get there. Even when something's done, time and weather take a toll, so repairs are needed.

 

Managed to partially trim the red grapes and green table grapes. Need to finish tomorrow.

 

Finished planting this border, I've got currant bushes there and I'm trying to make it more like a cottage garden. Just planted a lot of lupins and 2 rose bushes grown from cuttings last year.

 

Laid cardboard and spread composted bark on top of a couple of areas. Keep finding hostas I don’t remember planting. At a point last fall in moving large clumps of hostas the effort took its toll. When a piece would break off the clump I’d think $5-$10 and randomly stick it in the ground in a place I felt might work... Most were medium to small varieties, I hope.

 

I called the local food bank to ask if they were still able to accept home grown vegetables, not inspected but organic. Yes!! They can and I was told they would be most grateful. So, here we go again, over-planting and hauling the excess. We love to grow, and being able to cut loose and plant as much as we want then take some to folks who need it--win, win!

 

Daniel when the day comes all the creative infrastructure is done… that may well be when you run out of space and energy. Then spending more time editing areas that have out grown the original space .
My garden is a bit more mature than most gardens and well… so am I. I make sure I drink a protein shake before I tackle garden tasks. It helps a lot and to finally learn my daily limitations. It all keeps me movin….the dedication to gardening will always have the drive to abolish weeds and over growth. But and there is a but … as long as I’m willing and able even with frozen shoulders now I find my strengths and new techniques to accomplish tasks without feeling as though a steam roller ran over me the day after.

 

Everything looks so beautiful

Today I planted the leeks, and four different varieties of onions. The potatoes, carrots, beets, romaine lettuce and dill were also planted. Tomatoes were planted in the greenhouse yesterday, and tomorrow morning the peppers will go into their spots. 32 C has everything under shade cloth, but the soil is warm for planting. Rain will come tomorrow with cooler temps for a few days, which should make everyone happy.

Broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage will go in tomorrow. As well as seeds in the upper garden. Busy busy busy