Taking Advantage Of The Good Weather

A bit of a continuation of the market thread, this posting describes a bit of work that took place at the gardens.
Shucks, the weather was perfect for it. It was also perfect for just sitting and looking...but it is time for winterization and harvesting, so I enjoyed the weather conditions from my knees at the side of a strawberry bed.

The first thing to do was to take some (what you see was only half of the contents) compost out of the dalek over in the New Garden. I didn't dig it out of the top, I got it from the lower portion where the is a visible sliding door. See it? I just put the fork in the top to get it out of the way because moving those trugs full of compost was heavy and awkward work. That composting "dalek" was a gift from a dear friend and it has been indispensable, I'll tell you. It composts faster than my homemade one.
Anyway here are the three containers full of that wonderfully composted vegetation.


Look closer--isn't that fine compost just the loveliest stuff you have ever seen? Textbook.


The strawberry beds were the objects of my attention today and here is one of those beds that has had all the plants removed and the ground has been min-tilled.


Next, I took the borage plants from along the fence and laid them on top of the tilled soil for protection.


Finally, I tossed compost on top of that randomly to hold the plants in place and of course to add to the existing soil underneath. This bed is ready for the winter!
You can see part of a new bed of plantlets in the foreground.


I did this to a second bed in the new garden as well, but then my work in the new garden was done and it was time to move over to the Old Garden.
There were strawberry beds there as well that needed to be cleaned.
I made a start.


The next day, it was finished and looked pretty tidy.
The little bed of new plantlets in the foreground looks so sad being only half-filled. I am hoping to get more plantlets for it soon.


The path between the two garden sections was in bad need of attention--the sides were grown-up with weeds and the plant material that I covered the path with in the spring was walked to death; so I decided to put down the reserve wood chips that I had stored in bags. It looks pretty neat, doesn't it? One walks this path now with a certain lil 'bounce'.


I got some endive plants from Netty up the way and added them to the small bed that I already had planted. this will give a staggard harvest, I am hoping. The leaves of the new additions were partually removed to induce the plantlets to improve their root-system and stimulate new leaf growth. It should work just fine.


Now the fennel--It's a bit small, but ready. Some plants are looking like they plan to shoot-through...so it's "off with their heads"!
In situ, this beauty looks healthy.


Harvested and clipped, the fennels look and feel like holding a fish...without the slime. If you look closely, you can see browning beginning at the edges of the white foliage. A lesson not to harvest them until you're ready to heave for home.


The corn continues to roll in, despite the darned mice.


I can't post without including some blooms and wildlife--this time the honeybees.
This first pic is of the bloomed-out Clematis Vitalba bosrank


Next.....The blooms are alive with the sound of buzzing.....


A close-up of a single forager.


and another.


I am so delighted that they are coming in uncountable numbers. I was beginning to worry alot. I haven't seen many honeybees this year at all.

Well, that was a very busy two days, but what a good feeling having gotten all that work done. It is raining like mad now, so it twice as enjoyable knowing that the beds are in order now and I can turn my attention to other aspects.

One of these fine days, I shall have to add Rhodi soil and pine bark chips to the blueberry beds. That'll be a big job.

 

Sojerd, those compost sure is top grade ..... err can I have some??

The fennels are lovely, fennel fish spaghetti yum yum. Wish I can grow fennels here .....hmmm (Big Sigh)It is difficult to get fennels here from the supermart and I haven't it for a long time now.

The photos of the bees on yellow flowers are lovely, great shots!!

 

That composter looks like it did do a great job.
Compost is like black gold to the garden, all the worms and bacteria doing their best work.
You were smart to be industrious, and were rewarded by beating the rain - now you can just sit for a bit
and enjoy that satisfaction.

 

Gotta love home made compost sjoerd, tis the gardeners gold!

Funnily enough, I had a couple of hours on the allotment today, and I spent it on the strawberry bed. Still have half to weed through, darn creeping buttercup is the bane of my life, but I have enlarged the bed by 3 rows using lovely little runners all rooted up. I plan to build a slightly more permanent netting structure over the winter to protect them from the deer and birdies, so want to get them all tidy and clean before I tackle that job.
Very satisfying at this time of year isn't it, clearing up and putting things to bed, that said, I have sown loads of winter veg to fill the empty spaces.

 

Excellent looking compost Sjoerd ... black gold! I usually spread my finished compost in the spring and topdress the veggie patch with manure in the fall. I'm not quite sure why I do it this way...I guess I am afraid of manure that is too strong.
I have never tried Fennel but I think I might try it next year.
I had hoped to expand my strawberry patch, but I found the ever-bearing strawberries I planted lacked flavor.

 

Thank you, KK--I am pretty proud of this batch too. Sure, I'd be willing to share it.
I am wondering why you can't grow fennel there.
Thanks also for liking the honeybee pics.

I'm glad you liked the posting this time, TONI--I was even MORE glad to hear that you have had lots of bees there. That is GREAT news.
The fennel that you see featured on my posting I simply sliced it, boiled it, then put butter and salt on it and then sprinkled Parmigiano cheese over it. It was quite tasty. I shall experiment with other recipes with the remainder.
I grew it primarily for the caterpillars this year too...but none came.

Thank you 4G--I was very happy to get that segment of work completed before the rains fell. Sjoerd:1--Mother Nature:0 ....for a change.

Too right, EJ--Great that you had the time to devote to your lottie. Gawd...creeping buttercup. AWKGH! I don't like that stuff at all. I've been having a battle with that for years in my flower garden, but I am proud to announce that this year there was almost none--just what crept through the fence from ole Willum's side.
It is a bit of a challenge doing gardening in general, and strawbs in particular with the climatic change that is taking place now. I can remember that by 15 august, I'd have all beds cleaned and new plantlets planted ...now the plants are just beginning to really put out runners and not all beds are completely cleaned or removed yet. *scratches head*.
You are right that it is very satisfying this time of year, what with getting beds clean and tidy and such.
I am waiting for a report of your local harvest show and contest. Is that next week?

 

Hi NETTY-- I think our postings crossed.
Thanks for the compliment on the compost.
I often add the compost in the spring too, but this year I am adding some now and will add more in march. I'm sort of experimenting.
Good luck with the fennel next year. It's a nice and easy plant to growe, even if ypou don't like the flavour, the plant may well attract lovely butterflies.
I have noticed that too a little bit with ever-bearing strawbs. I have had some in the past, but got rid of them in the end. Everyone's taste is different, I reckon. I could never figure out why mine were so bland--perhaps my soil. I dunno.

 

Sjoerd - I love seeing and reading about your garden work. You really seem to put your heart into it 100%
I want to work on your crew!
I'm green with jealousy over your compost Looks like good stuff!

 

Thanks so much, Kay-- I do indeed put alot into the gardens, but then having TWO of them requires alot of time. Everyone has some kind of hobby, and this is mine. I enjoy putting in so much time on them, it keeps me outta trouble. hahaha.
Another hand on the crew is always welcome.
I'm glad you liked the appearance of my compost--it looks like fine soil, doesn't it? It was completely ready for application and use. I like how quickly it processes. I always need some compost throughout the season, so it is nice to know that some will be available in the bottom of the composter.
That compost smelled so good too.

 

Well Toni, I find that the fennel does taste similar to the seeds but very,very,very weakly so.

We also eat cookies that have a vague fennel flavour, but ate sweet. Perhaps you recall a picture of one of those big cookies that are molded in the form of a cow.
Lovely stuff, those cookies.

 

The compost looks great. I have a pile that's ready too. And that's good because it's Fall planting time here in my part of Southern Arizona.

Your fennel made me smile. Mine just came up yesterday and today. I've never grown it before or prepared it myself. I've eaten it as a steamed vegetable and in salads. So Fennel is not only a new gardening experience but a culinary one as well.

Winterizing the garden here means get the cover crops in and tent the lettuce. There is something to eat growing all year long. Of course, the down side of gardening here is 100 degree heat every summer that can last for weeks. Desert gardening is tricky.

 

Thanks Pricklypear--I'll bet that you will not be displeased with your fennel experiment.

 

I enjoyed the latest sequel of Sjoerd's gardens. You really do bring us into your gardens with your detailed photo journaling. Glad you are having some good weather.

My gardens are neglected with all our hot, dry weather and wedding plans...23 days and counting.