What have you done today in the Garden?

I finally completed a 3 day project that centered around my compost bin. I was determined to sift out the viable compost, some of which has been stewing for about 15 years. After adding several wheel barrows full to my small raised veg. garden, I filled 2 very large bags with that beautiful black gold. Disassembled the bin, and washed out many years of spider webs and who knows what. Moved 2 layers of bricks that kept the bin off the patio and scraped and swept even more compost that had filtered down.
Fed the crows the 12 large grubs (shudder) found buried in the bin. Finally got all the bricks back, and filled the (for now) clean bin with all the solids that still need to break down. Oh my aching back! But oh the satisfaction I feel!

 

Well done 4-G.

I planted three sorts of cosmea and five balcony boxes full of marigolds. Further, 48 cells of alyssum.
Planted beans and set up the bean poles.
When I set up the bean poles, it is the real begin for the season in earnest.

 

Today, I did nothing in the garden. Yesterday was a tiring day, so I'm resting. Besides, it's too cold.

 

Ha!
If the weather forecast is correct... ahem... I should be able to plant next weekend. Finally!
We have built our raised bed, but we found out that the compost we were planning on using isn't that trustworthy. I've been told to spread it at the end of the season and let the rains clean out any possible pesticides and weed killers that may be mixed in. Now what?! What will we do for this season?! We may just dig up some soil from one part of our yard and cart it over to our raised bed and use the hole we make as a compost ditch. We will probably still have to supplement it with store-bought soil. Ugh, more drama and more money spent. I hope we can get it right next year. Meanwhile, we will go pick up some chicken manure to help make the soil we dig up more nutritious.

I know that we learn from our mistakes, but it is frustrating when I do so much research and planning, and my mistakes are all soil related. I guess that isn't so bad, but really, what can you do with out good soil? How much compost can only two people make? Besides, until I start getting food from the garden, there won't be much of any compost at all since we are eating canned and frozen veggies. There aren't any scraps to throw away.

I think I'm done ranting now...

Yea, I'm done.

 

More cleaning. Planted the toms in the greenhouse today. It was cool and overcast...so perfect conditions.
Well pleased with how everything is doing at the moment.

 

Got in 2 toms, cilantro and 2 eggplants. It's going to be very hot this week (low 90's) so I hope my little babies hang in there.

 

3 days of rain is keeping me in the kitchen. Got a batch of English muffins and sourdough bread rising. When they are done I think I will go to garden shops and see what I don't have.

 

I had a very productive weekend. Got everything mowed (some places twice). Did the weedeating/edging. Picked up all branches/sticks plus the trees and brush I had cleared out of the fence-line and relocated them to the burn pile in the pasture.
Potted and up-potted several plants, mostly those for the plant sale in August. Finally dumped out the dirt & dead stuff from all the containers (except for two... I'm still hoping they'll make a return). I was pleasantly surprised to find a Spider Plant still alive! I really thought winter and done it in!
Planted some marigolds I got for $1 each.
Spread out half a yard of mulch over the newly expanded flower bed so now it matches the others.
Rigged up some netting over the strawberries to keep the birds out.
Gave the pepper plants and other newly planted things a good drink.
Also started cleaning out the garage/storage building. Way too many old pots, small ones, and six packs and trays. So I gathered them up to take to be recycled.
Now, if only I can remember to water the few plants I have in the house!

 

After my rant yesterday, I went for a walk and found some people I knew were also into gardening and asked them what they would do in my situation. They quickly brainstormed and found me a place where I can buy topsoil, have it delivered, and fill the bed. It won't be as nutritious as the compost, but I can amend it. At least I know what must be done this time. Weather permitting, it will be delivered on Thursday. That will give me Saturday to get everything in the ground. I will be somewhat back on schedule; a little bit behind, but hopefully not too bad.

 

Great Beeker. That sounds like a plan. It's good to have friends.

Yesterday, I set out 8 Asparagus crowns. I wasn't as careful as I should have been, didn't spread the roots wide, but in my defense, I was tired and it was kinda cold and damp outside. I happened upon two baby snakes as I pulled the hay bales away. LOL They were in a snit at being uncovered and sort of threatened to bite me. So cute.

Today we bought Cauliflower and broccoli plants, two Grape tomato plants, two types of parsley. I repotted the cauliflower, broccoli and tomato plants into larger pots.

Set out a purple tulip which someone gave me.

If the weather is permissible tomorrow, I hope to get beets and kale planted.

 

Well it finally stopped raining. Potted up two more hanging baskets and my cast iron kettle. Tied up a couple of tomato plants, and pulled weeds.

 

Watered the potatoes for the last time--we'll be digging them in mid-May, I think.
Weeded--will the weeds NEVER give up? While weeding, saw that several of the squash plants will be flowering soon.
Picked more broccoli side shoots, lettuce, and spinach.
Chatted with the hens while I was weeding, and gave them the tasty weeds to play with and eat. Hens are great for weed disposal!
And to reward myself for being such a good weeder (practice makes perfect) I cut a bouquet of Lady Hillington roses for our dining room.

 

got cucumber seeds in the ground tonight! zucchini and carnival squash for the weekend and i will start to put in the pepper plants that will take up about 25% of my garden!!

 

The first lettuce of the season, and I'm well chuffed!

Did an enormous amount of cleaning today in the veggie and flower plots. Set out more lettuce plants in the greenhouse and harvested this lovely thing:


Ate a portion of it in the evening meal's salad. It was delicious and not at all bitter.

Planed the marigolds in the greenhouse as well as long red paps and yellow paps.

Just before leaving,I went around behind the garden house to check on the nest box and saw an curious plant growing in a bed that still needs to be cleaned. This is the flower of the plant, a blow-in.


We call this plant the "donkere ooievaarsbek" (a geranium), I believe. Geranium phaeum. I am guessing the name, If anyone here can positively ID this geranium, I would be grateful. It is a simple beauty there in the Rivera plot.