MargoMargo's Blog

July Bounty Begins
Jul 6, 2007 | 11:34 AM PST
Tags: compost , beans , tomatoes , garlic , peas

It's been a while, and everything's growing so well.  I should have given the peas something higher to climb up because now they are climbing out.  But they are delicious, and they seem happy enough. 

The raspberries are getting close to their end, but they have been so delicious.  Kudos to the previous tennents who planted them.

The parsley is looking happy inbetween the tomatoes, though I'm not sure the tomatoes in the terrace are going to bear fruit.  I think the soil could use some compost in a bad way, but it's probably going to have to wait till fall.  The beans are struggling on too, and so far one of them is trying for a bean.  I must have kept them inside too long, because once I planted them outside, they all got eaten and sunburned (despite my shade cloth and soapy water spray), only to recover slowly with new, darker leaves that can handle the outside clime.  Not sure if they'll get around to many beans, but I'm glad they struggled though. 

And lastly, I pulled a garlic up yesterday.  Not sure if it's too early, but next time I cook, we'll find out!

Sunburn and Aphids
May 14, 2007 | 9:42 AM PST
Tags: beans , tomatos , aphids , soap

Now that we're starting to get some sunny days, I thought I'd be such a good plant mommy and set my tomatoes out in the sun all day.  Mistake!  I sunburned (and nearly killed) half of them!  (actually, that might be a blessing in disguise since I had way to many to start with)  The poor little buggers are struggleing along, and they'll probably live, but may never get as big as they would have.  

The other half of the tomatoes (now that I've learned my lesson) are staying outside for a few hours at a time in the sun and doing much better than their ill-fated cousins.  Hopefully they will adjust and then I can plant them outside for the summer.

 My beans were growing splendidly inside, so I plated 8 of them outside in various places around the house.  Two of them had roots that were so entwined that i ripped them when separating them, and they are looking pretty sad.  All the others are looking pretty happy except for the one in the front yard that's getting eaten by aphids!  Bad Aphids! 

Rachel suggested diluted soap and water to keep the aphids at bay, so I'll have to mix up a bottle of it tonight and give the poor guy a spritz.
 

Beans Beans the Magical Fruit!
Apr 23, 2007 | 1:43 PM PST
Tags: beans , sprouts , children

I think I planted the beans too early.  The seed package said to plant in May or June after all danger of frost had passed.  But i thought i'd start them early indoors.  Now they're about a foot tall and taking over the living room table!  

The carrots and peas seem to be happily stalled as little sprouts in the garden, but they'll have plenty of time once it's warmer to grow.

 And the garlic sprouts seem to have stopped growing.  I'm really tempted to pull one up to see if the bulb is growing ,but so far I have restrained myself. 

It's as if they're my nieces and nephews:  I take a lot of pleasure in caring for them and i want them to be the best plants ever, but at the same time I want to experiment with them.  Like encouraging children to climb to the top of the monkey bars and jump off.  They might break a leg, but they'd live.  Will the tomatoes make it if I put them outside?  Oops, not now, it's still too early.