Yesterday (Tuesday), I spent a long time in the garden. I concentrated
mostly on the continued amendments of the veggie patch, but also
planted some of the morning glory starts. I had started them in a
cottage cheese container between damp paper towels, they ended up
growing through the paper towel and up the container). I planted them
under some of my bushier plants in hopes that they will get shelter if
it does get overly chilly.
I fiddled and faddled adding more
horse manure, 2.5 bags of top soil, peat moss, sand and ash. Working
back and forth, turning the soil in over and over, and back and forth
some more. My blisters returned! I hadn't been digging to that extreme
in at least 3 weeks! I will have to purchase a nice rototiller when I
get a larger garden area, it would be well worth it! Just think, I will
have so much pride when I get to harvest my veggies though! It's all
done by hand, every bit of it!
After working in the garden for
most the mid-morning to afternoon, we went for a walk to visit my
Mother-In-Law and see what she was up too. She had to head out to town
so we didn't stay long, instead we wandered around looking at some of
the flowers blooming in her yard. She has a really pretty area with red
tulips, grape hyacinths, the prettiest daffodiles (they must be called
a "double" or something, I will look it up tomorrow) and oregano. Below
are some pictures, I really recommend this time clicking on the images to make them larger to see the lovely details (especially the daffodil):
Above:
Grape Hyacinths, Red Tulips, Daffodils and Oregano (I think it is since
I smash it between my fingers and I smell oregano) and my daughter
stopping to smell the flowers.
Above:
What I think is oregano (not sure) because when I squish it between my
fingers it smells like oregano and my Mother-In-Law thinks that is what
it is (she's the one who planted it). It's a pretty little plant and I
transplanted some more into my garden (from my Mother-In-Law's garden).
While my daughter napped, I did some more fiddle-faddling in the
veggie patch amending like crazy. When I felt I had done my best I
decided it was time to build a natural trellises. My trellis has 3 pine
branches and Jute natural string. It turned out really neat! I am going
to make some more only slightly modified for my cucumbers to climb in
the few days. Below are a few pictures:
After
I finished the trellis I planted a row of peas (only half the length of
trellis) with some older pea seeds I had from 2 years ago. I watered
them in and by then it was dark out (above pictures show how dark it
was, my daughter was using a flashlight...lol) I figure it was natures
way of saying to go inside and take a break, the day is done.
Today
we spent most of the day inside because it was sunny but overly chilly
outside. I found it hard to "want" to go out there and work, PLUS I was
so sore all over! My left calf is extremely sore (is that the way you
spell the body part...hum???). I am currently applying heat to it since
it's been sore the entire day.
After deciding we needed some
fresh air despite the fact that the day hadn't improved (it was
supposed to be an amazingly beautiful day, but to our disappointment it
was not nice!), we headed out to the garden. I still have lots of
flower seeds to plant and I have been wanting to get my veggie patch
planted. I have been so cautious not to plant until I am totally
convinced that my soil amended to the best of my abilities, but I
really needed to get my veggies in.
Today after a bit more amending I planted some my veggies!
I
started out by planting the other half of the natural pea trellis with
new seed (that way I can compare germination time and if the old side
doesn't germinate in a reasonable time period I will re-plant with the
new seed).
I decided I was going to plant my bush beans and
chose an area I could get to easily enough so I could have access when
I needed to pick the beans. I only planted 9 seeds since I don't know
if I like fresh beans or not and I don't want to waste them or waste
the space. Plus I will be planting a ton of Scarlet Runner beans for a
decorative plant and I will have all those beans too.
After
that, I decided where I wanted to plant a few carrot rows. I planted
them on the far left of the veggie patch seen below, Yes, it is a tiny
amount of carrots, but I hope to make a few more rows/areas after I
plan it out more and place other veggies where I want them, then I will
see where I have room.
Next, I decided to plant a small section
of radishes (I don't like them, but my hubby and Father-In-Law eat
them. They are in the next section to the right of the carrots.
I
didn't quite know what to plant next so I decided to plant the rest of
the zucchini seeds I had. They were old seed, but they germinated for
me inside (all but one seed), so I figured they will work outside as
well. I only had 9 seeds, so if I want to plant more zucchini I will
have to buy another packet of seeds. I know zucchini gets so big if
it's in a happy place and I am already short on space so I may just go
with what I planted outside and with the plants I started inside.
I
have a few more spots to add veggies, but I am not sure what I want to
plant in those spaces. I have quite a few more to plant. I have more
cucumber seeds (which I will be building a modified natural trellis
soon), more carrots, lettuce (I have two kinds and would really love
fresh lettuce), and tomato (I doubt I will get fruit off of them, but I
still want to try, I will probably plant them in pots instead of in my
veggie patch that way I save space, can move them to sunny spots, and
can bring them to a safe space when it gets frosty...oh-how I do not
want to think about frost....).
I placed two rocks in my veggie patch so that I had places to step when checking my vegetables and doing my weeding.
Above is a picture of my clematis (Nelly Moser). First year having it grow in my garden and I can't wait to see how it does!
Well, I hope your all doing well and that you have a wonderful gardening day!