damethod's Blog

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Jul 19, 2008 | 7:22 AM PST

I'm considering opening an online nursery, so if anyone is interested in fruit trees or fertilizers, let me know and I may be able to get it cheaper than you normally would find. I buy and sell on ebay pretty regularly, so I would use that as my selling medium. I currently have a fruiting Key Lime tree for sale on there. Item number: 120284940610    Feel free to take a look and tell me what you think.

I now have a steady source for cheap fertilizer. It's a good 20 minute drive there, but it's worth it! I purchased some Alaska Fish Fertilizer since the worm poop is becoming too expensive. The worm poop needed to be applied once a week, where as  the fish fertilizer is once every two weeks. The amount to apply each time is also much less with the fish. The worm poop did seem to be working well, but again, it's a bit pricy @ $8 per bottle when the bottle only contains enough for two applications.

Now, back to my garden..

It's almost feeding time for all my trees, but Papaya and Banana need to be fertilized often. So, I fertilized both banana trees with 6-3-16 and my papaya tree with 8-3-9. I am also currently trying to rehabilitate some papaya seedlings that my grandfather gave me. He had given them to my mother to give to me, but she forgot about them and left them bare root in her car for 3 days! There were about 7 plants and only one looks like it will make it. It will be amazing if even that one makes it really!

Hopefully, today turns out to be nice and dry so I can finally spray the garden and battle the bug population!

 

 

 

Rain Rain go away!
Jul 16, 2008 | 7:08 AM PST

I fed my Hass Avocado some 6-6-6 fertilizer yesterday. I have seen all types of NPK ratios that claim to be for mangos and avocados, but that one has worked best. I applied it to just that one tree because it's the newest addition to my garden and it did not look very happy. It is already looking much better. Once August comes around, it's time to fertilize all trees.

Hopefully, it doesn't rain today so that I can apply some insecticide to my lawn and garden. The summer rain is bringing more and more pests!

 

 

Change in garden bed
Jul 7, 2008 | 5:06 PM PST

I've noticed something recently while driving around...Everyone in Miami has a mango, avocado, papaya, or banana tree. You see Citrus trees here and there, but those four tropicals are everywhere you look. It makes me appreciate living here even more than I already do. It may be hot and humid most of the time, but I don't think I could live anywhere where the temperature drops below 50 for more than a month. The realization that I can grow pretty much anything that I want only solidifies my affection for my hometown.

Anyways, back to my gardening endeavours..

I was outside applying some potassium to my trees the other day and was thrilled to discover a volunteer Sweet Basil plant growing in my garden bed! It is growing in the same spot where the "parent" plant used to be.

I had stated in a previous entry that I was going to start a new garden bed. I decided against it, because my best available spot did not receive enough sunlight. Instead, I extended the space I already have by 18sq.ft. I then planted my cucumber and zucchini starters, along with some scallions I started from seed as well as more seeds in the same linear area. I know I shouldn't, but went ahead and planted some russet potatoes too. I had so many left over from a dinner party a few days ago...I decided to chop up some pieces and plant them. :o)

7-5-08   Applied potassium to Avocados, Mangos, Lemon, 1 Orange, and Key Lime trees

 

 

Garden up-keep
Jul 2, 2008 | 6:31 PM PST

I finally finished installing the soaker hose in my garden bed. I had to trim several canes from my raspberry and blackberry plants.. hopefully it will  be worth it in the long run.

Also.. dug out all mulch, applied potassium supplement, tilled dirt, and then re-applied mulch to the mango and avocado trees. It started pouring right when I finished with the Monroe in the front. I then thinned down the tarragon and marjoram seedlings...I think I planted too many seeds :o/