trudy's Blog

Busy, Busy, Busy
May 14, 2008 | 2:40 AM PST
Tags: Georgia Thumpers , strawbale , squash , zukes

I haven't been around much lately, sorry bout that.  I had to do a system restore an I'm still reloading everything.  Lost some things but ole well.   Its been such a nice spring this year an cooler longer than I remember in the past.  No telling how harse this summer will be.  My yard has exploded in blooms an smells intoxicating.   I haven't really added much new plantings this year but have been busy maintaining what I have.  I got the veggie garden planted an did add a few more containers,  needed somewhere to plant the extras I seeded out.  

I am experimenting again this year with strawbale gardening.  I had read where this method really works well with certain veggies an being how I wanted to extend my veggie patch it seemed to be the answer, will see how it goes.   I planted zukes, an squashes in them,  I only used 9 bales as thats all I had on hand an didn't want to go buying anymore in case it was a failure.   

[http://img.photobucket.com
/albums/v189/Trudyjean/Vegetab
les%20and%20Herbs/Chickens039.
jpg

Hopefully this pic will show up,  since taking it I have fertilized an they are nice a green.  If not you may need to C&P.

I have torn down a raised bed that was next to the side of the house, just gotta finish cleaning it up.  It had rotten an was falling apart.  I'm thinking about extending that area out but not into a raised bed.  I'd like to plant a pea patch there.  I've been hearing an reading about  how food prices are on the rise along with fuel an how if you have a spot to plant food we'd better get to planting due to the high cost it'll be to purchase in the stores.  I hope thats not true, but I think its coming so I'd rather be better prepared if possible. 

I have also been fighting those Georgia Thumper grasshoppers,  they are babies right now so hopefully I can eliminate them before they become adults.  They wil devour everything!  Well gott run, time for work!  Yawl have a blessed day.

Fresh from the garden
Jun 10, 2007 | 5:31 PM PST
Tags: watered , weeded , rain , Thai Green Eggplant , Pole Butterbeans , scallions , squash , EVOO , garlic , rosemary , venison , bell peppers , mystery , vine

Its been awhile since my last post according to my last log entry. Other than keeping things watered an weeded its been the same ole same ole. We've gotten 2 evenings of good rain, that has really done a lot of good. I have finally gotten around to planting the last 2 Thai Green Eggplant plants into their container. I almost let my comfrey die of drought, although its not a pretty green I think it will come back. I still have a couple blueberry bushes to plant but really don't know where to put them. So I'm keeping them in the water path of the garden so they get a good drink daily. I've had to replant my Sieva (sp) Pole Butterbeans 3 times, but they have finally broke ground. My last years Everbunching Onions gave up and after clearing that spot I put up my bambo pole I had dried out early an put up a trellis then planted the Willowleaf Pole Butterbeans to climb on, some have already broke ground.

Tonight for supper I was finally able to use up 3 of the patty pan squash I had picked an added them to the yellow crookneck squash added some scallions an the 1 brocolli head I had picked a couple days ago with some olive oil, salt an pepper, sauted just enough to leave a little crunch along with some of the multi colored potatoes (that didn't get big at all) with some fresh from the garden diced garlic with diced rosemary sprinkled with some EVOO, fried green tomatoes, an cucumber with vinegar, salt & pepper. All this with some venison cube steak. Man ole man was it good. Nothing like picking your supper fresh from the garden.

I have already put up 2 trays of bell peppers in the freezer. Hopefully by the end of the season I'll have plenty of that to do awhile. I've got a mystery vine that I trellis up on an old baby bed spring that I have no idea what its gonna be, but it came up in the strawberry patch. I'm thinking it may be lemon cukes, thats the same spot they were last year an with adding compost to the strawberries its very possible thats what it is. I have ID'd on the the volunteer squash an I am pretty possitive its the banana squash. Undecided whether to leave it or rip it out. My strawberry plants all have runners on them now, just need to find the time to get some small pots done up and place the babies in them so they can take root in them instead of where ever they choose.

I've only picked a couple of those black with yellow striped worms off the tomatoes so far, but yet to find any of the horned worms yet. It may still be a little early not sure, but am curious to see if my experiment is working. More later on that! I have added a scoop or two around all the veggie plants of the wonderful manure an could see a difference within a few days.

Got another load of Manure
May 27, 2007 | 7:58 AM PST
Tags: manure , composted , roses , fall flush , mulch , water , rain , Thai Green Eggplant , squash , Amillia , beefsteak , fruit , pinestraw , peppers

I brought home another load of composted manure from the fair grounds, I wanted at least one more load before fall.  Man is that some good stuff!!   Seeing how in July I will need to reapply it around my roses for their fall flush.  This time it wasn't so wet, so unloading was much easier.  The load I got earlier sure has made a difference in my plants,  they were in bad need.  Just couldn't tell it til I added it.   I'm thinking about putting some down as a mulch in one bed just as an experiment to see what ill happen.  

 I'm having to water everyday now,  but its now where I can alternate the beds.  That may not last long if we don't get some much needed rain.  I got another large container planted of comfrey.  Still have a half a tray to go.  I was wanting to plant the last 2 Thai Green Eggplant plants in the last container I have seeing how from what I've read it won't bear fruit til the 2nd year.  Just need to get another container.

 I picked my 3rd mator yesterday.  A nice Amillia beefsteak.  All my mator plants are loaded with fruit.  I have decided not to stake the ones in the flower beds.  I've read where staking really isn't needed an sometimes you get more fruit by letting them sprawl.  Will be interesting,  The fruit will have pinestraw to keep them directly off the soil.  I got out this morning an did some roundup, just spot spraying.  Its been windy here the last few days an today was the first chance I had with little wind.  Still need to do the garden pathways, but there not to bad yet.   I did pick 2 of the patty pan type squash and a few banana peppers.  Not enough squash to do much with yet, hopefully they will hold up long enough for more to get ready for a mess.   Don't really know how to fix them yet, first time with these.  So any recipes you want to share, please do.

 I had planned on copy an pasting my Bloom Calendar to here, but this site won't let me.  So I guess if you want to see what plants I have you'll just have to visit my photo album.  Although it's nowhere near complete, u can see some of what I have growing here on the Lane. 

One of my baby chicks died yesterday, couldn't really tell why.  But it did.  I've been letting the older chickens out about every other day,  may be will go to daily now that the dog has gone to Florida.  One of the campers wanted her, so it all worked out good. 
 

Got warm out today
Apr 8, 2007 | 3:11 PM PST
Tags: squash , tomatoe , compost , foxglove , Hydrangea , storm

I added some of the compost to the bed I was gonna plant the yellow squash in, planted all the squash which I hadn't planned on planting that many. Ole well, what I don't want I'll give away (I hope). Still have lots of other stuff to plant. I did get the "Black" tomatoe bed planted. Still have 1 full bed I can plant in, so plan to plant it full of melons. Just gonna amend the soil first, just to tired this afternoon and still had supper to cook. I make myself stop around 6 so I won't be so late getting outta the kitchen. But I got a tray of Pupura Foxglove and a Mixed of colors of Foxglove planted near the pond area. 2 Red Stem Hydrandreas planted that I rooted from a friend of mines mother plant. If I could ever figure out how to post pics I'll add some. Its suppose to storm here for the next couple of days, one reason I wanted to get as much planted as I could. trudy