Mikhailah's Blog

A Gardener's Diary - The Weekend and Beyond
May 22, 2007 | 9:25 AM PST

On saturday I pulled up all my onions, some still had green stalks but they needed to come up. I can't begin to tell you how good they smelled when I was sorting through them. I'm learning a little bit more every time I grow this type of veg.

I made some temporary seed beds from an old shelf I had in the garage. Filled it with dirt and it's ready for my 'Californian Red' onion seeds. That way I don't waste too much valuable space waiting for these to mature in a regular bed. I may sow some regular white onions too.
I still have plenty of shallots that could be planted, I dried them from the previous harvest, alas, I don't have much room for these right now.

Shallots staying dry in a box

I bought some more asters, I read up on them and they kind of remind me of daisies. Apparently the most common colours are pink and purple, I hope mine are purple, please let them be purple.

Asters & Mums in pots on the patio

My Balsams have been repotted and put on the patio, they seem to love it out there, they get the more gentle early morning sun and are thriving and growing their secondary (first true) leaves.

Balsam on patio with true leaves

I'm keeping an eye on all my flower plants on the patio, keeping watch for bugs and diseases. All's well so far.
I think my weeping fig is slowly but surely bushing out a bit.

 
My gladioli in pots on the patio are getting taller and taller. I'm not sure when they are supposed to bud? The leaves aren't very white fly friendly thank goodness.

Gladioli growing well on patio

The solitary pumpkin is still thriving, the leaves are speckly and growing bigger. I hope I've left enough room for the roots. I've given it around 12 sq.ft. Hoping that's enough, I don't mind it wandering down the path if it has to.

Pumpkin growing happily in a bed

Well, I've got my sprouting potatoes out on the countertop. I'm planning, this evening, to dig down and plant these and gradually add dirt as they grow. It's worth a shot just to be able to have some fresh picked potatoes, even just one would make it worth while!

Beets and bush beans are growing really well. Not much maintenance for these right now. The main problem I have with the beets is moths laying their eggs at night under the leaves. I've been constantly watering these at dusk, hoping that the wet leaves will deter the moths from landing. I guess only time will tell.

Healthy bush beans

Beets growing rapidly in a bed

Harvested some cukes, a sweet pepper and some hot peppers. Cukes are a good size, I'm very pleased with them.

Cukes, hot peppers and one sweet pepper

I was looking at the new Lemon Grass plant I have in the herb bed, I'm thinking that maybe I should have read up on it, I have a feeling that this is a 'spread and take over' kind of herb. It seems so innocent and unassuming right now...
I'm learning (from my sage and past basils) that you have to be quite ruthless with herbs, or they simply go nuts and take over the whole world. I think my sage may need pruning again, the chives are getting straggly again, the only thing that doesn't look threatening is the fennel!

Lemon Grass in herb bed

Purple Basil (4) in herb bed

More Asters on patio

English Peas