Today was one of those days when the sunshine and warmth seem extra special, perhaps because there was snow on the ground yesterday morning. For whatever reason, it made me want to skip yoga and get my hands in the dirt... And, so I did.
I 'installed' my second garden box, except for the grid. I also moved some of my compost pile in an attempt to re-route the deer through my yard. They've already broken one of my grids; so, I'm trying to figure out a way to keep the rest safe.
I felt some extra urgency for getting the boxes up and filled because there was a box waiting on my doorstop tonight: 150 strawberry plants. Why in the world do I always do that to myself? LOL. I actually think it won't be so bad planting them in the boxes. The 'soil' doesn't even require a shovel to dig; I can just move it around with my fingers. Still, 150 plants is a lot and I'll probably end up giving away at least a few of them.
Also, I know that I have some potatoes on the way. Not quite so many of them, but they still need to get into the ground relatively fast.
And, with all the veggies on my mind, it was exciting to read an article today about a weed that grows in my garden (and usually annoys the heck out of me), which is considered a vegetable in other countries. Purslane. I'm actually looking forward to it sprouting up and growing into something I can cook with.
But, beyond the joy of something new to try and taste, it seems really bizarre that we have so much here, that we consider something full of Omega 3's, that other peoples through the world grow and harvest, that is supposed to be rather tasty, to be a weed.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
A New Season
Officially, spring is here (and has been for a couple days). The last few weeks have been filled with building new garden bed boxes and grids, buying soil mixture ingredients and trying to figure out the best way to start vegetable seeds indoors.
First, the boxes. I'm experimenting with a new method of gardening this year: Square Foot Gardening. It's one of several intensive gardening techniques I found books about and looks like it may yield enough produce to make up for my lack of investing in a CSA this year. So far, I have one raised box, filled with the soil mixture suggested in the book, topped with a grid and ready for peas to be planted (probably later today).
I have high hopes for this experiment. I keep dreaming of a summer full of meals cooked with items picked right from the ground/vine/etc. It has taken a lot more money and work than I was expecting... But, as someone without a ton of woodworking experience, that may just be part of the learning curve. After realizing how long it took to 'install' that first box, I've changed my plan to build them as needed and give myself a little more time to figure out the best methods for everything.
Besides the peas, I do have several vegetables already started: broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, onions and leeks. Unfortunately, I had to get rid of the first batch of the cruciferous plants; they became so tall that they toppled over or became yellow and shriveled. It took me awhile to research the cause of leggy seedlings; I thought it was a over/under watering issue. It was caused by a lack of good light.
So, yesterday, I installed a light fixture, outfitted with a full spectrum fluorescent bulb, under a shelf and propped up my tray of seedlings. Now, I'm hoping for the best. I have another list of seeds to start next week and need to get the process down quick enough so that I have actual plants to put in the ground come the last frost.
Otherwise, my garlic plants are looking strong and healthy, about six inches tall already. I've been thinking about what to do with all the scapes in a couple months. I also ordered some potatoes for planting this year, which will be a first, and a ton of strawberry plants.
I feel like there is so much to be done over the next few weeks... Like yesterday, while pulling up grass where my box was going, I noticed an abundance of grubs. Not good! So, today, I'm hoping to find some good nematodes or something else organic that will lessen their numbers this year.
Luckily, the days are getting long, which makes it easier to do things at night. Still, somehow, I'm worried there might not be enough hours in the days between now and planting.
First, the boxes. I'm experimenting with a new method of gardening this year: Square Foot Gardening. It's one of several intensive gardening techniques I found books about and looks like it may yield enough produce to make up for my lack of investing in a CSA this year. So far, I have one raised box, filled with the soil mixture suggested in the book, topped with a grid and ready for peas to be planted (probably later today).
I have high hopes for this experiment. I keep dreaming of a summer full of meals cooked with items picked right from the ground/vine/etc. It has taken a lot more money and work than I was expecting... But, as someone without a ton of woodworking experience, that may just be part of the learning curve. After realizing how long it took to 'install' that first box, I've changed my plan to build them as needed and give myself a little more time to figure out the best methods for everything.
Besides the peas, I do have several vegetables already started: broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, onions and leeks. Unfortunately, I had to get rid of the first batch of the cruciferous plants; they became so tall that they toppled over or became yellow and shriveled. It took me awhile to research the cause of leggy seedlings; I thought it was a over/under watering issue. It was caused by a lack of good light.
So, yesterday, I installed a light fixture, outfitted with a full spectrum fluorescent bulb, under a shelf and propped up my tray of seedlings. Now, I'm hoping for the best. I have another list of seeds to start next week and need to get the process down quick enough so that I have actual plants to put in the ground come the last frost.
Otherwise, my garlic plants are looking strong and healthy, about six inches tall already. I've been thinking about what to do with all the scapes in a couple months. I also ordered some potatoes for planting this year, which will be a first, and a ton of strawberry plants.
I feel like there is so much to be done over the next few weeks... Like yesterday, while pulling up grass where my box was going, I noticed an abundance of grubs. Not good! So, today, I'm hoping to find some good nematodes or something else organic that will lessen their numbers this year.
Luckily, the days are getting long, which makes it easier to do things at night. Still, somehow, I'm worried there might not be enough hours in the days between now and planting.
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