2012 Spring Garden is now in process

This year will be so wonderful. The garden will once again come to life. After last years knee replacement surgery the soil and I are now both well rested.

Today we finally were able to make the investment into our fruit trees.

After extensive research we came up the solution to a small yard. We found a tri-apple tree on mmm111 dwarf stock. The three types are Anna/Dorsett/Gravenstein. We purchased two trees and they will also self pollinate.

distance between rows MM.111  14-18ft

RESISTANCE TO SELECTED PESTS
           FRUIT               WOOLLY
           BEARING   CROWN     APPLE     FIRE      BURR
ROOTSTOCK  AGE (YRS) ROT       APHID     BLIGHT    KNOT

MM.111       4-6     Medium    High      Low       Low 

Under the Apple Tree I will plant Nasturtium it climbs tree and repels codling moth. 

Next we bought a dwarf Eureka Lemon

Height: 10'-15' at maturity

Two Southern High Bush Blueberries

mature height at 6'

 Tomato plants of four types 

pomegranate

 Bush beans of Contender and French filet both heirloom varieties. 

Cantaloupe 

carrots

lettuce

peppers

radishes

sunflower mammoth (near cucumbers)

alyssum 

parsly ( by the tomato, roses)

snapdragon

sweet pea

propagating a fern

 My sweet old fern was just busting at the root with rhizomes.

It could not even take a drink.

 Upturning the pot one can see why.

The roots were so tangled and full of little future ferns.

 Slowly and purposefully each root got untangled and stripped of its little jewels.

 Each and every root was carefully drawn through my fingers as the bulbs snapped off to the ground below.

 With dry roots the processes was accelerated.

At one point I thought to cut the root ball into two, no chance.

 Potential ferns.

 My reference gave little detail on the process of doing this.

Following instincts, trusting the process the roots were then transplanted into other pots.

Circling the pot and covering only and inch or two.

 The other old fellow will get the chance once my husband pulls the huge pot from the garden.

From the beige pot above to the huge old black garden pot.
The root ball filled it up!

My sweet lonely lab approved

:)

He misses his Rena Girl (our Golden Retriever) she passed away earlier this month.

Planting today all day

After all the work the last week or two on the soil preparations today was the big day. Over 21 things went into the soil. The list on side bar is the total so far. Mostly.

Morning in the garden

 The gnomes turned their back to me when the realized that the rest of the seeds can't go in until after the 5th. I told them it is time to tend the things in and get the earth ready for those to come. Looks like that free plant at the foreground right hand might be a tomato. Nice it will make fine salad with the cucumber next to it. Again that south bed is a bit of a miff to all of us too ( the gnomes and I) It is just not friendly. The PH needs to be tested and trouble shot. Me thinks too much nitro. The radish is just not performing. Had to cover the carrot. Seems a cat likes me till. Some cayenne will be a cure once I can get to the herb shop. It is cheaper there than the grocery.

 This end of center bed had yet to be amended  and turned. This week another task to tend too.

 The french marigold is happy. As is the broccoli in the back right.

 Well after sitting a spell they came to terms with the work ahead and decided to give me a break. As long as I keep at it. Least they could do is offer a little help digging that earth up. After reasting a while in the cool of the shade a humming bird came to visit a while.

 Well after a second go at it this bed will be ready at weeks end.

It was planted prematurely. The compost had not been added and it was taken for granted that it would not need it. However each year we must add compost to keep this clay soil even.

So by weeks end chard and kale will go in again.

All the clods broken down now, tomorrow it will get a good watering from the raid tank.

Another day in the garden and the soil on my hands is a reminder that we are all conected.

The coop was cleaned today as well and the compost will yet continue to grow.

It was 3 feet tall and now is only a little left.

And the circle of life turns, turns, turns.

Today Aug 24 Full Sep 1 Last Quarter Sep 8 New Sep 14 First Quarter

	Sept.23      Full	Sept. 30               Last Quarter	Oct. 7                  New	Sept. 14 First Quarter

Planting by moon phase...New Moon To First Quarter: Good for Planting above-ground crops with outside seeds, flowering annuals.

Good Sunday to you

follow your vision

With the coffee grounds to compost

the ground egg shell, oatmeal and bread heals to chicken set off to task am I.

WRONG...I thought it was time

to plant the bulbs, perennials and biannual and those plants that seed above ground this is correct.
boy did I get mixed up!
Oh well! :)
They are now in!
Onion and per/biannual well say a prayer and hope for the best.
opps!

The new plot dug out has been tri trenched...

Companion planting...

Chives for the peas...

This is the newest bed on the west side of the shed in the shade of the gazebo

 Sage and chive in the squares around the lettuces

 

This is the east facing bed

The sage in the squares...

The chive between the bok choy and the lettuce/onion rows

keep aphids away.

the pots were soaked in the dogs pool

the absorption is a better way to moisten the soil.

Lemon balm (tomato on the otherside of the rain barrel love it)

on one side planter.

The trailing rosemary to the left is favored by the brocolli in the raised bed

pollinators are drawn by it.

Keeping records

The final (for today ha!) Master plan for 2009 fall

 

A mirroring bed has been added to the otherside of the shed with trellis for both shed walls.

Click to enlarge

HERB CULTURE AND USE

COMMON NAME Scientific Name	Plant Height	Spacing	Cultural Hints	Uses
ANNUALS
BASILS Ocimum species	20-24"	12"	Grow from seed. Sun when crushed. Purple variety is a good accent plant.	Use in anything with tomatoes. Insect repellent.
BORAGE Borago officinalis	24"	12"	Grow from seed, self-sowing. Best in dry, sunny areas.	Young leaves in salads for cucumber flavor.
CHERVIL Anthriscus cerefolium	10"	3-6"	Sow in early spring. Partial shade.	Aromatic leaves used in soups & salads. Chef's favorite.
CORIANDER Coriandrum sativum	24"	18"	Grow from seed. Sow in spring in sun or partial shade.	Seed used in confections, leaves in salad oriental & eastern food.
DILL Anethum graveolens	24-36"	12"	Grow from seed sown in early spring. Sun or partial shade.	Feathery foliage and seeds used in flavoring and pickling.
PARSLEY Petroselinum species	6"	6"	Grow from seed started in early spring. Slow to germinate. Sun. Biennial.	Brings out flavor of other herbs. Fine base & seasoning. High in vitamin C.
PERENNIALS
CATNIP Nepeta cataria	3-4 ft.	18"	Hardy, sun or shade. Grow from seed or by division.	Leaves for soothing tea.
CHIVES, GARLIC CHIVES Allium species	12"	12"	Little care. Divide when overcrowded. Grow from seed or division	Favorite of chefs. Good indoor pot plant. Cut long strands at base; Mild onion or garlic flavor.
FRENCH TARRAGON Artemisia dracunculus	24"	24"	Sun or semi-shade. Grow from cuttings or division.	Aromatic seasoning; principle flavor in bearnaise sauce; great with fish or chicken
LAVENDER Lavandula species	24"	18"	Propagate from cuttings. Grows in dry, rocky, sunny locations with plenty of lime in soil. Require pH 6.5 to 7.2	Use flowers & leaves for sachets, potpourri.
LEMON VERBENA Aloysia triphylla	36"	36"	Tender perennial; propagate from cuttings. Sun or partial shade.	Strongest lemon scent. Leaves used in teas or in lemon-based potpourri.
LOVAGE Levisticum officnale	3-4 ft.	30"	Rich, most soil. Grow from seed planted in late summer. Sun or partial shade.	Of the carrot family; strong celery flavor.
MINTS Mentha species	1-3 ft.	18"	Grow from cuttings or division. Sun or partial shade.	Aromatic; used as flavoring. Unusual varieties include orange, blue balsam, ginger, chocolate.
OREGANO Origanum species	24"	9"	Grow from seed, cuttings or division. Sun.	Flavoring for tomato dishes & pasta.
ROSEMARY Rosmarinus species	3-6 ft.	12"	Grows in well-drained, nonacid soil from cuttings. Sun. Marginally hardy; plant in protected site.	Leaves flavor sauces, poultry, meats, rice, and soups. Good for topiary, bonsai.
SAGE Salvia species	18"	12"	From seed or cuttings. Sun. Renew every 3 to 4 years.	Seasoning for meats especially pork; herb teas.
THYME Thymus species	8-12"	12"	Light soil, well-drained. Renew every 2 to 3 years. Grow from cuttings or division. Sun.	Aromatic foliage for seasoning meats, soups, sauces, and dressings. Many varieties including lemon, orange, nutmeg, and woolly.

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soil temperatures

SOIL TEMPERATURE CONDITION FOR VEGETABLE SEED GERMINATION1 VEGETABLE MIN. (°F) RANGE (°F) OPTIMUM (°F) MAX (°F) DAYS TO GERMINATION ASPARAGUSa 50° 60° - 85° 75° 95° 21 - 30 BEANd 60° 60° - 85° 80° 95° 7 - 14 BEAN LIMAe 60° 65° - 85° 85° 85° 10 - 14 BEETb 40° 50° - 85° 85° 95° 7 - 14 CABBAGEa, b 40° 45° - 95° 85° 100° 7 - 10 CARROTb 40° 45° - 85° 80° 95° 10 - 21 CAULIFLOWERa, b 40° 45° - 85° 80° 100° 3 - 10 CELERYa 40° 60° - 70° 70° 85° 14 - 21 CHARD SWISSb 50° 50° - 85° 85° 95° 7 - 14 CORNd 50° 60° - 95° 95° 105° 7 - 10 CUCUMBERc, d 60° 75° - 95° 95° 105° 7 - 10 EGGPLANTc 60° 40° - 80° 85° 95° 7 - 12 LETTUCEa 35° 40° - 80° 75° 85° 7 - 14 MUSKMELONe 60° 75° - 95° 90° 100° 7 - 10 OKRAe 60° 70° - 95° 95° 105° 8 - 12 ONIONa 35° 50° - 95° 75° 95° 10 - 14 PARSLEYb 40° 50° - 85° 75° 90° 10 - 21 PARSNIPb 35° 50° - 70° 65° 85° 14 - 21 PEAb 40° 40° - 75° 75° 85° 8 - 10 PEPPERc 60° 65° - 95° 85° 95° 14 - 21 PUMPKINd 60° 70° - 90° 95° 100° 7 - 10 RADISHb 40° 45° - 90° 95° 95° 3 - 7 SPINACHb 35° 45° - 75° 70° 85° 7 - 10 SQUASHd 60° 70° - 95° 95° 100° 9 - 12 TOMATOc 59° 60° - 85° 85° 95° 5 - 14 TURNIPb 40° 60° - 105° 85° 105° 6 - 7 WATERMELONe 60° 70° - 95° 95° 105° 7 - 10

1Compiled by J.F. Harrington, Dept. of Vegetable Crops, University of California, Davis. 2Daily fluctuation to 60° or lowers at night is essential

aHardy vegetables to grow as transplants. bHardy vegetables for direct seeding. cTender vegetables to grow as transplants. dTender vegetables for direct seeding. eTender vegetables for direct seeding, 2 weeks after last frost.

Planting center bed main garden

Good morning
So this day begins with planting a trellis to grow the winter squash vertically.
After watching several U Tube video's This sounds like a great way to go.
The trellis still needs a little repair but it is in. It will yet need to be secured and made to be a little more sound for the squash will become very heavy.
The trellis was a gift from my husbands folks...

Study! now the summer squash do not need to have the seeds soaked overnight
However the winter do, as do the peas and beans.

Center bed has a long list of seeds going in.

Beginning far north center bed.
the sunflowers went in yesterday...
Then

Squash Winter Vegetable Spaghetti cucurbita maxima HEIRLOOM
90 days due....
Some sprouted Aug 13

The other side of the trellis will be
Butternut a gift from the earth last year unknown variety

The hill is
Pumpkin big Max Cucurbita maxima
120 day due.....
Sprouted Aug 13

Down center three rows 12 inches apart
Corn Sweet (se) Bodacious Lea Mays var rugosa (hybird)
75 days Due....
A few sprouted Aug 13

Outer edge along both long sides
Cosmo Bright Lights Blend Cosmos Sulphureus
HEIRLOOM
Three foot tall butterflies

Outer edge to the right (e)
Bean Pole Blue Lake Phaseolus vulgaris
60 days due....
Some more to transplant soaked and inoculated in kitchen widow sill still growing Aug 16

Front of bed on pea poles
Pea Shelling Progress #9 Pisum sativum HEIRLOOM
58 day due 2nd wk of Oct.
Not planted yet still growing in inoculate at window sill to be transplanted
Aug 16th

Under the peas
Turnip Purple Top White Globe Brassisa rapa HEIRLOOM
50 day due last wk of Sept.
Not planted yet

Undecided due to space
carrot and radish


chopped the clods and mixed int the mulch/manure

mixed in compost too

Gardeners gold!
This is a good yield happily
It was a bit too neglected during the bad heat...

so rich!

Here I amended again with my mixture (see yesterdays post) NO NITROGEN this is a low nitro bed.

Using the window This image shoes the corn row ending.

The cosmos will keep the corn safe and add pollinators
*BEE BLISS*

Going on three hours of labor and the heat is too much for me.

Peas, squash and beans
seeds to soak overnight.
Tomorrow is another day in the garden this one is heading inside.

Cucumber,squash,radish to seed,carrot,chive and basil with nasturtiums around. Sunflowers at head of center bed to shade.

Well there ya go them's the plans for the far north bed of the main plot
:)
The soil has had a load of horse manure and mulch mix.
Earth was turned and broken up.
Levels were made and a recessed bed established for water conservation.
This is a low nitrogen bed

Time for seed.
My dead line for planting this bed was 8/15
It is in on 8/6
hooah!

On Monday I gleaned the free page of craigs list found mulch and then found horse manure all for free.
A little gas for the truck and a lot of sweat and effort.
My Darling husband helped me night before last to empty the truck
Our method was two parts mulch in the wheelbarrow and then one of the bags of manure. Two more parts mulch mixed in the wheel barrow.
As he was doing that I took fork to earth and turned and hoe to earth to break clods.

This is the last of it for the raised bed took a lot of it and the center main plot bed the rest, after the north end had it's fill.
The East wall of the main plot will use up the rest of this.

Raised beds need to be mixed up so the soil and mulched manure is not in layers.

Here is the plan Stan...:) harhar

After study on the needs of cucumbers and squash I began in earnest to get the seed in.

The companion charts told me what would enjoy each others company.
Also the study of nitrogen needs matched things up.
The blue high lighted page is the companion guide

HERE I go!

Cucumber needs be hilled up as does the zucchini

I love this tree it was to be used as a gift project that never occurred
I dig it in and set it up as a trellis of sorts

Following my plan that was based upon many hours of research.

click on image to enlarge

Left to right

far left outer edge and back of the cube is
Japanese Soyu Burpless Cucumis sativus
HEIRLOOM 65 DAY due 2nd wk of Oct.
sprouted Aug. 13th

Hilled in the center of the left side is
Black Beauty Zucchini Cucurbita pepo
HEIRLOOM 55 DAY due 1st wk of Oct.
Sprouted Aug. 13

Center hilled on each side of the trellis is
Cucumber Marketmore Cucumis Sativus
60 DAY due 2nd wk of Oct.
a few sprouted Aug. 13

Flanking the zucchini in the furrow is
Carrot Asian New Kuroda Daucus carota var sativus
HEIRLOOM 75 DAY due 3rd week of Oct.

Horse shooed around the Marketmore is
Chives common Sllium Schoenoprasum
HEIRLOOM on going

At the head of the center row planted to shade the cucumber
Sunflower Mammoth Grey Stripe Helianthus annuus
HEIRLOOM emerges 10-15 days


Far right side

Around the back wall toward the right behind the tree too
Cucumber Homemade Pickles Cucumis Sativus
55 DAY due 1st wk of Oct.
Sprouted Aug 13 only one or two

At the foot of the tree and in the hollow there is
Squash Summer Scallop (Patty Pan) Blend Cucurbita Pepo
HEIRLOOM 55 DAY due 1st wk of Oct.
Many Sprouted Aug. 13

Along the front edge right side is
Basil Italian Large Leaf Ocimum basilicum
HEIRLOOM on going


Now scattered at each corner are a few
Radish Cherry Belle Raphanus sativus
HEIRLOOM 24 DAY due 1st week of Sept let go to seed...

These will be left to seed to attract insects off of the cucumbers and squash.

Scattered at wall edge all the way around
Nasturtium Jewel Mixed for pollination
due mid Sept.

*BEE BLISS*

As I was just a half an hour out from completion I heard thunder.
I was so focused in deep thought and prayer (my thing while in the garden) it surprised me

By photographing the beds I will have a permanent record of seed set.

NEVER STEP ON YOUR SOIL!
see the board this is straddled and then used to step on.
It diffuses the weight and keeps soil loose.

see the drops on the plank :)
Seed Packets are now safe from weather.

About this time My Boy came out to see me

The tin cans on the stakes two fold purpose to keep your eye safe and to keep the birds uneasy when they light nothing says get out of my garden like a tipping can shifting under the bird.

Although the center bed had more to break up I rapped it up and the tinkle of drops began to come.
I felt a big hug for the prayers of the morning were deep and personal
My heart being dug and hoed like that soil becoming more fertile for the seeds being sown within me. There is a time for all things.

As I sat a spell I watched as my boy set up a track an obstacle course to play with his car on. Now funny thing when your in the garden and time slows...You see so many deeper lessons. You see even in obstacles the planks had to be set just right in order for the greater pit falls to be avoided. He had to make sure the board were set up just right to make the course run as directed.
God must be pretty busy teaching and building things up to set us just right to make it through the obstacles we each face.

Well I gathered the books and papers, seed packets and camera and was off to the porch when.

It began JUST THEN to rain lightly
a refreshing sort of very light big drops release.
Sorta like tender tears that fall big when ya see what your suppose to see.

NOTE when I spoke of salting the earth I was speaking in poetic term...I mean to sprinkle the amendments as one would salt.