Busy as a bee
Friday, April 30, 2010
Bee lifts off from Rosemary
Whoa, it's been a busy couple of days... not one to miss a post, I shall leave you with this photo and a promise of an extra post this weekend! :)
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
Raised Bed Gardening, Part One
Looks like it'll be warm enough to put those tomatoes in the ground in early May... er, which is just a week away! Always one to do things at the last minute, I spent the weekend putting in the two raised beds.
First step: Deciding Placement & Size
I'd like to say that I spent lots of time finding the perfect location for the raised beds, but really there was only one spot to put 'em (the empty side yard), and they could only be so big. I did check to see how much direct sunlight the beds would get, and it amounts to about 4.75 hours that the entire bed is covered... tomatoes need 6, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Who knows, maybe the plants will branch out enough to gather a few more rays.
Anyway, the rules to go by:
- Bed can be as long as you want, but no more than 4 feet wide (makes it hard to reach into the center)
- Keep 3 feet of space minimum between beds, so that there's enough space for you to comfortably get in between beds for easy harvesting
- Place in area not shaded by trees/houses/fencing, on level ground
Second Step: Acquire the Parts
Here's what we found at Ace Hardware, for 2 2'x5' beds:
- Redwood 2"x6" boards (redwood is rot-resistant, which is important, and also lovely)... cut into 4 5' and 4 2' pieces
- Redwood 1"x1" post... cut into 8 6" pieces
- Wood screws... 32 (4 per corner)
- Copper tape... 2 rolls (for a slug barrier)
Third Step: Assembly
As luck would have it, my husband morphed into his hunky and shirtless alter-ego, Man With Power Tools, and swooped in to save the day. I would have just screwed the boards together, which leads to instability.
Husband's words of wisdom:
- Revv the Power Tool, cackle maniacally
- Arrange your wood... use a support post in the corners, or metal brackets for extra support
- Drill guide holes for the screws... smaller than the width of the screws (this'll keep the wood from splitting, and will keep the screw straight as it enters the wood)
- Guzzle some homemade Perfect Sun Tea which was prepared for the occasion
- Screw in the screws... 2-inch wood screws (we had some left over from the dismantling of our old bed)
- Apply copper tape around top edge to prevent slugs & snails from eating all your veggies
- Rejoice!
First step: Deciding Placement & Size
I'd like to say that I spent lots of time finding the perfect location for the raised beds, but really there was only one spot to put 'em (the empty side yard), and they could only be so big. I did check to see how much direct sunlight the beds would get, and it amounts to about 4.75 hours that the entire bed is covered... tomatoes need 6, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Who knows, maybe the plants will branch out enough to gather a few more rays.
Anyway, the rules to go by:
- Bed can be as long as you want, but no more than 4 feet wide (makes it hard to reach into the center)
- Keep 3 feet of space minimum between beds, so that there's enough space for you to comfortably get in between beds for easy harvesting
- Place in area not shaded by trees/houses/fencing, on level ground
Second Step: Acquire the Parts
Here's what we found at Ace Hardware, for 2 2'x5' beds:
- Redwood 2"x6" boards (redwood is rot-resistant, which is important, and also lovely)... cut into 4 5' and 4 2' pieces
- Redwood 1"x1" post... cut into 8 6" pieces
- Wood screws... 32 (4 per corner)
- Copper tape... 2 rolls (for a slug barrier)
A little something like this
Third Step: Assembly
As luck would have it, my husband morphed into his hunky and shirtless alter-ego, Man With Power Tools, and swooped in to save the day. I would have just screwed the boards together, which leads to instability.
Husband's words of wisdom:
- Revv the Power Tool, cackle maniacally
- Arrange your wood... use a support post in the corners, or metal brackets for extra support
- Drill guide holes for the screws... smaller than the width of the screws (this'll keep the wood from splitting, and will keep the screw straight as it enters the wood)
- Guzzle some homemade Perfect Sun Tea which was prepared for the occasion
- Screw in the screws... 2-inch wood screws (we had some left over from the dismantling of our old bed)
- Apply copper tape around top edge to prevent slugs & snails from eating all your veggies
- Rejoice!
The posts go here!
I think the copper tape adds just the right hint of steampunk.
Stay tuned for more raised bed stuff, for the next post will be how to fill your bed... it's a lot more complicated than one would think!
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Friday, April 23, 2010
Bloom
Look what's been happening while I've been distracted by garlic and worms!
The apple tree has begun to flower... I'm surprised that there are more flower buds than leaves!
I was told that these vines were "decorative grapes"... but after seeing these flowers my father thinks it's a wisteria.
Can anybody identify these tiny flowers?
The crocus opens
A daffodil is getting ready
Apple beginnings
The apple tree has begun to flower... I'm surprised that there are more flower buds than leaves!
The whole porch will be doused in purple soon
I was told that these vines were "decorative grapes"... but after seeing these flowers my father thinks it's a wisteria.
These seemed to pop up all at once!
Can anybody identify these tiny flowers?
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
Itching for Action
I want to get these raised beds in sooooo badly! There are numerous things standing in my way... husband stuck in another country due to a volcano (I promised to do the building with him), a cast on my foot for a torn tendon (makes the digging awkward), lack of an appropriately-sized shovel. It is suddenly bright, warm, sunny weather, and I needed to do something this weekend though!
Instead, I have trimmed back all the plants that had started to intrude on the stone pathway... barberry, something that attracts hummingbirds but smells horrible on your clothes, some large grass-thing, and very very overgrown lavender. I should have done it before their growth spurt began, and I did a little bit, but I had NO idea how much they'd spill over once they got started! It's always so hard for me to cut back plants because I feel like I must be hurting them, but this time I felt strangely inspired (cabin fever?) and it was very easy. The only thing that needed massive trimming which I left alone is the rosemary... I need to start cooking with it before it becomes sentient, or at least cut and dry some once the weather gets a bit warmer.
At the end of my trimming expedition, I turned around to see a grey-haired lady in a blue-purple (with pink highlights) muumuu staring blankly at me. I blinked, and she was gone. .... I need to remember to stay hydrated after a few hours of sweating in the sun! Hahaha.... haha....... ha. Ahem.
I also weeded quite a bit... after a month of weed neglect, they were trying to take over! I had at least kept everything around the zucchini plucked though, except for two plants that I thought looked like scarlet pimpernel, which was my favorite flower during early childhood. Turns out I was right:
What were you up to this weekend?
Instead, I have trimmed back all the plants that had started to intrude on the stone pathway... barberry, something that attracts hummingbirds but smells horrible on your clothes, some large grass-thing, and very very overgrown lavender. I should have done it before their growth spurt began, and I did a little bit, but I had NO idea how much they'd spill over once they got started! It's always so hard for me to cut back plants because I feel like I must be hurting them, but this time I felt strangely inspired (cabin fever?) and it was very easy. The only thing that needed massive trimming which I left alone is the rosemary... I need to start cooking with it before it becomes sentient, or at least cut and dry some once the weather gets a bit warmer.
Trimmed the barberry by at least 1/2 its width, but not by height (1/3rd of the height is new growth this spring already). It used to be all red, but after the trim you can see a lovely gradation from green to red tips. This thing is thorny, thank goodness for leather-palmed gardening gloves!
At the end of my trimming expedition, I turned around to see a grey-haired lady in a blue-purple (with pink highlights) muumuu staring blankly at me. I blinked, and she was gone. .... I need to remember to stay hydrated after a few hours of sweating in the sun! Hahaha.... haha....... ha. Ahem.
I also weeded quite a bit... after a month of weed neglect, they were trying to take over! I had at least kept everything around the zucchini plucked though, except for two plants that I thought looked like scarlet pimpernel, which was my favorite flower during early childhood. Turns out I was right:
I have such a weak spot for scarlet pimpernel. <3 They're such an unusual blend of cheery color.
What were you up to this weekend?
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Friday, April 16, 2010
The Worm Whisperer
I promised you a special video, and here it is!
Whilst rapidly digging holes for the planting of 75 garlic cloves the other day, worms started just pouring out of the ground! I decided to replicate this strange phenomenon for your video, though it was difficult to predict where the worms would rise, and there were much fewer worms (presumably because it had rained less and the soil was more dry). This is the result, and to make up for poor quality I added music to express the worm's mood. Enjoy! :)
According to the internet, "fiddling for worms" is a type of vibration that brings worms to the surface. Usually it involves putting a post in the ground, and then sawing across the top of it. Two species of bird and turtle are known to stomp the ground with their feet to draw up the worms. It used to be assumed that worms thought the vibrations were moles (which LOVE worms) and so they tried to escape above ground, but in places that have no mole-like creatures (like parts of Ireland), worms present the same behavior. Worms are really fascinating creatures... to me, at least! :)
Whilst rapidly digging holes for the planting of 75 garlic cloves the other day, worms started just pouring out of the ground! I decided to replicate this strange phenomenon for your video, though it was difficult to predict where the worms would rise, and there were much fewer worms (presumably because it had rained less and the soil was more dry). This is the result, and to make up for poor quality I added music to express the worm's mood. Enjoy! :)
According to the internet, "fiddling for worms" is a type of vibration that brings worms to the surface. Usually it involves putting a post in the ground, and then sawing across the top of it. Two species of bird and turtle are known to stomp the ground with their feet to draw up the worms. It used to be assumed that worms thought the vibrations were moles (which LOVE worms) and so they tried to escape above ground, but in places that have no mole-like creatures (like parts of Ireland), worms present the same behavior. Worms are really fascinating creatures... to me, at least! :)
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Storm!
Oh my, it's been so windy that the largest Japanese maple fell over... 3 times. That's it, the pot cannot sit on the gravel in the center of the stone path circle, it is doomed to the pebbled concrete of the porch. Poor thing.
The fall of the tree also crushed a bunch of onion tops, but they're pretty hardy and they'll definitely be back.
I had released a bunch of giant earthworms in the backyard that I had received from a friend (long story), and it was fun to see them again.
This tiny branch was the only maple casualty.
The fall of the tree also crushed a bunch of onion tops, but they're pretty hardy and they'll definitely be back.
The earthworms were out during the rain, searching for mates. This one was stretched to 9 inches long!
I had released a bunch of giant earthworms in the backyard that I had received from a friend (long story), and it was fun to see them again.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Garlic, Garlic Everywhere
After seeing how amazingly well the onions are doing, I was tempted to grow garlic too! I used much the same procedure as with the onions, just pressing my trowel into the mulch, wiggling it to reach the soil underneath about 2 inches, plopping it in with the pointy side up (root side down), and pressing the hole closed. All this wiggling had a VERY unexpected result... I will try to replicate this and take a video for you.
I broke off the largest of the cloves on about 6 different bulbs (the larger the clove, the larger the bulb that is supposed to grow from it, and keep the skin on when planting), and ended up with 75 cloves planted 2-3 inches deep. 25 of those are smaller cloves planted very close together for use as garlic greens in stir-fries, and 50 are destined to be braided and hung for storage (neither of which I have ever attempted to do)... that is, if they work out!
All those little sap-sucking vampires (aphids!) are repelled by garlic, so I have placed the cloves in some potted lettuce, and in a row like sentinels around the more delicate seedlings for protection.
Garlic is actually very winter-hardy and likes a long cold spell before growing its greens, so I am theoretically starting my garlic much too late in the season. Next year I'll plant them on the winter solstice (shortest day of the year), and harvest on the summer solstice (longest day)... lore says that's how you're supposed to do it, and I'd like to see if it improves the quality of the garlic. Plus, it'll give me something gardeny to do in winter.
Here's my favorite way to eat garlic! And yes, that means I have finally started up Leaves In My Cup.
Garlic in a wiggled trowel hole
I broke off the largest of the cloves on about 6 different bulbs (the larger the clove, the larger the bulb that is supposed to grow from it, and keep the skin on when planting), and ended up with 75 cloves planted 2-3 inches deep. 25 of those are smaller cloves planted very close together for use as garlic greens in stir-fries, and 50 are destined to be braided and hung for storage (neither of which I have ever attempted to do)... that is, if they work out!
All those little sap-sucking vampires (aphids!) are repelled by garlic, so I have placed the cloves in some potted lettuce, and in a row like sentinels around the more delicate seedlings for protection.
The most precocious of the cloves looks pretty delicate.
Garlic is actually very winter-hardy and likes a long cold spell before growing its greens, so I am theoretically starting my garlic much too late in the season. Next year I'll plant them on the winter solstice (shortest day of the year), and harvest on the summer solstice (longest day)... lore says that's how you're supposed to do it, and I'd like to see if it improves the quality of the garlic. Plus, it'll give me something gardeny to do in winter.
Here's my favorite way to eat garlic! And yes, that means I have finally started up Leaves In My Cup.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Zen Frog
There's a new feature on the blog, to the left of the posts: Zen Frog's Weekly Wisdom. He'll dispense new information every week, though I can't guarantee it'll be useful advice.
His photo will change as the seasons do, so you'll get a chance to see what the current weather's like here in the garden.
Zen Frog meditates under the barberry out of the rain
His photo will change as the seasons do, so you'll get a chance to see what the current weather's like here in the garden.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Flower Surprise!
The schedule for this blog is Monday/Wednesday/Friday... but I just couldn't help posting a quick note, because otherwise I wouldn't be able to show you everything in a timely manner! Look what popped up a bit ago:
Two of the Japanese maples had been in the care of an aunt for the past two years, and we put them in the backyard as soon as we moved to a place that actually HAS a backyard. There was something special waiting for us in one of the pots that came out when we moved them to the right level of sun. I asked her what they are, and she said they are crocuses... and that she'd planted a few other surprises. Hello, spring!
Do you have any flowers in your garden yet?
Purple buds
Two of the Japanese maples had been in the care of an aunt for the past two years, and we put them in the backyard as soon as we moved to a place that actually HAS a backyard. There was something special waiting for us in one of the pots that came out when we moved them to the right level of sun. I asked her what they are, and she said they are crocuses... and that she'd planted a few other surprises. Hello, spring!
Do you have any flowers in your garden yet?
Friday, April 9, 2010
The Trees Wake
Everything was bare, and then suddenly, POOF!... there really is life in these trees.
The previous owners of the property took great care of this tree, and I hear rumors that the fruit is delicious... but I do not know what kind of apples it makes! This very first pouf of leaves is pretty adorable and makes me excited for things to come.
From all the suspicious nut shells on the ground under this tree, I'm guessing this must be an almond.
My husband's Japanese maple has spread its hilariously multicolored wings. This was a pretty sudden transformation!
Since everything is waking up, it is definitely time to get those raised beds put in to let the compost settle until the temperature's right for planting. Maybe that'll be my weekend project. Hooray!
One tree blinks sleepily in the bright light.
The previous owners of the property took great care of this tree, and I hear rumors that the fruit is delicious... but I do not know what kind of apples it makes! This very first pouf of leaves is pretty adorable and makes me excited for things to come.
One tree yawns and stretches to energize its limbs.
One tree pulls on a bright outfit to start the season right.
Since everything is waking up, it is definitely time to get those raised beds put in to let the compost settle until the temperature's right for planting. Maybe that'll be my weekend project. Hooray!
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Monday, April 5, 2010
Farming Plans
My husband had a surprise waiting when I came home... pre-cut untreated 2"x6" redwood boards, redwood mulch, copper tape, tomato cages, and a giant bag of organic compost containing worm castings. What more could a girl ask for?! These are the materials needed for the two 2'x5' raised beds I'm going to make in the side yard (using a few principles of square foot gardening but mostly just going on instinct, and with hopes that there will be enough sun), and it's so hard not to go out there and start it now!
However, this cast on my foot means I need to take a wee bit of a break, so I shall instead regale you with a list of edibles I'm putting in the garden. Each asterisk represents how many square feet I'm planning to devote to each plant in the raised beds... the rest are for pots or random places in the ground.
Veggies:
- Beans, pole, blue lake
- *Carrot, purple dragon
- ***Cucumber, lemon
- Garlic
- Onion, pearl, red/yellow/white
- Pea, snap, mammoth melting
- Pepper, sweet, baby belle
- *Pepper, sweet, gypsy
- **Pepper, hot, habanero
- *Radish, cherry belle
- *Tomato, black krim
- *Tomato, bloody butcher
- *Tomato, mr. stripey
- Tomato, sun gold
- *Tomato, yellow pear
- Zucchini, raven
Greens:
- *Beet, bull's blood
- Chickweed
- Dandelion
- *Lettuce: black-seeded simpson
- *Lettuce: "gourmet blend" from Burpee
- *Mustard, tendergreen
- Nasturtium, empress of india
- Nasturtium, spitfire
- ***Swiss Chard, bright lights
Herbs:
- *Basil
- Chives, garlic
- Cilantro/Coriander
- Marjoram
- Oregano
- Passionflower, official
- Peppermint
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Spearmint
- Thyme
- Wormwood
It looks like we'll be having flavorful homegrown salads and salsa in a few months! What are you growing this year?
So empty... so sad
However, this cast on my foot means I need to take a wee bit of a break, so I shall instead regale you with a list of edibles I'm putting in the garden. Each asterisk represents how many square feet I'm planning to devote to each plant in the raised beds... the rest are for pots or random places in the ground.
Veggies:
- Beans, pole, blue lake
- *Carrot, purple dragon
- ***Cucumber, lemon
- Garlic
- Onion, pearl, red/yellow/white
- Pea, snap, mammoth melting
- Pepper, sweet, baby belle
- *Pepper, sweet, gypsy
- **Pepper, hot, habanero
- *Radish, cherry belle
- *Tomato, black krim
- *Tomato, bloody butcher
- *Tomato, mr. stripey
- Tomato, sun gold
- *Tomato, yellow pear
- Zucchini, raven
Greens:
- *Beet, bull's blood
- Chickweed
- Dandelion
- *Lettuce: black-seeded simpson
- *Lettuce: "gourmet blend" from Burpee
- *Mustard, tendergreen
- Nasturtium, empress of india
- Nasturtium, spitfire
- ***Swiss Chard, bright lights
Herbs:
- *Basil
- Chives, garlic
- Cilantro/Coriander
- Marjoram
- Oregano
- Passionflower, official
- Peppermint
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Spearmint
- Thyme
- Wormwood
It looks like we'll be having flavorful homegrown salads and salsa in a few months! What are you growing this year?
Friday, April 2, 2010
Pearls of Oniony Wisdom
At work we had leftover slightly-sprouted red, white, and yellow pearl onions from an experiment about root tip mitosis. Not one to waste sprouted plants, I took them home and tucked them into the earth wherever I could find space in between ornamental bushes. 18 made it into a pot, and the other 72 are in the ground. Yeah, so maybe I got a little over-enthusiastic. But hey, they say that onions and garlic keep insects away, and as you can see from the week's earlier posts, I can use all the help I can get!
After 3 days, pearl onions reach toward the sun
Upon hearing that I had managed to plant 90 onions in the garden without taking up any prime planting real estate, my mother said, "You crack me up. Sure do take after your grandpa." I take that as a huge compliment... my grandfather is one part farmer, one part deep-sea fisherman, one part stubbornly self-sufficient, and 3 parts awesome. Well, awesome except for that one time he fed me okra that he'd grown and pickled... eeeew, the dill-soaked slime! Reminds me of, well, slugs.
Upon hearing that I had managed to plant 90 onions in the garden without taking up any prime planting real estate, my mother said, "You crack me up. Sure do take after your grandpa." I take that as a huge compliment... my grandfather is one part farmer, one part deep-sea fisherman, one part stubbornly self-sufficient, and 3 parts awesome. Well, awesome except for that one time he fed me okra that he'd grown and pickled... eeeew, the dill-soaked slime! Reminds me of, well, slugs.
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