Deep sigh of contentment

[TanksHill]

Ok s I thought the turnips were beets. They kinda looked like beets. anyways everything looks great. I was thinking about our converted newly built pantry/bedroom yesterday. That was you right? How's it coming along?


gina

 

[Ldychef2k]

Don't worry about the tunips. I'm not !

I am having to wait to be able to afford the tech to come move my complicated work-related internet from my office/pantry to my bedroom. I have to move my bed, which is a big event (on stilts, lots of storage including 25 blankets on top of the mattress). So, once that gets done, i can build the rest of the shelving and black out the windows.

Thanks for asking !

 

[Mackay]

Ldychef, well, here we are may 9, Mother's Day. I just found your thread.

Wondering how things are going. This year will be my first real garden also. I have worked on other peoples gardens and coopertive gardens.... but this will be my first.

I am wondering if adding a mineral soil ammendment will help with some of the problems you are having. But all in all things look like they are coming along. I do think potatoes need to be well drained. For some reason I don't think the chemicals in those buckest will be too much of a problem, espceially if it is some type of clorine product. It will dissapate.

We haven't even planted anything yet. We are not quite out of winter... I am working on preping the soil

I was actually looking for that thread where you discussed your roof problems... How is all that going?

 

[Ldychef2k]

Hi ! Thanks for asking.

Let's see. The roof. I have about 1/3 the money I need for the materials. Habitat will be starting the work soon, I hope. We need a city inspection first, and I haven't heard a word in a couple of weeks. Once that is done, the work can begin. If I don't raise the total amount they need, they will put a lien on the house and I pay it off monthly.

The garden is going very well. I have a little less than 1/4th of it left to plant, which will be giant pumpkins and watermelon. I hope to get that done this week.

You were right about the minerals. The potatoes in the buckets were lacking in nitrogen. I gave them some fertilizer tea and the new growth is very healthy. I have dumped three of the dying ones and ended up with 20 to 25 medium to large potatoes in each bucket. The ones in the ground, my DGD10 and I have dug up a few for dinners when she has been here, and they are just delicious. I planted 21 in ground and now have 36 plants. I planted 15 buckets, and have 10 left. Counting from the plant date, I ought to be able to harvest June 1 for the buckets and July 1 for the in ground.

I have 20 sweet potato plants, and all are doing very well. I had two original taters sprouting, got my 20, gave 16 away, and still had ten left, which I rehomed this morning!!!

I have harvested almost all of the turnips and the spinach. Carrots are almost ready, and I have 15 or so bush pea plants that are heavy with pods right now.

I have a significant zucchini crop. 12 plants with 6 to 10 squash per. Am also growing patty pan, butternut, acorn, yellow straight neck, yellow crook neck, delicata, and am starting a sweet potato squash indooors.

I have very satisfying yin yang and black bean plants. I wish I had room to plant more.

I planted 50 peppers, several varieties at different times in order to stagger pollination. I hope half of them produce !

I have 72 corn stalks at 12-15", will be rototilling the second "field" in a day or two. That will be planted to red sweet corn.

For the kids, I have planted 20 mammoth sunflowers.

We are using onions out of the garden now, and garlic is about half way there.

Marigolds and dahlias are opening up nicely and we have bees.

Yesterday, I cleaned out another 40 feet or so of former flower beds in partial shade and planted herbs, kale, and Swiss chard. It may be late, but I like to push the envelope.

I realized as I am typing this that I gave more information than you asked for. Sorry ! But it was a good exercise in inventorying!

I have been bitten HARD by the gardening bug. I have killed off another portion of my back yard, about 30 x 50 and will keep it under black plastic this summer. My goal is to have enough raised beds so that I can dedicate one crop to each. I have three right now, have the beginnings of five more in the garden area, and another eight in the yard I am prepping over the summer. I have clay loam, which I amend with sand, compost and topsoil, and it seems to be doing very well. At least as far as I know !

I guess you didn't expect an essay ! SURPRISE ! LOL.

What do you plan to plant? Such a short growing season, I can't imagine who you will pick. Would love to know !