Garden Update...

 

Handsome and I worked in and around my garden yesterday. It's looking really good. We water it most nights for about a half hour. The marigolds have kept all the bugs away (knock wood), so I know they're doing their job. The white trellis piece keeps Bella away from my tomatoes, as she'd likely pick them all if she had the chance. The fennel I started from seeds is up, too, and everything else is growing beautifully. 

Radishes are mostly done, so I've cleaned up their spot and will plant carrots in their place. I also have a few other seeds I'll be planting today as there's still time on the calendar to harvest before it gets cold again.

We purchased another stock tank, which we installed today. That's where I'm going to plant this year's crop of delicata squash, along with a white pumpkin plant or two. I'll show you where we placed the new tank in tomorrow's post.

 

My sweet peas are growing right up the makeshift trellis I installed. It's actually the stand for multiple hummingbird feeders, but I have all of those hanging higher and closer to the house. I strung garden string from the stand, and the sweet peas are really taking to it.

 

One of the pots has basil that I need to transplant into the garden, and the other has the last of my radishes for this year. I'm going to plant carrots where the pots are, but I put the pots up here to be out of the way while Handsome trimmed the grass in my walkways. I think next year, I'm going to put down cardboard or another barrier, and then pea gravel to clean it up more.

 

 

All my tomato plants (both Romas and Early Girls) are heavily laden with fruit. This is just one large plant, but I put in eight Roma plants and eight EGs, so there will be tomatoes to turn into pizza and spaghetti sauce once they ripen.

 

I'm going to buy 8-10 dozen ears of local sweet corn once it comes in for canning. My green peppers are all fruiting, and I'm going to let some turn red before I harvest them. I also have bush beans that I started from seed. They have lots of blossoms and are beginning to set beans, too. 

 

In separate beds, I have garlic and onions growing, but I didn't plant any potatoes. I figure at $13-$16 for 50 pounds, I can pick those up when I'm in Portage, which is Wisconsin potato country with its sandy soil. The potatoes I purchased there last year were delicious.

 

Sweet Claudette supervised me in the garden, only leaving when we enlisted the tractor to fill my new stock tank with dirt. When we were finally finished for the day, I grabbed a glass of water and sat on the porch - in the shade with a lovely breeze to help me cool off. I found "Dettie" curled up in her favorite chair, and getting a little rest after all that hard work, watching me. Doesn't she look exhausted?

We'll be back in the garden for a little while this morning, as I plant the squash, pumpkin and some carrot seeds. Then, I'm getting ready for some special house guests for the next couple days. They'll be here late, late on Thursday and leave Friday afternoon. I'll explain why the visit is short on Saturday, as I can't spoil a surprise.

It was too nice to stitch today, but I'll share my progress as soon as I'm able. This time of year, it's so difficult to decide...outside or inside? I love my outdoor time, but I do get itchy if I go too long without my needlework. You know I have to keep my hands busy, so I promise you'll see something new any day.

Happy Hump Day!