Garden Update May 28 2021
I got busy for a couple weeks and haven’t posted in a bit. The plants grow either way. Onwards!
On Their Last Legs
It is now FINALLY warm as we would expect for Spring. Most of my plants are enjoying the change, but the spinach and lettuce greens are beginning to wilt and bolt. We’ll probably only have them for another couple weeks.
Herbs & Potted Plants
My herbs are doing a lot better. I’ve got:
- Thyme (growing in yard, hopefully as an perennial)
- English Lavender (also growing in yard, near the thyme, as an perennial)
- Basil
- Rosemary
- Mint (growing on my front porch)
- Green onions
The annual herbs (plus celery that I’m trying to grow):
Almost time for salsa:
I also recently picked up a jalapeno plant from a local nursery. He’s doing… fine. No blooms yet, but appears to be growing normally.
A tale of two lavenders:
An update on the two lavender plants (are they herbs? We’ll say they are). I planted one up front next to my porch in clay soil, and another in my backyard in a sandy dry streambed, just to see which would do better, as a science experiment. I think one is starting to pull ahead of the other.
Pathetic virgin lavender in regular dirt.
Alpha chad lavender in sandy soil. (Also pictured: a creeping thyme plant)
Potatoes
Another science experiment update! This year I’m growing potatoes both in ground + in grow bags, to see which does better. Thus far the grow bag method seems to be producing more vines for me:
I’ve got five 15-pound growbags and all of them are sprouting beautifully. In a few weeks the vines should start flowering which means they can be harvested. Meanwhile, in ground…
The in-ground potatoes are just now starting to sprout up out of the hay. I was actually concerned that all the rain we had earlier this spring rotted the seed potatoes out, but they are hanging on it looks like. We can’t count these out yet but I still suspect the growbags will produce more food in the long run.
The Cardboard Beds
The good news: the cardboard beds do seem to be keeping (most) of the weeds at bay! The bad news: the edges of the beds are chaotic where the grass struggles to get through. I will likely need to rethink how I’m doing this for next year lol.
Zucchini and Cucumbers
This bed is growing zucchini and cucumbers. I lost a few plants to the late frosts (RIP in peace) but the rest seem to have recovered.
Eventually I’d like to add woodchips to the black fabric to make paths throughout this area and the entire yard; but that’s a longer term project. I did get in touch with a local arborist who needs to dump some chips (for free!), but haven’t gotten any just yet.
PUMPKINS, OMG PUMPKINS
I threw some pumpkin seeds onto a cardboard bed I set up a few weeks ago. I was not expecting this level of germination, but they are doing excellent:
We may end up with a small pumpkin patch in one corner of the yard if this continues. The spiritual successors of Lt. Dangle; may they be more fruitful. I have higher hopes for pollination this year considering the amount of bees and bugs I have around the yard:
Look at him he loves whatever this plant is
Orchard / Fruit Production
Established Apple Trees
I have five small apple trees on the back part of the property. I was told they didn’t produce much but I’m happy to see the beginnings of life on them this year. I have no idea what kind of apple trees they are, probably some kind of mini green apple?
Honeycrisp Apple Trees
More excitingly, I have ordered my first fruit trees: Honeycrisp Apples. This variety is supposed to do fairly well in our climate (Zone 6), per the University of Kentucky. I had originally wanted to do Liberty Apples which are more disease-hardy, but Honeycrisp saplings were available and are delicious. Hopefully they do ok; if everything goes well I will start getting harvests in the next 3-5 years.
Blackberries Everywhere
Step into my office:
The blackberries are EXPLODING. We have gazillions of them that have been in bloom for the past few weeks. The blooms are starting to fade away now:
To be replaced by BERRIES:
I am going out daily to check on these to check for ripening in an attempt to beat the birds to them lol. With any luck I’ll be able to grab a few cups to try my hand at making blackberry jam. (I made freezer jam for the first time last year, but I want to try the shelf stable stuff).
Next Projects
My husband and I are discussing picking up a small tiller soon; though it’s unlikely we’ll get as much use out of it this year. We want to planted corn and it’s a bit late now. I think the phrase is “knee high by July” and it’s almost June, ALAS.
We are also wanting to set up a support system for grapes soonish. My mom has some old posts we can use but I need to drive out and get them. Far more preferable to use her cast offs than to try and source new lumber right now lol.
I am also desperate for tomato plants but am only just now feeling comfortable with our temp range to put them out. I will need to get those planted soon.
MORE TO COME.