[gardeners] Wednesday
George Shirley (gardeners@globalgarden.com)
Wed, 18 Feb 1998 19:15:01
Lessee here, planted one each dwarf Kieffer pear, Aprium, Pluot, and
Kumquat today. Used the Mantis to dig the planting holes, just marked off
an area for each and let the little tyke dig its heart out. Used the shovel
to clean the pulverized dirt out and we were ready for the trees. I am very
pleased with the quality of the trees and raspberries we ordered from Stark
Bros. Very healthy appearing stuff and with a neat little book with
planting and care instructions.
In addition they threw in 5 Asiatic lily bulbs as lagniappe, making Miz
Anne happy.
We fertilized the blueberries and all the fruit trees today, it is time.
The blueberries are in full bud with some flowers already opening up. With
all the honey bees, bumbles, and wasps hanging around the garden, feeding
on the favas, we should have no pollenation problems this year.
Tomorrow, if the good weather holds, we will begin ripping out the remnants
of the fall garden. The only thing that will stay will be a couple of
chiles that made it through the winter, the favas (still filling out), and
the shallots, onions, and garlic. The rest will be plowed and readied for
planting. Would you believe that the spaghetti squash, 8 inches tall in the
seed flats, is ready to bloom and putting out tendrils? They sprouted on
January 31st and have been growing like veritable weeds.
As usual I am pleased with the quality of the seeds purchased from
Burpee's, Richters, and Pinetree. I ordered Tumbler tomatoes from Burpee
this year and they are already up about 4 inches, stocky, deep green, and
growing well. This variety was developed to grow in containers and hanging
baskets. I have several hanging baskets that will be filled with potting
medium tomorrow and readied for the Tumblers. In addition we have Yellow
Pear, Homestead, Amish Paste, and Dinner Plate tomato seedlings growing.
They will be potted up to a bigger size tomorrow. The Long Green Louisiana
eggplant seedlings are good looking little fellows and they will be potted
up tomorrow also. The chiles have a ways to go yet but will be potting them
up tomorrow too.
Miz Anne is in the den platting the main garden out and figuring how we
will divvy up the 60X4 strip on the west fence and the 10X4 strip on the
south fence. I'm still working on the 25X25 herb garden, which is where the
new fruit trees are planted.
Life is very good.
George, Anne, and Sleepy Dawg