[gardeners] Saturday in the garden
George Shirley (gardeners@globalgarden.com)
Sat, 24 Feb 2001 13:02:37 -0600
Got up about 4:30 this morning and started washing clothes and cleaning the
kitchen, a weekly or more often chore around here. When dawn cracked the first
time we hit the back door and began the fun part of the day.
We decided spring was here because the oak tree pollen is covering every thing
in the neighborhood so we planted today:
green beans, zucchini, radishes, basil, parsley, camomile, dill, and I started
seeds in 50 4 inch pots for tomatoes, chiles, eggplant, etc. Just in case there
is a late frost I will keep them in the greenhouse.
Generally I start my spring plants on January 15th but a couple of things
conspired to prevent that this year. Number one my spring seed orders went in
late and then weren't delivered on a timely basis due to the spring seed order
rush. The number two reason is that it was cold here until after the so-called
last frost date of February 18.
Before we planted in the main garden today we pulled the last of the broccoli
and cauliflower plants and thinned the carrots somewhat. We ate the thinned
carrots for lunch. We're currently resting, me in particular. I borrowed the
neighbors 12-foot step ladder and got up in the mayhaw tree and had to use the
pruning shears to get the !@#$%^ dried up bindweed out of the top. We're
experiencing 30-40 mph winds today and I was worried the tree was going to blow
over due to the sail effect of the dried up bindweed.
My big mayhaw is currently on the save list as it is totally covered with blooms
this year. I am so pleased with the fruit trees, all but two bloomed this spring
that were supposed to. The Kiefer pear will probably bloom next year and I'm not
sure if the Aprium will ever bloom. I need to hunt for a Blenheim apricot as a
pollenator for it. The Fuyu persimmon will bloom later as it is a fall bearer.
All blooming fruits and berries have had their high nitrogen fertilizer applied
and watered in and I am pruning the Ponderosa lemon. the lemon is terribly
"sprangly" and badly needed a haircut. Didn't realize it but I had another
10-foot lemon underneath it. Dug it out and gave it to the next door neighbor.
Also pulled another four feet of bunching onions and gave them to friends and
neighbors. I can't believe our onion crop this winter, a 24 foot row about 2
feet wide completely full of onions. that doesn't include the ones growing in
the cinder blocks that make up the walls for the raised beds.
The New Zealand spinach has reseeded itself from last year and we have about a
dozen plants growing here and there that got transplanted. I do like that stuff
either fresh and steamed or dehydrated and tossed by the handfulls into soups.
Life is indeed good.
George, Miz Anne, and Sleepy Dawg