Over the weekend we checked on the garden. We harvested several green peppers and then pulled the plant out, it was done. We removed the last of the cherry tomato plant after plucking a few gems. The potatoes looked dead-Tropical Storm Lee and that weird spinning storm from Chicago provided a bit too much water-I pulled the plants and got 3 potatoes. I think it's really cool, because we cut up a few spuds that had outlived their shelf life and ended up with 3, albeit small, beautiful potatoes. It's a learning experience and I learned to plant them earlier. I also harvested some leaf lettuce.

I planted some daffodil bulbs, some foxglove that I grew from seeds and some cabbage seedlings that may or may not develop. The last ones I planted disappeared. Our sugar snap pea plants look beautiful, but there's no sign of flowering yet. The strawberries continue to grow and we have high hopes for a nice yield next year. One of our favorite items is the Asparagus. Someone dug up their plant and threw it on the compost. We noted the roots were still alive and rescued it. It's growing and spreading and we may get a few stalks come spring. We love free stuff!!

The thorn less blackberry bushes have settled in and are growing slowly. I don't expect much out of them until spring and our area harvests blackberries in July. We make our out jelly. After years of getting them from the side of the road, this year we went to a farm. After paying the farm, we decided we could buy our own bushes. If we ever leave the garden plot, we'll have to decide if we want to take them with us or give them to the next gardener.

We left the marigolds in and hope to get some seeds from them. Again, the rain didn't really do us any favors. Typically, the flowers die and dry out and viola seeds. Instead of drying out, the flowers just got all brown and mushy.

I say we, because my husband and I tend the garden together. I get to do the fun stuff and he does all the heavy lifting.

The association dumped some wood chips for us to use and my husband brought some down to our garden for the path that separates our 2 planting areas. We had been using leaf mold because we didn't have chips. Well, when he scraped up all the the leaf mold, we added it to the beds. It was beautifully broken down and made the beds look great.

Newness has worn off

Obviously, gardening, for me is a part time job. Like many gardeners, the spring gets me all excited and as time goes on, the fun wears off.

I went by the plot 2 weeks ago. I pulled weeds and pulled out a few spent plants and turned over some of the soil. The fall veggies I had been so excited about got doused by Tropical Storm Lee when we had a once every 500 year rain event-10" I think. I also realized that we really need to amend the soil. The clay is so heavy and with a rented plot, you don't know what was grown there previously so the soil could be - probably is-totally malnourished.

We did put in thorn-less blackberries which appear to be old enough to fruit next summer.  We'll go by this weekend and check the carrots, potatoes and blackberries. Hopefully, there won't be too many weeds.

We Have Carrots!

Last week we planted 2 types of carrots...short ones and long ones. Yesterday a quick trip to the plot revealed successful germination. They only have their "milk leaves" so we will wait to thin them once the next set of leaves appears.

Many years ago we had an old house on an acre and a half. We couldn't really afford to furnish it with the fine antiques it deserved, but we did what we could. It had a new roof and a nice paint job on the outside. We figured out quickly that if we transformed the gardens, the rest didn't matter. We knew that at one point, the house had gardens, so we cleared brush by hand and with Lazarus (my mom's 25 year old lawn mower that wouldn't die). We discovered a terraced garden in the back and the 75 year old daffodil patch.

We created our garden from this.

I knew I wanted flower gardens and that I needed alot of them. I spent the winter months pouring over seed catalogues, going to the library, talking to neighbors. This was before Al Gore invented the internet. I learned everything I needed to be able to grow flowers from seeds, root cuttings, and plant divisions. Luckily, I had neighbors who shared flowers with me. It was during that time that I learned that the first 2 leaves on a plant are called "milk leaves". It seems like it's a reference to infants. It's just one of those little things that is stored in the brain and you wonder "why do I know that" and the lovely memories come flooding back.

No Weed Violations!

Yesterday, my daughter, Liz, told me we could get on a list for a larger plot in the future, but we have to have a year with no weed violations. There is a certain tolerance for weeds in the garden plots. This is 100% organic gardening so there are bound to be the odd weed or two. What Liz meant is that when the weed police come around, the whole garden plot can't be full of weeds. Guess who sends out the weed violation notices? Yes, that's one of Liz's many job duties.

I wish I had a newer picture to share. We have completely mulched our garden with organic leaf mulch and it looks beautiful. I did weed yesterday morning and had a small handful of weeds.

We do have one small area that may have weeds but it's too early to tell. I direct sowed some Foxglove, Poppies and Daisies. The first two have micro seeds which means initial growth is also micro. Since they are so small, I am not sure yet what is weed and what is successful germination, so I am leaving them alone until they get the 2nd or 3rd set of leaves. Then I will be able to identify the flowers vs weeds. I've never really direct sown in regular garden soil. I've always dug out a trench and filled it with store bought good quality potting mix. It's usually finer than regular dirt very distinctive. I always did this so that I would know where my seedlings were. We have decided to embrace the organic way and see what happens. I just hope I can figure out what are flowers and what are weeds before the weed police arrive!

HOT HOT HOT

We haven't been to the garden plot today, but our early morning there yesterday was quite surprising.

Everything has grown in spite of the intense heat. We expected to see some signs of heat stress, but everything is thriving.

After our initial planting of cucumbers, tomatoes, watermelon, one yellow squash plant, herbs and marigolds (they keep bugs away from the tomatoes) I realized, I would like some zuchini. I was at Home Depot and found one scrawny forgotten plant and bought it anyway. It is now twice the size and has flowers.

We met a fellow gardener, Prince, and he offered to let me pick some red currants to make jelly. He has been gardening there for quite some time.

Bike to the Garden Plot-How Green is That

This morning, we got up early and rode our bikes to the garden plot. We had pre positioned our plant purchases yesterday and returned this morning to put them in the ground.

We have 3 bell peppers, and 3 tomatoes, a melon plant, a strawberry plant and rosemary.
The strawberry may not produce this year, but it has lots of shoots we can nurture for next year.
After we planted, we used the community leaf mulch to mulch down our plants to shade the roots and keep the weeds down.

We are heading back this evening by car because we are bringing Richard's mother with us and going to the pool next to the plot after we plant some seeds.

Garden Day 3

Three days ago we were given a garden plot in Reston. We live in a townhouse in the shade so it's been rather challenging having home grown summer veggies.

Reston has some sunny garden spots for rent and we finally got one. When we arrived 2 days ago, there were 3' weeds. Our spring had been dragging along, with 60 degrees days, a 70 degree day, then back. All of sudden it's in the mid 80s, just in time for us to dig our plot.

We worked for a couple of hours yesterday and got a good start at turning over the soil. Richard had started some cucumbers in a flower pot, so we planted those. I have read that they really don't like their roots disturbed, but I figured it was worth the gamble. When I stopped by this morning, I expected to see droopy plants, but I swear they grew overnight. They love it there.

Also, while I was there this morning, I finished the patch I was working on yesterday. All the soil has to be turned over. Richard was able to start mine and finish his. I was able to finish mine this morning. By the time I was done, I felt as though I had been to the gym. Maybe this is a good thing...a work out and reward of healty food!

When we lived in Germany, we used to ride bikes past the garden plots. The Germans keep them in the family and build little houses on them and put lace curtains in the windows. One of my favorites had the most spectacular apple trees. The guy pruned them meticulously. The secret is to get just enough apples. If you don't prune enough, you get alot of little apples. The trees were pruned so you could pick them without a ladder. I admired that garden plot.

Anyway, our garden is nothing as spectacular as the German ones. However, I have already met several people and have had a good time looking at what others are growing. Once we get the heavy digging and planting finished, we can ride our bikes to water and pick veggies.