So few occupied trays now linger on our dripping patio. There was a time when we could hardly find a place for our own back-sides to convalesce...
Truly we are happy to see our little ones growing up and leaving us for the big wide world, aka Charlie's back yard. Well its bigger than our patio, anyway.
We got down and dirty yesterday in the 2nd and 3rd beds to some surprisingly appropriate Led Zeppelin. We've heard plants like rock 'n roll, and Robert talks a lot about making gardens grow and making the ground rich with tender care. Who'd've guessed? Maybe its in his "Plant" roots.. (Terrible I know but I couldn't help myself
*covering my face in embarrassment*).
I mentioned my love for Excel last time, and here's part of why. We made a fabulously helpful spreadsheet listing everything we've planted and all the particulars we need to keep in mind as we care for them, such as what season and how deep to sow each one, whether we should sow directly into the ground or in a tray, when to transplant, how much "personal space" they need, who they like to neighbor with, and specific tips for each type. We also included sowing dates, transplant dates, and general notes on how its going. Didn't know we were so savvy and organized did ya?
We consult the list every time we are working out the layouts of the beds, and also before putting any different kind of seed or seedling in the ground. We've started to develop our own way of sowing and transplanting by creating a little cozy nook lined with nourishing compost and/or organic potting mix. By leaving the area where we plant them slightly depressed, we envision them being a bit more protected from the environment, as well as directing water to them. We really feel like we're giving them the best homes we can, and sometimes feel a little jealous!
J has been hard at work getting the grounds to a hospitable state. The upper deck, where 4 of the total of 5 beds are located, has a lovely view of the ocean and gets plenty of sun. However, the ocean breezes (gusts) can be pretty harsh, and the soil (sand) has needed lots of attention (amending with compost). J built some great plexiglass barriers to hopefully protect one of the beds, and yesterday we chatted with the owner about getting a fence put up for some overall cover.
To get you up to speed, only 3 of the 5 beds are complete; the other 2 are awaiting soil filling. J contacted a place nearby that sells a pickup truck load of "Garden Mix" for $30 each, and he now has a date with our good friend Tony to do the manly job of hauling a load over to the garden. After mixing that with some the existing stuff and a bit of the "special blend" King Harbor compost, we'll let it settle for about a week before we do anymore planting.
What, you ask, are we now growing? Here's the list:
Cosmic (yes, cosmic) Purple (yes, purple) Carrots
Sugar Ann Snap Peas (growing up beautifully)
Royal Crescent Beans (very fancy)
Good ol' fashioned Broccolli
Honey Butternut Squash
Fancy Lettuce mix (a signature of High Mowing Seeds.com)
Sweet Walla Walla Onions
Red Baron Onions (just barely sprouting on the patio)
Arrow Shell Peas
Long Standing Spinach (Sown yesterday)
Kale
Basil
Nasturtiums
Sage
Marigolds (Just sown yesterday. So far just the African Crackerjack variety, will try the Frenchy kind soon ;)
Night Watchmen (Sown yesterday. Edible dark burgundy flowers...so cool!)
 |
| Ms. Sugar Ann (Snap Pea) |
I think we may have forgotten to tell you about the fabulous ways we're learning to fend off some of the locals from bullying the new kids. From our "Growing Vegetables" book, we learned how to make an insect repellent by blending a whole garlic clove, 3 red peppers, plant based liquid soap (we use Seventh Generation), and about 12 cups of water. So far its kept our flying moochers, including fanged ones, out of our greens.
Btw, J wants to emphasize the coolness of actually having detected the invaders' foot prints. It was pretty wild :)
I mentioned my love for Excel last time, and here's part of why. We made a fabulously helpful spreadsheet listing everything we've planted and all the particulars we need to keep in mind as we care for them, such as what season and how deep to sow each one, whether we should sow directly into the ground or in a tray, when to transplant, how much "personal space" they need, who they like to neighbor with, and specific tips for each type. We also included sowing dates, transplant dates, and general notes on how its going. Didn't know we were so savvy and organized did ya?
