It's been slow-paced in the garden this week... The LO has been sick so he's needed some extra lovin' from Momma the past few days.
I picked an onion to see how they were growing, and ended up pulling them all up. I was hoping for the bulbs to grow, but some of them were mushy. I only ended up with the greens that I chopped, and added to the taco meat I made on Wednesday. I guess that was my first harvest! YIPPEEEE! LOL
One spearmint plant replaced the empty onion square. I'm hoping the mint will detract some of the bugs making homes on my bush beans. I'll keep a good eye on the mint to make sure it doesn't spread too much. Boy Wonder and I have been enjoying plucking the leaves, and munching on them after dinner.
I also got rid of two of my three broccoli plants. I discovered more leafminers in the leaves, and decided to pull the plants instead of attracting more bugs from growing unhappy plants. The third broccoli plant is doing well. I haven't been shading it as much--partly forgetting, partly because it's been cool out, and it's really grown. Maybe I'll end up with a head of broccoli soon!
I fertilized my bush beans and okra with a slightly diluted 24-8-16 fertilizer. They're now forming little buds, and the leaves on the beans are green again. Along with the new buds, I counted eight peppers growing on ONE Yolo Bell plant! My two Yolo's are in one container with some marigolds shoved in two corners, so I'm happy they're being so productive, and coping well with the tight quarters. The fruit may end up a little smaller, but I'm so excited!!! Things are finally starting to happen!
Thanks to a fellow Freecycler, I was able to obtain enough grass clippings to start my compost bin yesterday. I added shredded paper to the grass (that's the only "brown" I have right now), watered it down, and will check on the pile tomorrow. I've done reading on composting, but still have no idea what I'm doing! Just gonna play it by sight and smell... If I have some heat generating in the pile, I'll add some food scraps I previously froze.
Yesterday I managed to get the LO and I out of the house long enough to get my wood cut for my 2'x4' beds that are going next to the deck. I'll (ok, maybe DH if I let him) will construct and fill those this weekend.
One spearmint plant replaced the empty onion square. I'm hoping the mint will detract some of the bugs making homes on my bush beans. I'll keep a good eye on the mint to make sure it doesn't spread too much. Boy Wonder and I have been enjoying plucking the leaves, and munching on them after dinner.
I also got rid of two of my three broccoli plants. I discovered more leafminers in the leaves, and decided to pull the plants instead of attracting more bugs from growing unhappy plants. The third broccoli plant is doing well. I haven't been shading it as much--partly forgetting, partly because it's been cool out, and it's really grown. Maybe I'll end up with a head of broccoli soon!
I fertilized my bush beans and okra with a slightly diluted 24-8-16 fertilizer. They're now forming little buds, and the leaves on the beans are green again. Along with the new buds, I counted eight peppers growing on ONE Yolo Bell plant! My two Yolo's are in one container with some marigolds shoved in two corners, so I'm happy they're being so productive, and coping well with the tight quarters. The fruit may end up a little smaller, but I'm so excited!!! Things are finally starting to happen!
Thanks to a fellow Freecycler, I was able to obtain enough grass clippings to start my compost bin yesterday. I added shredded paper to the grass (that's the only "brown" I have right now), watered it down, and will check on the pile tomorrow. I've done reading on composting, but still have no idea what I'm doing! Just gonna play it by sight and smell... If I have some heat generating in the pile, I'll add some food scraps I previously froze.
Yesterday I managed to get the LO and I out of the house long enough to get my wood cut for my 2'x4' beds that are going next to the deck. I'll (ok, maybe DH if I let him) will construct and fill those this weekend.
My twins and I have been sick also. It hasn't kept us out of the garden too much though.
ReplyDeleteJust curious if you are letting your grass clippings dry out before adding them to you bin? I've read they will get really nasty and stinky if you don't do that. We have not ventured into a compost bin yet, but we are getting ready to make a compost tea brewer! How fun!
Oooh! A compost tea brewer! That sounds like a fun experiment... I've been having the lawn guys dump the grass directly into the bin, so they have been fresh. No stinkies yet, fortunately. I'm sure it's only a matter of time though!
ReplyDeleteDid you plant that spearmint in a box with other things? If I'm not mistaken, mint is pretty invasive and may take over the whole box. Look out!
ReplyDeleteLuke, I planted it in an empty square... I know it'll take over the plot if I'm not careful, but I didn't want to leave the square empty. I've decided to take it out in Oct. when I do cool weather crops.
ReplyDelete