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My garden... - The UnDoug - 05-02-2014
I started the message below in response to a post by "DP" about his/her garden---that was 6 days ago! I figured I'd start a new post, rather than reply to that one, since it would likely never be seen.
Here's DP's original post:
http://forums.macresource.com/read.php?1,1713163,1713163
Here's my belated reply:
Here in Philly, we're faring a bit better. Our trees bloomed 2 or 3 weeks ago, and, in fact, the beautiful flowers have for the most part now been replaced by green leaves.
I spent some time yesterday doing gardening-related work. I potted some plant dividends I got at an Arbor Day celebration at my job on Friday. One is a honeysuckle, the other a sunflower variant. They both went into a large pot in my backyard (which is an 8' x 10' concrete slab). I readied the soil for vegetable planting in the pots back there, as well.
I had two blueberry plants (both in pots) that have never done too well back there, and I took them both to one of my community garden plots and put them in the ground next to another blueberry plant that's been there a few years.
I had to dig up a small sage plant that was in the spot to which I wanted to relocate the blueberries. It didn't fare too well over the winter, and I don't know that it will come back with any growth. There's nothing there on it now except dried leaves. I'll take the dried leaves and make "smudging sticks" out of them. My daughter studied Native American cultures a couple years ago, and they learned about this practice. I love the smell as it burns.
I was at the garden plot last weekend, and planted:
collard greens
broccoli
Swiss chard
Brussels sprouts
spinach
cabbage
and peas
My asparagus is coming up--a sure sign of spring! I picked several spears yesterday--the first time ever! I planted them three years ago, but was waiting to harvest them (they recommend waiting three seasons before harvesting). I ate one spear raw, and chopped the other two into inch long pieces, then steamed them and added some butter, salt, and pepper. SO good, and so simple!
My strawberries are starting to show some life, too.
I mentioned that I did this work at *one of* my community garden plots. For five years I've had a 20' x 25' plot at the same community garden. This year, I'll also have a second plot at a community garden at my job (at a college). The plot there will be 20' x 60'!!! Quite a lot of space! It remains to be seen whether or not I'll keep both plots. The smaller one has a had pump for water, and the larger one only has water at a building about 150 yards away, so I'll need to put water in containers (probably 5 gallon water cooler bottles--I've used them for this before), and cart it over--a bit of a hassle.
What I've thought of doing in the bigger plot is primarily growing spreading vine plants like watermelon, pumpkin, cantaloupe, squash, etc., maybe a section of corn, maybe a strawberry patch. I've grown all of those things in my smaller plot, but it can be tough with the limited space when I'm trying to grow the other garden staples (tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, beans, carrots, lettuce, eggplant, etc., etc., etc.).
I love gardening!!! :-)
Re: My garden... - DP - 05-02-2014
God bless you!! Gardening is my wife's therapy... But we're still in a cold pattern. More dafs are blooming but the tulips aren't yet. Our weeping cherry which should be done blooming by now but still has just buds and this is definitely the longest it's gone before blooming.
The prediction is for highs in 50s and lows in the 40s with a couple nights in the 30s and that's for a few days yet; 10-15 degrees below average.
Enjoy that gardening!
Re: My garden... - cbelt3 - 05-02-2014
My little raised bed garden is still resting under its blanket of leaf mulch. Perhaps next weekend....
Re: My garden... - Kraniac - 05-02-2014
here in Southwest Michigan near the lake everything's about a month behind..the lake is cold, it's been cold, Rain a bit sparse..drizzles but no real heavy stuff, cloudy quite bit.
I've taken to getting naked and kneeling in the dirt and praying..Everyone around is doing that so I figured i should be too. Will post pics soon!!
UnDoug . . . - WHiiP - 05-02-2014
:useless:
Follow DP's example!