I missed a couple of lovely days to work in the garden though. Both Sunday and Monday were warm and sunny, but I didn't want to push myself after being sick, so I stayed inside, doing little except for potting up a few of the tomato seedlings into larger containers, planting a few more six packs of flowers and herbs, and making a bunch of carrot seed mats.
Today was supposed to be warm, but it's cloudy and windy. I did get out to plant some of the cabbage and broccoli seedlings. John never did show up to till the east garden, so I did a couple more beds with shovel, rake and claw cultivator. That's five of the six new beds ready for a layer of compost and a final digging and leveling. The beds are all 3-feet wide except for one, which is four feet wide and will hold the determinate tomatoes. Two beds are 7-feet long, the other four will all be 8' long. The square footage of planting space is about identical to what I had in the raised beds but, I think, situated for better light and air flow. There is actually room for another small bed at one end, which will possibly just be a hill of squash. It's in the spot where the lilac suckers abound. They have become so invasive, I'm tempted to remove the lilac tree.
Click on the photos to enlarge.
Only one mound left to level in the east garden.
The lettuce and spinach seedlings planted last week have actually shown some growth.
Eight cabbages and five broccoli plants were set in today. The Romaine lettuce and shallots, planted last week, are growing. The garlic has yet to show. It was purchased from the grocery store, so if it doesn't grow I'll replace it with green onions.I feel like I'm being watched.....
So sorry to hear you had the flu. At least it was a quick one. I'm digging too. I got my pile of compost in the driveway. It is way too much to fit on my beds. I'm going to have to store it in one of my compost bins once I clear the bin out.
ReplyDeleteAnnie your doing a fine job on those beds, makes me want to work, but it's still cold here and farmers were afraid of losing their strawberry crops from last nights frost...I still have time, besides the greens are still growing and we are picking them as fast as we can :o)..
ReplyDeleteYou are being watched :o) by two cuties.
Daphne, I got the final bed leveled, and bucketed the compost to four beds plus a new one along the chain link kennel. That's the bad thing about the kennel, I can't get a cart or wheelbarrow through the gate. I had the manure dumped at the other end of the garden before I decided to fence it off, and I can't get the wheelbarrow around the end of the split level bed so it can go through the larger openings in the kennel! I need to make myself a section of fencing that opens up to that east end of the garden.
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Ginny, we were supposed to have warmer weather this week, but it sure doesn't feel like it. The wind is cold, so I gave up and came inside. I have some more seeds to start indoors, so guess I'll do that this afternoon.
Wow, nothing keeps you down for long! My dogs have a "magic carpet" they lay on to keep an eye on things LOL
ReplyDeleteI'm sure that Annie and Otto are just trying to make sure that you do things right. How thoughtful!
ReplyDeleteMy two dogs only watch me if they think that I might drop some food. In fact, Peanut has tried to trip me a couple of times in order to score a big snack. He's a devious one.
Erin, that's Annie and Otto's favorite rug, in their favorite watch spot. They have access to all four directions from there.....my computer, the kitchen, the hallway and the front door. Notice the chewed corner, that's what Otto does best. He hasn't eaten a blanket lately, so maybe there's hope.
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Katie, I just bought a large bag of dog food, and it won't fit on a shelf. Annie just discovered it on the floor of the laundry room today. I expect her to start fixing her own breakfast and dinner soon, LOL! Otto eats to live, but Annie lives to eat.
Granny, I knew you were a kindred spirit.
ReplyDeleteWe have the same rug your dogs are laying on by our front and back doors.
Dogs do look kind of sketchy, however, both sitting there staring at you. I'd call the cops. They're plotting something.
ribbit, do your rugs each have a chewed corner? That makes Annie's and Otto's rug Xtra-speshul.
ReplyDeleteYou are right, though. I do think they are plotting something. Probably a kitchen takeover.
Those dogs are soo darn cute.:) Glad you and the grandaughter are feeling better. Looks like you have been busy in the garden, ours is just a big muddy mess but soon....soon.:)
ReplyDeleteMr. H., while I was sick in bed, those dogs refused to leave my side. Mr. Granny had to physically carry them out of the bedroom, shut the door, and take them outside so they'd piddle. I didn't eat for 24 hours, and they wouldn't either. My children wouldn't have sacrificed like that for me!
ReplyDeleteI'm blessing every raindrop we get, so I don't have to carry water out to the garden. I hope this weather holds through April, but I suppose we'll get a couple of temperature plunges. I have some row covers, if they are needed.
What a motivation ! Tomorrow is payday....watch both eyes garden!
ReplyDeleteYour babies are so cute. My Reagan is half doxie, and half beagle. She looks more like a doxie, but has long legs and a smaller head and ears. Such a stubborn girl, but I adore her.
Ick, sorry to hear about your 24 hour stomach bug. Being a parent of school-aged children, we are pretty used to those. They've whipped through out household a few times a year. You can't keep water down for 24 hours, then the next 24 you feel ok, but want to sleep for that whole day. Sucks big time.
ReplyDeleteOtherwise, WOW, your garden is growing by leaps and bounds. I can only imagine the forest it'll be in a month or two! Amazing. Bravo!
Kris, they are definitely a stubborn breed! We have new dogs next door, who want to be friends, but Annie, and especially Otto, just bark, bark, bark. I don't know what will drive the new neighbors crazier, them barking or me yelling at them to stop! Of course, nothing sort of making them go back in the house will stop them.
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Sinfonian, I've got the "bug" from Alicyn twice in the month and a half we've been home. I spend all winter around old people, and never get sick.
The garden is going pretty good considering I haven't had many days where I could get out there and really work. There's a lot left to do before I can relax. I'll be happy when May gets here!
Sorry you were sick. Hope you're feeling better. Looks like your garden is really coming along! Soon it'll be warm and we'll be able to harvest some greens! I can't wait! That picture of your babies are so cute. Haha!
ReplyDeleteEverything looks so "neat as a pin". Love it!
ReplyDeleteI've been debating switching a few beds to a smaller 3x7 size because I could get old screen doors to fit the top (pest control). The 4x8 beds I have now are hard to cover-seems everything comes up "short".
Now I have the ammo I need to get Don to switch a few(hey-AG has that size!)-thanks AG!
Those dogs are so darn cute. They must be keeping an eye on you to make sure you are back t your old self again. Stomach bugs are the worst!
ReplyDeleteThe new garden plan is coming together nicely.
carrot seed Mat? I may of said carrot seed bed..oops, sorry
ReplyDeleteWe've been passing flu-like stuff around our house too. My daughter just LOVES to share that stuff! !@#$!@#
ReplyDeleteGarden looks gorgeous!!
~Wendy
Holly, thanks. I'm definitely ready for those fresh greens!
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Sue, I could have made them all 4' wide, but I'm getting stiffer in my old age, and it's getting more difficult for me to reach to the center of a 4' bed. The length was just the distance from the fence to the main path, and I actually haven't measured it. I just guessed! They might actually be 8 and 9 feet long, because it's 11' from fence to fence.
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Kelly, those dogs are my little sweethearts. I'm always happy I got them both that day, rather than just the one I went for.
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Roberta Palm, that's odd. I made "seed mats" a clickable link, but now it has changed! It is in my sidebar as "Seed Mat Tutorial", or just copy and paste into your browser...
http://annieskitchengarden.blogspot.com/2009/09/september-22-2009-home-made-seed-mat.html
I find it such an easy way to plant the tiny carrot seeds, and there is no thinning. I think the main reason many fail at carrot growing is that the carrots are planted too closely. Seeds two inches apart is ideal, but I do mine at 1" and pull every other one when they are finger sized to give the others room to grow.
Wendy, my daughter says Alicyn just loves her Gamma so much, she wants to share everything with me! Thanks, Alicyn :-(
ReplyDeleteThank you, I will try it and let you know if it works better for me...off to read your information on seed mats:-)
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Roberta. Good luck! (You have a lovely garden!)
ReplyDeleteAhhhh, I hate being sick! Glad it was only one day though, and you are feeling better now. I had pneumonia for the first time this year, and it really knocked me down. Just now feeling better, after 3 weeks. THREE WEEKS!!!! I lost 3 weeks of inside planting. I'm still mad. But today after work I will come home and transplant my baby peas.
ReplyDelete~~Lori
Lori, pneumonia? Oh dear, I'm glad you're feeling better now! Do take it easy for a while, we don't want a relapse.
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