Planting notes
Its been a while since I have updated my planting journal so here goes!
Today I put down a combination of flowers and herbs with multi-functional use not just fillers for the ground. Eventually I would like to have half the ground covered with herbs the other half with rocks to keep weeds down and kind of rein any troublemaker herbs like mint. It is sad to have to put mint into a pot as it looks and does much better if it is in the ground. I have two mints, Peppermint and Spearmint, which will need protection from our harsh summers and frost heavy winters. I am thinking they would do best in a back area were lots of trees are and overflow from water will keep them happy. The trash area is perfect as there is a faucet back there where I fill up the chicken's waterer.
Downside is mint is mint and man, if given free ground will take over!
Still, no cat will be able to shit in the yard if insect heavy mint is around so it has a plus/minus side.
Anyway, planted today:
Ambrosia Melon
California Poppy (Mission Bell and California native orange)
Mammoth Sunflower
Echinacea
Dill
Red Clover
White Clover(two spots)
Favorite Lettuce blend (REd Salls, Butter crunch, Black seeded Simpson and Parish white cos)
Pennyroyal
Bergamot Lemon(one of many Monarda which attract butterflies-someday I hope to have nearly all Monardas)
Pansy
Mexican Marigold
Sweet Marigold
Lavendar
Tomatoes (Morgage Lifter, Box Car willie, Brandywine and Roma: Lifter I have been trying to grow/find as a plant for two years. If it sticks it is very hardy and BIG!)
Well the first set of corn planted in the surprise hot month of April is not doing too hot. If it makes it I will be very surprised indeed. One of the Spacemaster Cukes has a flower on it. One flower and the hybrid bush Zucchini is putting out leaves but so far no flowers. The unfortunate June gloom has just killed the garden burst down to a crawl. The radishes however are loving it and so far I've pulled up about 5 pounds worth. They are ready in two months but are kind of mild tasting. I am not sorry to see less bugs but lack of feral hungry cats has created a boom in gophers. The fuckers are now in the yard so its an ongoing battle. By next month I can put happily put things into the first raised beds other than tomatoes and the stubborn potatoes that popped up but I have to make sure they will be someone safe from those #$%^&*^ ground rats. So far its a 50/50 win as they did managed to kill most of the Spinach which had been surviving w/o their attacks for nearly a year.
Lastly, it is my hope again that most of the garden will be successful in providing basic food stuff for us. I planted early because the heat fooled me into thinking the June gloom would be mild but that is not the case as any glance at the weather will tell have you longing for Summer's intense heat. If I plan this harvesting right I will have enough to minimize my need to go to TJ's, Clarks or Fresh n Easy.
Next on the list: replant of Beans, hot and sweet Peppers, onions, chives and more herbs!
Today I put down a combination of flowers and herbs with multi-functional use not just fillers for the ground. Eventually I would like to have half the ground covered with herbs the other half with rocks to keep weeds down and kind of rein any troublemaker herbs like mint. It is sad to have to put mint into a pot as it looks and does much better if it is in the ground. I have two mints, Peppermint and Spearmint, which will need protection from our harsh summers and frost heavy winters. I am thinking they would do best in a back area were lots of trees are and overflow from water will keep them happy. The trash area is perfect as there is a faucet back there where I fill up the chicken's waterer.
Downside is mint is mint and man, if given free ground will take over!
Still, no cat will be able to shit in the yard if insect heavy mint is around so it has a plus/minus side.
Anyway, planted today:
Ambrosia Melon
California Poppy (Mission Bell and California native orange)
Mammoth Sunflower
Echinacea
Dill
Red Clover
White Clover(two spots)
Favorite Lettuce blend (REd Salls, Butter crunch, Black seeded Simpson and Parish white cos)
Pennyroyal
Bergamot Lemon(one of many Monarda which attract butterflies-someday I hope to have nearly all Monardas)
Pansy
Mexican Marigold
Sweet Marigold
Lavendar
Tomatoes (Morgage Lifter, Box Car willie, Brandywine and Roma: Lifter I have been trying to grow/find as a plant for two years. If it sticks it is very hardy and BIG!)
Well the first set of corn planted in the surprise hot month of April is not doing too hot. If it makes it I will be very surprised indeed. One of the Spacemaster Cukes has a flower on it. One flower and the hybrid bush Zucchini is putting out leaves but so far no flowers. The unfortunate June gloom has just killed the garden burst down to a crawl. The radishes however are loving it and so far I've pulled up about 5 pounds worth. They are ready in two months but are kind of mild tasting. I am not sorry to see less bugs but lack of feral hungry cats has created a boom in gophers. The fuckers are now in the yard so its an ongoing battle. By next month I can put happily put things into the first raised beds other than tomatoes and the stubborn potatoes that popped up but I have to make sure they will be someone safe from those #$%^&*^ ground rats. So far its a 50/50 win as they did managed to kill most of the Spinach which had been surviving w/o their attacks for nearly a year.
Lastly, it is my hope again that most of the garden will be successful in providing basic food stuff for us. I planted early because the heat fooled me into thinking the June gloom would be mild but that is not the case as any glance at the weather will tell have you longing for Summer's intense heat. If I plan this harvesting right I will have enough to minimize my need to go to TJ's, Clarks or Fresh n Easy.
Next on the list: replant of Beans, hot and sweet Peppers, onions, chives and more herbs!