Rain, Rain - you can stay
It's been a rainy few weeks here in Northern Virginia. The temperature has vascillated from upper 70s to below freezing. I'd say Mother Nature was being premenstrual if I didn't think that would somehow get me struck down by lightning, so I won't. ~koff~
In the garden, I have put in a few new crops and watched with interest as the seeds and seedlings have developed (or not.)
No sign of my peas. None. Other gardeners have some two or three inches high - but not me. Its okay.
We have teeny tiny carrots starting. Spinach seeds scattered amongst the cabbages and lettuce starts have begun to poke their delicate little heads up too. Happy birthday babies!
We have an English relative visiting for the next few weeks, so I took the opportunity to pretty the plot up for her visit by potting up some cheerful pansies and making a checkerboard of green and purple pak choi cabbages. Also: our local nursery had WATERCRESS! so of ~course~ I had to get three to put in the ground! I hope she gets a proper English watercress sandwich for tea during her stay!
The over-wintered kale and collards seem to be doing just fine and now I am considering what to do with them once they are ready for harvest. I'm thinking a nice soup - perhaps with orzo and some sausage? I'd love some advice. (Mer)
We have our first POTATO SIGN! YAY! This is one of the midseason Red Pontiac potatoes we planted a few weeks ago. No sign yet from the rest of the Pontiacs or any of the Yukon Golds. Patience, grasshoppah. ~vibrate~ This is what a potato spout looks like:
We will let the green leafy stalk get about five inches high, then mound up dirt until only the top leaves are showing, allowing the tubers to form all along the stem. (Please see my painfully goofy first vid link for further description of the growing habits of potatoes in raised beds.)
I think the final pictures will be of the spring mixed greens beds:
In this 4' x 4' bed are chinese cabbage, spinach, sweet fennel and cilantro - all bought as started plants (the first two from Southern States, the second two from the nearby nursery - Depaul's Urban Farm - which replaced the long-time Cox Farms storefront.) Interspersed among these are a scattering of loose-leaf lettuce seeds to grow (or not) as it happens. This is one of the beds I am using dry leaves as mulch, so it doesn't look particularly tidy - but I've been too busy to fuss with constructing hoop houses this spring. NEXT YEAR! I promise!
Next up is one of the 8'x 4' long beds that is the home to prestarted romaine lettuce (from Southern States), and the transplanted seedlings from my original sprouting experiment: lettuce, spinach, collards and turnip greens. Again, between the estabished heads of romaine, Mom was kind enough to sow some additional loose-leaf lettuce and spinach seeds to see if we could have a rotating crop in the same space. ~fingers crossed~
So, in closing on this rainy April day:
1. The water still has not been turned on at the garden, as the county waits until the threat of frost (and broken pipes) has passed, so I am grateful we have had fairly consistent rains in the past few weeks. Rain: you are welcome here in gentle, short soaking bursts that do not interfere with commuting hours or outdoor playtime.
2. Fairfax County usually provides large truckloads of free mulch at the community gardens. I use this to line the walkways to keep down weeds, and am grateful for the boon provided as it would be a very expensive (22 bags) undertaking if I had to purchase it myself. I have seen mulch being delivered to other park areas, but not yet at Nottoway. I'm looking forward to it, as the physical labor involved is a great workout.
3. It looks like there are several abandoned garden plots this year, but it could be that the renters are just being coy and will swoop in and make a bountiful lush garden once it warms up. I certainly hope that if there are plots available, they are given to the people I know who are anxious to try their hand at community gardening. Even in the current disorderly state of things, I learn so much from wandering around to other folks' plots. The diversity of crops, planting methods, irrigation, insulation and decor is endlessly fascinating. There certainly are benefits to a "wilder" approach to gardening than I currently practice - an effusion of wildlife is one of them. I often feel my tidy raised beds and politely potted flowers lacks the vibrancy of other spaces. I may have to go crazy and bring in some windchimes. or a ceramic frog. Watch out!
So: next up will be mulching walkways and then the harvest of both the winter greens (kale, collards, cabbages) and the spring greens (lettuces, pak choi, spinach)! whoo! Health is a Revolutionary Act. Fight the Power.
xox
In the garden, I have put in a few new crops and watched with interest as the seeds and seedlings have developed (or not.)
No sign of my peas. None. Other gardeners have some two or three inches high - but not me. Its okay.
We have teeny tiny carrots starting. Spinach seeds scattered amongst the cabbages and lettuce starts have begun to poke their delicate little heads up too. Happy birthday babies!
We have an English relative visiting for the next few weeks, so I took the opportunity to pretty the plot up for her visit by potting up some cheerful pansies and making a checkerboard of green and purple pak choi cabbages. Also: our local nursery had WATERCRESS! so of ~course~ I had to get three to put in the ground! I hope she gets a proper English watercress sandwich for tea during her stay!
The over-wintered kale and collards seem to be doing just fine and now I am considering what to do with them once they are ready for harvest. I'm thinking a nice soup - perhaps with orzo and some sausage? I'd love some advice. (Mer)
We have our first POTATO SIGN! YAY! This is one of the midseason Red Pontiac potatoes we planted a few weeks ago. No sign yet from the rest of the Pontiacs or any of the Yukon Golds. Patience, grasshoppah. ~vibrate~ This is what a potato spout looks like:
We will let the green leafy stalk get about five inches high, then mound up dirt until only the top leaves are showing, allowing the tubers to form all along the stem. (Please see my painfully goofy first vid link for further description of the growing habits of potatoes in raised beds.)
I think the final pictures will be of the spring mixed greens beds:
In this 4' x 4' bed are chinese cabbage, spinach, sweet fennel and cilantro - all bought as started plants (the first two from Southern States, the second two from the nearby nursery - Depaul's Urban Farm - which replaced the long-time Cox Farms storefront.) Interspersed among these are a scattering of loose-leaf lettuce seeds to grow (or not) as it happens. This is one of the beds I am using dry leaves as mulch, so it doesn't look particularly tidy - but I've been too busy to fuss with constructing hoop houses this spring. NEXT YEAR! I promise!
Next up is one of the 8'x 4' long beds that is the home to prestarted romaine lettuce (from Southern States), and the transplanted seedlings from my original sprouting experiment: lettuce, spinach, collards and turnip greens. Again, between the estabished heads of romaine, Mom was kind enough to sow some additional loose-leaf lettuce and spinach seeds to see if we could have a rotating crop in the same space. ~fingers crossed~
So, in closing on this rainy April day:
1. The water still has not been turned on at the garden, as the county waits until the threat of frost (and broken pipes) has passed, so I am grateful we have had fairly consistent rains in the past few weeks. Rain: you are welcome here in gentle, short soaking bursts that do not interfere with commuting hours or outdoor playtime.
2. Fairfax County usually provides large truckloads of free mulch at the community gardens. I use this to line the walkways to keep down weeds, and am grateful for the boon provided as it would be a very expensive (22 bags) undertaking if I had to purchase it myself. I have seen mulch being delivered to other park areas, but not yet at Nottoway. I'm looking forward to it, as the physical labor involved is a great workout.
3. It looks like there are several abandoned garden plots this year, but it could be that the renters are just being coy and will swoop in and make a bountiful lush garden once it warms up. I certainly hope that if there are plots available, they are given to the people I know who are anxious to try their hand at community gardening. Even in the current disorderly state of things, I learn so much from wandering around to other folks' plots. The diversity of crops, planting methods, irrigation, insulation and decor is endlessly fascinating. There certainly are benefits to a "wilder" approach to gardening than I currently practice - an effusion of wildlife is one of them. I often feel my tidy raised beds and politely potted flowers lacks the vibrancy of other spaces. I may have to go crazy and bring in some windchimes. or a ceramic frog. Watch out!
So: next up will be mulching walkways and then the harvest of both the winter greens (kale, collards, cabbages) and the spring greens (lettuces, pak choi, spinach)! whoo! Health is a Revolutionary Act. Fight the Power.
xox