Garden Overview
Between farm chores, fence fixing, logging, and many hours of socializing, I have managed to eek out enough time to get most of the garden planted.
Currently the potatoes are filling the first layer of tires and the second layer needs to be added in the next few days. The peas that I planted inside the cold frame are setting pods (I call these my teaser peas, since I only have about 10 plants), the row of peas are only a couple inches tall.
Early lettuce and spinach has been producing daily for the last month or so, and the second seeding of lettuce will need to be thinned this week. The young, tender plants that are pulled will be used in salads along with tiny radishes and the green onion tops that are ready.
Carrots and beets have popped the surface and now I won’t be so inclined to accidentally step on the row since I can see where they were sown. The cilantro hasn’t come up yet, and I may have to re-seed.
The beans have the first set of leaves stretching out of the soil, as has the cucumbers. The obligatory lemon cucumbers (an absolute necessity according to my family and particularly my bro-in-law) are about 2 inches tall. The squash seeds still need another week before I’ll see how they look.
The first 5 tomatoes planted had gotten frosted on one of the cooler March nights. They didn’t die, but the frost tipped back the tops and the most of the leaves. I’m babying them along hoping that they will grow out of the damage. I did plant a few younger tomatoes a couple weeks later, but they are quite a bit smaller plants. They do not have blooms on them yet. My basil that also frosted didn’t do as well as the tomatoes. I replanted seed but it looks like I have to get a plant or two from the garden store.
The rows of corn have been planted and they have not shown themselves above the soil yet, but in another week, I should see if the seeds sprout.
My strawberries are ripening. They are the Hood variety that Oregonians are always touting as the best berries (I happen to agree with this one). We have had only a few delicious handfuls so far. The patch is quite a sight with my decoy rocks, some whirlygigs, several do-dads, a shiny spinner and a few gee-gaws flapping on wires to frighten the birds away. My strawberry patch resembles an outdoor flea market at Mardi Gras, a bit flashy for my tastes, but whatever keeps the fruit from bird attacks is dandy with me.
The weed seeds have been sprouting furiously, and it looks like the hoe will need to be busy for a month to catch the rapidly growing weeds before they take over the rows that have been sown.