While I was busy in the North Garden, planting more pumpkins to later sell, Will hauled six loads of rotted manure out to the Wolf Garden then spent the afternoon spreading it between the rows and around each plant. It’s amazing how fast those Hopi Pale Greys seem to grow after applying the manure. I think the warmth of it helps as well as the dark color, which absorbs sunshine too. Today, it’s amazing how lusty and green they look. After only one day!
Today, I went out again to the North Garden and planted more pumpkins, gourds, and sweet corn for us to eat in case what I planted last week fails. It’s always a good idea to have a backup plan when you depend on the food you grow to feed you.
I’m amazed at the flowers I planted in front of our solar panels! So far, the German Iris and Peonies are outdoing themselves! The colors are so vibrant and beautiful. And the blooms are very large too. The daylilies will bloom after they have stopped so the show will go on.
Will went out and laid out all the steel T-posts in the tomato rows. I think he said there are 157 plants this year, half of what we planted last year as Lynn and Jesse are taking over some of the seed saving this year. He had this idea to use the big Kubota to push the posts into the ground. I went ahead of him and stuck the post in place. Then I guided him over the post. It did push in very smoothly. But that big tractor was so hard to maneuver in the narrow main path he stopped and went back for the little Kubota. Unfortunately, that didn’t have enough power or weight to shove the posts in. He did pound quite a few in, but that was kind of scary! After twenty some, I had to quit. All that bending and squatting to pick up the posts was absolutely killing my back and knees. So maybe tomorrow…
— Jackie
Years ago when we lived in Delta. Junction Ak we acquired a recreational dog team. In setting up our dog yard I cut spruce poles to tie them to and pushed them into the ground with the farm front end loader. It worked fine and maneuvering wasn’t a problem since there were no dog houses in the way yet!
Hi, Jackie,
Yes, I’ve done it, too; holding the t-posts so my husband could pound them in with the bucket of the skidloader. Even fell a couple of times. Then he decided we didn’t have enough solar power to run the electric wire fencing for our orchard and abandoned the project. That was 20 yrs ago. The bears have ravaged our orchard ever since.
Such Beautiful flowers! You two are such hard workers It shows! Hopi squash are looking great I’m going to put some mulch around mine I always hesitate do to earwigs love it too. Dosent seem possible Mittens is 14 She sure looks good Happy gardening! Still mid 90’ here so early morning is only time able to get any thing done Looking forward to forecast rain showers this weekend in the Gorge Lord willing we need it!
We think Mittens still looks young too. She is still the hunter, bringing up various rodents and even weasels and snakes (non-venomous) to the doorstep. We call her “Murder Mittens” due to that and her severe frown if she’s unhappy with us.
We got a little rain this morning but less than 1/8″ and hope we get a little more later today.
Hey Jackie, I’m looking at knee replacement soon and I remember your words when you were going through surgery times. I ask doc to put off date with a shot to give relief. I’m trying to get through canning season before I have to go under the knife. I have done my green beans. I could not find Providers at Amish farm but got Contenders. Providers are tastier but Contenders are ok, too. Since I am no longer growing my own, I have to take what I can get these days. I love to do my canning and see rows of beautiful produce lined up on the shelf for winter. I recently found some purple cauliflower and used it in my Pickled vegetable medley recipe. It was sooo good & I can’t believe it made such a difference. It had such a good flavor even when it was raw & soaked in salt water. I read a recipe recently for Giardiniera and realized it was just our southern pickled medley but with hot pepper flakes in it. LOL Whatever it is called in your area and whatever you use it for, it is delicious in the winter with beans or on a sandwich! You guys watch the heat and stay hydrated.
Oh yes, I always try to can some of the cauliflower in a pickled “end of garden” style mix. I can eat a whole jar myself!!
Our heat mellowed out and is now in the high 60’s and low 70’s, which is nice to work in. We’re happy with that!
Yep, I scheduled my knees in January when I wouldn’t be out doing a lot anyway. It was a good time. I just wish my knees had turned out as well as most folks’.
The flowers are beautiful! Did you know the peony petals are edible? I recently learned that they cand add a delightful flavor to various dishes – eaten fresh in salads, or used to make syrups, jellies, teas, and even candied for desserts.
I know you like to find new ways to stretch your culinary resourses!
https://biologyinsights.com
We’ve had frequent showers-no complaints about that. I am seeing fungus on the tomatoes and beans. The peas are filling out their pods. Everything is lush and otherwise vibrant. Hauling and pounding T posts is hard work. I’m nearly done with placing my 60 tomato cages. It’s another beautiful day to be alive.
It sure is, Everett!! Sunny and fairly cool. Working in the garden is so pleasant then. Hardly any bugs either.
Tough, having fungus on the tomatoes and beans. Can you spray with copper? That often helps a lot.
Hi Jackie,
Do you fertilize your tomatoes during the growing season? If so, with what and how often? I recently bought some Dr. Earths Organic tomato fertilizer on a friends advice and scratched some in last night with hopes of a decent harvest. The last few years have not been great and I need to change that. Your advice is always appreciated.
John
No, we don’t fertilize our tomatoes during the growing season. Instead, we till in rotted manure early in the spring and that’s plenty. They grow wonderfully. We do mulch all the plants with about 8″ of straw or seed-free hay, which helps a lot.
Hello Jackie
The flowers below your solar panels are beautiful!! You work so hard. I do have a garden but it is almost a complete flop this year, just way too much rain. But better wet than dry, at least water and grass for livestock.
Would love to see your gardens. Thanks for the information you pass along on your blog. Nice you have grandson close to help when needed. Have a good summer and a great harvest.
Thank you! Hang in there with your garden. The weather may change. It usually does, sooner or later. You can always plant some faster maturing varieties so you can harvest, despite the nasty spell of weather. For instance, Provider green beans mature in about 55 days.
” the dark color, which absorbs sunshine too” – better known as warming.
The past couple of years I’ve had zero scapes on the garlic. This year I see a few BUT they are growing just above the soil line – what gives? I’m hesitant to cut them due to where they are.
Unless another tater plant dies off, no more digging for another month. Atlantic potatoes are not like Pontiac Red – which provided decent size early potatoes. We did consume the small ones from the one plant that for-no-reason died off early. Truth be told, the plant from a it’s-sprouting store potato (planted earlier) had “larger” small potatoes.
I think we’re caught up on rain – what’s been coming down is gentle rain in .5/1.0 inch “sessions”.
As the wild child kitten is sitting where she’s NOT supposed to be (she just moved), how are Buffy and Mittens doing? Like human siblings, the kittens (getting close to not being kittens that is) have their own personalities. Reminds me of the Lloyd Price song lol.
Mittens and Buffy are getting along but still are not friends. Occasionally, they’ll spat but nothing serious. After all, Mittens is 14 now and does not tolerate sh## from Buffy.
We had a small step forward when one of the kittens and the established cat had a quick nose sniff with no death glare from established or I’m ready to run posture from the kitten.