Okay, who knew the Liquid Fence spray bottle would naturally leak all over your spraying hand, and then because it’s so darn water-proof, it cannot be washed off!? Yes, my hand has smelled glorious for over 2 days. So nasty!
WEAR GLOVES.
Hmmm… it DOES double as an appetite suppressant!
A quick entry to let you know that the Yellow Pear Tomato and both affected Chili Peppers are making a valiant return to life. Wow! All new growth is shooting up around the dead leaves. I’m so happy!
I noticed this evening that the frost did do some harm. The yellow pear tomato is not looking too healthy. All the top leaves appear to be dead! The bottom set of leaves still looks okay. I hope it will recover!
Two of the chili peppers took it for the team too. Being the last covered, we had used the plastic bags on them.
Lesson learned: Plastic does not keep frost out. In fact, I read that it actually keeps the cold in! Please learn from this!
With temps at or near freezing in the area last night, Ryan and I worked in the light of the car headlights to cover the garden after arriving home from the evening’s festivities (some martinis, some Indiana Jones…). We covered the tomatoes, peppers, and all new seedlings with our stock of painting & tiling bed sheets. When those ran out, we used old camping blankets and dog towels. When those ran out, we had to use 2 large plastic bags. Wow, wish I had held off on the seeds for a while.
I removed the damp coverings today before leaving for work. All looks good so far!
While I changed out the plugs, wires, & distributor cap on the old truck, Ryan mowed the entire yard AND got the push-mower running and did trim clean-up. Looks GREAT! We took the truck out for a test spin around the (huge) block, and it’s running like new. How awesome is that!?
We then proceeded to mulch and water the entire vegetable garden, and plant the 2 wedding trees. In there somewhere, I changed my oil and Ryan worked with the compost bins. Wow, it’s 7:30 and we never ate lunch? Time to make supper then.
We are hurtin’! Sore and tired, Ryan fell asleep on the couch during an episode of Seinfeld. That’s how I know he’s had a hard day.
Watch for more photos on Wednesday!
Still no signs of any germination for the 20-year-old green bean seeds. Who knew? LOL Our science experiment returned expected results. I re-sowed FRESH 2008 seeds over the top: Kentucky Blue Bean on the back row and Scarlet Runner beans on the front row for fun. I’m looking forward to seeing their red blooms!
Over the 20-year old peas (front row), I re-sowed 4 types of peas I received from Mom: Cowpeas, Oriental, Rally, and Sugar Sprint. If any come up, I’ll have a fun variety to try.
I transplanted the seedlings into the ground for: pumpkins, watermelon, eggplant, buttercup & butternut squash. I planted garlic cloves and onion sets.
I planted the 2nd half of the bush bean row with wax beans.
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I finished de-sodding the front birch-tree bed – can you believe it? I planted my Clematis, along with several perennials still patiently waiting in pots from Aunt Lisa. Feels good to be getting the plants in the ground. I also planted 2 flowers from Kay in the back bed today. We’re seeing some color!
Today was a very productive day, but I don’t think the tendons in my thumbs will be functional for a few days. And my back… doesn’t seem very healthy.
I spent the morning putting the fencing onto the fence posts. It’s like wrestling a metal spiderweb into submission. I’m so glad it’s over! I now have four 14′ areas for climbing things. Yippee!!
Planted seeds for: Red and White Popcorn, Sunflowers, Pole Beans, Climbing Peas, Bush Beans (first sow), Cucumbers, Beets (first sow), Carrots (first sow), Radishes (first sow), Swiss Chard, Acorn Squash, Zucchini, and Yellow-Summer-Squash-Thing.
I also started an herb garden with some perennial herbs from my Mom: Oregano, Thyme, Chives, and Garlic Chives. Getting better!
(Day is continued in next post under “Flower Beds”.)
Made a trip to Home Depot and Menard’s tonight. I picked up beautiful new fencing and 12 metal fence posts for my pole beans and climbing peas. Yay! Note to anyone who cares: the fencing was less than half the price at Menard’s compared to Home Depot, and just the right weight for gardening. (Bendable with hands)
I also found perfect little posts for the chicken wire fence too. On sale! So we’re all set. I managed to get all 12 posts in before 9:30 pm.
Happiness is: Hearing cows moo and birds chirp as you work in your garden until your body casts moon-shadows.
The good news is that I got all the tomatoes and peppers in tonight.
Tomatoes: 1 Roma, 1 Sweet 100 Cherry, 1 Yellow Pear, 1 Big Beef, 7 Early Girl, 7 Better Boy (I love it when you get doubles in the pack!). Peppers: 1 Mild Jalapeno, 1 Yellow, 2 Keystone Giant Green, 5 Red, 6 Chile.
The bad news is that I spent about 2 hours selecting and preparing thick branches for fence posts, and then after I had 4 of them put in (deep into the clay, in perfect straight lines guided by a string), decided it looked messy and cheap, not to mention weak – would it blow over in a storm? So I stomped through the moonlight into the house frustrated… with my mind made up to purchase real metal fence posts.
Tonight Ryan and I loaded up the old truck with 2 garbage cans of wood chip mulch and the entire bed full of rich compost from the local compost dump. Yay!
We moved the dried (thank goodness) clumps of manure from the garden to our compost area for use later this fall (because we just love hard work!), and spread the new compost onto the garden. Ready for planting on Thursday!
We need to find more posts to hold up the fencing before the seedlings are in.
