A Quick Project and Vegetable Garden Status
The week of warm weather has certainly moved things along but without rain I’m depending too much on municipal water to keep things moist.
Last year I used and reviewed Growboxes* and the peppers seemed to do the best of the all veggies using that method. I’ve got them planted again (I purchased one more Growbox this year) this time all (save one) in chillis.
Because the chillis (or peppers, depending upon where you are) tend to flop over, especially late in the season and by then it is too late to try to provide support, I am starting early.
I picked up some cheap “tomato towers” that while too lightweight to support a big tomato plant, but should be sturdy enough to prop up the chilli plants.
By design they are meant to be pushed into the ground but as this is on a cement parking pad I need a different solution.
Easy enough, measure 6″ up from the bottom and bend to a right angle using a scrap bit of lumber to use as a form.
At this point I repeated the process and tucked the “feet” under the Growboxes allowing their weight to anchor the supports. A quick tie to the fence and we are set for the season. I hope. Notice I’m going for function here not so much fashion.
While I’m out here let’s take at look at the rest of the garden. Garlic and onions doing just fine.
I’ve got some Black-eyed peas and Romano beans in pots that have germinated.
And the lettuces are looking really good. The deer netting that covers most beds is keeping the birds and squirrels out. I need to do a little weeding and also thin the spinach on the right third of the bed. I won’t be buying lettuce any time soon!
Potatoes are making an appearance. I’m quite excited about this, it’s my first time. I had to cover the potatos with various screens to discourage the squirrels who love to dig in all the beds if allowed to.
Another bed with tomatoes, broccoli and brussels sprouts.
The Chard is looking good – the strange distortion is the deer fencing.
Finally I have some thinning to do, a good problem to have!
Now we are up to date. How does your garden grow?
Until next time, Keep Digging and Eat Well!
*Disclaimer, I recieved no consideration other than the Growboxes that were sent for me to review
May 19, 2012
David, your garden is looking so nice….and so neat! I envy your clean pathways, are those wood chips? I just watered my garden today, and was mired in the mud when I went out to move the sprinkler. Some of my veggies and containers are getting splattered with mud with my new sprinkler, too. I’m going to have to start collecting my grass clippings or go buy a bale or two of straw to keep the crops clean, I guess.
May 20, 2012
Hi Granny! Yes those are the cheapest wood chips I can find ~ about 1.5 a bag. I hand water since it is such a small garden and I enjoy it so much.
May 20, 2012
David; your garden is so similar to mine! The lengths we have to go to in order to deter the wildlife know no bounds…. My raised beds are always covered with cloches, nets, wire etc too!
I like the support mechanism you made for the chilli plants. If it were me though, I would have some reservations about fixing it to the fence. I like to be able to move my containers around if necessary – even simply to rotate them to promote even growth.
I hope you won’t be disappointed by the potatoes. For me they are one of the most rewarding crops. And it’s a crop you can’t assess until you dig it up, so there’s always a sense of excitement at harvest time.
May 20, 2012
What’s the expression Mark? Good artists borrow ideas, great ones steal! Seriously, you have a great deal more experience in this realm than I and I’ve learned a great deal from you.
Covering the beds has evolved, from small fences to keep out the rabbits to the hoops for frost, and now the deer fence to keep the squirrels from digging in freshly worked beds. I’m working out how to make my own rigid cloche for the fall.
I hope the potatoes do well too! It’s not so much effort, so anything i get I will be happy with.
May 20, 2012
You have been busy! Clever idea with the tomato towers. I haven’t had peppers tip over before. Do they tip because the are on the “vine” longer than other peppers?
May 20, 2012
Hi Spencer, it may be that they are on the vine a long time, it may be that they are in a raised container, but they got very “sprawly” last year. It did not impact the crop, just where I could walk!
May 20, 2012
Everything looks great. I am digging up potatoes today but they are small 🙁 , still they are my first actual planted potatoes so I can’t complain much.
May 20, 2012
Thanks Becky, They may be small….but how do they taste?
May 20, 2012
I haven’t eaten any yet. I am thinking I’ll make them with supper and see though.
May 20, 2012
Oh David your garden looks wonderful-so organised and tidy compared to mine!
May 21, 2012
Thanks! – now it just needs to grow!
May 20, 2012
I always like it when you give us a peek at your garden, David. It’s really going well. I’ve got my tomatoes in and the hose is on a timer so that I can leave for Michigan. Hopefully, all will be well when I return. At least it’s early enough so that if things have gone awry, I still have time to get new plants into the ground. I have to figure out something to prevent the raccoons from getting at my tomatoes. They were really destructive last year.
May 21, 2012
How big do the plants you set out get? You could buld a small “coop” of 2×4’s and chicken wire…… I haven’t had any problems with racoons. Squirrels, chipmunks and birds but not racoons, though they do come to visit!