Mary, Mary Quite Contrary

Mary Mary quite contrary,

How does your garden grow?

With silver bells and cockle shells

And pretty maids all in a row.






Friday, April 12, 2013

I Am So Proud!

My son started his garden where he lives.
What a good start!
Planted in the pots on the front porch:
Bell Peppers
Red Onions
Tomatoes
Jalapenos
Parsley
Sage
Lettuce
Spinach

New Growth!

I am so excited...we have had quite a bit of rain...and there is nothing that compares to God's rain. Our chemical treated water is no comparison when it comes to stimulating the garden vegetables. As much as I can, I use the rain from the rain barrel to water my garden.  Look what is coming up:

Seedlings in Greenhouse, almost ready to transplant

Carrots
Green & Wax Beans

Red Beans

Cucumbers

Red Onions

Tomatoes

Beets

White Bunching Onions



Saturday, March 23, 2013

Expanding My Garden

Larger Greenhouse & Potting Bench Ordered ~ Should be here next week 
(both ordered from Amazon )
CASTLECREEK Compact Walk - in Greenhouse, a gardener's best friend. Get a head-start on bigger, better plants with this easy, portable, durable Greenhouse! It even has shelves for plants and storage... and it's Sale-priced to save you some lettuce! You can start seedlings in it and even keep garden supplies sheltered. A glorious growing season is coming: Frame is sturdy tubular steel; Reinforced polyethylene cover is water, rot and tear resistant. Fits snug and has ties to attach to frame; 2 shelving frames, each with 2 wire shelves; Roll-up zippered front door; Stakes and guy ropes for stable setup. Measures 57 x 29 x 77"h. Weighs 22 lbs. A terrific CASTLECREEK value deal! Order Today! CASTLECREEK Compact Walk-in Greenhouse 

Guide Gear Potting Bench gives you ample space to put that "green thumb" to use! SAVE BIG! Transplant garden greens, re-pot plants and much more in this Guide Gear Potting Bench. The fantastic 23 x 15" tabletop surface is set up at a comfy working height, and a smooth finish is easy to clean, too! A lip around the edges keeps extra pots and tools from rolling on to the floor, as well. Made to last, with durable China fir wood construction all over, and a cross-braced support on either side. All the rest: Metal top is durable and wipes clean with a rag; Bottom shelf for organizing your planting materials. Full Bench measures 23 3/5 x 16 x 37 1/5" h., weighs 14 lbs., 5 ozs. Get Yours Now! Guide Gear Potting Bench

Keeping Cats off Vegetable & Fruit Beds

Naughty Kitty using garden for litter box
 I surfed the internet for suggestions for keeping the neighborhood cats out of my Strawberry Pyramid, digging up my plants and using it for a litter box. I will let you know what I do and if it works.


One tip was to scatter Citrus peels around on top of the soil.
 Another tip was to scatter Coffee Grounds around on top of the soil

 

Links I found with helpful suggestions:


Oh LOOK ~ What's Coming Up?


What's Coming Up?
See the Lima Beans & Cucumbers?

Look at the Strawberry plants!  They have more than doubled since I planted them.  Now if I can figure out a way to keep the neighbor's cats from using it as a litter box, and digging up the plants in the back, I will be good to go! 

Strawberry Plants
Dwarf Blueberry Bush March 15
Dwarf Blueberry Bush March 23

Friday, March 15, 2013

Is it Spring yet?

 Enjoying what comes naturally.
Busy planting seeds in my greenhouse!
 
Tomato Seeds
4 Varieties of Tomatoes:
Superba Hybrid, Container Hybrid, Cherry & Lemon

2 Varieties of Sweet Corn:
Silver/Gold & Hybrid Container Yellow

4 Varieties of Cucumbers:
Green, Lemon Cucumbers, Bush & Pickling

3 Varieties of Beans:
Green, Royal Burgandy & Yellow Wax

Seeds started in greenhouse
Petite Carrots for Containers
Lima Beans
Broccoli
Cauliflower 
Beets 
Chives

4 Varieties of Squash:
Yellow Summer, Zucchini, Acorn, Butternut

3 Varieties of Sweet Peppers:
Green, Yellow & Red

2 Varieties of Onions:
Red sets & White Bunching

 



Dwarf Sunshine Blueberry

Fruit plants started:

25 Strawberry plants
3 Raspberry bushes
2 Blueberry bushes
1 Container Banana Tree
1 Sunshine Container Blueberry bush
1 Tickled Pink Red Seedless Grapes






This year I will have a mixture of gardens, direct soil, raised beds, patio containers, poles, trellis and hanging baskets. 

Bean Tower & Garden Bed
Bean Tower & Strawberry Pyramid

I am looking forward to maintaining the areas. 

Friday, February 15, 2013

February Update

We have been working on the weekends to prepare for Spring planting. Saturdays are the only real time we have to get chores done inside and out. Last week we were able to get a lot accomplished. My husband worked on his motorcycle most of the day while I worked in the back yard preparing pots, and moving soil.



Most of my plants have survived winter in the greenhouse. I did lose 2 tomato plants, but have lettuce and spinach ready to harvest. As soon as I can take the larger pots with the flowers and non vegetable plants out of the greenhouse.  



I will prepare my seeds to get a jump start on the planting. I have several multi-plant seed trays along with peat pots and pellets to get my seeds started. I am anxious to get working on all this.


 More soil is needed for the Strawberry beds and the raised beds, as well as all my pots, so we were able to make a run to Lowe's to pick up 6 more bags.


I am eager to try out my Wall of Water for starting plants earlier.