How Time Flies!

Months have gone by since my last turn in the garden. The weeds are taking over and the left over plants are spent. Now is the time for rest in the garden. Now is the time for renewing my plan. Spring will be here in the blink of an eye.

The fall garden that I planted never came up. I didn't have time to baby the seedlings. I would like to think that there will be a winter garden, but I need to be realistic in my plans.  I will take this time to clean, rearrange, simplify and prepare for an early spring.

I have decided to plant one tomato plant next year. Oh how hard that is to write. One tiny little tomato plant? Can I do it? I went from 5 the first year to 3 last year. I had too many tomatoes and no time to tend them or can them. One plant is all I need, but... Simplify, simplify is my new mantra.

My garden goals

• Use well the square foot plots that I have, and I should have all that I need. 
• Plant only those things that I know I will eat.
• Compost and reuse what I can.
• Set up the drip system on a timer to alleviate the stress and schedule of watering.
• Spend time in the garden relaxing and enjoying the work of my hands.

Chickens are still a part of the plan. Hopefully I can get the yard ready while I am rearranging the garden. I need a raised coop, a fence and a gate. That is doable if I work on it over the winter.

Simplify and use my resources well in every area of my life. Too much stuff equals too much to do. My garden continues to be my tutor. 

Lots of flowers but no fruit

So it's the end of August and the garden is waning. This year was better than last, but not what I had hoped. I did get tomatoes, peppers, carrots, green beans, squash and a couple of ears of corn. The cucumbers, pumpkin, and berries were nonexistent. There were Strawberries, those that the bugs didn't get anyway. I guess I set my sights too high each year. The fact that I get anything at all is fun and delicious.

I have begun my fall garden. It is filled with salad greens and carrots. I will keep only one box growing along with some squash in the back bed. I don't have much time to garden in the fall so I will realign my drip system and get a timer for it. We'll see how it goes.

Fall Gardening

This morning I spent time in the garden cleaning up for the fall. The corn stalks are down, weeds are pulled, and irrigation drip system rearranged. I will have to spend some more time on the irrigation.  I know there must be a more efficient way to get the watering done.

My boxes are pretty much empty right now.  I have the last of the peppers ripening on the bushes, a square of carrots maturing and two squares of beans just beginning to sprout in one box and two eggplant bushes in the other box.  Today I planted lettuce, parsley and cilantro in that box. It has been such a mild summer I thought I would give these cool weather crops an early start.  I hope that doesn't mean that the weather is about to change to triple digits!

I'm disappointed with the pumpkin I planted.  It got plenty of blossoms but no fruit. Same thing happened last year. Maybe  I need to plant two vines together next year so they can pollinate each other. No pumpkins again this Thanksgiving :(

The melons are slow to produce as well.  I have no fruit from them but lots of blossoms.  The bees and wasps  are there in abundance but so far no fruit. The cucumbers are in a bad place this year. They are not happy with the sun exposure or the water drainage.  I'll have to find a new solution for them.  I can do another planting soon. They shouldn't mind the cooler weather.

Everything is slowing down, getting ready for fall. Fall is a busy time for me. Maybe I will only maintain one box of salad fixings.  The other spaces can rest for the winter until I get the bug again in the spring.

Tomato Frenzy

Well, it's been a while.  I've been much too busy to blog  or garden for that matter. The garden is producing but it shows the lack of care.  I need to remember that August is my busy month, but the garden needs a lot of attention in August. I am very glad that I didn't invest in chickens.  I just don't have time for them.

So today is tomato frenzy day.  I have pounds of tomatoes that will go bad if I don't do something today.  So I will peel, and boil, and can them. I don't have anyplace to be today, but lots of jobs around the house. The tomatoes can boil while I get the rest of the work done around here.

There are also peppers to chop, and corn to husk. Wow, I better get off this blog and get busy!

First squash!

This week the squash took off!  I have two zucchini almost ready to pick. The yellow squash is just forming now. Naomi's pumpkin plant is taking off, too. No fruit yet, but it is getting big.

 The snap peas are about done so they will come out next week sometime. I still get several off every day, so I'll let it go for a day or two more. I plan to put melons in their place, but have not decided for sure. Cucumbers are my other choice.

Naomi and Eli came and got some carrots, beets and an onion yesterday, They were excited to see what had grown under ground. They helped me find some strawberries, too. Eli really likes to hunt for them. When he found little ripe ones he said, "Oh look at the tiny one. It's so cute!" This is all new to them. I hope they enjoy it enough to continue gardening when they are older.

There are lots of green tomatoes on the vines. I hope the warm weather ripens them soon.  I hate to buy tomatoes at the store.  They are flavorless and expensive. Patience is needed when gardening.

Rearranging

One of the lovely features of square foot gardening is that one is always rearranging their produce. This morning I pulled out the spent bean plants and chard planting cabbage, carrots, cilantro and more beans in their place. It feels sad to pull up the old. but invigorating to plant the new. The snap peas are almost done producing.  I think I will plant cantaloupe in their place.

In a few short days I will see new growth. I love my garden. It reminds me of the old stuff in my life that is just hanging around taking up space and sapping nutrients from my soul. I need to do some rearranging there, as well. Plant some new seeds to enjoy the new growth. Tending the garden of my soul is well worth the effort.

Tending the garden of my soul.......

hmmmmm, there's a poem there, I just know it.  I'll be pondering that all day

What a mess!

I just got home from vacation and wandered back to the garden. My oh my what a week of no attention will do!  I have my work cut out for me. Good thing I took another day off.

There are tomatoes on the vines, and peppers on all three bushes. The cucumbers are gaining strength and the corn is getting taller.  I am excited to see what the next month or two will bring!

I need to plant some more melons. Three sisters plot is ready for beans. The weather is finally right for them. I love my garden. June gloom or no, summer is on the way!