Moving right along---
I finally got the upper plot all tilled for the potatoes. Cut them all today and letting a scab form on them before planting so they have some protection for any lurking germs in the soil. I am going to wait till Friday around noon to do the deed, for a very specific reason. That being so that my youngest granddaughter, Dakota, can assist again for her third year in a row in the planting of the 'taters. She finds it amazing to dig into the side of a hill in the middle of the summer and pull out a potato! She also gets a kick out of coming down to the house and going out in the attached room greenhouse and giving the tubs of lettuces a haircut with a pair of scissors in the middle of the winter. I think I have a budding gardener!
Back to the spuds, we put them in rows 36" apart and space them in the row 12-16" depending on the variety. Put them in the 2-3" deep trench till all are in the ground. Then we walk along each row and deposit a small handful of 19-19-19 fertilizer of the organic kind, between each cut spud. Her hand, full of said stuff, is just the right amount.
Then we will pull the dirt back over them and wait for them to start turning into next winters dinners.
When they get to be about 6-8" tall we will keep pulling dirt up and around the bottom leaves until we have plants growing in the middle of a hill of soil about 8-10" across the top and about 8-12 tall. Therein shall the amazing transformation take place!
Planted 24 Mary Washington Asparagus plants about a week ago, and then 75 strawberry plants the next day. Asparagus has yet to make an appearance but every one of the strawberry plants have put out good growth in that time period.
In the HT, the 3 different types of lettuces have all appeared and gotten to be about 2" tall. Peas are up about 4". Got two Kale volunteer plants up about 6" and a few more planted in a different mini-bed.
Brought 4 Homestead tomatoes down and planted along the trellis designed just for them. These are an Heirloom plant and were very prolific for us last year. Also brought down and planted 4 Roma's along another trellis. They were about 8" tall to start then and I buried each one up to the first true leaves. In the bottom of each hole is an equal parts blend of blood meal, Epsom salts, and pulverized dried eggshells. Cover with about an inch of soil before dropping in the plant so it doesn't burn the roots! That takes care of the nitrogen, magnesium, and calcium requirements for getting them off to a good start. They have already regained the 2 " I buried them!
Got four Broccoli and 4 cauliflower in two other mini beds, and they are holding their own. These are for fresh eating. I will start another four beds of cabbage, two of broccoli, and two more of cauliflower for preserving and making Kraut. We put up 54 quarts of tomato sauce last fall and made about 25 pints of kraut. Middle son likes my sauerkraut! I don't tell him that I stomp down the cabbage and salt barefoot in a big washtub before canning it! Toe-jam gives it just that right tang!
Took a chance and planted a bunch of Cilantro in one tire bed stack and fennel in another one. If they come up great, if not I'll just do it again in a couple of weeks or so.
All five of the Elderberries are doing very well! As are the three Red Currants, and the three Goosberries.
Four 20' x 4' raised beds are all hand tilled, fertilized, and covered with. plastic waiting for it to get warm enough to plant two beds of beets, and two full beds of different green beans for shelling and for summertime eating.
Had some folks over a few days ago to take a look at how I do this gardening stuff. Have to say they were most impressed! So much so that they were going right home and get a HT ordered for themselves. Gave them the online addresses for all three of Herrick Kimball blogs so that they will the advantage of his vast knowledge and Whizbang ideas!
Well I guess I am all up to date on the goings on around here so, TIFN.
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