While the gardens were still pretty wet from the torrential rain we experienced last week, I was able to get all of our pepper plants into the ground. Will followed, mulching first with rotted manure, then with hay. The tomatoes look so nice and healthy, all caged, staked, and mulched. Some have already got some tomatoes set on the plants.
Finally, yesterday, the soil had dried up enough in the Wolf and North Gardens that Will was able to till them with the tractor mounted tiller. He switched the four-foot tiller that came with our Kubota tractor with the five-foot King Kutter we had previously used as the one that came with the Kubota keeps breaking tines. The old King Kutter has never broken one, even though we used it as a first tiller on some very rocky gardens. He was able to till most of both gardens. They are a bit clay-lumpy so we let the ground dry out for the afternoon and night and he’s going to re-till them today so, hopefully, we can plant some corn with the two-row corn planter. A bit late but in homesteading, you do what you can do, when you can do it! And pray for a late fall.
While I was busy mowing our big lawns with the riding mower, Will fired up the TroyBilt tiller and got busy tilling the beans, carrots, beets, and onions in the Wolf Garden. It looks very nice, I think! I replanted some of the washed-out sweet corn and it looks like a couple rows of beans need it, as well. But that’s what you do. Never quit!
— Jackie
You and Will certainly do make a good team, and get masses of work done working together! It takes endurance to get everything done in the window nature gives us, that’s for sure. Outside this morning my wrens are singing so beautifully and I just saw the most beautiful oriole in the back yard. I really enjoy these gifts and it makes working outside even more pleasant. We have been getting some very nice rains and the garden and yard are growing quite well. Hoping for a good harvest. My dill and basil are getting close to ready for harvest and I am going to try to dehydrate them this year. Sending prayers for a blessed week.
We could use a touch of rain around here, it’s been a little too dry of late. I got our garden all planted out – it’s not nearly as big as yours – and the stupid groundhog came and chomped on all my cabbages. Beloved husband and I spent a morning making small cages from chicken wire for each plant. Fortunately the plants weren’t killed, they’re pushing out some new leaves so I don’t think I’ve lost them, but just to be on the safe side I started a bunch of new cabbage plants this week, I think the new Early Jersey Wakefield plants will be full grown by the time we have the first frost. Annoying animal.
Two weeks ago I walked down to our barn, about 200 feet from the house, and noticed someone rustling around in the bushes. Turned out to be a bear, not far from the house. We scared it away, but the darn thing kept circling around and coming back, went back up the same tree and that’s when I saw three little faces. Of course she wasn’t going to leave her babies behind. A few hours later the family shimmied down and went off into the woods. Hope we don’t see them again anytime soon.
Your gardens look beautiful .
Glad the weather is being a bit more cooperative. While we haven’t had a deluge of rain like other areas, we are having more pop-up showers – aka “the front moved ” explanation from the weather peeps.
Have harvested a zuke and one yellow squash. Cut off a couple of yellow swash that were low growing during a rainy stint and were starting to rot. I may have to dig the garlic here soon and accept the harvest we get. Looks like somebody slept on part of the patch and flattened the plants. Cut one scape yesterday (had no scapes last year). I’ll give them a bit more time to “brown up” but keep a close eye on them.
And of course, always need to weed.
Got the latest issue of BHM earlier this week.