Spending the weekend in down state IL for my nephew's wedding. Until you drive through thousands of acreas of unplanted fields you don't appreciate the amount of rain that this part of the country had. Lots of planting and tilling going on, and a whole bunch left to do.
Had our first shot at humid and 86. A little different than the usual 70's in De Pere.
We got out and visited the Edwardsville Farmers Market this morning. Obviously early but saw lots of greens, some really great brocolli, and asparagus. Most sold out very quickly but in talking with people, a lot more to come. Glad to see that there was a strong commitment to organic. OMRI was posted a lot of places.
Will get home on Monday night and plan on spending Tuesday in the garden/yard getting caught up.
Have a great and safe holiday.
Bill
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Getting ready for Memorial Day
Quick note tonight. We are getting ready to head south for my nephew's wedding on Sunday in Edwardsville, IL. Should be a good time to see family and friends. We got a nice shower about 5 pm that will go a long way to avoid having to put any water down until we get home on Monday. The asparagus keeps coming as we were able to pick another 3 #'s to take an grill on Saturday.
The garden looks great. Pulled a few weeds in the garlic and asparagus. The second batch of compost in the tumbler should be finished by the time we are back. Looks like we will also be able to get in the last planting of peas on Tuesday. Also will take the opportunity to get in the first planting of beans next week.
Mary picked up some flowers today at a new greenhouse. She took a trip with friends out to see Thistledown Greenhouse in Bonduel. Sounds like we will be going back. Planted some Eryngium 'Blue Hobbit' (Sea Holly) and Euphorbia 'First Blush' (Cushion Spurge). Should do nice out front in the front flower beds.
Gotta run. Things to do and pack before we leave for tomorrow. We'll talk next week.
Over the holiday take a moment to be thankful for the country we live in. It may not be perfect but it is still the best thing going. Be thankful for the sacrifice that all those have given to make it what it is today. Have a safe Memorial Day.
Bill
The garden looks great. Pulled a few weeds in the garlic and asparagus. The second batch of compost in the tumbler should be finished by the time we are back. Looks like we will also be able to get in the last planting of peas on Tuesday. Also will take the opportunity to get in the first planting of beans next week.
Mary picked up some flowers today at a new greenhouse. She took a trip with friends out to see Thistledown Greenhouse in Bonduel. Sounds like we will be going back. Planted some Eryngium 'Blue Hobbit' (Sea Holly) and Euphorbia 'First Blush' (Cushion Spurge). Should do nice out front in the front flower beds.
Gotta run. Things to do and pack before we leave for tomorrow. We'll talk next week.
Over the holiday take a moment to be thankful for the country we live in. It may not be perfect but it is still the best thing going. Be thankful for the sacrifice that all those have given to make it what it is today. Have a safe Memorial Day.
Bill
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Catching up - Tueday 5.19.09
Ok, it has been busy. A lot to do and the weather has been less than cooperative.
Saturday was spent staying warm. This was the UWGB plant sale. Picked up 8 tomato plants, 13 pepper plants, and 2 nice cucumber plants. #19 in line is the best I have ever been. It was just plain rotten the rest of the day.
Sunday I planted the tomato plants and put up the Wall O'Water around all of them. The green meanies look weird but they really do soak up the BTU's. By the end of the day, the water was quite warm and the plants were safely nestled in the ground. I know, harden off, get them ready. Past experience shows that the best thing is to get the plants in the ground (bury them deep) give a good feed of kelp meal and bone meal and let them adjust. Have not lost a plant in 10 years doing it this way. The best part is that the roots are really down deep.
We also spent a lot of time dividing plants. Liatris and ornamental grasses seemed to be the candidate. Got all the division spread around the beds and properly disseminated into the neighborhood.
Monday was school board that lasted until after dark.
Tuesday was a busy day in the garden again. Planted the peppers and cucumbers. Forecast calls for warm and a touch of rain. Should be perfect for the plants. No WOW for the peppers, they should be OK. Also cut more asparagus (~3#'s). The beds are coming pretty fast right now. The neighbors are happy, the inlaws happy, and the wife is happy. Fresh aspargaus is a great thing.
Need to do a call out for my father-in-law. Jim did a great job in helping make some new rabbit stopping devices for the raised beds. The design was flawless and as usual, over engineered. Pictures after we get back from St Louis this weekend.
Eric, my nephew gets married on Sunday. Will get a chance to catch up with the family once again. It should be fun.
We'll talk on ..... well, next week.
Saturday was spent staying warm. This was the UWGB plant sale. Picked up 8 tomato plants, 13 pepper plants, and 2 nice cucumber plants. #19 in line is the best I have ever been. It was just plain rotten the rest of the day.
Sunday I planted the tomato plants and put up the Wall O'Water around all of them. The green meanies look weird but they really do soak up the BTU's. By the end of the day, the water was quite warm and the plants were safely nestled in the ground. I know, harden off, get them ready. Past experience shows that the best thing is to get the plants in the ground (bury them deep) give a good feed of kelp meal and bone meal and let them adjust. Have not lost a plant in 10 years doing it this way. The best part is that the roots are really down deep.
We also spent a lot of time dividing plants. Liatris and ornamental grasses seemed to be the candidate. Got all the division spread around the beds and properly disseminated into the neighborhood.
Monday was school board that lasted until after dark.
Tuesday was a busy day in the garden again. Planted the peppers and cucumbers. Forecast calls for warm and a touch of rain. Should be perfect for the plants. No WOW for the peppers, they should be OK. Also cut more asparagus (~3#'s). The beds are coming pretty fast right now. The neighbors are happy, the inlaws happy, and the wife is happy. Fresh aspargaus is a great thing.
Need to do a call out for my father-in-law. Jim did a great job in helping make some new rabbit stopping devices for the raised beds. The design was flawless and as usual, over engineered. Pictures after we get back from St Louis this weekend.
Eric, my nephew gets married on Sunday. Will get a chance to catch up with the family once again. It should be fun.
We'll talk on ..... well, next week.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
It might be May, but it is not summer!
Fresh asparagus never tasted so good. We have now been cutting for about 12 days. It is really starting to come now. The garlic is also looking very good. We have side dressed it with our homemade fertilizer blend and it really seems to have taken.
The cole crops are all planted as of the writing of this update. The peas are a little behind, but are now starting to take off with the advent of warmer weather.
This is the third planting of beets. A little sparse in the germination, but I can attribute that to the age of the seed (1-2 years).
I have been less than prompt on keeping up with the garden updates. For that I am sorry, but things do get prioritized. Last Friday I took the time and helped put in our new dock at the lake about 90 miles north of us. It turned out to be the best day of the weekend as we enjoyed temps in the 60's and nice sunshine. Saturday and Sunday greeted us with bouts of rain and temps in the 40's and 50's. Not the best to be trying to do something in the garden.
On Monday, I was able to get a few of the beds tilled and finished planting the last of the brussel sprouts (Jade E Cross), a row of beets, spinach and lettuce, along with 2 more double rows of peas. This makes 3rd and 4th plantings. We should get the 4th/5th in before we leave for StLouis and Memorial Day.
The berry plants look very good. Purples and reds are all doing great. The currants are heavy with flowers and should yield another great crop this year.
More pictures soon.
Rain is predicted for Wednesday and Friday PM. Figures, its May in Wisconsin. Going to the NAS Plant Sale at UWGB on Saturday morning. Would like to come home with 23 plants. Planning on getting there early (~630).
Gotta run, busy day at work tomorrow.
Keep your hands dirty.
Bill
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Don't fret.... I didn't forget.
Away for the weekend. I should be home later tonight and if there is some light, I will get something on the next post about how the garden is doing. Fully expect to see a lot of asparagus through the mulch (found 2 right before we left).
Spring might just actually be here.
See you soon.
Bill
Spring might just actually be here.
See you soon.
Bill
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