First Bluebonnet by the pond.
If you have wondering at my silence, there are two reasons I have been postponing my blog: disgust and my reluctance to tell you about my failures. So let's just dig into these dirty secrets and get it over with.
Disgust. Every seedling I sprouted shriveled up and died despite my efforts. I kept them hydrated without wet feet or drying out. I carried them into the sun whenever it was out. I lightly brushed them, simulating a breeze, to strengthen their stalks. Half of the peas and beans I transplanted died as well. After asking around, I think that insufficient light might be the problem. The tomatoes and peppers never changed after sprouting the fourth leaves. I also think that the temperatures, even in the house, were not warm enough. The tray of peppers I had on the AGA sprouted twice as fast as the first try, but then withered away. Also, moving the trays around all of the time might have disturbed them. I do have a strong suspicion that it is a combination of problems that lead to failure.
Pride. I started out with such enthusiasm, so confident that things would go well. I had every intention of following through this year and serious, conscientious, and patient gardener. And I did! And I still failed. And for a few weeks, that was all I had to tell you. So there it is, my ugly ego is exposed, I didn't want to blog unless I had something to brag about, shame on me.
But all this does not mean the end of my 2012 gardening. I purchased some tomatoes, eggplants and peppers from Lowes, a local feed store, and the Dennis Farm Store. A buddie of mine had turned me on to the farm store and I have a feeling that they will get to know me over the next few years. I walked up to the vegetable plants on a dreary afternoon, right before closing, and heard from behind "What are you lookin for, girl?" I told this old farmer I was looking for heirloom tomatoes and he, along with another young man, started finding me the best specimens of not only tomatoes, but eggplants and peppers, too. They also had poblano peppers, a staple at our house, and I can never find them anywhere else. I asked him what was on the next isle, but he waved his hand and said "You don't want any of that, honey, it's all greens." Guess he didn't size me up to already have collards, kale, and mustard greens sprouting already. As he totalled me up, his 13 year old Jack Russell watched his every move. "We've burned up many a tire together over the years."
We just had three days of rain and now the sun is out and we have mild weather for the next week. I had sowed peas, beans, squash, zucchini, carrots, radishes, beets, turnips, greens, lettuces, basil, kohlrabi, and fennel directly a few weeks ago. I've planted my purchases, put away the tarps, and I think I'm ready to go for spring. So, let's have a look.
Tomatoes and eggplant.
Healthy looking tomato plant.
Tomatoes, peppers, and weeds that need to be weedeated (not my job).
Sugar snap peas latching onto the trellis.
PVC trellises with bird netting stretched across.
Carrots peeking out.
I can tell you that the composting project is working out beautifully! There is no smell and lots of interested bugs. I have turned it over a couple of times and everything looks soft and black.
I've also not given up on growing my own seedlings and I'm planning my strategy for next year. All the seeds that were directly sown seem to be coming up with the exception of kohlrabi and fennel. After my first failure, I've decided that more is more and sowed everything I had and planned on being grateful if anything came up. Oh, and the potatoes are growing like crazy.
When we had a strong storm coming our way, I ran out and tossed the tarps over the tender plants and clamped them in place in about 10 minutes. Those clamps I had bought have started to show rust, but Greg suggested that I spray them with WD-40 and store them in a plastic bag until next year. So, good design on that problem.
Last, but not least. My asparagus bed has started to produce! It is about two years old.
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