the ones existing from last year: crocus, grape hyacinth, and another flower but i can't remember the name
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Saturday, November 13, 2010
freeeeeee
i just read an article about the perfect nitrogen-rich compost additive.... you ready for this?
urine.
i'll be sure to tell eric to piss on the compost next time he's in the back yard. i'm sure he won't mind. in fact, i'm pretty sure he'll be quite excited about the task.
its cheaper than buying some stupid pre-made nonsense. in fact, it's free.
nick, already slightly disturbed by the big black bin of rotting in the backyard, will be outright horrified.
urine.
i'll be sure to tell eric to piss on the compost next time he's in the back yard. i'm sure he won't mind. in fact, i'm pretty sure he'll be quite excited about the task.
its cheaper than buying some stupid pre-made nonsense. in fact, it's free.
nick, already slightly disturbed by the big black bin of rotting in the backyard, will be outright horrified.
Friday, November 12, 2010
almost over
well... we pulled up all the plants in the garden except the perennial herbs, broccoli, and swiss chard. its officially over. we're only going to get a bit more outta the rest, then the broccoli and swiss chard go, too.
compost bin is moving right along. goes down a few inches a week. i may put something in to accelerate the process.
compost bin is moving right along. goes down a few inches a week. i may put something in to accelerate the process.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
tulips
i need these in my life.
i planted a bunch of old bulbs i found in the garage on friday. hopefully at least some of them will actually come up in the spring. some were rotted to nothing, some were still hard. they won't be a complete waste regardless, it'll be organic matter enriching the dirt if they just decay.
now i need to acquire new bulbs and figure out where to put them. i'm going for tulips, daffodils, perhaps a few iris. no lilies. i do not like lilies. they smell like death.
i planted a bunch of old bulbs i found in the garage on friday. hopefully at least some of them will actually come up in the spring. some were rotted to nothing, some were still hard. they won't be a complete waste regardless, it'll be organic matter enriching the dirt if they just decay.
now i need to acquire new bulbs and figure out where to put them. i'm going for tulips, daffodils, perhaps a few iris. no lilies. i do not like lilies. they smell like death.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
pale september
well... its almost october and we're still getting tomatoes, especially from the yellow pear plants. those little guys are still churnin' out like mad! the eggplants are still coming, too.
there's one zucchini that has started growing on the vine, which is strange because i thought the damned thing was dying. the flowers have been withering without even opening. maybe this is the last hurrah. i'm not complaining.
next year we definitely need a second bed, same size, to have more variety and better spacing. i can only put 4 tomato plants in next year, and we have to built a scaffold for the cucumbers, zucchini, and beans. we have to be much more on top of the herbs, too. can't let the basil flower. gotta give the sage and oregano more space.
next year we WILL have:
yellow pear tomatoes
some variety of red tomatoes
maybe an heirloom variety
basil
sage
oregano
eggplant
cucumber
zucchini
we will NOT have:
broccoli
zebra tomatoes
there's one zucchini that has started growing on the vine, which is strange because i thought the damned thing was dying. the flowers have been withering without even opening. maybe this is the last hurrah. i'm not complaining.
next year we definitely need a second bed, same size, to have more variety and better spacing. i can only put 4 tomato plants in next year, and we have to built a scaffold for the cucumbers, zucchini, and beans. we have to be much more on top of the herbs, too. can't let the basil flower. gotta give the sage and oregano more space.
next year we WILL have:
yellow pear tomatoes
some variety of red tomatoes
maybe an heirloom variety
basil
sage
oregano
eggplant
cucumber
zucchini
we will NOT have:
broccoli
zebra tomatoes
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
the toys go winding down
the zucchini seems to be at the end of its season.
the cucumber is slowing down dramatically.
the eggplant is still going strong, though. thank goodness for that!
i have discovered that broccoli florets are, in fact, flower buds. we were away when our broccoli ripened, and when we got home, we had this lovely yellow bundle of tiny flowers. its pretty, at least.
we bought a cheap compost bin at home depot. its working like a dream. when you touch the sides, you can feel the heat emanating from the inside. every day, the matter inside has shrunk a few inches. i pour in the kitchen compost bin every few days, and then cover up the food material with grass clippings and dry leaves from the pile in the back of the yard. fantastic! it'll be beautiful come spring 2011!
the cucumber is slowing down dramatically.
the eggplant is still going strong, though. thank goodness for that!
i have discovered that broccoli florets are, in fact, flower buds. we were away when our broccoli ripened, and when we got home, we had this lovely yellow bundle of tiny flowers. its pretty, at least.
we bought a cheap compost bin at home depot. its working like a dream. when you touch the sides, you can feel the heat emanating from the inside. every day, the matter inside has shrunk a few inches. i pour in the kitchen compost bin every few days, and then cover up the food material with grass clippings and dry leaves from the pile in the back of the yard. fantastic! it'll be beautiful come spring 2011!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
swimming in tomatoes
wise man say, "first year gardeners always plant too many tomatoes."
this is true. we've got far too many, we can't even give them away fast enough. next year we will keep it to 3 plants at the most, one of which will definitely be a yellow pear. they are positively delightful! i just go out into the yard and eat them right off the plant.
one problem we seem to have with the tomatoes is that the skins are splitting as they ripen. apparently this has to do with water levels, but does not negatively impact the tomatoes too dramatically. it just makes them ugly.
the swiss chard, zucchini, eggplant, and cucumber are doing quite well. sadly, one of the zucchini plants and most of the beans died. next year i definitely have to put in a better support structure for the plants.
this is true. we've got far too many, we can't even give them away fast enough. next year we will keep it to 3 plants at the most, one of which will definitely be a yellow pear. they are positively delightful! i just go out into the yard and eat them right off the plant.
one problem we seem to have with the tomatoes is that the skins are splitting as they ripen. apparently this has to do with water levels, but does not negatively impact the tomatoes too dramatically. it just makes them ugly.
the swiss chard, zucchini, eggplant, and cucumber are doing quite well. sadly, one of the zucchini plants and most of the beans died. next year i definitely have to put in a better support structure for the plants.
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