Trials and Tribulations

Tribulations- A cause of great trouble or suffering.

Right now that about sums things up. 

 

Rain- the passed week we had rain every day, from light mists to torrential downpours.  This has caused great troubles in the garden.  I've seen slugs that remind me of Jabba the Hut.  My gorgeous heads of 'Lingue de Canarino' lettuce are ruined, most other lettuce has damaged outer leaves, even the cabbage has damage to the outer leaves.

 

The torrential rains combined with wind have snapped the supports for the peas causing them to flop all over.  The snow peas being shorter are still standing upright. 

 

Then there are the bearded iris.  I have two clumps of an ancient blue bi-tone that I rescued a few years ago from 20+ years in the dense shade under a lilac.  They have grown into huge clumps with amazing branching.  As soon as the torrential rains started they started to flop all over. 

 

Then there are all the seedlings that should have been in the ground weeks ago, but it has been too soggy.  The tomato seedlings on the deck have what looks to be early blight, the peppers are loosing their leaves and the petunias are getting very root bound.

 

Even with all the above, I feel very lucky.  I think of all of those who lost everything to the flooding in the mid-west and south and think that theses aren't really tribulations at all.

Harvest Monday- 05/16/2011

The first harvests of the year.

Harvest Monday is hosted by Daphne's Dandelions.

Finally I was able to start eating real salads. Being of Sicilian descent, I grew up eating sharp and bitter salads. Long before it was trendy My grandmother and mother were growing arugula, endive, dandelion chicory and escarole to use in salads. In fact lettuce was the green that was used the most sparingly.

Above, over wintered lettuce 'Bronze Beauty' and 'Lingue de Canarino'.

Above, baby 'Tyee' Spinach, 'Ice Bred'arugula and chicory.

Above, 'Ruby', 'Australian Yellow' and 'Flashy Green Butter Oak' lettuce.

Today was another rainy day.  The soil was just to wet for any outdoor planting.  The day was spent cleaning the light stands and starting the last of the flower seeds. I'm keeping my fingers crossed I can get some planting done by the weekend.

May 14 in the Garden

Another gloomy day, and the long range forecast shows ten more.  The only upside is that this is perfect weather for peas and the greens.  I'm determined to get my petunia seedlings in the ground tomorrow and hopefully my early tomatoes.  Night temps are supposed to be above 50 degrees, so I'm going to risk it.  I'm holding off on sowing any beans as I'm afraid that they will rot with this cool damp weather.

Above, a view of the PSP.  The peas are growing fast as is the lettuce and cabbage.

Above, The lettuce have had the outer leaves picked after this pic was taken, but they still look attractive.  Notice how red the 'Galactic' lettuce is compared to 'Ruby', if the texture and taste are good this will be added to the my ever growing list of standards.

Above, the green cabbages are really taking off.  I hope the red cabbage catches up soon.  The 'Australian Yellow' lettuce is also growing fast, this was picked after the pic was taken.  'Loolo di Vino' lettuce on the far right is making a great edging.  The spinach and arugula to the left are growing very slowly.  In fact the arugula is starting to bolt without sizing up much at all.

Above, this section should be filled with carrots and beets that were sowed over a month ago.  The carrots are slowly starting to grow, but the beets are a bust.  The 'Broadway' rose in the center is doing well and should make an interesting focal point to this bed.

Above, a close up of 'Galactic', 'Lingue de Canarino' and 'Ruby' lettuce.  The 'Lingue de Canarino' are looking awesome, these are actually to attractive to pick!

The longer I garden, the less I think I know.  I've been having problem with things I've been growing for years.  Three varieties of cosmos started the same way I have for years are a leggy mess, despite being less than a 1/4" from the lights.  Carrots, beets, arugula and spinach are a major disappointment.  Nothing has changed with their culture.

On the bright side, last fall I never got around to lifting the seed grown dahlias.  I noticed loads of sprouts from one of them.  I need to keep my eye on this one.  It survived a very cold winter with no protection!

Foliage Color- 'Woodside' Columbines

This spring, I've also been keeping an eye on color and texture outside of the PSP.

'Woodside Purple' columbines have become one of my favorites.  The color has been remarkably stable through several generations, they are exceptionally hardy and long lived.  Above all, the spring foliage is amazing.  I would call it a glowing chartreuse.  The color lasts until summer, slowly turning a darker green.  Some plants even have foliage that is gold spotted green.

Above, self seeded among a patch of daylilies.  In the background is a variegated weigelia.

Above, closer of the foliage,

Above, close up the flowers.  The color is actually more purple than blue. 

Right now I have seedlings coming up everywhere.  The plants can be moved with no ill effect and they make seed like crazy.  I'm hoping to collect enough seed to share later this summer.

A Dry Weekend- Finally

The first dry weekend in recent memory!  I wish I could say that I got a lot done outside, but the soil is still too wet for the projects I have planned.  I had wanted to get the area in front of the PSP emptied by now.  There are three huge bearded iris clumps and numerous dayliles.  Not to forget loads of Canada thistle, bermuda grass, crown vetch and catnip that are taking over.  The iris' are now blooming and the daylilies should be sending up scapes soon.  Looks like this will have to wait until mid-summer.  It's a good thing I'm way behind on my flower seed starting, my dwarf tomatoes and peppers are going to have to double duty in the flower beds.  I will get the PSP expanded at some point this year.

 

Above, an overview of the PSP.  'Immortality' bearded iris beginning to bloom in the foreground.

Above, cabbage and lettuce are starting to grow rapidly.

Above, the peas are growing fast and the lettuce is filling in.

Above, 'Lingue de Canarino' lettuce.  These make the most gorgeous rosettes.

Above, a new to me lettuce for this year 'Flashy Green Butter Oak' with 'Ruby' trying to sneak in the picture.

Above, one of my pride and joy's.  This is a dappled willow that was an 8" plant when I planted it in the fall of 2005.  I believe it was from the Proven Winner line and it came in 4" pot and was about $3.00.  It retains the white tipped pink coloration for well over a month.

Above, a close up of the new growth on the dappled willow.

Above, a close up of 'Lollo di Vino' lettuce which edges on of the beds.

Now that I have become more observant of the coloration of the spring vegetables I have some good ideas for fall or next years combinations.

I hope everyone had a great Mother's Day!

The Postage Stamp Potager (PSP) late April

Finally, a sunny and dry Saturday.  Lot's going on in the PSP.
Growth is still rather slow, but things are at least starting to noticeably grow.

Above, an over wintered 'Bronze Beauty' lettuce ready for harvest.  Look how big it is compared to the direct sown chicory!

Above, the bed on the right side, the back section is the spinach and arugula finally starting to grow.  The front section is 'Australian Yellow' lettuce, 'Primero' cabbage, 'Samantha' cabbage, 'Gonzales' cabbage and edging in front of 'Lollo di Vino' lettuce.

Above, the back bed.  I added the string "cage" to the bamboo supports.  I'll be adding another rung weekly until I reach the top.  The peas are really starting to take off as is the lettuce.  The seedlings edging the sides are 'Zeolights' and 'Solar Flashback' calendula.

Above, an over view of the PSP.  It should really start to look good in a week or two.

Several types of seedlings were potted up.  5 'Kaleidoscope Mixed' pepper, 6 'Rotundo Bianca Sfumata di Rosa' eggplant, 2 'New Yorker'  tomato and 4 'Mountain Princess' tomato.  These are in addition to what was potted up last week- 3 'Victor' tomato, 6 'Northstar' pepper, 2 'Peacework' pepper and 3 'Tennessee Spice' pepper. 

The eggplants and some of the peppers will most likely be put in the driveway bed.  Flea beetles are menace in the PSP, so I'm going to see if the eggplants can escape them out front.

Tomorrow I hope to pot up some of the larger flower seedlings and perhaps get another sowing of carrots in.

Three in a Row

Dry days that is.  Along with no rain the temps have been in the low 80's.  It is amazing the results the warmer temps with all that water have brought.  The peas seem to be getting taller each time I look at them, the carrots and beets are finally up and the over wintered lettuce is ready to harvest. 

The over wintered lettuce was not something I planted on purpose.  My fall lettuce went into the garden very late and very small last fall.  Cool weather kept the plants from achieving any size.  They received no protection and about 3/4 of them died over the winter, but the survivors are now growing like gang busters.  This coming fall I am going to purposely plant some to overwinter along with spinach and arugula if i can find the space.

I do have a bit of a dilemma.  I was going to plant another round of carrots and beets last weekend.  The soil was to wet the prepare the area for seeding.  This coming weekend  it will be  May.  I can't decide if I should plant more or wait another week and put in the first planting of bush beans... decisions, decisions...