8/1/2014 0 Comments Movin' on up!Well, now! I have finally come around and realized it's been quite some time since I've updated this blog. A little over 2 months of silence. Been wondering where I'm at? Well, if you follow my homeschool blog, you already know it's been quite a busy and hectic summer for us. We have a new baby on the way, due in October. So, we've been preparing for another child, as well as preparing for an early start to our studies this year to allow time off around when the baby comes. In the midst of it all, we've decided to switch two rooms in our house to make a schoolroom a part of our study/office and have a designated study space for each of the youngsters. And on top of all of that, we have had a couple of trips to take for family events! This has left the garden pretty well neglected this summer. The okra was half-gone, and mostly gone to seed when I finally got back to unearthing it from the massive weeds and towering cosmos that had taken over. A few tomatoes clung to living - I'll be planting those hardy ones again next year! I know there are some peanut plants that have sprung up and I can see glimpses of. Even a random beet plant has made it so far! A few green bean vines are still trying to produce, even though I can't even get to them right now. I still have more unearthing to do. I can also see the kale growing back there, without my being able to get to it, either! All the while, the lime tree has been drooping lower... and lower... and lower, weighed down by the limes it put on this spring! And underneath it, the Concord grape vine has been quite happy, and my hubby has enjoyed going out to pick the grapes as they ripen. Even the munchkins are getting in on harvesting those! =) So far this year, we've harvested at least 2/3 of a bushel of small limes (the picture is just one of the two pickings). We've just started to harvest, too! I've been taking those up to the farmer's market to sell on Saturdays. I've also been enjoying them myself a good bit. They're great to add to water for a little zest and flavor! Now here it is, the first of August, and I realize the summer has slipped away, and it's time to prepare for fall!! Seeds have begun to arrive - new rounds of things I don't have from my own plants. Yesterday brought spinach, kale (mine won't go to seed!), and some new corn I want to try for the fall. This year I'm going to go a little more standard in my seed-starting, and I've ordered trays to start my seeds in! I'm movin' on up in the garden world over here! =) Speaking of movin' on up - even the old truck I use for market (and play) has gotten a much-needed upgrade of new tires!! Poor hubby was having to air them up nearly every time we wanted to drive the truck. I guess after about 17 years, they need to be replaced. ;) Well, here goes the start of August... my "threshing floor" has been cleaned out and set out to dry this morning. What's my threshing floor? Well, it's our old little 36" kiddie pool. =) It should be completely dry by now! I need to have seeds threshed and ready for planting when those new trays arrive! I also need to get some seeds packaged up and ready for sale both online and at market. It would also be nice to go ahead and plant some of my direct-sow things for fall and see if they'll survive the rest of our summer. I'm hoping for a reasonable next couple of months, with no major spikes in temperatures! We're already on our second cool front, so there's hope!
I also plan to rearrange how I plant my garden this year, now that I know my brassicas can last over a year!!! They will now be planted in the back part of the garden, with the rotational plants going into the front, where I can pick and harvest those more easily, as well as replace them more quickly as spring approaches and it's time to put in THOSE rotational crops! =) How does your garden grow?
0 Comments
|
Carmen's Space to WriteI love to garden and craft, which becomes quite interesting with 3 little ones underfoot, and homeschooling the oldest! Archives
April 2018
CategoriesAll April Backyard Carpentry Caterpillars Chrysalis Cold Cold Front Cool Front Dormancy Easter Fall Fennel Gardening Gourd Baking Grapes Growing Cycle Limes Okra Plant Cycle Seedlings Seeds Seed Saving Spring Squash Summer Threshing Tomatoes Winter |