A little herbs to make life fresher

 So over the Easter holiday weekend, I spent most of my time re landscaping my front yard.  I made some new beds to put in some herbs like oregano, basil, mint, and some chocolate mint.  I also bought some blackberry plants along with some sylvania plants to attract butterflies. 

 

I actually drew out this design first on paper and then worked on it.  My measurements for the pavers were a little off, but I am happy with the end results.  Now I just have to find some 3/4 -1" gravel rock to fill in the spaces around the pavers.

I reused the large river rock from the side of my house to create a river bed look.  I added some purple fountain grass up front and transplanted my box woods in a triangular pattern.  I built a raised bed to put parallel to the sidewalk to help block of the wind from blowing leaves and trash to my front door.  The only problem, I think my rosemary didn't like the transplant, as it continues to look brown and dead.  The thing about rosemary that I researched on is that it can't be overwatered and it doesn't do well with compost.  So I am sort of stuck on what to do next to help revive it. 

I'm not quite done with the front yard as I have a few more ideas that I would like to try.  Just have to wait for the time and the money to be on my side.

Get dirty and keep on gardening!

Homemade tomato cages

Week 5, Day 28: April 17

So my attempt to crowd in my tomatoes this year like my brother did last year has me wondering.  There were a few of them that were being overshadowed, so I had to transplant them to an open area.  With the remaining ones, I decided to make a grid of sorts to help keep the tomato plants growing upward and not intertwining with each other.  I used some 36" stakes and some jute cord to create a grid pattern.  Hopefully this will work, only time will tell though.  I have used tomato cages in the past, but its been a 50/50 success.  Most of the tomato plants either grow to tall or the branches break off from the cages.

The potatoes continue to grow, so I planted a few more spuds in the front of the bed a few days ago.  You can see a few little shoots.  Funny too, is that I have noticed a few baby shoots of basil pop up in the potato box and with the Lima beans.

 The peppers are getting a little bit more growth to  them along with the onions in the back.  The kale "tree" has been my longest success to date.  That thing just won't give up.   In the lower left side of the box, you can see a few leaves sprouting from the rhubarb that I had planted about 4 weeks ago.  I wanted to experiment more with some perennials so this was my first.  I want to plant some artichokes and asparagus as soon as I find some to buy.

    

The zucchini now has some flowers on them and hopefully they will make their way to the trellis behind them.  I will most likely have to force them since the sun will be out in front of them.

The new 8x8 bed has had the least amount of new growth.  Mainly because everything was planted about two weeks later than the other beds and I hadn't set up a irrigation system for this one until today.  The 4 4x4 beds have two soaker hoses on them so allow for deeper root absorption and less water evaporation.  As you can see in this pic, I had a soaker hose but upon turning it on, found that it had a hole in it and wasn't quite effective.  So for now, I will be using a simple fountain style  sprinkler, early in the mornings.

 

Get dirty and keep on gardening!

Off to a good start

Week 4, Day 21: April 9

Finally finished the new 8x8 bed.  Planted some cucumbers, peppers, and a few different beans and peas.  This is my first attempt at the peas and beans.  I have always grown them with my students in school but never once thought to actually grow some in my own garden.

 

The potatoes are beginning to sprout and the tomatoes are gaining some height.  For the zucchini boxes, I had to saw off where the old trellis was and reposition it to the back of the raised bed.  Its a little shorter than last time, but I think it will still work.