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  1. Ben E Lou

    Chronicles of a Noob Garden and Gardener

    it happens that I took a picture on this day last year. The difference is amazing. Top: my squash plants on May 17, 2018. Bottom: my squash plants on May 17, 2019. Evidently I’ve learned a thing or two...
  2. Ben E Lou

    Chronicles of a Noob Garden and Gardener

    Mainly for my reference when I'm down at the garden Flower-only section, taken this morning. Starting at the fence, the sections are sunflowers, a “bee feed” mix, a “butterfly/hummingbird” mix, calendula, and California poppies. BEE FEED MIX--purchased from Johnny's selected seeds • Agastash...
  3. Ben E Lou

    Chronicles of a Noob Garden and Gardener

    broccoli, kale, lettuce, spinach. All are in good shape, but doesn't that stuff bolt, get bitter, or both in hot weather?
  4. Ben E Lou

    Chronicles of a Noob Garden and Gardener

    Other notes... The temperature dropped to around 45 each of the last two nights. As of this morning, I hadn't seen any tomato blossoms having fallen off. In other weather info for here, the long-term forecast calls for today and tomorrow to feature spring-like weather (mid 70s hghs/mid 50s...
  5. Ben E Lou

    Chronicles of a Noob Garden and Gardener

    A few shots from yesterday and this morning... The largest broccoli head is now bigger than my fist. Probably harvesting in the next day or two. I think I mentioned this earlier in the thread, but the vegetable section of the garden is aligned to get maximum sunlight. This picture was...
  6. Ben E Lou

    Chronicles of a Noob Garden and Gardener

    The good and the bad from my morning garden inspection: spotted my first tomatoes, but also something ripped a drip irrigation line and destroyed one of my red bell pepper plants. I’m guessing it was a squirrel digging.
  7. Ben E Lou

    Chronicles of a Noob Garden and Gardener

    The eldest (age 10) has eaten at least one large serving of sauteed spinach for four consecutive days now. The garden is going to run out soon, but I've planted some more.
  8. Ben E Lou

    Chronicles of a Noob Garden and Gardener

    Broccoli (x2) and lettuce pics from a few minutes ago from the kids’ gardens. Theirs are just absolutely exploding.
  9. Ben E Lou

    Wide variance in basil.

    I’m experiencing wide variance in how my basil is doing, even in some cases where the plants are right next to each other like in these two pictures. Any idea what might be causing some to thrive and others to flounder?
  10. Ben E Lou

    Chronicles of a Noob Garden and Gardener

    The garden seems to be experiencing some rapid growth this week. It has been in the mid to upper 80s the last three days, with lows in the lower 60s. I’m assuming that’s playing into it. Couple of pics from today: I’ve got several little squash like the one pictured below, and the broccoli is...
  11. Ben E Lou

    Chronicles of a Noob Garden and Gardener

    Hehehe. Definitely a noob, but I did a *TON* of reading (and taking classes) after last year's last-minute garden. As mentioned, the NC Extension Service has an insane amount of resources online. I'm not exaggerating when I say I probably read 30+ minutes of gardening/composting related stuff at...
  12. Ben E Lou

    Chronicles of a Noob Garden and Gardener

    Back yesterday evening. Reviewing the garden shortly before dark and again this morning, and here's what stands out in my mind right now... To our surprise, we were greeted with several fully ripe bright red strawberries. One of the tomato plants is about to bloom, as are many of the...
  13. Ben E Lou

    Chronicles of a Noob Garden and Gardener

    Heh. I cut it low the day before we left so the whiny we-hate-hens HOA wouldn't get after me.
  14. Ben E Lou

    Chronicles of a Noob Garden and Gardener

    I'm not sure I recommend putting like 90% of a large garden in the ground, then leaving town a week or less later :D I'm dying to know how everything is doing. I guess the good news is that though I'll be disappointed to come off of vacation, I'll certainly have stuff to look forward to. (We...
  15. Ben E Lou

    Chronicles of a Noob Garden and Gardener

    Well, she runs a non-profit farming ministry, so I kinda doubt she'll need any from me. ;)
  16. Ben E Lou

    Chronicles of a Noob Garden and Gardener

    Yeah, the posts for the trellis came in handy there. :D We did have some patchy frost. Any by "patchy," I mean that within my blueberry bed, some of the pine straw had frost on it, some of it didn't. Anyway, glad I had the covers out there. Taking a look this morning, 24 hours later, it looks...
  17. Ben E Lou

    Chronicles of a Noob Garden and Gardener

    So following up on that pic from the dark late last night: at like 7:45pm, a friend offered huge row covers for free. If I had known these suckers would be in the mix, I never would’ve worried for a moment! :weee (New pic taken a few minutes ago.)
  18. Ben E Lou

    Chronicles of a Noob Garden and Gardener

    Given the amount of work it took (4:30pm to sunset Friday, basically sunrise to sunset Saturday, and 8ish hours total on Sunday,) I don't regret taking this particular weekend--when the wife and kids were out of town and I could therefore work uninterrupted and guilt-free--to do the heaviest...
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