Hopefully the Last Time

[retiredwith4acres]

I hope I have covered/uncovered my garden for the last time this year! We just had two more nights in the 30's and we covered to be sure we didn't lose anything else. I guess we have been pretty lucky in the five different times of having to cover with freezes and frosts that we only lost a dozen or so tomato plants. Everything is looking good, even the "bitten" potatoes.

Green peas are blooming, salads have been really good, have my first broccoli ready to harvest, picked a gallon of strawberries with more to pick today, several meals of asparagus, corn and beans up and growing, and we have more to plant on the 7th, full moon. Mom wants to plant the rest by the signs. We will plant more corn, beans, melons, and whatever else we have come our way. I do have some winter squash to plant but don't know when to do those since I have never grown winter squash before.

Enjoying the garden this year because I feel good and don't have to make myself get out there and work like last year. My friends tell me that I make them tired listening to what I do but you guys know, it isn't work but peace and enjoyment. AND, all those sweet rewards on our plates!!

 

[Ridgerunner]

It has been a strange spring. So far, I have not had to cover anything and I am two to three weeks ahead of normal. It is pretty dry though.

Just tell your friends that your hands are supposed to be dirty at the end of a nice spring day. And if they complain about dirty fingernails, tell them that washing dishes will take care of that.

 

[retiredwith4acres]

I love that Ridgerunner! AND YES, it has been the most unusual spring. I have tomatoes on the vine! We don't usually plant anything until after tax day and we had stuff out before first of April because of the 80 degree weather for two weeks before.

Most of my friends don't do gardens and don't understand my love for doing all the work associated with the process. Of course, I have this deep feeling if there were "previous lives", I was a pioneer that lived from the land. They also don't understand the couple hundred chickens, or beekeeping, etc., it all makes me happy and gives me the feeling I am doing what God intended to be done with his earth.

Happy gardening friends!

 

[digitS']

It is with sympathy that here in the dragging sameness of the weather world that I see posts on the whiplash weather in the rest of the country. As someone who grew up only about 50 miles from Port Orford, Oregon (western-most community in the contiguous USA), You know - you are all "easterners" to me . But, since I moved "east" of the Cascades nearly 50 years ago - do you suppose I could get a little more warm weather, too ?

No, I wouldn't trade the weather here for the difficulties experienced in some parts of the world . . .

Anyway, I'm wondering if this planting by the moon signs would have some "tempering" effect on gardening behavior. For example, if you didn't plant on a waning moon - you would have to wait 28 days for the moon to be in exactly the same place again. So, "jumping the gun" by 28 days would suggest more risk than most gardeners would be willing to take.

With a short season, I just figger I can't wait around for any ol' moon to reflect a little solar light in just the right way. My window of opportunity is too likely to close during the wait. However, it seem possible that following the moon phases where the growing season is longer might be a "risk management" strategy .

I also hope you are out from under all the pressure, '4acres!

Steve
who'd better get out there while ol' Sol is up nicely in the sky to get some more onion transplants in the ground