Sunday, April 26, 2009

APRIL'S CHORES

Or Why My Back Hurts SO Much!
The garden is in... sort of. I have a friend who has said he will build me a raised square foot garden. I saved a few plants for that. I cut my garden space in half from last year. it was just too much for me to take care of - the weeds grew faster than I could pull them - so this year, most everything is grown thru a ground cloth. This is not the cheap plastic stuff from WalMart that rips easily. It is a heavy duty cloth that lets the rain thru but supposedly keeps the weeds from growing. It took a sharp knife to cut the slits for the plants to get pushed thru. Last year I planted my beans 3 times. once they washed out, maybe that happened twice, I don't know. Anyway, this year I went totally lazy all the way around and bought the beans already about 4 inches high. The cucumbers were not quite as big. The row on the left is cucumbers plus a few geraniums, then bush beans, next are the cherry tomatoes, then carrots left in the ground from last year. My neighbor, Frank, came over with his post pounder and helped me move the fence posts. I moved the gate to the side.That gate is just PVC piping and wire. It started life as a display area for art work. At the opening (gate) I put a couple old left over shingles to keep the weeds down and the area free from mud when it rains or I water. Also - do you ever have any old political signs made out of that waxed cardboard? They can be cut to fit next to rows of plants for weed control, too. Or just to keep you from walking thru the mud when you water or harvest after a rain. (See one that says State Senate next to the asparagus???) At the bottom of the garden I planted corn and zucchini. On the far side is asparagus, basil and the big tomatoes. This morning, with temps well in the 80s, Frank came back and pounded in 7, 6 foot fence posts around my blueberry garden The bushes had grown so big, they had come thru the netting. I used the same fencing around the blueberry patch that I used around the garden, strung 40 lb fishing line from post to post and put the old net over the top. I can stand up inside to clean up weeds or pick berries! The gate is another display rack. The net is held in place with clothes pins! How cheap can you get?

I am really quite exhausted and am resisting taking a pain pill... maybe a tiny nap...

7 comments:

ancient one said...

You probably deserve the tiny nap... or a bigger one if you choose... your garden looks safe... can't wait to see the fruits of your labors... we haven't even planted our tomatoes yet..

Rachel said...

You have a lot going on in your garden!! I might put out a tomato plant or two, but that'll probably be it. Nothing like fresh garden food though. It's the best!

I heard that more people will have gardens this year because of the economy.

Cliff said...

You're the industrious one. Nice looking garden you've got started there.

Ginnie said...

No wonder you are exhausted. You say you've cut back from last year but it looks like lots of work just the same. I'll bet that the results will be worth all the trouble (and back aches) though.

Ralph said...

Glad you have the garden in. We will be putting ours in in about two more weeks.
That is the best use for political signs I have ever heard.

Tossing Pebbles in the Stream said...

You work so hard to keep the critters out.

Shame on you for buying beans as small plants. Even I start beans from seeds. We with only about 100 days frost free can get two or three staggered crops.

Marla said...

I just cleared out my garden space on Sunday. I need to get it planted. There is rain forecast for anydays that I can plant this week. I hope to get it in soon.