I have been looking, at least every other day, for cucumbers. I saw a few babies but I was worried that I was going to strike out again this year.
This what I found this morning! I didn’t check over the weekend 😜 I remember planting two types of cukes, regular pickling and one I didn’t know—I think it was Japanese something—I guess that’s what the long ones are. Time to make the pickles.
I’m so happy. I grow potatoes in raised bed, this year with second year bales. So happy with this year’s crop.
Last year I left them in the raised bed waiting for vine to wilt but it is so hot here that they cooked, rotted before that. I got none last year. So I decided to go ahead and dig now, the really hot days are just starting. So happy
I haven’t posted much on garden this year. Doing so much better than last year. Already getting beans, peas, squash,bok Choi, lettuce. Will dig potatoes soon. Tomatoes coming.
Today, as I was pulling up dead plants (I let my garden sit over winter, in cause there is anything useful to birds, etc) I was wondering what made me think I could do anything like repaint furniture. Or do anything creative for that matter. Because I never was a “creative” person just lacking time to create. In fact, I never even got creative with cooking, my son with tell you that if it didn’t come from a box or a bag I didn’t cook it.
I realized today, pulling up weeds and roots, that it was my garden that opened up my creativity. Participating with God in making vegetables. It has allowed me to open up something inside me that I didn’t even know existed. At 60 years old I began to see new possibilities in me and the world around me.
I’ve tried making things, repainting furniture, repurposing things, home decorating–who knows what is next.
But my garden is my center. I am in love with planting seeds and being part of them growing into food for my family.
Now I try all kinds of recipes, make up my own.
Creativity– who knew?
Well, it is winter. I should be cleaning up the garden beds for spring, but I am letting them rest–and me–for a little while longer. So, what am I doing?
Furniture. I’ve gotten into painting, restoring and upcycling furniture. I would to resell some of my stuff–but time will tell. I upcycled a solid door, old mirror and bench into a hall tree. I’ve taken a small table and painted, added protective coating to make a plant stand. And I’ve been sprucing up old picture frames. I have a garage full of small tables, etc to work on. Like I said I’d love to sell some of my work.
I’m adding pictures. This hall tree is mine but I’d like to make one for someone else.
The other morning my 5 yr old granddaughter told me there was a watermelon in what was left of my garden. I said, No baby the watermelons are gone. But since she insisted, I went to look. It wasn’t a watermelon but a sweet potato sticking out of the decaying straw bale. So I decided to go ahead and pull them since they were exposed. 
When I went back to pull the vines this morning. I forgot a few more 
My garden may have problems this year but this is certainly the best sweet potato crop I’ve ever had.
It is hard to believe that it is June. Crazy spring in the garden. Spent this lovely, usually cool morning smooching bales and pruning. Have tomatoes growing, none ripe. Looks like I have lost my squash don’t know why. Green beans growing so are bell peppers and okra.
3 hours and I’m wasted. Old woman I guess.
Here’s my May garden update pictures. Lots of tomatoes, had to replant some several times. Potatoes in second year bales. Have baby squash growing, lots of beans growing in second raised bed. Lost my cucumbers so I have to replant. No luck with seeds in bales this year.
I started this entry on Saturday, but just as I was writing down a title I was surprised by my adorable granddaughters–so there went the writing😍! And, well, yesterday was Sunday, I had my 5k road race walk then off to church. So I am back this morning.
I am having a different time this year with my garden. It is easy to talk about when things go great but between the lack of time because of the remodeling, the weather and just “stuff” in general, so far this year has been different. When I finally got my straw bales conditioned I couldn’t wait to plant. So I guess I made a rookie mistake, except I’m not a rookie (4 years ) and nothing like this has happened before. I planted a bunch of seeds and about 16 tomato seedlings in bales on the same day I planted pole bean, okra, zucchini and squash seeds in my raised beds. The raised beds sprouted and continue to do great but nothing in bales and all the tomato seedlings died. Looking back, I realized the bales must have been too hot. Like I said, I’ve never had this happen before but I have read some of the docs online. Soooo I’ve reseeded where I still had seeds, still replanting and replacing tomato seedlings and I’ve bought a few plants too. Of I forgot that I also planted 5 tomato seedlings in my little raised bed–they are doing fine so I know the seedlings were old enough to plant.
Gardening is a little like life. You learn as you go, hope and pray for the best. Keep going and restart when you need to.
So, yesterday I finally began to get started in the garden. Conditioning of straw bales was complete. I had been, broccoli and cabbage seedlings weathered and waiting. I got the black kow manure and soil into the raised beds, hoed a little to mix in–then I planted my pole bean seedlings and seeds, set up trellises and now ready to go. I put them in second bed to rotate from last year. Then I put okra and squash seeds in other big bed. I’m not sure about squash seeds, they were from last year’s crop–looked a little dehydrated, so if they don’t sprout I’ll put in new plants or seeds from store. I put the cabbage and broccoli in side bed, already have broccoli, lettuce and strawberries started there. I just got started planting seeds in bales and I had to stop to help DB pull bushes cut from pond front to road. Hopefully I’ll get finished tomorrow. Did repot some tomato seedlings and put a few out to start weathering. Pictures will follow when finished.
