Coming Alive!


                                            The Garden In Mid-April

Hello! It's good to be back here. I spent the first week of the month sick and spent no time outside. Last week was a wash due to cool temperatures and subsequent a lack of growth.  Well, now we're about three weeks into spring and our garden still looks pretty barren. But, little-by-little and day-by-day,  it's definitely coming alive. Here's a peak in alphabetical order:

                               Oops! Looks like the yellow zuke needs a drink!

- asparagus are just beginning to pop up
- beets have been planted, but have not broken ground yet
- berries (Blackberry and raspberry) are in full leaf
- broccoli plants are developing very nicely (they liked the weather last week!)
- butternut squash seedlings are developing nicely
- carrot seed has been planted but not yet sprouted
- cherry tree is in full bloom
                                     

- corn seed not yet planted
- herbs (cilantro, marjoram, parsley & thyme) have sprouted, but seem slow
- lettuce seedlings are coming along slowly
- the first 18 feet of snow peas are up; the second planting of 8' hasn't sprouted yet
- spaghetti squash seedling is doing well
- spinach (March planting is about ready to eat; 2nd planting seedlings are growing well)

- strawberries are awake and starting to flower
- tomatoes (Jet Star and cherry) are thriving
- zucchini squash (green, yellow) seedlings are developing very nicely

                          This is Purrrcilla, Nadine's "Adopt a Zucchini" baby!

We emptied the compost heap today. It yielded approximately 100 pounds, give or take a pound. That is in addition to the ten pounds we've used already. Horray! That's more than last year (75 pounds) and a good improvement in what we're striving to do. We'll be spreading all of that "garden black gold" in the main planting areas this week.

 If you don't have a compost pile, now's a good time to start one. Find a small spot in your yard and begin by putting tonight's vegetable trimmings out there. Your compost heap doesn't need to be a construction project, just a shady out of the way spot close to your kitchen door. With spring weather coming, all of the soil microbes and insects will be getting back to work after the winter break. Encourage their presence by providing a garden "restaurant" specializing in vegetarian food scraps. To help the process along, turn over your compost several times a month.

                                          100 pounds of garden "black gold"!

Thanks for looking! I'll be back next week....hopefully with a little more excitement!