Yesterday was a beautiful southern California day, sun was shinning, sky was clear, and Tapia Farms was having its annual TomatoMania festival. There were tons of varieties of tomatoes and some herbs and veggies. We restrained ourselves this year and agreed on only 4 tomato plants. We got two cherry tomatos, one orange cherry tomato, and one beef steak tomato, all indeterminate, all non heirloom. We are planting two of the plants in new locations that seem to have good sun and water. Two of the plants will still be in the back forty with some water challenges, so hopefully they will do okay this year. I bought two sweet basil plants also. They seem a bit frail, so we will wait on see if they survive.
Of course, today it is pouring rain! I am sure the plants don't mind but I keep thinking Spring is here, but it refuses to really arrive. I am holding off planting lettuce until we have more warm weather. So the garden is a bit of a hodge podge, with fallow squares where the lettuce should be. I will post pictures once the sun comes out again.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Sunday, March 4, 2012
First Plantings
Although Spring is technically not yet here, it was 85 degrees today! The itch to start planting just had to be scratched, a little. A trip to the garden store netted new garden gloves, lots of seeds and some seedlings. I planted today a Serrano pepper, a cayenne pepper and another pepper that I have forgotten. Time does that unfortunately.
I also planted seedlings of snap peas in the trench; although I have had difficulty getting the cucumbers to grow in the trench, I am hopeful for the snap peas. Times does that too, fortunately. Snap peas were also planted along the garden fence as I figure they can climb up and over.
The garden store had a bunch of celery plants, and although I thought celery was a winter plant and I have not had luck with it, since they had such healthy looking plants, I bought some to give it a go. I planted in a lovely mound where they will get plenty of water and sun. Unfortunately the spot is where my husband usually plants his tomato plant, which he irritatedly advised me of after I finished planting. We need better watering methods for the "back forty" so that the tomato plants can be planted there in the large sunny place. Perhaps my accidental planted of the celery in the tomato spot will incentivize a water solution.
I also found some nice yellow onion plants and planted them back by the strawberries and next to where the lettuce will be planted. I believe the onion will help with pest control. I also planted marigolds along the path as my usual pest control and vibrant color solution. Some things don't need to change.
Lastly, I planted seeds for some beets. I still have two plants growing; must have been seeds that only grew after the other plants were removed. So I planted four more beets plants in the same location. I plan to plant another six plants, but will plant a little later so that we have beets throughout the summer. I am excited about the new garden and hope I have not started too soon.
I also planted seedlings of snap peas in the trench; although I have had difficulty getting the cucumbers to grow in the trench, I am hopeful for the snap peas. Times does that too, fortunately. Snap peas were also planted along the garden fence as I figure they can climb up and over.
The garden store had a bunch of celery plants, and although I thought celery was a winter plant and I have not had luck with it, since they had such healthy looking plants, I bought some to give it a go. I planted in a lovely mound where they will get plenty of water and sun. Unfortunately the spot is where my husband usually plants his tomato plant, which he irritatedly advised me of after I finished planting. We need better watering methods for the "back forty" so that the tomato plants can be planted there in the large sunny place. Perhaps my accidental planted of the celery in the tomato spot will incentivize a water solution.
I also found some nice yellow onion plants and planted them back by the strawberries and next to where the lettuce will be planted. I believe the onion will help with pest control. I also planted marigolds along the path as my usual pest control and vibrant color solution. Some things don't need to change.
Lastly, I planted seeds for some beets. I still have two plants growing; must have been seeds that only grew after the other plants were removed. So I planted four more beets plants in the same location. I plan to plant another six plants, but will plant a little later so that we have beets throughout the summer. I am excited about the new garden and hope I have not started too soon.
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