The real start of the season

I have a new computer and had to figure out how to use it before I could post my garden progress.  So for my garden diary accuracy, this post is actually for a week ago, May 11th.  I started to plant in earnest in the first week of May because the weather warmed up and it finally seemed like the cold snaps were at an end.  This post is about the progress to date.

The snap peas continue to be prolific!  I have harvested many batches of snap peas and they continue to produce to my surprise.  So my space planning had to be changed. 


On the left of side are the snap peas growing on the fence line.  I planted beets in the area to the right of the peas.

A lovely beet sprout can be seen just under the chicken wire, used to keep the birds away from the seeds when newly planted.



In the space between the strawberry patch and winter lettuce I planted lettuce that is sprouting in the middle and bordered with carrots that are barely showing their sprouts.

This is the winter lettuce that should have been picked and is starting to bolt but will be eaten anyway!  In front of that section lettuce of several different types has been planted.

 

This view is from the front of the main garden but the middle section.   In the rear is the newly planted beets, the old pepper plant, and then in from of that, I planted leeks.  This is my first time planting leeks from seed, so it is a bit of an adventure.  In front of the leeks I planted one cilantro plant and one basil plant.  I have had difficulty growing each of these herbs but I am giving it another try.



This is the center section of the main garden and I have planted four different types of lettuce from small romaine, to head, to mixed leaf.  Having learned from years past the peril of planting the lettuce too close to one another, these have been properly spaced to avoid problems with dampness and slugs.  Of course, the marigolds in the front are used as a natural pest repellant.  They are not very effective but I use them every year nonetheless.

On the right rear of the main garden just in front of the grapefruit tree (which was prolific this year and has been providing countless quarts of the sweetest grapefruit juice imaginable) I have planted one of the tomato plants purchased from Sperling Garden Supply this year.  We missed Tomatomania so we went retail but I am hopeful that the tomatoes will actually produce this year.  Next to the tomato is a leek planted from seedling, not seeds.  We'll see how this plant compares to the ones planted from seed.

This year I tried something new in the trench on the far right of the main garden.  I created the trench to grow things like cucumbers and other vining plants, but this area is a bit shaded by the grapefruit tree and has not produced much.  So I planted carrots in the trench with the hope that the deeper loose soil will help prevent the crazy growth stunting that has affected my carrots in other parts of the garden. 

 Now we turn to the "back forty" which is across from the main garden and stretches down to the lovely garbage can and storage dump area, sigh . . .



This area includes the perennial grasses and oregano plant in the very back.  Here I have planted two tomato plants on either side of the wind charm.

If you look closely at the bottom of the plant you can see the first tomato fruits!

In the middle patch of the back forty I have planted arugula.  As you can see, this area is sun challenged as the shadow from the house invades this area for several hours a day.



Next to the established artichoke plant (see next image) which is at the end of the back forty, I have planted sweet corn that you can see sprouting here.  I checked today (really today) and unfortunately something has nibble the tops of some of the sprouts already.  I must have mice again -- they ate my entire garden a few years ago and there was no way to stop it, sigh . . .

Finally, we have the beautiful, flourishing artichoke plant.  This is the center fruit that has since been devoured by my family - yum, but you can see the other fruit that continue to grow.  This has been and continues to be a high producing plant. 

 

So, with little philosophical thought or insight, this is my log of the garden at the start of the season when hopes and aspirations are high.