September 29, 2014

Definitely delinquent in the journal department.   This weekend we FINALLY got the arbor attached to the garden fence and got the grapes planted:  Himrod on the left of the gate and Red Flame on the right (as you enter the garden).  Both are seedless and both are looking like they are at the end of their growing season.  They both turned yellow and brown shortly after bringing them home.  Odd as they were in the sun at the nurseries (Himrod came from Bishop Nursery and Red Flame from Big trees) but perhaps it is just hotter and sunnier here.  Lots of rain over the weekend.  We also got all the raspberries transplanted into the whiskey barrels and they look much happier.  Pulled the one blackberry which may or may not come back to life and potted it.  Planted a seedless Silk Blackberry in its place.  Also laid the border material down and hope to get the soil amended a bit more before mulching.  We just need to string the wire and tie up grapes and berries as needed. 

Planted some mescalun mix from seed today, also a row of sugar snap peas – I know the latter are meant for spring but only two or three are surviving from my midsummer planting and I had seeds so I figured I do an experiment.  Also put in a row of beets starts (form Bishop Nursery) and a six pack of cauliflower which turned out to be heirloom cabbage…… must have been sitting right next to the cauliflower and I missed when I picked it up.  I need to go back and get some cauliflower this week if they still have it. Finally planted two trials of Kalette – a new hybred of Kale and brusselsprouts which Liz from Bishop Nursery gave me for free to try.  I think it looks great and I might buy a couple more to add to that bed.  Also planted two sixpacks of beet starts.  Still researching more good items for Fall sowing.  I keep hearing broccoli and brusselsprouts but my experience is that they tend to be VERY buggy when home grown and thus difficult to eat!

The new zucchini are producing as are the patty pan and spaghetti squash.  We have one pumpkin on our one surviving vine.  One of the rhubarb looks like it got beat up and dried out last week….. might have been all the digging for the irrigation system.  Hopefully it will come back well next year…. Might need to relocate the two rhubarb plants.

We also started fencing in the individual trees in the orchard.  It’s still a bit early for deer but we did see some fresh deer prints on our hike this weekend just about 6 miles from here.  Hope to finish that project tomorrow evening.

As we pick up the stray rocks and sticks and use up the last bags of soil things are looking much better.  We REALLY need to weed around the front ditch/creek.  Things are growing like mad there since the sprinklers have been set up….. unfortunately I think 80% of that growth is weeds!  Time to get to work there.