The End of June

The end of June is fast approaching.  The garden is doing well.  Some things are starting to take off and some are coming to an end.  Today,  I pulled all the lettuce out of the garden box.  The Romaine, Simpson and Freckles lettuce are all out.  Most had gone to seed.  There were two plants that hadn't, so harvested both.  They are washed and are drying right now.  Miss 38th Street and I will have a nice salad for lunch!

Now I have to decide what I'm putting in these empty spots in the garden.  A couple weekends ago, I pulled all the spinach out.  It had all gone to seed.  In it's place, I added a Valencia Tomato, and three Serano Peppers.  Although, I did put the Seranos next to the Bell Peppers.  We might have some hot Bell Peppers.  That happened to us last year when I didn't put enough space between the Anaheims and the hot peppers.  The later rounds of he Anaheims were HOT!  Well see.

I'm thinking Cabbage, Kale and more Lettuce and some Baby Spinach.

Oh,  if anyone has some experience with Garlic, let me know what you think.  My Garlic has gone to seed and it look about ready to harvest.  I had someone tell me I couldn't use the Garlic after it had gone to seed.  Then I read something on the interawebworldwide that you should let it go to seed.  I did see where I messed up, in that you should stop watering the Garlic a couple weeks before you dig it up.  Whoops.  We're going to dig some of it up tomorrow.  See what it looks like.  I pulled one up a couple weeks ago, and it was surprisingly small.  I hope the Garlic is still good.  I've heard that home grown Garlic tastes better than the store bought.  If the Garlic is not edible, then I might turn into this:

Or maybe I'll just be Vincent Vega.

Ha!  Keep it 38th Street!  

Garden Video?!?!?!

Are you ready for a Garden Video?!?!?!

Too late now, cause here it comes!!!!!

Check it out!!!!

http://youtu.be/ps96OK7rkL4

Wow.  I was...

was expecting more.

Thanks, anyway.

State of the Garden

Hello,

I haven't written in a bit.  It's been the usual.  Busy, busy, busy.  The garden has been busy, too.  It's been steadily growing.  Most everything is doing well.  I took some pictures to share with everyone.   Let's see what we have here.

The blueberries are looking good.  I didn't know what to expect from them.  I didn't get any berries last year.  

My Fukushu Kumquat Tree is doing well.  No flowers yet, but it's rebounding.  I thought I finally killed it earlier.  The Scotch Bonnet and Aji Limon Peppers are slowly getting bigger.

Here are 3 Tomatoes in pots by the front steps.  Two are going great.  One, not so much.  I think it's slowly dying.  

 Here is a couple more Tomatoes in the garden.  

The Garlic is looking fantastic!  It's going to seed.  I'm supposed to wait until there are only 5 to 6 green leaves left, then harvest.

Ahhhh, yes.  The Sugar Baby Watermelons.  I'm hoping they do a little better then last year.  I got two watermelons last year.  I'm hoping for 4!

I have two cucumbers.  One is blasting off!  One is waiting for it's morning coffee or something.  

Here is one of my Tomatillos.  Something is eating my Tomatillos and Green Beans!  

I hope it they live.

Here are a few shots of the Garden.

 I need to mow.

Ok.  Nothing fancy on this entry.  Just pictures.  

I hope everyone's plants are doing great!

Until next time,

38th Street Gardener

Miss 38th Street's Day Off

Hello, again!

Miss 38th Street had the day off on Saturday, the lucky devil.  I had to work at the Big Blue.  She was home having fun, making the house look great.  I was at work dealing with clients and making sure the shows look good.  She was at home with the dogs and having a great day outside.  I was inside the hotel running around like a crazy person trying to make everyone happy.  As you can imagine, I was very jealous.

Here is photo evidence of the difference:

Miss 38th Street was planting Hostas and Marigolds
around the pear tree out front.  Very Nice.

I was working.

She was making the porch flower boxes look

 beautiful with a spikes and a few types of Coleus.

I was working.

She was planting more Asiatic Lilies in the south flower boxes.

I really like the burgundy and white lily.

I was working.

 She hung some Boston Ferns and some flower baskets, 

and I don't what kind of flowers they are.  

Sorry Miss 38th Street.  Do see her arm?  Hot!

I was working

Another shot of Miss 38th Street's handy work.  

She even shined up the porch swing!  Amazing!

Miss 38th Street did a wonderful job making the house look beautiful!  I wish I could have been there to pitch in and have some fun too!  Hey, I love her.  She's awesome. And I'm not just saying that because she's my hot fiance, even though she is my hot fiance.  I'm saying it because I mean it.  YOU ROCK, MISS 38TH STREET!!!

I hope everyone had a nice weekend outdoors!

Adios.

Late Garden Update!

Hey All.

I have a late garden update for you.  Last week, we left for Myrtle Beach, SC for Miss 38th Street's sister's college graduation, which was awesome!  Thus, I had to quickly plant the rest of the garden before we left.  Unfortunately, I didn't label everything so I have a few mystery plants.  Which can be fun!

So, here's the rundown of what's in the garden and around the garden:

First off, I planted the final seeds, which are (4) Kentucky Wonder Pole Bean and (8) Tendercrisp Green Beans.

Then I transplanted the seedlings from the basement.  I had a lot of seedlings die, but I also had a lot live.  Some were strong.  Some, not so much (I'm going to post an entry totally devoted to this seedling operation of mine).  I put the strongest in the garden box, and pots, and a few around the area, which wasn't a popular idea (heh heh, sorry Ms 38th).  I hardened them off for a few days, first, then I put them in on Wednesday, May 2nd.

In the garden box, I have:
-Four tomato plants; Black Krim, Brandywine, Green Zebra and a Roma.
-(2) Sugar Baby Watermelons
-(2) California Wonder Bell Peppers
-(2) Aji Limon Peppers
-(2) Cucumber
-(1) Basil
-(1) Lemon Basil


I also added some pots around the front, because I have an addiction and don't know when to quit.
I have the following:
-(1) Black Cherry Tomato
-(1) Green Zebra Tomato
-(1) mystery tomato
-(1) Aji Limon Pepper
-(1) Scotch Bonnet Pepper
-(1) Lemon Basil
-(1) long planter box with a Cilantro, Basil and Parsley

Around the garden box, I slipped in two Tomatillos and one more Roma Tomato (I love you, Ms 38th!)

When we got back this afternoon, everything was doing great!  I pulled the rest of the Purple Plum Radishes to give the new plants some room.

      I had a few huge radishes, like this one!

We're off and running, or growing, really.  I have one spot open in the garden box, which will be filled sooner than later.  I hope everyone else's garden is doing well.  Lets hope for a better summer this year. Last year was too dry and hot!  

Adios!

Last Weekend of April

Last weekend of April and I did a little yard work.

Miss 38th Street and I had an Engagement Party last night and we were a little...  slow, today.  That said, I tackled the rain barrel installation.  Miss 38th Street's parents got us a rain barrel, which is very cool.  We painted it the same color as the house and I finally got the diverter in the mail.  I got it installed, except the adaptor that connects the tube to the barrel.  The kit didn't have one!

So I have to go pick one up somewhere.  joy.  I tore out a bush that was at the front corner of the house.  It was nice, but we were just tired of it.  It was a Crimson Pygmy Barberry.  The bush was replaced by the Light Pink Peonies that we got at the plant auction.

I also planted a Pink Hyacinth that I bought Miss 38th Street last week as well as the two Asiatic Lilies we picked up at the plant auction, too.  Very nice.

We picked some of the Purple Plum Radishes today!  First harvest from garden!  I'm having a salad tomorrow.  Look at these radish plants in the garden!  They are huge!  They tasted good, as well.

 And the Garlic is looking fantastic!

If all goes well, I'll have some tomatoes and peppers in the garden by wednesday.  I'm hardening off the plants now.  YES!

And now I'm going to bed.  and probably play Bejeweled for about five or so minutes before my farting dog jumps on the bed and smokes me out the house.  Man, he is not smelling good today.

Peace.

IOGA Plant Auction!

Hey, Hey!

Saturday, Miss 38th Street and I went to this year's Indiana Organic Gardeners Association's Plant Auction!  It was at the Zionsville Public Library.  You know, Miss 38th Street and I have never driven through downtown Zionsville.  It was nice!  It had a great look and a lot of great places to spend money.  Anyway, we started with a pitch-in lunch, which was tasty.  I brought a Chicken Verde Bean Dip.  I think people liked it.  We did a little QnA and business, then on to the real fun: The Plant Auction.  I went to this event last year and I was way into it.  This year, Miss 38th Street came with me to check it out.

I donated six plants, which is a lot less than I wanted.  My seedlings aren't doing as well as I hoped.  My plants were two Roma Tomatoes, two Black Krim Tomatoes and two Tomatillos.  I don't know if they all were sold, but I hope they did!  They had some nice plants up for auction.  We scoped out a few items that were must haves.  I talked to Claudia Clark (her and her husband are the auctioneers) about starting with a certain plant first.  She did.  Thanks, Claudia!  I really wanted to get it for Miss 38th Street.

Miss 38th Street wasn't quite into it at first, but once it got going, she started to get focused.  She liked it.  She'll be back next year, for sure.  Unfortunately, we had to leave early to get to my nephews birthday party (which was great), but we still got some nice plants.  Plus, all the money goes to IOGA, which is fantastic.

Speaking of fantastic, here's what we got:

First off, I was the high bidder for the first item of the day (the plant I really wanted), the Light Pink Peony.  We got two.

Then Miss 38th Street got two Asiatic Lilies.  Actually, I'm not sure what color they'll be.  We'll see!

Then we got a fern, which I didn't catch the name, but it looks like this.  We got one of those.  We have lots of shade, so it should work well in that area.

Finally, we picked up one little Black Cherry Tomato plant.  I have a bunch of tomato seedlings in the basement growing, but hey, I couldn't resist.

Man, I'm so ready to get these plants in the ground, as well as my seedlings.  I think I'll have to wait till this weekend.  Still a little too cold in the evenings.  I have to say thanks to everyone at IOGA for planning the plant auction and the monthly meeting.  It was great.  I can't wait for the next one!  Oh, their link is over here on the right.  Check it out.  

Till next time!

Rafael