Dahlias In

Spent the evenings yesterday and today planting Dahlias. Seven beds in the back and a long row in the front. Still have plenty of tubers and started cuttings which will probably be given away or sold at the next farmers market. Tempting to put in another row in the front yard, but have to stop somewhere. That's Kamaji helping out.

More Lilac Flowers

This is what happens when you build your compost piles underneath the lilac bush in your backyard using fresh chicken manure ( 30 gallons ) and coffee grounds & kitchen scraps, plus the usual organic matter ( leaves and grass clippings ) .

1 month later

April 29








May 29

Dahlia Beds

Made new Dahlia beds from cedar fencing using the usual method with braced corners. Put three in the backyard between the other raised beds, and the rest by the fence. Have 5 in place will add some more tomorrow.

Started out by covering the grass with cardboard, then covering the cardboard with a combination of new compost, sand and peat moss.

This compost has been "working " for about 6 weeks. It was made as part of the original batch, then turned once and added to with the unfinished stuff from the first batch. It sat then for about 4 weeks so it is really completely done now.

This is layered up a few times and then some garden soil, sand and peat moss added. To finish it off, Ill add some more topsoil tomorrow. Then it will be time to plant the dahlias. Since this soil is going to have great compost, ( nutrients ) drain well, ( sand ) and yet hold moisture ( peat moss ) it should be just the thing to produce some amazing dahlias this year.

Planting Done

This weekend we planted 5 rows of potatoes, reds, and yukon golds. We started by digging the rows, then adding our best compost, COF and Azomite then digging that in and putting some dirt back on top. Then we put the potatoes in and covered that up. In all we have about 75 potatoes which should yield 4 - 6 tubers per plant for about 3 - 500 potatoes. Should hold us through the winter.

We also put in about a dozen tomatoe plants. These we got from Judy at Terrapin farms. We didnt start our seedlings early enough this year so we didnt have starts of our own. Adding to that Jen planted Tomatillos, and I put in 2 rows of basil, sweet and genovese and a row of red peppers. Who knows if they will mature in time. I kind of doubt it.

We also put in our squashes and cucumbers in the raised beds, and the rain we have been getting is probably going to get them going strong the next time the sun comes out.

The compost barrel was also harvested for the potatoes, but the peas and spinach got side dressed too. Comfrey got a blast and is finally starting to come back after getting transplanted.

We didnt realize it but the lilac bush probably has the most flowers of any plant in town. Might have something to do with building the compost piles under it,. :-) It is the big pink thing in the back of this photo.

The new dahlia beds are going in the middle of the back yard space, peas are on the left and the lettuce and spinach are on the right. Main garden in the back.

Garden Progress

Here are some photos from last weekend, showing the growth to date of stuff.










Garlic going strong, after a dose of home made compost











Peas in the main garden just before being turned under










Strawberries starting to fill in










BrocolliRab in the cold frame










Peas all emerged and starting to get bigger

Photos from May 05

Here is the truck getting garden soil










Here is the garden with the cover crop of Austrian Peas










Here I am putting in the Raspberries










Here is Jen next to the beds we salvaged from the old Park Ave House

LLama Beans, Tea and planting seeds

Day before yesterday Jen came home with a bunch of LLama beans, which apparently can go directly on the garden, so yesterday it was time to put some of it on all of the beds and in the main garden itself. I had also completed turning under the peas yesterday afternoon as well, so after a couple of weeks for the peas to decompose the garden will be ready to plant.

The strawberries are in flowering mode so it was time to add some booster in the form of Bat Guano tea, some in the rows and some on the plants themselves, Maybe it is just wishful thinking but they looked much bigger tonight already.

Dahlias are starting to pop through the tops of the soil in the pots. I had finished getting them all ready on Monday and have been putting them in the sun during the morning. The starts are mostly doing well, lost a few of the weaker ones already. Russ got his tubers today.

Started tomatoes, peppers and basil tonight, it is just after the new moon, and even though we probably should have started them a month ago, we went for it anyway. Used Steve Solomon's method of making the soil, added some Azomite for good measure, and put the trays in plastic bags by the windows.

Temps have been in the low 80's in the heat of the day, lows in the mid 40's so it is unseasonably warm.

Blueberry Info

North Sky Blueberry

Key Benefits
A large midseason crop of exceptionally sweet, sky-blue blueberries follow the profusion of showy pink-tinged white flowers. Fall foliage is a colorful combination of yellow, bronze, orange and red. An excellent hedge or specimen. Deciduous.

Time of Flowering
Bell-shaped flowers in late spring.

Average Landscape Size
Multi-stemmed shrub 20 to 40 in. tall, 10 to 30 in. wide.

Water Needs
Water regularly, when top 3" of soil is dry.

Sun Exposure
Full sun

Cold Hardiness
-40 to -30 F

Spartan Blueberry
Key Benefits
Exceptionally attractive and tasty fruit is often larger than a quarter in size with a tangy sweet flavor; ripens mid-July. Large, glossy-green foliage becomes orange and yellow in fall. Small white, bell-shaped flowers proceed the berries. Deciduous.

Time of Flowering
Small white flowers in late spring.

Average Landscape Size
Moderate growing uprught shrub 5 to 6 ft. tall, 4 to 5 ft. wide.

Water Needs
Water regularly, when top 3 in. of soil is dry.

Sun Exposure
Full sun

Cold Hardiness
-20 to -10 F

Toro - Northern Highbush Variety

Zones: 4–7
Fruit: Large, mild, sweet flavor, ripens mid season
Mature Bush Size: 4–6'
Growth Habit: Stocky, upright growth
Fall Color: Crimson red
Availability: Plants available for sale. Fresh Toro berries available in season.

Jersey - Northern Highbush Variety
Zones: 4–7
Fruit: Medium, sweet flavor, ripens late season
Mature Bush Size: 6–8'
Growth Habit: Upright, open growth
Fall Color: Orange flame
Availability: Plants sold out