[GG Mora]

Please to discuss the mache. Once again, I don't think mine is doing anything.

I sowed directly into the ground a couple of weeks ago. Hardly anything happening. It's supposed to be a cold weather plant.

Needs lots of moisture to germinate, and can take several weeks. I'd give the bed a sprinkle every day you're there (unless it rains).

[Melonious Thunk]

Planted two large tubs of basic culinary herbs on the back deck Saturday. I think I'll add a third and then figure out how/where to plant some produce.

The wisteria pergola is showing multiple blooms for the first time. I'm so excited.

Wisteria pergola last summer.

[Rail Paul]

Last year, I planted several bricks, and they worked quite well in pre-heating the soil. The brick went lengthwise into the ground, with a 2x4 surface above above ground. It did a nice job of warming the soil for peppers. Not as good as the surviving wall-o-water, but OK.

I covered the bricks with grass clippings when it came time to mulch later in the summer.

That's very clever. Did you make rows of bricks? A brick border?

When I was growing tomatoes and peppers, I'd cut a toilet paper roll in sections and use that at the base and the plants that had this protection were distinctly healthier and bigger. You just want to remove it later as it can act like a wick waste a lot of water.

No rows, no border. That would be much too regimented for me.

I just put a few bricks in the ground, and planted the peppers, etc alongside them.

[rancho_gordo]

Found this in the garden yesterday. It seems so exotic for California!

[GG Mora]

Found this in the garden yesterday. It seems so exotic for California!

Not satisfied with hand-painting his beans, Steve began defacing the beasts that roamed his garden.

[Evelyn]

Found this in the garden yesterday. It seems so exotic for California!

Blue tailed skink...sometimes nature's colors are truly amazing to me.

[Melonious Thunk]

Blue tailed skink...sometimes nature's colors are truly amazing to me.

Evelyn, you continue to amaze me--the things you know!

[flyfish]

Our garden is skinkless, but a big ol' skunk sauntered by Mr. Fly this afternoon.

[GG Mora]

Found this in the garden yesterday. It seems so exotic for California!

Blue tailed skink...sometimes nature's colors are truly amazing to me.

Boom-de-ahddah, boom-de-ahddah, boom-de-ahddah, boom-de-ahddah...

[tanabutler]

Perfect planting weather today: cool and overcast, with rain forecast for the next two or three days. I managed to seed: 3 kinds of beets, carrots, parsnips, broccoli rabe, 4 kinds of lettuce for heading (2 butterhead, 2 romaine), lettuce mix for cutting, mesclun mix for cutting, a blend of arugula and cruly cress for cutting, and mache. Planted starts of celery root, spinach, dill, shallots, sweet onions, and 3 varieties of cippollini. My other starts – tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, squash, melons, cukes, etc – will have to wait until the weather warms up more.

Will you satisfy my inner garden geek, and elaborate on the varieties of your beets, carrots, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, squash, and cukes?

Thanks, Mora.

We have our first tomatoes setting on the vine, on 'Matina,' as well as tiny squash on four of the different squash plants. The 'Litchee Tomato' has quadrupled in size, and already has big thorns. Those will be interesting come harvest time.

Here is a shot of our top three tomato plants, under the southern eave.

Left to right: Northern Lights, Southern Pride, and Green Giant. They have lots of flowers and are very happy in that spot.

[beans]

I accidentally raked a wee garden snake. They are sort of fascinating.

I had a cow bird fledgeling (sp?) following underfoot.

I pulled grass where it wasn't to grow and planted grass seed where it was supposed to be.

I fought the strong efforts of the weed trees my neighbours have.

I spotted many a sow bug.

I loathe the chemical, but need to erradicate the sows. And beatles. And ants. And grubs.

The sawing today was amazing cardio.

[flyfish]

Actually yesterday, but more of the same will happen today.


Mr. Fly put down the soaker hoses and the red mulch, then planted the tomatoes. This year we are just planting Early Girls.


Some help from the Mantis tiller. Some peppers await planting.


A little reward for the gardeners.

[rancho_gordo]

Mr. Fly put down the soaker hoses and the red mulch, then planted the tomatoes. This year we are just planting Early Girls.

Just the name makes me hungry!

Looks like you are under control and ready for a good year!

[rancho_gordo]

Update in the runners in a pot:



Before and after/ last week and today


The fields are alive with the sound of beans growing!

[Evelyn]

Update in the runners in a pot:



Before and after/ last week and today


The fields are alive with the sound of beans growing!

So, non-bean grower question...how much will those plants produce?


ETA: The ones in the field, not the pots.