garden update
Apr. 3rd, 2006 09:13 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lindajThis weekend ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
tman_mcl and I finished almost 13 linear feet of raised bed along the stucco wall that separates the lower part of our yard from the upper part. This constitutes approximately 1/3 of that stretch of wall. There's one other stretch of wall, on the other side of the stairs, where we'll do the same thing, but it's significantly shorter, and it can't be done until after the irises in an existing bed bloom, so they (along with a huge clump of lavender, and some peonies) can be moved upwards several inches.
Building this bed was an incredible amount of work. As we came to ask each other when splitting up the tasks involved, "Would you like to do the heavy work, or the heavy work? We needed to dig out the existing clay soil to a depth of...I dunno, "enough," mix it with assorted organic matter and some water (this was done in batches in a large wheelbarrow), then replace it back in the original trench. When the new soil mix reached the level of the ground, we began placing two rows of those cement stones that are used for building retaining walls. They're not a perfect match for the existing stucco, but they're quite close. Then, more mixing and filling, creating a bed that's probably 8 inches higher than the existing ground, but with good soil going down several inches below. A great many rocks were removed, both from the dirt and the manure. I have no idea what we'll do with them all.
2.5 out of 6 barrels of manure is gone. I'll need another load from K before we can finish all of the beds. I hope she's amenable.
We moved some of the Egyptian Walking Onions from their old home to the new bed, and a little garden sage plant, because their prior home will be the next area to be replaced with a raised bed. There's still a sad little Russian Sage that will need a new home.
We planted peas, onion sets to become scallions, spinach, leek, and turnip seeds. I have little experience with any of these things other than peas, but I suppose one needs to start somewhere.
I'm anxious to get a few more feet of bed put in, so that I can have a few more feet of peas. Most of this bed is under an overhanging juniper, which doesn't stop the bed from getting plenty of sun, but which does mean the back wall won't be useful for trellising tall things.
I think the bed-building and soil-amending will go well into the summer, but for now, my focus is on getting the space ready for the vegetable garden.
tman_mcl and I finished almost 13 linear feet of raised bed along the stucco wall that separates the lower part of our yard from the upper part. This constitutes approximately 1/3 of that stretch of wall. There's one other stretch of wall, on the other side of the stairs, where we'll do the same thing, but it's significantly shorter, and it can't be done until after the irises in an existing bed bloom, so they (along with a huge clump of lavender, and some peonies) can be moved upwards several inches.Building this bed was an incredible amount of work. As we came to ask each other when splitting up the tasks involved, "Would you like to do the heavy work, or the heavy work? We needed to dig out the existing clay soil to a depth of...I dunno, "enough," mix it with assorted organic matter and some water (this was done in batches in a large wheelbarrow), then replace it back in the original trench. When the new soil mix reached the level of the ground, we began placing two rows of those cement stones that are used for building retaining walls. They're not a perfect match for the existing stucco, but they're quite close. Then, more mixing and filling, creating a bed that's probably 8 inches higher than the existing ground, but with good soil going down several inches below. A great many rocks were removed, both from the dirt and the manure. I have no idea what we'll do with them all.
2.5 out of 6 barrels of manure is gone. I'll need another load from K before we can finish all of the beds. I hope she's amenable.
We moved some of the Egyptian Walking Onions from their old home to the new bed, and a little garden sage plant, because their prior home will be the next area to be replaced with a raised bed. There's still a sad little Russian Sage that will need a new home.
We planted peas, onion sets to become scallions, spinach, leek, and turnip seeds. I have little experience with any of these things other than peas, but I suppose one needs to start somewhere.
I'm anxious to get a few more feet of bed put in, so that I can have a few more feet of peas. Most of this bed is under an overhanging juniper, which doesn't stop the bed from getting plenty of sun, but which does mean the back wall won't be useful for trellising tall things.
I think the bed-building and soil-amending will go well into the summer, but for now, my focus is on getting the space ready for the vegetable garden.
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no subject
Date: 2006-04-03 05:35 pm (UTC)But really, they're perennial and self-propagating onions that you can use like scallions. I give them "haircuts" all Summer, and they keep growing back.
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Date: 2006-04-03 06:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-04-03 07:40 pm (UTC)Alternatively, I could probably give you some. If not right now, then almost certainly over the Summer when they reproduce again.
Or, you know, you could take a clump home when you come visit. ;-)