It’s been a while since an update… Strawberries and raspberries are ripening about a combined (small) handful per week. Just enough for a nice snack every now and then. The blueberries are growing but not producing, but I didn’t really expect anything this year. The lettuce blend is doing great. We’ve harvested salads for two…
For the last month the weather here has been unseasonably warm and sunny. This has given the berries a great running start. While watering the containers today, after another fine day in the mid eighties, I had a few exciting surprises waiting for me… 1.) The strawberry blossoms are starting already. There are only four, so far, but…
With the spring cleanup of the landscape underway, I’ve realized that there is an abundance of good fire starting tinder all around. The river birch out front drops a lot of small twigs all winter (actually year round). It also provides an amble supply of loose birch bark which I can save for months worth…
When I got home from work today I was surprised to find the growhouse on its side with all of its contents scattered upon the ground around it. I thought I paid particular attention when I placed it down wind of the log rack, and even monitored it during some breezy evening earlier this week. It appeared to…
Blueberry blossoms- How long do they last? The Chippewas have already started! It looks like there’s going to be dozens of blossoms in the days and weeks to come. While this is exciting, the situation is bitter-sweet. I don’t have another variety (required for pollination) anywhere near ready. The Dukes are the closest and they are just now starting to set buds.…
Just a couple a random thoughts as I relax and enjoy this beautiful rainy day… Springtime lawn destruction: Where’s the logic in ‘rolling’ the lawn? Over the last few days at least three of my neighbors fired up their riding mowers and dragged a large, heavy lawn roller around their properties. As I watched, I asked…
After several weeks on a rainchecked backorder, my growhouse finally arrived! I purchased it from the local DoItBest hardware store. It’s a “Grow It 4 Tier Growhouse” from Gardman USA, Inc. of Kennesaw, GA. We’ve had some cold nights and breezy days lately. It’s nice to finally get the plants out in the sunlight and not have to worry about the windchill shocking…
With all of the garden and landscape preparation that’s been going on around here lately I figured it was only fair that we plant something for kitty to enjoy. While at the local hardware store a few weeks ago I picked up some Livingston Seed Co. “Cat Grass”. Come to find out, it’s just Triticum aestivum, also known as common wheat…
This spring, while acquiring seeds for the container garden, I was quickly reminded just how expensive this undertaking was going to be. Along with nearly everything else, it seems like seeds are either more expensive or the size of the packets are shrinking. I settled for ‘mix’ packets for things like lettuces, hot and sweet peppers, and a few other packets of middle of the road…
The Chippewa blueberry is setting buds nicely. The two transplants are still showing no signs of life. This concerns me, as I will need at least one of these plants to pollinate the Chippewa. If the Chippewa was a two-year-old start I wouldn’t be too concerned, because I would not let it set fruit this year, but since…