The Neglected North Side

Today I had to water the fruits and veggies since any recent promises of rain have been a bust. I worked on the north side of the house for a bit, weeding and planting. I planted two chocolate chip bugleweed (Ajuga reptans valfredda), one on either side of the downspout. I also planted several mint sprigs between the lilac and air conditioner. The lilac will need to be moved at some point because it is not doing well there - probably too much shade.

When Paul got home we worked on planting 17 sunflowers (Helianthus annuus hy. Moulin Rouge). He also planted two containers, one with mesclun and another with spinach.

First Harvest

Paul and I picked our first greens from the garden. We trimmed several clumps of mesclun and arugula for a roasted beet salad. They were yum!

Busy Friday Afternoon

I took the afternoon off yesterday, and we did a bunch more stuff. Gave some bamboo stakes to the rapidly-growing hops to train them towards the chainlink fence. Moved excess soil from higher raised bed into the 2nd perennial bed and elsewhere around the yard, added three bags of compost and some mix of vermiculite, peat and perlite and turned it together a bunch; probably need to add another 2-3 bags of compost yet, and then it'll be ready for tomatoes, okra, eggplant, parsnips and some other stuff. Planted nine asparagus crowns and seven ever-bearing strawberry plants (two varieties) in the 1st perennial bed. Finished prepping the soil in the 2nd perennial bed, and planted three varieties of mint at one end; the rest will probably be different herbs, but we may just do some annual flowers for the moment and come back to this later. Mulched around the beds in front of the house with buckwheat hulls. Installed three plant hangers on the front porch for two blue hanging Lobelia and one fuchsia Petunia purchased at Cedar Grove Gardens.

Blueberries and pH

So, I checked the pH in the soil for the blueberry bushes. It's higher than what it's supposed to be. It was around 7.5, nowhere close to the 5.5-4.5 or so that it should be. Think we'll dig them back up and put them into planters.

Climbing hydrangea and rain barrel problem

Today I purchased two climbing hydrangeas for the back fence. We planted one already and will plant the other one tomorrow. Let's hope they take care of covering it.

We hooked up the rain barrel to the soaker hose without much luck. Seems the water pressure isn't high enough for the soaker hoses. Looks like we'll have to come up with a solution to that problem.

Also, we put up some doggie defense stakes and string to protect our young plants from Lucy's heavy foot. I think she likes the smell of the compost.

Purple arugula!

So, I found on the webs that the arugula has likely exhausted the phosphorus in the seedling soil. I added more fish fertilizer to it and the rest of the seedlings still in the trays. The arugula will probably lose the purple leaves, but should recover once planted in the compost-rich bed. I may have to transplant them into pots or the little bit larger seedling trays.

Insects and Asian Longhorned Beetle

My MUG at Home class yesterday reviewed plant disease and pests. Asian Longhorned Beetle was introduced in the US and has ravaged trees in cities such as Worcester, MA. Please report any sightings of this pest in your area here.