Wet weather, new predators & 3 kiddos running around.

Haven't done the best job updating my blog this year,  but here is a little update.  Had a great start to planting, thought I was behind but according to my journal last year I am 2 weeks ahead of schedule. Which brings me to my next frustration...noticed my sweet pepper plants had been eaten on and I was missing some cucumbers, Carrots and my radishes were ripped out of the ground. Did a quick check of the fence and found no holes or other damage to it. Figured my vole was back from last year or the Chipmunks had found a way in the garden again. Did a quick check to see what I needed to replant and started right in.

Fast forward to the next morning, come out and to my suprise all my pole bean seeds and bush bean seeds have all been dug up and eaten. At this point I'm pretty irate and still can't figure out what is eaten things!  Had to leave for a family cookout, left things as they were till I could return. Upon returning that evening,  I decided to go around the house and quietly approach the gate to the garden to see what I could see.  Much to my suprise there were about 12 birds ago in the beds,  just going to town on the seedlings and the freshly planted seeds.  Looks like my owl of the last 3 years has worn off its effectiveness. ..first time I've ever had birds in my garden.

On a side note,  I'm might have angered some birds we have living in our vent on the side of the house that is right above the garden. I have been spraying water at them in an attempt to get them to leave,  but the other day I heard baby birds in the vent,  so I fear I'm stuck with them for a little while longer. Makes me wonder if they called all their friends over to reek havoc in my garden as payback....

Installed some pie pans on strings and it seems to have worked.   The birds occasionally chew the pans off the string almost as if they are reminding me that they are still watching me closely.  Aside from that, things are looking good. Radishes are almost ready to be picked.  The Sugar Snap Peas have really taken off along with the Pole Beans and Tomatoes. Cucumbers have been a disaster, resulting in having to replant almost all of them this past week. Lettuce has been slow, but this 80°+ weather hasn't helped either along with the spinach too. Broccoli and Brussel Sprouts are slowly coming up, hopefully the heat doesn't affect them too much.

Overall, things are moving along. Really can't wait to harvest some stuff for the dinner table!  Enjoy the pics and till next time!

Slow update.

It's been a cold and very wet spring this year so far. I had great hopes of having stuff in the ground and already harvesting some early spring items, but alas Mother Nature has other ideas! My indoor seeds have done well with the exception of the broccoli and brussel sprouts. Looks like we we will have a break in the weather this Wednesday and I should be able to get things transplanted and seeds in the ground.

Did get both trellises installed and got the new tomato patch ready for the transplants along with some zucchini plant!!  The trellis for the cucmbers and sugar snap peas is way bigger than I thought it would be.. Things are slowly coming together, need to seriously look into a hoop house for some early spring /late fall plantings!!

Beds are raised and a cold front comes through..

Finally was able to get out in the garden and start raising the beds up. This will give more if the raised bed look as well as make it easier for my boys to get in and do some work. It also added almost 38 Sq feet more in growing space....much better utilization of my space. Still need to add some topsoil and mix it in with the leaves and grass clippings from last fall. Will still dig down about a foot into the clay in hopes of amending it quite well!

Had planned on getting things seeded last week, but we have had 3 nights of hard freezes here in Indiana....  Really hope it warms up, my indoor seeds are getting g big enough to start the transplant process!!

Things are starting to get moving in the garden!

Since my first set of seedlings did'nt quite take off as planned, (thats what I get for rushing things...) I re-started things about 3 weeks ago.  With work, spring break with my oldest and a little bit of me just being a little lazy I am finally posting some updates on the garden.  I have gotten a much better start now that I have my grow light up and running (another freebie from my Aunt Joyce). The one thing I have learned is that the homemade seed pots do 2 things really well...retain water & inhibit some mold around the bottoms of them.  Not sure how this will effect things, but so far I don't think it will impact it too much.  Here is list of what I have started indoors so far (will probably be all I start due to warm weather approaching fast for direct sowing)

Better Boy Hybrid Tomato
Big Boy Hybrid Tomato
Snack Attack Cherry Tomato
Sugar Snap Pea
Broccoli
Brussell Sprouts
Salad Slicer Cucumbers
Pickle Bush Cucumbers
Carnival Blend Sweet Peppers
Italian Pepperoncini Peppers


I decided to do the onions as direct sow this year again, just getting a much earlier start to it. Should have the beds ready in a few days, but that is for another post!  As usual my oldest, Farmer Elijah has been begging me to get started in the garden this year. So excited to see his excitement for growing some food! We are already almost a month ahead of last year, so hoping we can hit the 100lb mark for harvested produce.

Till next time,

Jon

 

All 3 boys helping out.

Onions Sprouting & more started.

Since it's 65° out, moved the plants to a window sill.  Things are starting to pick up with seedlings!

Onions Planted.

Got the first 18 Golden Grande Onions started a couple of nights ago. 2016 is under way!! First pic is right at planting, second pic is today in the window sill. Need to pick up my new grow light from the parents house this weekend.

Getting ready for 2016.

Decided to make my own seed pots this year.  Used toilet paper rolls and paper towel rolls. 29 made in my first batcj, need a total of 64 to get things started this year. Next post will be this year's vegetables and am expanded layout too.