Well it’s shaping up to be another year of trying a little bit of everything to see how it goes.
The garden
The community garden is having our second monthly work day this weekend. The water is officially turned on for the season, which means things will really pick up soon! I’m still planning to keep the sensitive babies out of the ground for another few weeks but will start hardening them off soon.
My new plot
I’ve settled in to my new plot, and started committing to a layout. I installed two very tall trellises on the north end made from concrete rebar mats and u-posts.
I’ve also added a low tunnel running north to south which I plan to use for all of my non-pollinating plants like greens. Last year I had some bug problems with greens, and I’m trying out a breathable row cover that will keep out the bugs. I’m not interested in having to spray them. I think neem oil is gross.
Soil gloop
Everything is going pretty well except the soil in this plot is VERY different. It doesn’t drain well and is quite “gloopy”. Cohesive. Sticks together, packs tightly when wet. This has some implications for irrigation. I don’t think my plan to use ollas is going to work well in this soil. It just seems like the soil will plug up the pores in the terra cotta. I’ve already employed trenches to channel the sitting water, and may pivot to a drip system.
I anticipate all new challenges and adventures this year as a result. I took my old soil for granted. My old plot was located where compost regularly got dumped for years and was much easier to work with.
I’m considering getting a soil analysis from the Colorado University extension, and trying to figure out what help my soil might need.
Progress
So far, in the plot: (as of May 1):
- Volunteer rhubarb, asparagus, dill, and cosmos
- Seeds: carrot, lettuce, spinach, chard, parsnips, beets, snap peas, arugula, radishes
- Transplants: cabbage, Brussels sprouts, shallots
Seedlings and prep
So far seedlings (as of May 1):
- Winter sown: echinacea, poppies
- Started indoors, brassicas: broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts
- Started indoors, nightshades: tomatoes (currant, pink ping pong, San marzano, cherry hybrid), peppers (biquinho, poblano)
- Started indoors, flowers: marigold (saved seeds from last year!), calendula, zinnias (saved!), nasturtiums
- Started indoors, herbs: pineapple sage, rosemary, Thai basil, lemon basil, tulsi holy basil
- Started indoors, alliums: green onions, leeks, shallots
Just started in biodegradable pots (May 1):
- Luffa
- Zucchini
- Winter squash
On deck to direct sow after frost:
- Beans
- Cucumbers
The great tomato-cide
I was out of town for 7 days. I left plenty of water for the tomatoes to be ok (not thriving but ok) for 7 days. Unfortunately I left a window open right by my thermostat and it went below freezing most of the time I was gone, the heat ran A LOT, and my grow room is the hottest room on the heat run.
So, I came home to a tomato blood bath. Even gnome was stressed.
I left a Timelapse running all week so I even got to watch them die. Luckily adding some water perked many of them back up, and after a week many recovered. In addition to the recovery, I started with so many seedlings that a few losses were not catastrophic. I am amused and undaunted at this point. Sorry, tomatoes.
Old friend
I swing by my old plot every so often. To my surprise the spinach I planted last fall is still alive! All of the alliums are also thriving like they never missed a step.
ROAD TRIP 