Cold Frame

The aubergines and onions are up, so I figured it was time to put up the cold frame.  It went together nicely.  I think we've finally made enough alterations to make it useable.

I also started the tomatoes.  I have Debarao, Cherokee Purple, Aunt Ruby's German Green, Stupice, and Sungold.

First Asparagus!

Tonight we ate our first asparagus.  The stalks were huge but very tasty.

Veggie Starts

Today I started the onions, peppers, and aubergines, all in six packs, except for the onions.  They are planted very close together in a 4-inch pot.  All are cozily resting on a heating pad. 

Yesterday I bought some natives at the Deepwood plant sale.  I got more dodecatheons, several more erythroniums, including some hybrids, three trilliums, and three aquilegias. 

Off and Running

Yesterday and today were sunny and warm, so I got lots done in the vegetable garden.

I sowed peas, carrots, kale, chard, lettuce, and beets.  I also started some parsley in a six pack.

I did some weeding as well, although things don't look bad. 

I decided to try a new way of growing the raspberries.  I split each plant into two sets of canes and tied half on each side of the wire.  My hope is that this will make them easier to pick.

I learned an expensive lesson about seed storage.  When I dug the gloriosa and sweet potato tubers last fall, I thought they were dry after a short time and put them in paper bags in the bucket with all my seeds.  Today I opened the bucket and found that not only had the tubers molded ( I think I can save the gloriosas) but all my new seeds, in just their paper packets instead of in ziploc bags, were also moldy.  So I had to reorder nine or ten new seed packets.  Fortunately, nothing needs to be planted right away, so I have time to wait for the replacements to come.  Rats!!

Back from Tucson

After being away for two and a half weeks, things have changed.  We've had some record temperatures.

The red-flowering currant is blooming.  The blueberries are in full bloom.

So are the pear, nectarine and apples.

I pruned the new peach hard.  I should have done it for the nectarine as well, so I may have to do some remedial pruning.

 I've spotted a few early flowers on the strawberries and the asparagus has started to come up.

The fawn lily is blooming.

So are the pulmonarias and brunneras.