Growing Up & Moving Out

It was a very productive week in the garden thanks to Jamey having a week off.  Jamey planted and I weeded.  I have def weeding skills, you know.  Almost all of our little plants that we started from seed made the big move into the garden.  Planting amidst our straw mulch is simple- pull it aside (first photo below), dig a nice little bed (second photo- note the happy worms) and plant (third photo-in goes a basil plant).

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In addition to planting, Jamey and the big kids drove over to our local livestock auction house (when it was closed) and loaded the trailer with good, old fashioned, aged  livestock manure.  Sam and Sadie both helped shovel it onto the trailer (they volunteered, mind you).  Once home, Jamey placed piles of it around the garden, ready to be worked into the soil as he planted. Check out this article on using manure as fertilizer.

 

Sphagnum moss was added to the sweet potato hills to help break up the clay-y soil.  The center hill towards us below isn't quite finished yet- it needs more mounding and straw.  Then, it will be ready for sweet potato slips- the only thing that isn't planted yet (I think....).

Below are rows of green beans and one of our happy potato plants.  Straight rows are so boring.

Here are more plants nestled into their new homes.  The straw is kept pulled back a bit to allow them plenty of light and air as young plants.  As they grow larger, the straw can be tucked in underneath to help retain moisture.

Peas to the left, strawberries to the right, peppers and some of the tomatoes in the middle.

As of just last week, we had to cover plants because of frost.  Keep your ears and eyes on alert for frost warnings.  Just because your plants are safely tucked in the earth, doesn't mean you're done.  You have to look out for those babies:-).

P.S.  We've been eating small hand fulls of strawberries!  The season's first fruit (that you can eat by itself- sorry rhubarb) is finally here!