Planting Day !!!! March 17

 Oh how I love planting day!!  This year I was a week early. With the false spring we had, actually it was just damn early, I felt like I was late.
  Everything in my garden has broken a full month earlier .My apricot , plum and pomegranate trees all have fruit starting. I have also added 2 more trees, an Anna apple and a local nectarine variety. 
  One of this years projects is making homemade solar dryers for the fruit. I plan on using  some old kitchen cabinet drawers found at a yard sale. I'm sure it will be posted later in the year. 
   On the road side of the trees I have seeded some corn and soybeans. I plan to keep corn in the flood plain but will rotate it with soybeans. I am staggering blocks of corn planting them 2 weeks apart. The first seedlings have broken ground and next week I will plant the second block. No sign of any soybeans yet. 

The grapes are growing like a weed and already have tons of fruit. This year I will plan on trying some white grape jelly . I was overwhelmed last year with grapes and not prepared. Looks like Garden Girl needs a new face!

 The main garden is getting an overhaul. Due to intense planting the last 5 years I am seriously rotating my crops. I have moved the jalapeño and yellow peppers to the far side and added an extra row of potatoes. I did enjoy growing them last year . No more crazy straw planting or big potato bins. Hilling  with dirt is fine. I have plenty of garden space and they grow well that way. 
  I have planted pea seeds in the former pepper rows. It will be interesting to see how they grow and hopefully they will renourish that area. My kale is still growing great and I see no need to pull it up as I just keep cutting the tops off. 
   I am also growing zucchini, only 2 plants as it is more than enough for us , and I have increased the spaghetti squash to 6 plants. That was an enjoyable vege for us last year. 
  The eggplants were reduced to 2 as I'm the only one who eats them and In its place I have increased the asparagus plot. They are doing well and maybe we will get enough for a dinner or 2 this year. 
  The tomatillos have been moved  to the outside of the pen along with the Roma and San Remo Italian cooking tomatoes . This will increase my growing space  and I can use the pen sides as support. Last years planting of onions between the plants was a great success. I will definitely do that again.

 

My citrus looks like it has finally bounced back . Even the tangerine has blossoms. Hopefully we will have some citrus and they will start to grow. I wanted dwarf plants but geesh this is ridiculous .      The onions are growing like weeds . I let them go to seed last year and am  thinning them as I use them. My Bell peppers and Anaheims will be next to the onions as well as a slow  bolting form of lettuce I found at the nursery.

The most exciting thing of all is that my Hass avocado is blooming. Crossing our fingers for Avocados this year !!!

Six week update....

   All in all I would say I'm pleased with the garden progress this year. The tree bark and straw mulching coupled with the drip irrigation has saved me hours of back breaking weeding. Plus I am watering an additional 5 new trees ,100 foot of fence planting and the roses while saving $ 30 dollars a month on my water bill.  Can't beat that.   
    The Teepees are coming along great. I originally planted with "The Babies" started in January. The beans did great but I was not so pleased with the cucumbers as they were started way too early and were too leggy and weak. I did replace them with store bought cucumbers. Next year I will probably just start them outside in the ground. 

    Here's another view of the mini orchard I have 2 more tree spots. I may just throw caution to the wind and try a Mango. I was waiting to see how the trees would do this year .Looks like I'm good to go with 2 more. I want to keep them smallish as there are only two of us and I'm not a fan of tree trimming or rotten fruit clean up. 

 At the request of my husband I'm trying corn this year. About 20 years ago I planted a section that grew great guns. I was so excited. when it came time to harvest I found Corn Worms had ruined it all. Well I will try it again. this crop has taken the best to drip irrigation. I planted 3 sections  about 2 weeks apart. The plants are a foot apart and I will thin to one plant once they have all germinated. Anyone with a plan to keep them safe of ear worms is appreciated. As you can see my wall of berries is also doing well .

   It's year two for the grapes and raspberries. As you can see they are doing well. I'm sure it is the increased water with the drip system coupled with the fact they are older. I have tons of baby grapes. It will hurt to pinch  some of the fruit but I know it needs to be done. I think Grape Girl needs to be rescued and given a Grape Boy.

 In the main garden I deemed the plants big enough to put down the straw mulch. Last year was my first year of mulching with straw. I put down newspaper and with about 2 to 3 inches of straw. For  $8 and about 2 hours of work I saved many hours of weeding. It overwintered great. According to Mother Earth News you should not till the next year. Just let the microbes and other earth bugs do their stuff. Well less work for me sounds great. I did  not till just planted.  We shall see how the earth helpers do.
   I did alright with "The Babies". Both the Roma And Beefsteak tomatoes are growing well. My squash did ok. I kind of jumped the gun and bought 3 zucchini plants but I don't think I needed too. 
   The peppers did not fair so well. My jalapenos died. Rotted actually as the drip was just too much for them. And the colored bells are limping along. I am also having problems with my store bought Anaheim's. I think they need more heat or they just don't like the drip. We shall see as I have grown them for years and have a mind of their own.
   

 My asparagus is growing. Not sure if it is doing well or not as I have never grown it but it is alive. Also not sure if I should straw mulch it or not. Maybe someone out there in cyberspace knows. My artichokes are doing great. Time to mulch these too . I will be putting some earwig traps next to these as the are the Earwigs favorite place to live.

Just another view!!

  I lost my orange tree and the lime is limping along. Just too small to make it through the frosts. I did get another lime. Lemons and limes are an important part of my cooking .The onion are doing great. Kind of freaked my husband out that I planted so many. Hopefully I will have some to store.

  And yes, NO white flies yet. I know they are in the yard as they are on the roses. All vegetable gardeners should get roses. They are great pest barometers.  

  On a final note. I'm not so sure starting early works. Its fun to try  but Mother Nature knows when to let things grow. I don't think I'm  any further ahead as it seems I was at this same level of growth last year.