Crop Circles!?!?!?

 What the heck is that???? Well it's the beginning of my " Three Sisters Planting". As I have started to blog about the garden, it was inevitable that social media was the next step. For a month or so I had been seeing posts about "Three Sisters Planting". From what I could gather it was companion gardening of 3 items. 

   Being  a rather organized type gardener and the fact I just got back into corn planting, there was no real interest. It was confusing at best as everyone had their own bastardized version of how to do this. Then  I saw a picture on a Facebook post and thought what the heck is that ?

  I looked it up and decided to make my own "What the heck is that? " or as it is more commonly known "Three Sisters Planting".

 This is what my "Three Sisters Planting" will look like in a few months, yeah right. It is actually an interesting  American Indian form of planting using corn, beans and butternut squash . All of these items can be stored over the winter. 

  Make a four foot mound of dirt and fortify it with ash and smelly fish bits. Or if you are all out of smelly fish bits some good organic compost will do. I did use fish emulsion as it is part of my repertoire. Plant corn seeds 10 " apart in a 2 ' circle. 

   When your corn reaches 5" you plant a few bean seeds around your corn plants. They will then use the corn as climbing support and draw nitrogen from the air to fortify the soil for the corn. Damn that was a mouthful. Very interesting concept though.

   A week later you plant 6 squash seeds around the perimeter of the circle. The large leaves will shade the base of the plants creating a mulch like effect and keep the weeds down. Not only that but It might look cool between my Teepees don't you think?



 

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.

Cats in the Garden...

   Somehow I ended up with three cats. Strange as I was never particularly fond of cats but it happened .I have become a cat lady. Not quite a crazy cat lady but a cat lady nonetheless.

    Here are the girls standing sentry in their garden . Yes it is "their" garden. The minute I started working back there it was deemed their secret area. They love Mondays almost as much as Mrs. Gooserson. They shadow everything I do sometimes taking breaks to participate in a rousing game of tag or scratch their nails on the wood posts. Chasing huge grasshoppers and teasing the neighboring dogs are also games we play. 

  

   Twotone the black tabby is my gardens best defense. She has ice water coursing through her killers body. Gophers don't stand a chance. Big grasshoppers are her favorite play toy . She will even drag huge Tomato worms into my EBay room as thanks for making her a garden.  

  Here's my big orange cat Flusby. I don't believe that is her true name as we have had her for 16 years and don't recall her real name. In her lifetime she has been many cats. Starting out life as my three year olds kitty, disappearing for a few years into the wild , and then coming back to be my office cat. She is blind and slightly deaf but still holds her own. I have written about her in my other blog Smashed Pennies. Click on the Smashed Pennies and it will take you there.

  To those of you who have raised beds and find surprise cat bombs, just realise to cats that looks like a big litter box. My solution is that I have an outside litterbox. They have no problem using that rather than their Secret Garden. 

    Cats in the garden? Hell yeah.

Every picture tells a story.....

  I know ,  know  the picture is not too pretty. but it is real. I regularly peruse Pinterest and many other sites looking for inspiration and information. Everything is  soooo pretty. which is great but c'mon people this is gardening. It involves dirt , bugs and a multitude of  weeds. Myself I have been fairly lucky. the insect pests have been few but I constantly battle four legged creatures and of course weeds. Lots of weeds. Soooo many weeds I have wanted to quit.

     This ugly little picture will never  be put on Pinterest but it tells a fantastic story. It almost did not make it to the blog. I need to contain myself from letting this thing get out of hand. No I don't want to teach people how to garden. just share my experiences and keep a journal of my garden. With that said I will explain my lowly little picture.

    These are my Roma Tomatoes I lovingly grew from seed. hopefully they live but that's ok there's always plan "B" , the nursery. Open any seed catalog and you will be assaulted with 6 pages of Tomato varieties. In all the years I have been gardening The Roma and Cherry Tomatoes not only preform the best but are the most useful. Yes I will grow a few beefsteak tomatoes but nothing beats the Roma for cooking and freezing. They have less seeds and the skin is easily removed in the blanching process.

   The next point to this picture is planning. These were planted against the pen walls. I may use a bit of chicken wire but really only need to tie the plants to the poles to keep them growing. No need for expensive Tomato cages. Although I have been considering experimenting with some techniques found on the Internet.

  One of the pests I can always count on returning is the dreaded Whitefly. this will be my mortal enemy in the coming months and it will be slain. Hopefully. I grew up with the practice of Organic Gardening . So pesticides aren't really an option. You know you have Whitefly when you shake the bush and a white cloud of bugs fly out . these little guys will suck the juices right out of your plant. Not good for fruit production. Or is the tomato a vegetable ? Eh who cares.

  This year I have planted Onions within the Tomatoes. According  to Nick Federov , the plant guy on the local news, this will help. Good thing as I have a ton of Onion bulbs.  Went all out on the Onions this year. I guess I will need a good root cellar. Hmmmm.

   The next point to the picture is the straw.  Love the straw. Place some old newspapers on the ground And add two inches of straw on the top . At $8 dollars a bale you will save yourself  countless hours of weeding. Not only weeding but you are starting the composting process for years to come.

    So, every picture tells a story, or four.

Planting day March 18 2013 !

  Oh how I love planting day!! It is the earliest planting yet. I was shooting for the beginning of march but due to a late spring frost it was pushed forward. one of next years projects is definitely a cold frame. there is a place in San Bernardino Ca that sells old doors and that will be the top. although they mainly benefit those in freezing regions it still would be a useful tool in any garden.

   A moment of inspiration was had planting this little Bell Pepper, one of  "The Babies". Looking down at the perfect drops of dew gave me peace. It's true, slowing down your life a bit affords the opportunity to recognize the beauty of life. working  in the soil and being one with your world can be amazing.

   So this is the main garden, the "far pen" .  New names for each section are in order. The help of my husband shall be enlisted. His purpose In life is to give proper names to everything. Pierre the  Scarecrow is looking a bit drab , maybe some new clothing may be in order.

    The new drip system should definitely be an asset. It will put water only where it is needed cutting way back on my water bill and weeding time. Water in Southern California has become a precious commodity. Not to mention the importance of conservation. I am a huge supporter of keeping our planet healthy.

    Run your drip lines before planting. As there is a drip every 12 " in the line you want to plant between the drips to encourage root growth and strengthen your root system. watering began one week prior to planting to make the soil easier to work with and to guide planting in the proper spots.

   It was fortunate the weather is cooperating with planting. It has been misty and damp in the mornings and  in 2 days there is a chance of light rain. always try to plant a day or two before a rainy day. Mother Nature provides the best watering of all. It always seems to start the plants off great .

  So far my garden consists of
 Roma and Beefsteak Tomatoes. The cherry tomatoes should pop up soon as the      volunteer plants always produce the best.
 Eggplant, globe
Asparagus
Squash. Spaghetti, Patty Pan , and Zucchini.
Peppers. Jalapeño, Anaheim, Bell, Poblano, Banana.
Tomatillos
Potatoes
Artichokes
Cucumbers
Green beans
Snow peas
Onions. Red and Brown
Broccoli
Romaine lettuce
Mustard greens
Arugula
Cabbage
Cauliflower


And that's just the beginning....

Starting seedlings... "The Babies"

  So I'm counting this as the first year of starting my plants early . Last year does not count as I did so much wrong it was pathetic. I knew better but I cut corners and did not follow the rules . Yes there are rules. Important ones. I'm still not so sure my early starts will work and you may see me at the nursery buying Vegetable plants.

    There's nothing wrong with buying  your plants at the Nursery. In fact I highly endorse it and have always done it. With the price of seeds and the time and effort put into thinning and weeding if you direct plant or hardening off your inside early starts it is a bargain. Works great too. I buy local though. A good local nursery will purchase locally grown plants or grow them for you. You get a plant that thrives in your environment and was grown in your conditions. shipping cost from online Nurseries are very high and you usually get a plant not suitable for your climate.

  Then again I will also be breaking a rule again! I have ordered a plant I'm sure I will kill. Remember this is my obsession and a certain amount of experimentation is allowed. Buying local also limits your choices. Buying seeds online is probably the most economical way to try a different variety of Vegetable or something not available. Crossing my fingers Tomatillo plants are available this year.

   As I live in Southern California , semi-desert area, I'm experimenting with year round growing. Not too bad but a bit tricky. A bit of crystal ball, cross your fingers ,hope the frost is predictable, kind of gambling. This year has been a hard first year of year round for me due to the increased number of frost days. My citrus and Avocados were hit hard and I probably will need to replant my lime and Orange trees. My bad for cheaping out and buying very young trees. I will tell you I am amazed at how lettuce and broccoli can freeze solid overnight for weeks in a row and not die.

 So armed with my bag of potting soil, washed 6 pack containers and all the seeds I could find I set out to start my garden. This was the last week of January . I checked multiple sources, Farmers Almanac and too many planting guides to mention and I found out our last freeze was expected  February 10. This should place me just about right if my plants grew. Yeah right. That didn't happen but that's ok because when you start early you always need a plan "B".

   I chose Erin's bedroom window as there was a built in desk there and it was a wonderful South facing sunny window. I had the perfect wire shelves approx 32" wide and adjustable. I planted 14 containers and lined them as close to the window as possible. Erik came up with the idea to include a small portable heater. Worked wonderful. Soon Erin's room was converted into a wonderful warm Rain forest. Smelled like one too. If you do this I recommend using a seldom used room. At least until the potting soil airs out a bit. It was quite dank.

   It wasn't long until the squash , beans and cucumbers took off and I'm not kidding when I say took off. The first Saturday my Husband Erik stalked the Squash. I swear they grew 3 " in a day. Erik was just like a five year old watching his first Bean project grow. The plants instantly became "The Babies". But I suspected something was wrong.

  I showed them to my sister and she confirmed my suspicions. They were growing too fast and getting leggy due to lack of proper light. Yes I knew this could happen but I'm a cheapo and gave it a shot. Instantly I went to work to find a plant light.

  I searched the Internet and found plenty of bulbs for 12 dollars but these would only work in a limited space. Finally I decided on the Lithonia Lighting 24 in. White Grow Light at my local Home Depot. At 50 dollars with the basic coverage I needed and I could pick it up in the store it seemed like the best choice. Plus of course it is an investment in my hobby .

This is why there are rules to this process. Starting your own seedlings inside is a tricky process but very fun if you are ready to take your gardening to the next level .Basically these are the rules I can say are the most important.

 1. Give them 12 hours of light in the proper spectrum. A regular light bulb doesn't work. You need light in the spectrum of the Sun. Get a proper grow light .  The light needs to be 3 to 8" above the plants .

2. Keep the room at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Our small portable heater on low did great. They sell all kinds of warming mats on the Internet but I think our cheapo heater did wonderful.

3. Soil must be kept moist at all times. Not soggy but moist. Be careful you keep tabs on this. As your plants grow , each of them will need different amounts of water. I lost 1/2 of my Spinach seedlings due to not checking "EVERY" container .

4. When you are ready to plant make sure you do what is called "Hardening off". It is a week long process where you introduce your plants to the garden plot. First day you leave them outside in the shade for 4 hours. Each day add a few more hours . On about your 4th day you take them directly to your garden spot to get them use to the sun. let them have some water stress and make sure the soil is dry before you water them again. Kind of like taking  "The Babies" to Pre-school.

   Then you take  "The Babies" out to the garden and they die.  Just kidding . Some will die and some will make it. When you start seeds you need to grow more than you need and have a plan "B". All I can say is I'm having fun watching the process. Starting your own seedlings is definitely for the "Garden Obsessed "

WELCOME TO MY OBSESSION

  Welcome to my obsession!! I decided it needed a blog of its own. A home where I can plan and reflect on this part of of my life. Somewhere in my 40's I lost my way. I became too important to garden . Between raising my daughter and building two eBay businesses , horses ,chickens  and volunteer work there was no time for my my weedy half acre.

   Four  years ago my daughter went to college. As I stared at my weed infested horseless yard it seemed only right that I plant a bit of veges. A smoldering monster began to wake from its sleepy decade long hibernation. Slowly at first .

 Constantly battling demon weeds , it seemed as though the monster would crawl back into its cave. Maybe I would just get a goat.

 Then it happened , that first garden tomato. I was hooked once again. The monster slowly crept out.

Let me introduce you to the space I'm currently building. Yes I said that right, building. It seems I grew tired of the far pen and have branched out to putting a small citrus and avocado orchard along with the winter garden in the other one.

 

Here is the far pen.As you see I have installed new drip line in the main garden. No I have not weeded that area since I pulled out last years summer garden. Notice the neighbors grassy yard. I will discuss more later on my killer weed control system. Thanks goes out to Mother Earth News.

Here's the fruit orchard and berry fence and the first of my Teepees. Oh how I love my Teepees.  Thanks to the city cutting down trees on the side of my property I was left with a huge pile of wood chips. This added fuel to the monster!!









 And last but not least as my husband affectionately calls them, The Babies.

So join me in my adventure. Please don't be shy. I love feedback.