More planting, warm weather

 Good weather for the end of spring season.  We actually got some rain the other day, nothing spectacular but it was cloudy and drizzly for a little while. Got my car rinsed off a bit driving through a cloudburst on Monday. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was also rather windy and brought down another sycamore branch longer than I am tall.The colors in the other picture are way off of course. Blue not nearly that intense, tried to add a filter but don't think it succeeded. 

The potato plant was finally done so I pulled it up and then dug around. Spuds are less than stellar size unless they're yukon gold (which they aren't). Total of four which all will be relegated to seed category for the fall/late summer. I then planted the remaining four of the peppers and the cucumbers go back upstairs until they get more leaves. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After planting yesterday and today. I watered thoroughly today of course, the littlest peppers were a bit droopy and soil was very warm and dry. So that is peppers and tomatoes this year, probably cucumbers as well and scattered onions through the season. I decided to put them all in this bed because the west bed gets too much shade in the afternoon. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The tomatoes are growing well and the largest one is about the size of my thumbnail. Can't wait to see how well they grow. Still a long way from fruiting for the Terra Cotta tomatoes, so will have a successive crop hopefully. I decided on a lark to sprinkle zinnia seeds in the west bed. I know they got huge the first time I planted them so will see what happens now that they're 2 years older.  I was going to make that my herb garden but since I can't find any herbs to plant right now, going to be flowers. Might just do that going forward for the summer. Still don't know what to do with the south bed, I was out there at 2 pm and it was in full shade. That means maybe four hours of sun, that's considered part shade. Not much grows in that kind of exposure for vegetables, possibly flowers and maybe herbs. But useful plants have to be something I'll use. More research is needed apparently.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 'Tiffany' rose is blooming again and so is the epiphyllum behind it. Only one flower on that plant this year unfortunately and the hanging one in the gazebo doesn't seem to have any buds on it at all. Bloomed like crazy last year and this year hardly at all. I guess that's the cycle.

 And more crimes against landscaping. That was a full and dense bush from the bottom branches up to the top of the other branch. No other shrub has been touched in the area. I noticed the bougainvillea that was wiped out from a car at the corner of our building is growing back again, sadly will likely be hacked back again like the other one.. Really need to catch the maintenance guy Mike and ask if he can have them leave those alone and lightly trim to keep them manicured. Sigh.

And on it goes, cycle of gardening... just noticed seedpods still on the jacaranda with some flowers blooming at the same time. Typically they bloom in May, but other gardeners have noticed trees in bloom now in their areas. Weather determines flowers not the calendar.

  

 

 

 

And 'definition of space' was done

 But first the weather. Right now, clear and breezy, supposed to be an 18% chance of rain by tomorrow morning. Which means .... practically zero. Temperatures are fine got rather windy earlier today which means there are clouds moving in some time in the next 24 hours.

These were clouds from earlier today, beautiful white puffy against an amazing blue sky. The green of the trees set it off nicely, love that combo.

Tomatoes are popping! They're about the size of a large pea at this point and the branches aren't nearly strong enough to hold up a full size ripe tomato.  The shape at least tracks with a Roma, like there was any doubt of it's parentage.

So. This apparently happened day before yesterday. I am assuming it was one of the gardeners because rake marks were all over and it was very thorough. 'Definition of space' as I heard it called in gardening areas and public space.  They even got between the raised bed and the jade plant as well as behind the raised bed as far as they could get at least. Someone has issues with weeds apparently, wondering if someone complained about bugs biting them or saw a lizard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everything not in the boundary of the beds was cleaned out. All that's left is dusty soil half inch thick on the surface. This is ecologically, bad news because the plants were keeping the area cool and the soil intact, it also increases the reflected heat midday. I will ask the manager and see if she knows about it, not going to be angry just letting her know that I noticed and it was rather jarring. The owners of the complex never ever make an appearance so the only thing I can think of is pest control. Oh well. It needs bark or sharp gravel now to keep the dust and mud down for sure. It did give me the impetus to clean up the compost bucket corner, took some trash away and neatened up the corner with the cages. They were hiding behind the tall weeds so wasn't that visible to me at least.

Hard to get a good picture in my small space but here's the four remaining peppers and the two cucumbers coming up. I'm keeping them in the west kitchen window most of the day unless it is blistering hot so usually about 3 or 4pm is when I opt to take them to the other side of the room and cool down. Still no more than two or three inches tall so a few weeks at least before they're big enough to transplant. Waffling on where to put the cucumbers. At least one on the trellis for sure but how to keep the other off the ground. If I put both of them together like I did the tomatoes, that's going to be a riot of vines on the trellis and not a good idea. I can try and work something out in the west bed with the two poles and chicken wire maybe? South bed gets too much shade for sure otherwise I'd lean them on the wall with chicken wire between them. Will see what I come up with.

Watered thoroughly of course, probably need to do it every other day now given how fast everything dries out. If rain happens in the next 24 hours, it won't be anything amazing so not worried about mud on the pathway. Oh apparently one of the newer residents who speaks zero english was puttering around in Dolores' area. I was out with Rocky and managed to herd him that direction and tried to ask her if Dolores said she could use her soil, that conversation went nowhere and she acted like that was her soil she was using. Not my garden, not my flowers. Have at it whatever you do lady. She lives downstairs across from our building and has no garden space whatsoever but is trying to put things in pots near their front door. 

Anyway, that's all for today and maybe this week, who knows. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cucumbers are up, peppers are as well

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The rose is blooming nicely also, about the only thing that seems to be at this point. Well the jasmine is starting to bloom and bud so it will be smelling lovely very soon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Butterflies and lizards oh my! I was winged by that Mourning Cloak that was flitting around the lawn area. Saw three of them having a battle today as well, soon the tips of the tree branches will be inundated by caterpillars. Rocky spied the lizard on the tree but it moved too fast and he knew it was a lost cause, wasn't happy but he walked away. So it's lizard season again, the adults are out and sunning themselves which means there will be babies in another month.

 Two cucumbers are up! The photos are about two days apart with the lower one taken today. Whoever gets big enough first, gets first crack at the trellis. I know I'm supposed to wait and transplant them when they're three or four inches but so far, the other peppers are still holding strong. Need to water today or tomorrow for sure though.

Almost cool breeze coming through right now, supposed to rain, possibly, maybe in a week.... right. Will have to water and wash my car to guarantee that event.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Apparently Layla got out and loosened up her soil. for whatever reason. I know I loosened up my south bed but am waiting to put some onions in which may happen tomorrow or Sunday. I don't even think she uses the cilantro/coriander. I need to find the ground coriander in the spice section of the store and see what they're charging for it.  Too late in the season for actual cilantro so have to buy that for the next three months. 

At least tomato prices will come down soon, about the time I have tomatoes! That was taken two days ago so it's twice as bit and another behind it as well. Yay for tomatoes! Even if the plant is a bit weak and not big enough. Food is coming, hopefully. 

 

Still alive and thriving

 So the weather has been pleasant enough, supposed to cool down next week and possibly rain. Right. Only if I decide to wash the car or water the garden.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Annd blogger photos works again! Must have been the OS update from yesterday it needed. So first up is the Tiffany/Pink rose that's blooming. I finally got my clippers and trimmed off the old flowers on all the bushes a few days ago. The Angel Face has survived but it's so old and maltreated it's going to be a while before a flower shows up, if it does flower.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The seedlings have survived and seem to be weathering the full sun just fine. The onions on the other hand... not so much. Oh and when I was shifting soil around I uncovered a potato briefly but immediately piled as much soil under the plant and on top of the baby spuds as possible.  Hard to make a 'tower' of dirt when there's nothing around to hold it in place.

I thought I took a picture of the west bed but don't see it. After I watered I used the trowel and moved the muck around. Muck it was really, barely any organic matter in the soil so it was mud. Easy to break up after it's dried a bit but that bed seriously needs some compost that's more organic forest products than decayed kitchen scraps. Still working on getting to the store for fertilizer and a small bag of soil.

So short post, will see what goes in and on this month. 

 

 

Changing of the garden

It's been warm, almost hot but kind of cloudy. Today it's perfectly clear but was cloudy and chill overnight so only getting into the high 70's today thankfully. Will definitely need to water again today, top inch of soil is bone dry.

 But first, a lovely picture of the trumpet flowers for the post icon because the rest of the photos are not very photogenic.

Rocky wasn't cooperating yesterday so I grabbed the little glass with two onions growing in it and headed to the garden. What greeted me in the raised bed was disturbing. One of the smaller potatoes (the one laying on the ground) was looking wilted and absolutely done. Okay yank it out and only four small potatoes in as many sizes. Gloves for reference and you can see how dry the soil is as well. I may have to pull up the other two plants also at this rate. They need more soil protection and moisture not to mention a deeper bed to support the stem. Oh well, try again next year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All that's left. I cut the last cauliflower yesterday as well and that is already broken into pieces in the fridge then pulled the stump and leaves. Just the tomatoes, the last potato, two onions and that's it for that bed. A least until I plant the peppers that are almost ready. Might do that this evening when it's cooler and the soil will be wet again. Lots of room for four peppers for sure. I did get a chance to swing by the library and check their seed stash, not a big selection unfortunately. Green tomatillos some bell peppers and other veggies that I won't eat so I had to pass on those. HD always has the same companies because they aren't an actual nursery so might have to drive the ten minutes east to see what Armstrong has.

 

Bought garlic at the store and as I was separating them discovered one that was starting to sprout so brought that down with the onions and plopped it at the back. If it grows it grows, there's still plenty of room in that bed for at least three peppers.

 Tomato definitely needs some fertilizer. My money situation is always in flux so thought 

I had enough for a bag the other day but .... bills. So probably not this month again.

That potato is looking so sad, way too soon for it to have any sizeable spuds so the inconsistent watering and lack of fertilizer is doing a number on them for sure. I will probably wait until the end of summer and plant the babies that I pulled up yesterday. 

Still waiting for the cucumber seeds to come up, trying to keep them watered as well so if or when they come up, will have to make a decision on the trellis space.

All good with sunny weather ahead. 

 

 

 

 

A bit more cooling

 Not too much really but still not getting into the 80's so don't need to run the AC for the last day or two. Just warm enough and yet slightly overcast to make for pleasant garden weather.

Near perfect picture of the season tree in full leaf now. Skies dotted and smeared with wisps of clouds, bit of a breeze almost wind which portends a change in the weather of course.

Pulled the last of the carrots and three were keepers out of the four, I wasn't going to leave one lone carrot in the bed so pulled that and tossed it on the compost bucket. Gave the carrots to one of the ladies that knows I do the gardening that happened to be walking in my direction. So that bed is now mostly 'empty' other than the garlic and oregano. Plenty of room for at least three if not four peppers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hard to get a good visual of how big the cauliflower is now. At lest 5 or 6 inches across since my hand is about four inches wide.

I had left it open overnight and noticed it was yellowing again so tied it up to blanch it a bit more. Again, you can see in the background the sorry state of the potato plant and yes, the soil is incredibly dry and I did water thoroughly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More flowers on the Roma and one, possibly more are fruiting. It's still way too small compared to other years for fruiting but will take what I can this time. It certainly does look like it needs fertilizer and will try and get some soon.

 After watering thoroughly, using the cultivator to see how far down the water went. Sure enough, after creating a lake three times in the raised bed and the west bed, it had only soaked he top half inch. I know it would soak further down overnight but the more water in there the better. The potatoes are really looking ragged and I'm not holding out any hope of having a bumper crop of spuds this year. I just don't have the depth to be able to grow them properly. I'd love to try and get one of those potato bags to grow in or a taller laundry basket kind of thing. I have the chicken wire but it needs poles to be stable as an upright container and likely pounded into the ground. Would rather have something like the crate but way taller.

But yeah, that tomato is looking awfully spindly like it's growing in the shade or something. I was looking to find a potato grow bag but they are all being sold in multiples and for half the price I'll get a bag of fertilizer.