Definitely variable weather

Have been busy with other things and have only been able to go take a look and make sure things were okay the last few days. Weather has been wonderfully mild and sunny so perfect weather for all the plants.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day before yesterday it was partly cloudy but not really any rain forecast. So I think I watered then...or maybe it was yesterday.... so many things going on can't keep it straight unless I take pictures.

Getting kind of ticked off about my phone not uploading the photos unless I have google photos open when I get inside. Used to be able to edit them right there and nope... not anymore.

Meanwhile, the lettuces are getting huge! They're crowding out the peppers that seem to be just creeping along. (Need to pull that weed at the base of the planter).

Still unknown on the squash but it's growing just fine now. Rounded leaf rather than lobed so another confirmation it's that butternut squash. The tomatoes are putting out full branches of flowers now and I'm letting them go at it. Counting the wires on the trellis, the tallest plant is almost 2 feet now.  I brushed my hand on them to try and get pollen distributed just to be sure. I had to double check just now when I fertilized and it was May 3, so not even two weeks yet. Just feel like the squash and the cilantro could use a boost is all.

The tomatillo is doing just fine, a bit weak in the stem but it should strengthen up with the breeze and my occasional water knocking it over. Better shot of the lettuces in the evening tonight and a good comparison of it against the biggest pepper plant. I might drop some food around the pepper because ... I tell ya they are so slow! I noticed the notches in the lettuce leaf and figured it was some beetle or small critter like that. Will keep an eye ou t for any other larger holes. Another note, these were taken in the evening and the previous full bed shot was middle of the day. The lettuces are much like some flowers, opening up more in the sun and closing up in the evening.

 

I picked some more oregano from shorter outside branches. Still waiting for it to flower to tell me what kind it is. I've got about eight stems of leaves drying over the stove now. I need to set up something a bit more, stable(?). Just using yarn and two twist ties to hold it over the stove. There were some leaves and shorter stems that I stripped from those that are in a plastic container in the window to dry. 

With the tomatillo growing in the south bed it's not going to be possible to plant anything else in there, I think the West bed is going to be for herbs. See if I can find a thyme plant of my own and maybe basil, to make my own Italian seasoning I need basil, thyme, marjoram and rosemary in addition to the oregano. I think that bed would be just fine for those, all but the basil are 'Mediterranean' type herbs which means they all do well with a warm, sunny location that's a little on the dry side. That oregano is going gang busters because it gets partial shade in the afternoon so I'm thinking it's perfect for the others. Lemon thyme would be great because there's a variegated form of it which is also pretty, I may have to forego the basil as that is more temperamental needing more moisture than the others. 

I'm feeling more confident now that things are growing and solidifying what is going where on a more permanent basis. Unless I'm able to get pots and soil, bulbs and flowers will have to wait but if I let the cilantro, oregano and other herbs flower then that's a good start.