It's cloudy again!

 May Grey is here on time. Basically May and June have historically been months of overcast part of the day and then sunny just about when the marine layer moves back in. So our summer doesn't usually start in full until about July. Sometimes June but not until later in the month, we have had some June gloom slide all the way into July and put a damper on July 4 fireworks. Gone are the days of July being hot as Hades on that day and with our current climate shifts, summer temperatures start late July and run all the way to October sometimes into November. 

Today though, we enjoy mild days that give lettuce and seedlings gentle growing weather but also there is no rain so watering has to happen. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beautiful epi flower finally opened, I swear it's almost as big as my head and definitely as big as my fully open hand so 6-7 inches across. Roses are in bloom as well but didn't get any pictures for some reason. Wish those epiphyllum flowers smelled as pretty as they look. The other one in a hanging pot shows signs of buds forming at the leaf dents but no buds yet.

My cache of soil and before watering. There are three more bags under the crate with two on top and one more over on the other side. Also not seen is the fertilizer bag that is also on the far right side.

I remembered to use the fertilizer before watering, the soil was very dry about two inches down so perfect time to do it. The least expensive organic fertilizer for veggies I found was Vigoro, not my first choice but my only choice in my budget. Dirt brown pellets the same color as the soil I was putting it on. Used the trowel (forgetting I had the ice scoop ) and sprinkling it around and under everything.

So you remember that squash/pumpkin seed I planted? Well, that isn't up yet but two others sprouted where I found the other one. Go figure. Leaving that where it is because it's in the front corner and I can hopefully keep it contained (if I decide to keep it). If it's the same squash that Dolores was growing, it's out of there. She says she was only growing it for the leaves but it kind of looked like a butternut, which would be useful but still not sure I'd keep it since I don't really eat that kind of squash.

 

I let two of the tomatillo seedlings survive and the cilantro is growing like the weed it is. I thinned only one or two of the peppers coming up in the west bed and had to look back to make sure those were actually peppers and not more cilantro. I need to remember to tag posts when I plant things with this bad memory of mine.

Oh yes my foot is almost 100% now, was able to walk down the stairs normally rather than taking one step at a time. All the activity I've been doing lately is likely helping a bit, but still being careful over uneven ground and walking over hoses and such. 

 

The tomatoes were slightly wilted over at the tops, the biggest one has some buds on it and will let them grow. I decided to string up the second wire to hold them up and will add another in a week. Still debating on taking that middle one out because it's going to be overshadowed by the other two. Seems cruel and wasteful but it's for the health of everything involved. 

I had to water for a good fifteen minutes or more to make sure the soil was thoroughly wet down an inch. Rotated through the three beds, soak the raised bed, turn to the south bed, then the west bed. Had to dig into the dirt after about five minutes and saw that it was still dry down only a half inch from the surface. I kept it up until I was satisfied everything was soaked. Moved some of the larger bits and perlite from the corners toward the middle and when the lettuces are done, will see what that squash is doing before planting anything else in there.  I may have to use poles and tomato cages to keep it more vertical and not take over the bed as much.

I'm hoping that I have better crops of peppers this year. Tomatoes are already looking promising, never going to plant any other kind of tomato, Romas are consistent and prolific. Although, if that new Rebel Fighter tomato is offered by San Diego Seed Company, I will have to try it.