The winds be a'blowing

 Started getting windy again late last night and it is full on blustery windy today with intermittent rain. I got Rocky outside briefly until the wind gusted up and he decided to run back home. 

Despite the clouds, rain and wind it is a tolerable 75 today but will be dropping as the rain is coming back right now. Seriously going to pour in a few minutes. I put my denim jacket on earlier when I had to run out to the car and then go pull up two of the onions for dinner today. It was not needed for rain nor cold. 

Wind blew the crate over and picked up the empty fertilizer bag and tossed it a few feet. I tucked the bag back between the buckets and the raised bed. Yes I could easily have walked it allll the way over to the dumpster but was not in the mood. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The two transplants are doing just fine. Lost a few of the smaller tomatillo sprouts but that's okay, there's still two left. The tomato looks like it's thriving despite the wind blowing it all over. The carrots are also growing just fine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And of course the cilantro just going gangbusters as it does. Probably going to be planting another crop in the spring as these will be almost mature by then. You can see I took the two onions way at the end, I only needed that much for the potatoes I'm making. I forgot to see if there were any chives somewhere oh well.

Wonderful blustery wintry day today and yet mild enough to leave the window and door open for the airflow. Oh speaking of looking over the fence, remember how that was a green mound of mallow last spring? All that's left is that mass of brown branches under between the two windows. The pepper tree has started taking over as a huge shambling mound as well. Will take pictures of that when the weather is better.

Happy Solstice, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and all that!
 

 

We are due some rain

 Apparently there is a storm coming through this week and we may have a wet Christmas. Estimates are saying around four inches but 'individual results may vary'. Likely more close to the coast and less inland and southward. 

Happy Solstice! Days will now start getting longer yay! I am lucky to live further south than some of my friends who report that the sun sets around 3 or 4 and doesn't come back for 8 or 10 hours or something. I understand the 'seasonal depression' with having so little sunlight. I'm a big fan of sunlight, as long as it isn't a scorching blast furnace.

 The Season Tree in full Winter nudity. That was this morning and the sky is now variations of pale baby blue with more white than blue. Storm is coming in for sure because it was windy last night and this morning but it is  dead calm now. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The tomato survived with only a small bit of wilting today, but that is expected with the sunlight it's not used to. I gave it a spot of water and am optimistic it will survive and grow. The cauliflower and potato are continuing to thrive, except for that back one seems to be wimping out. The onions seem to be struggling as well and of course the two lone Romaine I might just give up on and  plant again in the spring.

Another wayward plant discovered! A cluster of tomatillos in front of the bed they were planted in before (cluster of leaves right next to that larger long leaf weed). I swear, at this rate I don't have to buy plants or seeds! I debated on where to transplant it to and since I have a tomato already in the raised bed and plan on more, decided on the west bed. I did not want to drag out the hose to water it but the soil in that bed was dry despite watering. I remembered the bucket that had water in it and luckily it was just enough to almost drown it. That had more roots as it was a cluster of about ten or so seeds that sprouted. I didn't bother separating them too much and will see who survives. 

I tell ya... gardening is hilarious sometimes. I have two onions struggling in peat pellets, I accidentally broke the little whatever it was growing next to it this morning, tomato volunteer, one lone potato survivor, lettuce seeds are a failure other than the romaine and that's iffy. 

 

Nature has it's own mind and is sometimes counter to what you thought should happen.

Speaking of new plants

 Due to it being much cooler and the sun at a lower angle I don't have to water as often. I do have some small carrot seedlings coming up so need to keep that moist but given the conditions I mentioned, again not so critical. I was able to get out today and check the garden, all things going well, no animal disturbances and no failing plants.

Slanting shadows of branches across the lawn with brown leaves dressing the paths. Very poetic kind of lighting this time of year. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Difference in leaves. On the left is that scattering of the longer leaf weeds that I thought could be dandelions... but nope I was right they were likely prickly lettuce or something else. Dandelions coming up in the lawn on the right.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And the jade bush is in full plump leaf condition and...is putting out flower clusters already. Another confused plant for sure but typical for this time of year. Spring like weather and the plants decide to follow that cue. This is sort of sucky because it is such a magnet for bees and I need the pollinators in the middle of summer when things are blooming. Nothing is blooming right now.

Another indicator of a healthy garden, worm castings. The west bed is the only one that has signs of worms, which is good, but would like the same thing in the south bed. I suspect it isn't warm enough this time of year and it's too hot in the summer so this bed is the ideal spot for them. Just wish I could transplant some of them to the raised bed.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These pictures were taken a little after noon or close to 1 pm. Look at the angle of those shadows! The cauliflower are still doing good and the potato is almost as big as they are now. Those onions are just poking along, not much girth on them yet. The two Romaine plants are struggling but I suspect they'll be better in the spring and once the sun starts angling a bit higher in a few weeks. They were doing much better in the spring this year. I have pictures of them in May about ready to harvest. So if these two survive they'll likely be that big by then. Will try some after the new year as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You see that plant there? The one with compound leaves tucked in between the longer leaves? 

IT'S A FREAKING TOMATO! 

I even pinched one of the leaves and smelled my fingers to be sure. I have no idea how it got in that position on the south side near the other bed. All I can think is maybe a mouse or something pooped a seed or it came from the compost. Well needless to say I was not going to let it languish in the shade all winter and dug it up (it had a pitiful single thread of roots) I'm hoping it survives. I watered it in really well even though I had already turned off the hose. The soil at the back of that bed was rather dry anyway so here's hoping the extra sun and more water and fertile soil gives it a chance. If not, oh well.

A freaking winter tomato.  That sucker is going to be strong if it survives and I 'll have tomatoes before summer hits.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meanwhile, the two onions and tiny lettuce(?) seedlings are struggling with minimal light and are leaning, some of the carrots already have some true leaves.  I could have sworn there was another sprout coming up in that third pod closest to the camera. Oh well. Onions certainly are better planted as sets or baby bulbs. I should look into doing that next year. I almost bought a bag of pearl onions at the store. 

 

I was looking at my post from May of this year. I had romaine, tomatoes already in fruit and tomatillo just busting out all over. Can't wait for that time of year. Hoping I'll be able to plant and keep it going because I have some medical things happening around that time next year. 

Will see what happens as every year is different.

 

 

Yay for new plant growing!

 Went out to just casually check on everything tonight. Day has been clear and sunny but not too hot, perfect weather but for some thick fog early in the mornings. Once the sun goes down the temp drops as well by a good ten or twenty degrees. But that's the way it should be this time of year.

The cilantro is growing very nicely and I am constantly pulling small clumps of the green stuff. No idea what it is, but obviously it is seeds from something that I let grow too long. 

 

The carrot seedlings are still going but still tiny. Had to enhance the photo to show how many there were. Probably a good dozen or so but still no lettuce seedlings to be seen. 

 

 

Cauliflower is still going and only one at the back is showing signs of something wrong on the leaves but that's okay. They've been left uncovered for the past three days and are well hardened off and strong. 

                                             

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The romaine seedlings are.... not so good. I had to pull the one on the east end, it was just not doing well and had fallen over. Still no idea what that funky seedling is but I have a memory of one coming up last year and it's not good.  

So apparently blogger is deciding it doesn't want to continue cooperating with the way the formatting has been going. All the photos up above were just fine,  moved and shifted as usual but these.... these last two are not behaving.

 

So. It looks like the purple potato spud has sprouted! YIPPEEEE! I was just looking at the soil, checking for weeds and stuff and saw this little cluster of leaves and thought, 'well what the heck are you?' All ready to dig it out then looked close and almost cheered. YAY! It's a potato! BUT.... the cauliflower in the middle is going to have to move. The two cannot coexist in that amount of space. I was going to move some of the soil around to see if any more were sprouting but then remembered the marauders that came through. I may not have any more. Will give it another few days then will dig up the caul and move it to the other side. Here's hoping more potatoes start sprouting! I might actually move that to the East bed. 

But yay! It's so fun seeing plants actually growing when you've waited for days or weeks.  

 

And now these two pictures behaved. I just don't understand. But anyway, Weeds. Mostly dandelion apparently or prickly lettuce, something alll over the place. I still have that spray bottle of vinegar so will be hitting all that for sure. All clustered where the cage is and then along the front of the south bed but only a few in the bed. Fascinating really, must not have been a lot of wind if that dead plant is where they all came from. This is what winter looks like in San Diego. We don't get spring green, we get first rains green, then it lasts until about May and then it's brown for the rest of the year.

 So here's hoping for more potatoes and oh no picture but one onion has sprouted in one of the lettuce pods I planted. I know it's a lettuce pod because the onion sprouted and now there's a broad leaf seed popping up. That'll be interesting to separate. I think another one is sprouting as well, will see what happens.

 

                   

Dry and reasonable weather

 Not much in the way of pictures. Skies are clear, nippy at night, got up to 85 today but didn't feel like it other than needing the fan in the afternoon. So comfortable enough for sure and perfect for growing seedlings, as long as the soil is moist enough.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Opposite ends of the lawn area. South wall with leaves all blown off to pile up so they could mow the grass. Tree is totally stripped of leaves now and sky is a slight shade lighter than it shows in the picture. Still just a picture perfect fall day in San Diego.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plants and soil undisturbed the last 24 hours it seems. Cauliflower is looking perfect but should probably water tomorrow especially the West bed with the carrot seedlings coming up. The cilantro bed is doing well, can barely see that for all the weed seedlings coming up. Not exactly sure what those are but as soon as it's safe I'll be turning the soil over in that bed after the cilantro is gone. Or just keep pulling patches of those plants.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Even as spindly as the lettuce seedlings were I took a chance and planted them out  because they were getting dry. The soil in the bed was moist enough it would keep them okay until tomorrow. Again, much too close to the edge for Romaine but if they get as big as the cauliflower I can transplant them.

And cilantro doing what it wants growing out of bounds better than in the beds. That's some of the seeds I tossed out at the end of the summer this year. Hey, it's one of those plants that I can guarantee it growing somewhere in the garden at least 6 or more months of the year. Plant it now and it will be full size plants by spring. Reseed in spring and have it until mid summer. Only problem is, tomatoes and peppers are summer plants so are bulb onions. Which I forgot I had planted in some of the pellets until they were bone dry and I saw a black seed in the middle. Oh well, forgot I did that. Plenty of time for those to grow at least. Those are from the random white onion that was growing in front of someone's yard near the boy's school a year or two ago. If they grow, they grow, if not will see about getting some starts instead.

So that's all the excitement for today such as it is. 

Rocky trying to stalk some Mourning Doves feeding off seeds in the grass.

 

Watering and what not

 Clear, cold at night, sunny during the day and perfect weather to be in the garden. Just wish I didn't have to pull out the hose, attach it unreel it and stretch it out, walk back to turn the water on, walk back and open it up. And then have to fight with the curl of the hose wanting to turn the sprayer in the wrong direction.

Not garden related but fun anyway. I went up to near Anaheim to visit a friend and sitting outside on their patio her husband looked up and remarked about the odd birds circling. I looked up as he said 'they look like pelicans' I agreed 'Yes those are pelicans! Wow!' Snapped the best picture I could of them as they were on an updraft as they circled. Mind you the nearest beach area is maybe six miles but I've lived closer to the beach and never saw them overhead. Very cool anyway.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And some critter got in the beds the last two days. Not sure if they dug up any of the potatoes but it looked like two of the holes were deep enough right in the middle. Not a big deal, don't think the potatoes are going to grow anyway. The crate was knocked down so that was likely the access ladder. They did a pretty thorough circuit but stayed clear of the onions, good to know.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Same situation in the west bed. Dug a little around the end but stayed pretty much away from the onions. Good thing because the lettuce and carrots are starting to come up finally. Hard to see them but they're there. I watered gently of course so as not to fold them over or disturb the soil too much. Will see what survives the next few days.

I planted the three cauliflower and realize now those are much too close to the edge but oh well. Didn't want to risk disrupting the potatoes in the middle if they were trying to put up shoots. I didn't plant the four romaine because they were much too small so I considered what to do, given the garden invader. I was going to leave them out on top like that then decided to put them down along side the bed where it's shaded. Then thought, okay guess  I'll just put the crate over the cauliflower just in case. 

Cilantro in the south bed is doing what it does and alllll the little whatever seedlings are threatening to choke them out so I pulled a few bunches of them out and a tall grass like weed at the back. 

So that's the excitement for this week. Can't say the skies are crystal clear but they are definitely clear horizon to horizon with a light breeze. So pleasant temperatures at lest with windows and door open for ventilation. 

It's December in San Diego! Don't expect snow or rain anymore for sure.