Weekend #gardening update
Built a deer (and bear 👀) fence for our raised beds.
Transplanted tomatoes and kale into the beds
Removed poison ivy from the only patch we’ve discovered
Scatter planted sunflower seeds
Transplanted columbine from a pot into the ground.
Fencing
We used beech saplings that we took down last weekend as the posts and secured them into the ground with a mix of rocks, clay and soil. Then we wrapped the sticks with heavy metal gauge fencing and zip tied the fencing to the posts. This is a test year to see if there’s enough light in that location to grow vegetables. If so we’ll put up a sturdier fence in the coming years.
Raised Beds
Opted for metal as opposed to wood. Our land is very damp and we’ve had wood in the past. Filled them first with sticks and leaves and then compost and raised bed soil on top.
Poison ivy removal
Wear gloves! Then use a bag to cover the gloved hand / arm you are pulling with. Wipe everything with poison ivy wipes afterwards. This time of year is when it is most potent. To insure you rooted it all out, try to locate the “mother”. I’m not sure I found it, but I’ll keep an eye out on new growth and where it emerges from.
Scatter planting seeds
This weekend I dropped sunflower seeds just below the surface in multiple places. it’s likely too shady for anything to grow, but we’ll see. My poppy scatter planting from six weeks ago (in clay no less!) appears to be generating results. I am seeing some sprouts!
Columbine - for flowers that grow under most conditions
Awful soil? Little water? Too much clay? These plants do not care. They will take pretty much anywhere. Presently I have some in the shade that are starting to flower - stay tuned next week. And I transplanted some volunteers from an old pot to a sunnier spot with subpar soil.
Power lines randomly falling means library work day.
