So, we have an "upper" vegetable garden and a "lower" vegetable garden. The upper garden is close to the house, in the field that is just Southwest of the house. This is the first year for that garden, and the soil is clay. Hard. Rocky. But, it is close enough to easily get water to when needed. I have planted the tomatoes, peppers, herbs, squash, cucumbers and melons in that garden.
The lower garden is too far to get water too, but the soil is incredible. I think it must have been used as a feedlot for the cows that once lived here on our farm.
The soil is rich, dark, crumbly and so easy to weed that I can just brush my hand across it, and the weeds fall out of the soil. This is where I planted my onions, radishes, lettuces and my gourd seeds. There is still plenty of room there to plant more, but I'm not sure how much stamina I have for huge amounts of plants. I cannot get water there easily, however, it is below the level of our big pond, so, we are having a line run from the pond to a new hydrant that will be at the upper end of that garden. It won't have tons of pressure, but I will be able to run a soaker hose when needed using the free pond water!
I got both gardens in very late this year - middle to end of May - but, everything in the lower garden appears to be growing happily. I thinned the onions and radishes last night. Brought a couple of tiny radishes up for John to sample, and he pronounced them "radish-like".
I've been using the thinned onions as I cook, and they are quite "onion-like".
I have a couple of baby tomatoes on the tomato plants, and some baby jalapenos on my pepper plants. But, the upper garden needs a ton of weeding.
My tiller is broken. I can't possible hoe that entire area, so I guess it's time to get the tiller to a repair place in town. Either that, or I'll just mow the weeds with the lawn mower! LOL.
Today, it's back to the old house to work on trimming bushes and trees. I'll bring two of Major's sisters with me, they are wonderful, helping me to organize the stuff inside for a garage sale. I'll take them out to lunch at the Tenpenny down the street, and then come home and probably mow the lawn here.
I better get off my rear and get going!
But I meant it in a good way, of course.
Very radish-like. Which, for a radish, is a good thing, right?
Tasty, with some crunch and touch of heat.
Note, that Massa John didn’t state: “beet-like”.
I forget, are we still at war with beets? Squirrels and coyotes are on the death list, but are we still against beets?
Beets suck. Absolutely. I wouldn’t feed beets to prisoners.
I’ll haffta ask my buddy whether they feed them to his charges at Gitmo.
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=667056761&ref=ts
They’re not prisoners. They’re detainees. Therefore, they eat better’n we do.
For free, even.
Oh, and there’s gotta be a way to get water to both gardens on the cheap. Buffy powered wheel pump?
Beth, you might want to add some sand to your upper garden if you have melons.
We has a compost pile!