Tuesday 23 May 2017

May 24 Update

Potato in front, zucchini behind
Well I have being less than great at updating my blog. Yes, busy at work and in the garden... But this blog was more about a journal of my growing and a record of what I learned than for publicity,

First the ducks have had to change a few things. Duck fences! Yes they block a bit of light and warm, but some plants don't stand a chance if I don't give them a chance.

Those are my Romance series cherries on the left. My squash box at the end. In the duck fence there is zucchini, fava beans and I am trying some artichokes this year (Green Globe). The new potato boxes in the front. I just added some compost and a layer to - yes keep the ducks from pecking.

Garlic
The ducks summer house in the background. The duck fences on the left and Garlic is doing very well this year. we have had a very wet cold spring. The white trellis on the right I grew tomato's on last year and this year is slotted for beans. Behind it is my potting bench, less rain back there due to a tree overhang from the park behind my house.
Newly planted beds
Here is a view with only one bed behind me of my main growing area. The cow panels I added were all made into Gothic arches. They have really being the best investment yet. I bought the half price at $35 a 16'x 4.5' panel. In a arch they give me 4.5' x 16 growing space in 4x 4.5 planting space - oh and my path takes 2'x4.5 feet of that space. Gothic arch as is more my garden. Just stand in the middle and bend, then pin the 4 corners with a stake. Best of all is harvesting. The fruit hands down from, making harvesting on an arch much better than vertical.
Block 14 comfrey
Tomatoes on the right, then peppers. Lettuce at the back, peppers and then kale this year.

I got a few roots of "comfrey block 14". I planted it first outside the duck fence, and had to rescue it. I dug it out and replant in a pot inside the "duck fence" I hope its genuine block 14, but if its not, the ducks will kill it if its not. It looks like it will flower though. at some point it needs a permanent home.
Haskaps (Honey Berries)
Lastly, my Haskaps or Honey Berries were really slow to get establishes. this is here 4th year and they had great growth. The berries are shaping up to be much bigger as well. Unless its the cooler wetter weather.

So far I have made 1 week eating off the garden. Mostly greens. I made a big mistake this year in planting kale in cardboard seed containers bought cheap in the dollar store. I thought I could plan them with less disturbance on the roots. They did really badly and so my lettuce this year has worked better than my kale.