Spring is Finally Here

Here my first post for this year. I apparently didn't do a very good job keep in blog updated last garden season since my last entry was July. I'll do better this year. I promise . . . really! Sad to report no garden related projects done this past winter. But the kitchen remodel is nearly done. My other half is happy about that.

Moving on. I have some seedling growing on the kitchen table. Not sure how my other half feels about that. I've got to find time this week to get them transplanted in larger pots, and moved under the grow light. They are reaching for the light, and are taller than they should be already. Picked up potato seed (Norland Red, Yukon Gold, and Burbank Russets) last week along with yellow onion sets. The family potato patch has become a tradition. It's hard but, fun work. And in my opinion quality family time.

Here we have yet another project. This Farmall model A tractor was passed my way. It's number 10,743 of 117,000 plus built between 1939 and 1947, this one being built in early '45. It will need engine work to run, but is complete, and has non-factory hydraulics and 3 point hitch.

Garden Update 7/16

Watering System

This is what came up with as a solutions for making the garden easier to water. I water the plants by making furrows long side the plants and turning water in to the furrows. I have about twelve rows, too many water with a hose. I made PVC line approx 30 ft long. I start with a hose connections running into a 3/4' pipe for about ten feet and them about twenty feet of 1/2" pipe capped at the end. For each row I use 3 the quarter inch pipe outlets drilled into the main pipe. Thet fit tight enough gluing is not necessary. Three gives a Nice flow of water. Most of my row are about 60 feet long. So there must be sufficient water flow make it down the row. I find golf T's fit in the pipe perfectly and make it easy to regulate the water follow by adding and removing the T's depends on the water flow needed. Primitive but works well. You want the water to soak in good. So being able to regulate the water flow is important.

I use wood stakes with a hole drilled in them to hold the hosed in the furrows.

Garden Update 6/22

Here a some photos of the garden as of June 22. A week old now. Warm weather is finally here and making a big difference. Things are growing.

There are bachelor buttons around the tree near the top of garden. They add a little color to the garden and attract bees. The garden in surrounded by Lilly's and sunflowers. The Lilly's are starting to bloom.

The robins were stealing the Strawberries. My wife added this guy in the middle of the box. It seems to be keeping the birds away.

Broccoli is growing well. There are 6 of these. I hope the head form soon before the really hot weather arrives. They don't like the heat. Have them planted in a area of the garden that gets some shade.

There are 3 Brussles sprouts. I will take until fall be for they are ready to be harvested.
The squash are doing ok. I had to remove some of the little squash that we growing because the ends were rotting from all the rain. As off today there about eight new squash that are just a couple of inches long.

The lettuce has really taken off. The crop in the box was harvested this week. And the row is ready. I cut them off about 1" above the ground. The leaves will grow back in a couple of weeks.

The bell peppers are growing slowly. Which is normal. No blossoms yet. There are six plants.
This is one of the Big Beef tomato's. There are five total. They are doing great. The stems has bulked up and the are a nice dark green with thick leave. The have blooms but no little maters

yet.
This is one of the Cherry tomato's, there are three total. Growing well. There blossoms, and some pea sized fruit.
These are the onions. I have several rows of these. I've been cutting them for green onions.

This is the first corn that was planted. There are three more varieties all planted at different times. We should start have corn to eat sometime in the middle of July and into September.