Greetings, fellow gardeners! I'm tired of just calling all my posts some iteration of "Garden Update" so today I went with a play on a movie quote. Then I had to find a picture of my garden that matched the title. That was a picture during late winter/early spring. Here's the garden today, after about 3 months (and from a slightly different angle).
It is in fact thriving! No thanks to the rain, or lack thereof. I have to hand water. I do it in the evening so that the sun doesn't make most of it evaporate. So, what is it we're looking at?
This is cilantro in bloom, and there's a lot of it going around. I don't remember dropping this much seed (or any at all actually...) but any seeds that do fall overwinter and sprout the next year as 'volunteers'. Did you know cilantro is a cold weather crop? I didn't for a long time. I will plant more in the fall and see how it does. Maybe it's like lettuce where the heat causes it to bolt (bloom) prematurely.
You may have also noticed my 2 cornstalks. There were originally supposed to be 5 different kinds but the other seeds didn't sprout. Is it too late to plant more? I don't think so. I have the 'Three Sisters' method going and almost set. The three sisters are an ancient combination of companion plants used by the Native Americans which consists of corn, beans, and squash. All 3 plants complement each other. The corn provides structural support for the bean to climb on, the large squash leaves provide cool shade for the roots of the bean and corn, and the bean naturally fixes nitrogen for everyone! A truly ingenious setup.
The corn is growing and the turban squash, planted a few feet away, has almost reached it. All that's left for me to plant are the beans. I originally planted over 70 of my famous mutant white pinto beans but only several have survived the wood lice, squirrels, and the dryness.
We're going to have lots of peppers of different kinds this year. I brought back some interesting varieties last year from work including but not limited to puma, fish, and mushroom peppers. The puma pepper plant has purple foliage! The one pictured is a cascabel or rattle pepper. I got those seeds from a dried pepper I found in my grandpa's house after he passed away. It was still in his refrigerator. It had been lost for some years then I found it this year and did some research to find out its name.
I think the mulch I laid down has created a breeding ground for wood lice. They love munching on my germinating beans and pepper leaves! I heard you can leave a shallow dish with an offering of beer for them. They (and the slugs) stumble in for a drink but never leave. I resorted to this yet. What I do is leave used coffee grounds around the base of my plants. It's too strong for the little arthropods so they avoid it. You do have to reapply though as it will eventually just disappear.
This season was a bountiful one for strawberries! No that's not what you're seeing in the picture; those are stones painted red! I had to make some decoys. The trick is to lay them out before you have any real strawberries. All sorts of animals will come and investigate the new color: birds, beasts. They go home sorely disappointed though. Leave the stones! Then when your real fruits set, there is no excitement and little investigation other than your own.
This was the first time I tried this trick and it really worked! I picked so many strawberries! Also last year the plants took a break and only grew vegetatively so I think that made them produce more too.
And last but not least, common or garden sage (brought to you by the mint family). This plant has grown into a bush about 10x bigger than the original plant we got several years ago! No special tricks needed to grow this one, just care for it. I have been using its leaves in a delicious buttery sauce for various types of pasta. All it needs is butter, a few leaves, and salt and pepper! I also want to make bundles of it for smudging. I read that I should let it dry for 3 days then tie it into bundles and then dry some more. Here is the plant after I trimmed many branches.
It's getting dark out! Time to wrap up my garden activities!
Things to remember:
- the Three Sisters
- coffee grounds
- stone strawberries
- butter
I hope you enjoyed my little update and find the tricks helpful! Goodnight!
Changed by 3 months is significant and the cherry collected is really nice looking and delicious should be
It's amazing what can be accomplished in only 90 days.
Good tip about the red stones. I'm gonna try and remember that.
I painted 16 and put about 3 around each plant. I'm surprised at the success myself. You should definitely try it!
Problem is that I already have strawberries on my plants. Won't the birds just eat them when I 'attract' them with the red fake ones?
Hm. You have a point. Yes. I think adding some more will be like posting up a billboard for them.
🤣
That's a really clever trick with the red stones! 😄
Thanks! I learned it from YouTuber that's also on hive. But he's not really active.
Awesome update, Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for creating the community! It already seems to be bustling!
Dam what a change in a couple short months.
They are looking good, I have yet to grow corn. It takes a lot of water?
It does take a lot of water but nothing exaggerated. Especially if you use mulch.
That sage is looking great. Hope I can find and grow one. Not sure if we have this in the Philippines
Thanks! Hopefully you can find some seeds or maybe even a small plant if you are lucky.