Another beautiful day, with the lows dipping into the 50s. It was a good thing I had my shorts on underneath my overalls because it heated up fast once the sun rose.
I arrived just before dawn and saw Jonathan watering, and we talked shop. We noticed several weeks ago that when he used the wood chips provided by the community gardens, his garden stalled. Even so, most of the plants managed to hang in through the heat dome and are now thriving. He laid down the corrugated cardboard roll, added the wood chips on top, and planted into that layer. From that experience, I requested that wood mulch be delivered now so it has time to break down before the new season. We also talked about cover crops, and I reminded him that in our area you have until October 15th so the daikons have a chance to grow before the killing frost.
Since I am talking about cover crops, I can give an update on my planting except for Rudy’s Radish Ranch. RRR is last on my list to do, as I really don’t have to put cover crops there since Rudy will be back and will probably cover his holes again with his landscape fabric. The first ones I planted last week started germinating in three days. I think the 4/10ths of rain made the difference, and it was overcast. The tomato bed, pepper/eggplant, and Back 40 two rows were planted on Sunday or Monday, and they still have not germinated. I have also seen birds in the beds and have tried to put things in the bed to deter them, like shiny bird lawn ornaments. It is a good thing I accounted for bird and rodent snackers.
Even though Rudy will be back, I decided to go ahead with this slightly Rabbity cover crop just for Peter Rabbit. I know, why am I doing this. It is a way to divert him from the areas I don’t want him to snack on. Every other hole—there are about 32 of them—will get the alternating mixes: for Peter, turnips, kohlrabi, and crimson mix; and the other holes will get standard crimson, daikon, and white mustard. This is on tomorrow’s to‑do chore list.
Today I watered, and with all the areas I had to come up with a watering plan. For the big areas—Back 40 tomatillos, quarter plot, plot 107, and the Learning Plot—I set up sprinklers and ran them for about 30 minutes. The other beds I use my retractable hose on shower, and when I do this I also water the regular plants like pole beans and squashes. I have to report I have another leak on my retractable hose, and it is closer to the connection. I need to research how to take off the leader hose that has a machine‑crimped section. There has to be a way to replace it.
While sprinkling, I was able to plant eight bok choy plants in my fall greens bed that is secure from Peter. The bok choy came from James the tinkerer.
I hope the next time I see him I will have my extra plant that I ordered to give him—Joe Pye Weed. No, it isn’t a weed but a Native American plant that I am going to use as a shade screen next year for my rhubarb. It can be planted either spring or fall. It was used as medicinal, and it is a great pollinator and butterfly‑feeding plant.
After finishing with the bok choy, I moved over to the RRR trellis beds and worked on the alternating daikon and mustards. These were the crops I shifted out of the fall beds to make room for the parsnips, which I think have started germinating. I’m not completely sure, since I don’t know exactly what they look like, but they are coming up right in my grid planting square—a good indicator.
The last thing I did before leaving was harvest okra and a few squashes. The peppers and my last eggplant look pretty fruity, and the eggplant I plan to give to my daughter along with some peppers when they size up a bit more. I gave a lot of peppers yesterday to the church pantry drive‑thru, and I try to pick the bigger ones off to help the others grow larger.
I’m amazed the okra is still producing flowers. I told my husband that I will keep picking it and dry it for my sister. Once the okra is finally done, then I can send her goodie box—spicy pickled okra with some really hot peppers that some gardeners gave me, and her dried okra with a light seasoning of salt and garlic.
With the harvest done it was time to head for home for lunch. I felt like my song, inch by inch, row by row — the cover crops will help my future garden grow.