The Modern Victory Garden

It was a very productive day today.   I got most all of my “to do” list completed and had enough time to spare to just sit in the sunshine and admire the fine day.   It really does not get much better than that.                             

The first thing I took care of was weed whacking the garden walkways.   This is not my favorite task but it makes the garden very tidy and removes potential homes for bugs.   The first time I do this each spring is always a bit more of an undertaking because the grass and weeds have been growing all spring and have a big flush of new growth.   I was in need of a shower after I finished, but the garden looks beautiful.                                  

Today was the inaugural trip out of doors for our small flock of chickens.   They were ready last weekend but the weather was wet and cold so we had to put it off.   However, the weather was more than fine today so with my husbands help we moved them and their pen outside.   They had a lovely time; ate bugs, pecked at dandelions, and marveled at the sights and sounds of the bigger world!            

While the chickens enjoyed their time outside, I cleaned the top panels of the greenhouse (removed the caked on pollen) and planted out the cucumbers, zucchinis, and pumpkins.   I also watered all the greenhouse containers of tomatoes and ran the soaker hoses on the beds of tomatoes.   The pumpkins were interplanted with the corn and pinto beans – which finishes up the three sisters planting project.                                                    

Since it was a bright and warm day and was much needed after our very cold weather the preceding several days, I pulled the covers off the tomato beds for the afternoon and let them enjoy some unadulterated sunshine.     

I also took the pepper and basil seedlings outside as well to soak up sun.   The peppers and basil were both re potted last weekend and then moved out to the greenhouse.   Both are doing well but the peppers in particular have finally started to really put on some growth.                             

The potatoes have been breaking the soil surface, which indicates the John Jeavon’s method of planting seems to be working just fine.   I am looking forward to seeing how productive this bed of potatoes will be.     

The peas are also racing along with new growth.   They have reached the lower level of the horizontal support, grabbed on, and are now working towards reaching the second level.                                                    

The only thing on my garden “to do” list that did not get done today – was planting all the bean crops.   Tomorrow is forecasted to be just as beautiful a day as today but my time will be much more constrained as I am delivering tomato starts to my sister in the morning, and have a commitment to attend to with my daughter in the late afternoon.   In between, I am going to try and get the chickens out for another outside adventure and plant at least some of those beans.   I hope you are a having a good weekend in the garden too.