The Modern Victory Garden

The garden is determined to grow despite the overly wet and cool conditions we have been experiencing for many weeks now.   One of the good things that come from significant amounts of rainfall is that the soil becomes saturated, making weeding and thinning plants a snap.   On Monday, I took advantage of that and did some needed thinning on one of the carrot patches and on the mesclun mix planting.   Both are very small seed items and I had gotten a bit heavy handed in the amount I planted per hole.   The germination was great and there was a definite need to thin them down.   Managed to get both quickly and easily done thanks to the wet soil conditions.                                                                 

This is the time of year where I spend a little more time walking through the garden in the morning before work, enjoying the flush of new spring growth and staying on top of things like quickly pulling weeds that dare to appear!   I find spending small amounts of time in the garden almost every day, keeps the workload more manageable.   It also helps me to see things that need attention or which are ready for harvesting – in a timely manner.   It’s a nice way to start the day too.   A stroll through the garden, drinking my morning coffee, definitely puts one in a positive frame of mind to start the day.         

In the evening after work, I also do a walk through of the garden area but the focus is usually more on harvesting items for the evening meal.   However, if the evening is particularly fine or if the workday has been particularly taxing, I take my time and savor the excuse to be outside.   Tonight as I was harvesting some lettuces for dinner, I took a few pictures of the pea patch blossoms.   The flowers are busting out all over the bed.   I think pea vines and pea blooms are really quite enchanting to look at.                           

There are now several small tomato fruits set on the super early Siletz tomato plants in the greenhouse.   The plants are flowering like crazy and I find another little fruit (or two) each day.   These plants obviously responded well to all the extra care and attention they received this winter and early spring.            

I hope you are getting some daily time in your garden as well.   It’s good for the garden, but good for the gardener too.                                 

Laura

kitsapfreedomgardener