The Modern Victory Garden

It was gorgeous out today - sunny, almost warm, and not a cloud in the sky.   I am glad I waited to do all the major outdoor tasks until today and avoided working in the deluge of rain we got yesterday.     I did manage to get some things done yesterday though.   Planted the snap peas ("Cascadia") in peat strips and put them on the heat mat to germinate.   I also watered all the seedlings and the container plantings in the greenhouse, and transplanted the lettuces ("Devils Tongue" and "Valmaine") into two of the half whiskey barrel containers in the greenhouse.  These barrels previously held the chinese cabbages that were recently used up.   I even did the potato patch repairs (dog digging episode) yesterday during a let up in the rain.  By getting all these minor things attended to on Saturday, I was set to really get to work on Sunday.  

I had several things I wanted to get accomplished:  

• Double dig the new vertical grow bed (2'X16') 
• Move 2 vertical grow support structures and make 2 new ones for the new bed 
• Set up another compost bin 
• Plant beets, spinach, and if time - the first round of 2009 carrots

I am pleased to report that I was able to get all of the "to do" items - "ta done"!

The biggest task was getting the new vertical grow support bed double dug and set up with grow support structures.    I did the double dig process exactly as I demonstrate in the "How I Do It" page on double digging beds.   I was definitely getting very tired by the time I reached the end of the bed.   There are three new big beds to double dig yet and I am going to have to really pace myself to get it done without injury.    This bed once dug is worked to a depth of 24 inches and amended with compost and rock minerals (dolomitic lime, rock phosphate, and greensand).   I then moved two grow support structures from a bed in the back most section of the garden.   These were the last two structures still in place on a 4-foot wide bed and they needed to be relocated to this narrower bed.   In addition to moving the two existing supports, we (my husband did the conduit bending)  put together two new ones and installed them as well - completing the length of the new vertical grow support bed with grow structures.   I hung the netting on the two new ones - using tie wraps to secure the netting to the conduit poles.  Here's how it turned out.  

Next task was to plant the front portion of the entire length of this new vertical grow support bed with "Mokum" carrots.   I added some organic all purpose fertilizer to the bed by hand broadcasting it over the surface and raking it in.   I then block planted the pelleted carrot seed using the same process as described in the "How I Do It" page on block planting.   When that was completed, I then moved on to planting the 4'x8' section of spring spinach ("Bloomsdale Savoy").   This was also done as a block planting and when I was through I put a cover of plastic over the bed to warm the soil more quickly and encourage speedier germination. 

I did exactly the same process to plant a 1'X8' section of "Pacemaker III" beets in the front portion of a part of the older vertical grow support bed.    I also covered this planting with plastic as well.  

I wrapped up the day by putting a wire compost bin up next to one of the current full ones.   While I was attending to this simple chore, I took a picture of the shallots, garlic, multiplier onions, elephant garlic, and regular onion patch.   

 It was a productive day and I hope we get a few more sunny days in the weeks ahead to get the seed germinated that I planted today.