Drought
I wrote about this elderberry last year.
Since then, a friend burried their hamster in the garden.
And I planted a weeping willow cutting on the small grave.
But that is too small to see in the photo.
What you can probably see is that:
- the grass isn't cut...
...the lawnmower is still broken (like I mentioned last post) - the grass is weak
...it did not rain for 6 weeks
6 weeks!
No rain...
The Garlic
The garlic I mentioned last post is doing ok, despite the drought.
I watered it one last time, before the picture.
Some died. I think they did not like the mulch and the quail poop.
Or it was some fungus. ...It's ok - the damage wasn't too much.
One variety (the one more in frame) seems to mature faster.
I think, I'll harvest those twirly bits (scapes or flowers) later today on that row.
On the other row, they are hardly showing.
Maize/Corn
I transplanted the maize. For the last time.
I will from now on always direct seed.
This is F1 hybrid sweet corn.
Beans
The beans are super slow.
This variety always has aphids, which doesn't help.
But the drought is really holding them back.
I watered them 3 times within the 6 weeks, but that was not enough.
Salad
Some leafy salad and spinach.
Spotty germination.
I also had to water it, just so it survives.
Hoping for Rain
The beds are prepared and all and everything is waiting for water.
Forecast
The forecast did the same as the other years, when it simply would not rain:
They predicted rain in 10-14 days, and the next day, they moved it ahead another day.
And then when it finally rained, they did not predict that at all, but only 2-3 days ahead of time.
Today, they announced rain for tomorrow.
Which would be a huge relief.
It's ok
I just have to give up on most vegetables.
It's not worth the hassle; the weather conditions are too unpredictable and not manageable without access to proper irrigation and perhaps even a polytunnel.
And that's no good for that piece of land.
And even then: Rain is better than irrigation.
You can't achieve the same humidity and all the other things that come with rain.
I'll switch to other stuff like rhubarb, which is doing fine.
(btw the picture is right after the second harvest - it was huge)
For the future, I'll focus more on the recreational features of the garden.
Refuge
At least it's a well populated habitat for local wildlife and plants.
I counted 8 nesting pairs of birds so far.
A weasel. A hedgehog. A fox last year.
A bunny even chewed on some of the veggies. I think I scared it away though.
A lot of stuff is buzzing and growing, which I don't see much of around anymore.
The End
Anyways, that was it for mid may.
The lawnmower is at the mechanic for now and I am hoping tomorrow will finally bring rain.
Until then, my hands are tied and I have to watch the lawn take over, while the vegetables drying out.