Yesterday at noon I finally put an end to the project I've been working on for almost two months!
It seemed like an eternity, and it's one of those projects that eats up all my creativity and time to devote myself to anything else during the day. Now I can taste the freedom again and run back into garden.
That weeks-long impatience literally ate me up, especially when dear darling spends the whole day outside in the sun, tending to the plants, and I'm glued to the screen listening to the narrative and watching the same frames on loop.
However, I must admit that I did not miss any important events [was just jealous], the plants are now in full bloom and growth and the most fun part of the garden season is at it's peak!
A couple of ruddy, juicy strawberries that I pick from the pots every morning when I get up, I usually eat them right away.:D
They don't have a magnificent market appearance and they won't knock you off your feet with their appearance, but the taste is the real strawberry" one. I am strongly considering transplanting them in the fall to a more comfortable place than the current pots.
In less than a month, we will step into the summer season, although the spring was quite confusing, alternately rainy and sunny, which many would agree are the most favorable conditions, except in the case that the daily temperature reaches almost 30 degrees, and in the evening you will be greeted by cold rain shower.
These conditions [besides bringing magnificent rainbow colors in the sky], can also damage plants, as happened to peas.
The first planted seeds was in December, it survived more frosts than planned - resisted it, but what left its mark and damaged many plants happened during flowering itself - Phytophthora infestans A fungus that insidiously attacks the plant in whatever stage it is in, I don't know if it is luck in the accident that it happened to the pea just at the time of flowering, while the fruits have not yet formed - at least they would have known in advance that there would be no peas.
In this way we are still playing the will-or-won't game, given that some of the flowers are still intact. In the fight against this disease, baking soda is most often recommended, which will disinfect the soil around the plant, and therefore the plant itself - haven't tried out yet, still considering is it worth of...
The second round of spinach bloomed at the speed of light, I don't know if we harvested two handfuls of it, the same situation happened with the arugula - flowers formed from the seed leaves and it immediately went into the ripening phase.
I could also blame the weather conditions for that, but there is also the possibility that the seeds were not of good quality.
Guess who?
Yeap, blame on me!
These little slow motion pests occupied the entire yard and every grassy corner.
If you are wondering how it is possible for such a slow creature to eat so quickly, we will ask together because these decorative sunflowers were snacked on during the night! Fortunately, this is only one corner where I planted them, the other two are untouched.
Their slimy traces betrayed them, although I might forgive them sunflowers, I certainly won't broccoli, spinach and eggplant seedlings!
They munched every leaf of it!
...and made me plant them for the second time.
This time the seeds will be placed directly in the garden, and if you are wondering why the jars?
Well, they will play the effect of a greenhouse, help the plant to sprout quickly, and for a while they will protect it from various destroyers.
At the same time, I joined a few more basil seedlings to the tomatoes, after trimming the excess branches and tying them tightly. It is very much in bloom, the first fruits have formed on some plants, and what we are also preparing for is the stink bug season.
Duh, it sounds like a never ending bug fight...
Carrots are also trimmed, in order to make the fruits bigger, the green part of the plant is removed and thus all the nutritional energy is sent to the underground world of sweet roots, otherwise I couldn't stand it without taking out a couple of young carrots, briefly frying them in oil and seasoning them with salt - an explosion of taste and future spring soup ingredient.
We planted the potatoes a few days after Easter, and this is the result after a month, we are more than satisfied with the progress of the plants, the leaves are firm and juicy, and this is confirmed by the occasional visits of the potato beetle.
The potato flower is one of the most beautiful I have seen!
And this can also be a consequence of the fungus that also affected peas.
Currently there is only one plant with visible color changes on the leaf, for now we are just observing.
Ladybug seems no to be much bothered with the color, other pests are being removed manually.
Pepper, is the last one to inhabit the garden, some 250 seedlings - three types, because each pepper has its own purpose depending on what we are preparing. A big fan of water, what you need to pay attention to is the water that has as little contact with the leaf of the plant, but that the root part is always preferably soaked.
So far she seems to be enjoys our treatment.
After the finished work and before leaving the garden, fresh parsley to take away!
It took a long time for it to sprout, I was somewhat wondering if it would grow at all, but the lush leaves proved me wrong in a very short time.
The taste of which I have been abnormally enjoying in recent days is basil, I don't think there are any dishes I haven't added it to, but the toast combination with cheese, butter and freshly chopped basil is unbeatable for now!
I'm thinking about some lasagna with white garlic sauce, and basil for tomorrows lunch 🙃
After the storm, rose leftovers...