I laid down several rows of spinach seeds, and we’ve been blessed with moderate rain, so I hope to see sprouts soon. They are planted in rows next to the bibb lettuce, of which I harvested two more overdue heads. The bibb sprouted from seed is growing much slower than the transplanted heads I bought. In fact, the heads that I have already harvested have almost regrown to their original size, and are ready for cutting again.
I also cut all the heads of broccoli, careful to leave the new heads budding below. Of the eight broccoli plants, seven have produced crowns, one remains stunted and has not gotten a crown. While washing the broccoli I cut I encounted some tiny caterpillar-like worms in the crowns. I think they are also munching on the leaves, but not ravenously. They are very small, but I bet they grow bigger on a diet of greens. So, what to do? I’m determined to stay as natural as possible, even if I loose a little product to pests. When the worms get bigger, they will eat more, but mayhap they will draw the attention of birds and other predators. I know I have a colony of ladybugs becaue I see them on the lettuce quite often, and in the past I have seen wasps, mantis and other carnivores in my other gardens. I’m doing squash again this year and a couple of years ago my squash was devestated by boring weevils and squash bugs. If I encounter a pest that really takes a toll on the plants, I have to consider steps to protect the garden. I know there are several reputed ways to do this naturally and without pesticide, so I will research those methods and give them a try.
The sunflowers and corn stalks have been transplanted and placed outside to strenghten before going into the garden. I still down’t see any signs of those sunflower stems toughing up. I wonder if I have to bury the sprouting stem when they go in the garden to provide greater support.
I have not been able to find herbs anywhere for less than $3.50 per plant, and that seems rudely expensive. I’m trying to sprout rosemary, mint and cilantro from seeds, and get them going to transplant as well. Cilantro should take pretty easy, it’s virtually a weed. Try and stop it from sprouting. I have always propogated mint from cuttings, but I haven’t really run across much mint that doesn’t taste more grassy than minty, except at S.’s mom’s house. But I didn’t take care of the cuttings I took from there and they all died. Imagine, being able to kill mint. Rosemary is so slow growing I probably won’t even see anything from these plants (if they take off at all) until next year. That’s okay, I have two rosemary plants growing out front now that supply my household culinary needs.
Time to trelliss the tomatoes, too. I observed the first fruits on the vines yesterday. They are tiny and green and low to the ground. These are the tomatoes in the garden, not the ones in the tomato planter. Those plants seem healthy but are not growing, so I’m going to get something to help the dirt and maybe give them a boost. They have had a couple of blooms, but no indication yet of fruit.
The lettuce made for more great salad, and the broccoli blanced up nicely.
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