Differences in soil and sun
As time has passed I have been watching carefully, and with more than a bit of anticipation, the growth of the summer squash varities, as well as the cucumbers. In doing so I have noticed some interesting differences in the plants. The plants in the first and second mounds are doing well, the first doing exceptionally well. The plants in the third and fourth mounds are growing, but much more slowly.
I suspect two differences, one slight the other extreme are making all of the difference. The first is differences in sun exposure. Living on a heavily wooded lot of mature oak trees makes even having a garden a real challenge and in this case I believe that the amount of sun in the beds differs slightly, though they are only a few feet apart. I will be watching this to see if this is in fact the case, if so I will adjust this new garden area as necessary. The second is almost embrassing to admit, but is soil preparation. I spent a good deal of time breaking up the clods in the first two mounds, and little at all in the last two, hoping that the addition of composted manure, and other organic matter would be sufficient to support the plants.
I believe that I have learned this obvious lesson about soil prep the hard way, as the cucumbers, which are in the last bed, are only slightly larger than they were in the pots in which they were started. My hopes for a crop have begun to diminish.. Nonetheless, I will continue to water and amend the soil so that hopefully a fall crop of squash can be reaped from these same beds.
On a more positive note, the squash plants in the first two beds are growing by leaps and bounds, increasing my impatience for those first few fruits of my labors..
The tomatoes are starting to flower, so I am hopeful that they will begin to set fruit, though they do appear a bit small so I am cautiously optimistic.
The basil is delicious, having topped some farmer's market greenhouse tomatoes along with a bit of olive oil and cheese..
The parsley continues to produce abundantly so much so that I have hardly made a dent in it despite a number of tasty salads..
No peppers as of it, which may mean that I do without this year.
To all of you who are in the various stages of preparation, anticipation, or hibernation, I wish you the best and will be glad to share my bounty when next we are together..
I suspect two differences, one slight the other extreme are making all of the difference. The first is differences in sun exposure. Living on a heavily wooded lot of mature oak trees makes even having a garden a real challenge and in this case I believe that the amount of sun in the beds differs slightly, though they are only a few feet apart. I will be watching this to see if this is in fact the case, if so I will adjust this new garden area as necessary. The second is almost embrassing to admit, but is soil preparation. I spent a good deal of time breaking up the clods in the first two mounds, and little at all in the last two, hoping that the addition of composted manure, and other organic matter would be sufficient to support the plants.
I believe that I have learned this obvious lesson about soil prep the hard way, as the cucumbers, which are in the last bed, are only slightly larger than they were in the pots in which they were started. My hopes for a crop have begun to diminish.. Nonetheless, I will continue to water and amend the soil so that hopefully a fall crop of squash can be reaped from these same beds.
On a more positive note, the squash plants in the first two beds are growing by leaps and bounds, increasing my impatience for those first few fruits of my labors..
The tomatoes are starting to flower, so I am hopeful that they will begin to set fruit, though they do appear a bit small so I am cautiously optimistic.
The basil is delicious, having topped some farmer's market greenhouse tomatoes along with a bit of olive oil and cheese..
The parsley continues to produce abundantly so much so that I have hardly made a dent in it despite a number of tasty salads..
No peppers as of it, which may mean that I do without this year.
To all of you who are in the various stages of preparation, anticipation, or hibernation, I wish you the best and will be glad to share my bounty when next we are together..
posted by Storm at 6:24 PM
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