I Have a Pepper, a Real Pepper!

I mentioned in a few posts back that I was excited for my newly forming pepper. Well, my little pepper has progressed and is now plumb sized. Not only that, he has brothers! A pea sized pepper facing South, and another one facing Northeast. I can hardly believe it, after a couple of years striking out, I'm going to (hopefully) have a 3 pepper plant!

The tomato plants are flowering now, both the cherry and the heirloom plants are around a foot and a half tall and looking great.

Short post, longer one soon. Pictures eminent. (I've been saying that)

Signs of Fruit

Compared to years past, I've been doing a nice job on the garden this Spring. (Ouch, I just pulled a muscle patting myself on the back) The beds are both weed free, despite a little clover, and I've been bonsai'ing the crap out of my strawberries, tomatoes and red pepper plants. My meddling doesn't show for much with the strawberries and peppers (other than the plants generally looking greener than they should) but the tomatoes are starting to take on a distinct pine tree shape. I'm excited to see what I can do once they really start growing in July, assuming my excitement doesn't wane too much. I'm envisioning a nice Christmas tree shaped cherry tomato plant...

The catnip has started to bloom. Columns of pretty purple flowers (and you thought I was some knuckle dragging Neanderthal) popping up everywhere, delighting man (i.e. me), cat, and hornet alike. I used to view the hornets as a nuisance but after watching them a little bit yesterday, they seem to be doing a fine job pollinating the garden, especially the mint and the strawberries. I'd rather have bees but hey, beggars can't be choosers and as long as they don't sting me in the ass, I'll count my blessings.

I just got my first box of miracle grow and I'm fertilizing tonight. (I know, such a cheater) Couldn't be more excited, wish me luck!

Still Prepping for my Root Veggies

With all of the rain of late and my diligent weeding, the garden is looking pretty tip-top. The strawberry bed in particular is looking about as green and healthy as ever. I'm not sure if I'm helping or hurting the plants but whenever I see a leaf that's been munched on, I snip it right off at the base. 9 times out of 10 there's already a leaf start coming up, I figure this might keep the plant more vital but I'd be happy to hear any one's input on this one.

Speaking of input, let me throw this one out there...

To fertilize or not to fertilize?

I haven't for 3 years but I'm very tempted to try the miracle grow experiment this year as I haven't put anything in this garden for some time. I'm going to have carrots and onions (in addition to tomatoes and strawberries) so I'm curious to see if I can increase my normal yield.

Sunny today, may it last until this early afternoon when my planters are in full sun.

Catepillars!!!

The pepper start is looking great, green and perky as can be. Unfortunately, its leaves must taste great too as catepillars from far and wide are converging on my newest pride and joy. I picked around the soil and around a few of the leaves finding my hungry little enemies here and there.

Does anyone know of a good way to keep them off of plants? Aside from pesticides is there anything I can spray on the leaves to make them a little less savory?

Besides the attack of the catepillars the garden is looking great. The weeds are gone the strawberries are pruned and everything is looking green as can be. Short post today, I'll be sure to have a longer post after I get my vegetable seeds in the ground. Things could change but for now I'm thinking carrots in the bottom planter and onions in the top.

Springtime is Here!

It has been a long winter in more ways than one. I paid homage to my late father in my other blog, "Backyard Kung Fu with the Boys" but in many ways, mentioning him during my Spring planting is much more fitting. I am the fruit of his loins after all, the Spring to his Winter. I miss you Dad, send some love to my garden. Maybe with some help from the afterlife I can actually grow some red peppers, lol.

This Summer will (with luck) be the Summer of tomatoes. (Muhahaha!) I didn't go crazy, I got an heirloom and a cherry start. For a little spice I added a red pepper plant. With the help of my lovely gardening assistant Kelsey I planted everything last evening, it was a lot of fun. It felt good to get a little dirt under my fingernails, all the while basking in a little of Seattle's best April sunlight.

Now for the status of last year's survivors;

Catnip: I pruned it down to the nubs after last year but already I have halo shaped profusion popping up on the left side of my upper planter. Shouldn't be long before it's brimming with pretty little purple flowers. The bees love this plant and from the looks of it (there's a bed right in the middle of the stalks) the neighborhood cats do too.

Orange Mint: Directly below the catnip I have a growing colony of orange mint. I let it ravage the strawberry bed last year and I'll have to live with my decision as it's popping up quickly EVERYWHERE. (Luckily it smells wonderful) I'm going to have to drink a lot of orange mint mojitos this Summer to keep this monster at bay. I'm up for the challenge, hiccup...

Strawberries: I'm about half way through my spring pruning and a few of the plants are looking pretty darn good. Over towards the pepper plant however (it's on the right of the bottom planter) I should just pull up the rest and begin anew. I saw some good Quinalt strawberry starts at Fred Meyers yesterday, it would probably be a good idea to throw some new ones in where my 3 year old plants currently sit.

English Lavender: I was worried about this guy last year but this plant has really become my early Spring success story. The gray faded leaves of last Summer have been covered up by 2-3 inches of nice green growth. Furthermore, I'm noticing shoots coming out of the ground around its base, signs of a more robust plant to come, my fingers are crossed. I've been fretting over this plant for too long for it not to fill out the right side of the upper planter like I've always intended.

The tax return check is coming and one of my first purchases will be my neighbor's old digital camera so be ready for photographic evidence of my successes and/or failures. Until then, may your roses be red and your thumbs green.

The Lone Pumpkin

Short update for y'all...

After all my excitement over the pumpkins, only one will emerge. It's about 5 inches in diameter, mostly green but turning orange on the top. I don't think it will make a pie and any jack-o-lantern attempt might require an exact-o knife. This year was my first attempt and I've learned plenty. Here's my short list:

-I need to pay attention to when the vine is flowering and do some forced pollination. Luckily, I watched Mike Rowe (Dirty Jobs dude) do it on TV recently.

-Pumpkins will go on their own 10-20 gallon planter. That way I won't have to worry about them messing with my other fruits and vegetables and perhaps (without the competition) I can get multiple decent sized pumpkins.

-I need to get my garden on a watering/fertilizing cycle. My version of organic (i.e. neglecting the garden) has yielded less than desirable results, pumpkins aside.

I think I'm going to pull up everything but the cat mint and English lavender come fall. With a fresh perspective and new plants, I think I'll be able to make something I'm really proud of. Look for more posting next Spring, might not have a post on here for a while. Please take a look at my new blog on Kung Fu, might have a blog on my band (www.everysingledayband.com) coming soon.

May your thumbs be green and your gardens organic. See you next year!

Rise of the Pumpkins!

My garden is now officially a pumpkin patch! I figured that it might happen, heck, I even welcomed it but now there's no turning back. The hot sun we've been having, coupled with the general neglect I've given my garden's other inhabitants, has allowed the pumpkin vines to dominate my planters. Unfortunately, it would seem that only one of the many yellow pumpkin flowers was pollinated and hence, there's only one actual pumpkin going right now. According to my gardening friend and pumpkin aficionado Jacob, I needn't worry. Apparently, the vines without fruit should throw out plenty of extra flowers in the next few weeks of hot sun. He says that the vines are already established enough that growing a full sized pumpkin by late fall should be no trouble, even with a late start. Well, for the sake of; pumpkin pie, jack-o-lanterns, and potentially a brown sugar pumpkin stout (I have quite a collection of friends who home brew beer), my fingers are crossed for the bees to reach my female flowers. I may even play honeybee and use a q-tip to do the job myself.

A quick note on some of my other garden players:

-The catnip is done with its mad growth and since being cut back is pretty lackluster.

-The orange mint is developing flowers, last year they were white, this year it appears the blooms will be purple. (Why is that?)

-I'm not sure but I think I had a clover plant cross pollinate (or hybridize) with a blackberry. It's the weirdest thing, it's like a clover but instead of white puffy flowers, it makes slender blackberries. I've never seen anything like it.

-My strawberries are in their second fruiting right now, much better berries than the June Harvest, bigger, sweeter, juicier, yummers.

-The English Lavender I transplanted from my lower planter to the upper is now firmly established, the plump purple flowers are very nice to look at.

Pictures are coming people but don't let that keep you from being the very first person to comment on my blog. C'mon I know you want to! I may also be starting another blog of more everyday (non-garden) related material including my new found quest(s) to become an established Seattle musician and kung-fu martial artist respectively. Stay tuned.