05-09-2011, 02:43 AM
I borrowed a roto-tiller from a fellow gardener at the community garden where I go. (You may recall my post last week asking about running an electric tiller off of a car battery.) I tilled the garden, and it was a hell of a lot harder than I expected it to be! I got it all done, but I still am not really thrilled with the condition of the soil. Mainly because I can still see too much green crap (leaves, bits of weeds, and even some weeds that are still rooted). Not sure if I didn't till it well enough/deep enough, or if the soil was just too taken over by weeds/plants.
Regardless, it's as good as it's getting, and it's not *that* bad...just not exactly what I wanted.
Yesterday I planted a blueberry plant (hopefully it'll become a nice bush in a few years--right now it's basically a stick), I also planted cilantro (bought a plant at Lowe's on a whim), and also planted 6 asparagus "bulbs" (more like little dried up bundle looking things). I've never grown any of these before, so it'll be mostly for fun.
I have seeds for lettuce, carrots, sunflowers, sweet corn, ornamental corn, eggplants, pumpkins, watermelons, yellow squash, butternut squash, zucchini, peas (2 types), beans, and a few other things.
I have strawberry plants that I planted last year, and are now quite a bit larger (they send out runners and grow new plants, in essence). I expect quite a few berries this year (only got one berry last year!). I also have several varieties of peppers and tomatoes growing indoors at home, and will get them outside pretty soon.
I expect to be at the garden a fair amount this week. I want to get stuff planted.
I *LOVE* gardening! I was looking forward to it all winter long!
How do you all control weeds in your garden? I didn't do much last year, and paid the price. My community garden is an "organic" garden, so I can't use pesticides. Some people put down straw, timothy hay, or even black plastic sheeting that is perforated to allow water through (they cut a hole for the plants). I definitely want to keep the weeds down this year, because it took away from the enjoyment and the asthetics of the garden last year, and the condition of the soil this spring.
In case you can't tell, I'm excited that it's garden time! :-)
Regardless, it's as good as it's getting, and it's not *that* bad...just not exactly what I wanted.
Yesterday I planted a blueberry plant (hopefully it'll become a nice bush in a few years--right now it's basically a stick), I also planted cilantro (bought a plant at Lowe's on a whim), and also planted 6 asparagus "bulbs" (more like little dried up bundle looking things). I've never grown any of these before, so it'll be mostly for fun.
I have seeds for lettuce, carrots, sunflowers, sweet corn, ornamental corn, eggplants, pumpkins, watermelons, yellow squash, butternut squash, zucchini, peas (2 types), beans, and a few other things.
I have strawberry plants that I planted last year, and are now quite a bit larger (they send out runners and grow new plants, in essence). I expect quite a few berries this year (only got one berry last year!). I also have several varieties of peppers and tomatoes growing indoors at home, and will get them outside pretty soon.
I expect to be at the garden a fair amount this week. I want to get stuff planted.
I *LOVE* gardening! I was looking forward to it all winter long!
How do you all control weeds in your garden? I didn't do much last year, and paid the price. My community garden is an "organic" garden, so I can't use pesticides. Some people put down straw, timothy hay, or even black plastic sheeting that is perforated to allow water through (they cut a hole for the plants). I definitely want to keep the weeds down this year, because it took away from the enjoyment and the asthetics of the garden last year, and the condition of the soil this spring.
In case you can't tell, I'm excited that it's garden time! :-)