My poor tire garden has taken such a beating this "Spring". I had so many plants die in so many ways. I made calls, talked to nursery and garden dept. people, the ones who have been gardening in this area for years. I finally decided that the one who suggested that I might have gotten carried with the manure and the soil was too hot might be on the right track.
So I took her advice and "flushed" the grow tires, repeatedly and watched. It seemed to take longer for things to die after that, but still died in the end. So, I got a roll of shade cloth and hung it up to keep the morning sun from shining on the plants.
Finally, there is hope! The plants that looked really bad did, again go ahead and die, but they took much longer. Two pepper plants that were nothing but little sticks, have sprouted new leaves. So pathetic, but alive after all! the rest of the plants are starting to actually "thrive!
Not to brag, but I actually have zucchini! So far it looks good and no sign of bloom end rot. There are even some little sisters coming along all over the plants. Jon & Sarah shared the first tomato, a cherry. Come to think of it, that was the second one but the birds tell me the first one was yummy . . . grrrr.
I have one more batch of plants. They are in two places where they have a limited amount of sun and will be gradually be moved to where they can harden to be planted in the tires later this week. Hopefully the filtered morning light will be enough to help them make it through until they are hardy and able to take the strong sun of Southern Arizona.
So I took her advice and "flushed" the grow tires, repeatedly and watched. It seemed to take longer for things to die after that, but still died in the end. So, I got a roll of shade cloth and hung it up to keep the morning sun from shining on the plants.
Finally, there is hope! The plants that looked really bad did, again go ahead and die, but they took much longer. Two pepper plants that were nothing but little sticks, have sprouted new leaves. So pathetic, but alive after all! the rest of the plants are starting to actually "thrive!
Not to brag, but I actually have zucchini! So far it looks good and no sign of bloom end rot. There are even some little sisters coming along all over the plants. Jon & Sarah shared the first tomato, a cherry. Come to think of it, that was the second one but the birds tell me the first one was yummy . . . grrrr.
I have one more batch of plants. They are in two places where they have a limited amount of sun and will be gradually be moved to where they can harden to be planted in the tires later this week. Hopefully the filtered morning light will be enough to help them make it through until they are hardy and able to take the strong sun of Southern Arizona.
Of course, I have to put the pretties in as well. Rob & Bri have some of the most gorgeous Lantana growing in the neighbors yard. When I saw these at Home Depot, I completely caved. HD calls them Dallas Red . . . we call them our little balls of fire. All three will look lovely in the side yard, where we are all so tired of looking at nothing except dry, dry ugly!
Now for the mystery! Marigolds have slowly been coming up in the front flower beds. Not sure why so slowly unless it is because the beds were so crowded with pansies and the weather is just so weird this year, but a couple of days ago, I realized, "Hey! Those are not marigolds!" So we are waiting to see what they are . . and of course hoping they are pretty.
Today, Sassy came up and joined Jon & I. Thanks to them, the painting is done!!! Such a relief. OK, there is a little touch up with a brush and the shed doors to paint with a roller, as soon as a color is decided. Shouldn't be too hard, unless you have a plan cooking in your head . . because the end result HAS to be cute, right? Yes, friends, it will not stay as plain and ugly as it is right now. Starting with that cat's claw vine that has taken up residence by the front door. Boy is it going to be mad at me when I move it, again. This time, it will be home (oh wait, I said that when planted it at the front wall, the one that is about to get such a cool trellis) but it will be on the shed wall permanently, to block the sun off of it. I have a plan to help it grab the wall quickly so it can cover soon. What am I saying, it's cat's claw for Pete's sake!
Jon's home, sawing logs right next to me so I am going to go lay down and fall asleep before he comes to bed and snores in there, Sneaky little devil that I am . . . .
No comments:
Post a Comment