It's been a long while since my last post. The good news is that the raised beds are done the fence has been erected around the garden and weed barrier and mulch has been put down on the paths and around the garden perimeter. There is still a ton to do before I plant. I need to mix the garden soil for the beds. What? Oh, I should explain that. You see, here in Southern Jersey, we do not have soil. We have beach sand. In my yard I have about a meter of sand before you start to hit clay. So I am making what is called "Mel's Mix" in the book, Square Foot Gardening. It is roughly 1/3 compost, 1/3 peat moss and 1/3 vermiculite. Home made dirt! I've also thought of a good way to lay out a square foot grid over the gardens. Half inch plastic strapping held to the garden rails with thumb tacks should do it. Finally I have to build two gates to allow easy access to the garden. I am going to use PVC pipe and fence wire for this. The design is in my head, and I think I can make it work. It should be a fun project. I'll photo document it as I go along.
I've spent a good amount of time in the sun over the last week getting all of the beds and fencing done. Unfortunately, I am taking Cipro for a skin infection I got from scrubbing my arm with a kitchen scrub pad. I know, I shouldn't have done that. You'd think that a Microbiologist by training would figure that one out all by his lonesome, wouldn't you? Well, I didn't. Cipro makes you more sensitive to the sun and I can, by my crisply burned skin, attest to that!
What have I planted in my yard so far? I have one of the old beds devoted to Mary Washington asparagus, The other old bed has a couple of rhubarb plants in it and about eight horse radish. Half of that bed is still empty. I should probably plant peas in that area. I have also planted 3 apple trees, 2 peach trees, 2 paw-paw trees, 2 almond trees and two cherry trees. I had 2 hazelnut bushes, but I killed them before they got in the ground. I also planted 6 blue berry bushes of the "Duke" variety.
To the left is a photo of one of the cherry trees in blossom. I am very happy that I didn't kill them as well as the hazelnuts! The photos to the right is my garden with 9 raised beds nearly completed. Tomorrow I think I will do a walk around with the video camera and show off what I have done so far.
I've spent a good amount of time in the sun over the last week getting all of the beds and fencing done. Unfortunately, I am taking Cipro for a skin infection I got from scrubbing my arm with a kitchen scrub pad. I know, I shouldn't have done that. You'd think that a Microbiologist by training would figure that one out all by his lonesome, wouldn't you? Well, I didn't. Cipro makes you more sensitive to the sun and I can, by my crisply burned skin, attest to that!
What have I planted in my yard so far? I have one of the old beds devoted to Mary Washington asparagus, The other old bed has a couple of rhubarb plants in it and about eight horse radish. Half of that bed is still empty. I should probably plant peas in that area. I have also planted 3 apple trees, 2 peach trees, 2 paw-paw trees, 2 almond trees and two cherry trees. I had 2 hazelnut bushes, but I killed them before they got in the ground. I also planted 6 blue berry bushes of the "Duke" variety.
To the left is a photo of one of the cherry trees in blossom. I am very happy that I didn't kill them as well as the hazelnuts! The photos to the right is my garden with 9 raised beds nearly completed. Tomorrow I think I will do a walk around with the video camera and show off what I have done so far.
