Transplant Time Part Deux

In her wonderful last post, Dianne mentioned taking that late spring cold snap as a last ditch moment to transplant. I've been waiting to beg some hostas from Dianne and her mother, Ann. Friday, for mental health, I polished off some major 'to-do' items in my gardening. It's been tough lately, with all my travel for work, but I have a three week window here.

Thanks to Dianne, whose gardens I plan to kodak this week, I restored mental health. She gave me red and yellow lilies, which will bloom later in June and July, and variegated Hosta. The Hosta, I found out, should be able to grow under my Walnut tree. I split up some of my own hosta and used some of hers under the tree. I happened to put a Hydrangea she gave me there too. It should have been a quicky transplant, but I had to snip and snap the snarling ivy and poison ivy vines all around the bottom of that durn tree.-- Here's some anecdotal proof that my year-long adolescent bout with poison ivy, due to ingesting it while we built a house on untamed Indiana acreage- made me immune. I was too dirty and in a hurry after a 7-mile run -- and before a date with the hubby-- to go get the microfiber garden gloves I've come to adore. I grabbed those vines with my bare fists. Some are dead, due to my natural weed killer spray ( 1 gallon distilled vinegar, 1 cup salt 7 drops dish detergent sprayed on the slashed up vines). Others are tenacious. Yet, two days later, I bear no signs of reaction. Hmmm

Thanks, Dianne. Really, I'll come help you with your ivy infestations in kind for the hostas and lillies. Anyone else want to donate Hostas to me?

I also transplanted my peony on Friday. All her lovely lilies now grace the front of my porch, waiting to bloom. As I weighed my tour of her gardens, all instinct and lovely variety, I decided to dig up a dying, lonely peony from beside my driveway. It's the centerpiece along that new line of flowers. Let's see if it survives. It looked droopy yesterday when I came home from visiting the Indianapolis Decorators Showcase Home. In those gardens there were white, blue and pink Azaleas. Last year I recall, they were ubiquitous in Northeastern PA. "Imma get me soma those," I muttered to myself. Oh, yes, I left the showcase with Azalea lust. Lilies, Azaleas and peonies will grace the bed next to the porch. Now, who has some of those to share? Or where, Oh where are those on clearance?

Friday was my hubby's honey do day. He got four loads of dirt from the local Progreen. I wanted organic but that was a bit pricy. By the time we drove to where Craiglisted free dirt was, we spent the same amount of money for the dirt here. We loaded five of the six 5'x5' beds with dirt. There will be a 2' path between those lovely lilies and my veggies squarefoots.

At the Showcase, I got the idea of staggering my heirloom tomatoes, 9 of which I planted in one bed until tomorrow night. I will mix with summer and patty pan squash varieties on mounds, colorful lettuce, and one bamboo teepee that should hold climbing spinach found in Macungie PA and sugar snap peas or flat green beans. I wasn't planning on these, but the teepees in the Victory Garden were so lovely. I can't help myself. I think a few bushes of Basil will come later.  Ah, fun.

One last tip I got there: old cd's hung from low wire fence and string are great for scaring off the rodents and birds. Married to a former musician, I can say, we have a few of those to recycle.

Our final hooray this weekend? My hubby and son hacked out another ugly overgrown bush. Dianne says I should plant potatoes there this year. Next year, I plan to whack my way back the brick walkway around this deck bed and do as she does. (My hero, says I, batting my eyelashes at Dianne's gardening genius.) I will let the thyme and sage and parsley periannuals ape out over the edges of this. Right now? I'm wondering if I should add carrots and brussels here for the year, behind the taters. Will they help break up the roots of that batty old bush so I can dig it out easier come fall or next spring?  Ah, the fun.

Tonight, my hubby is off to get the Chicken Tractor. Perhaps my next episode will be called "What comes first?" or "The Sky is Falling" or "Hen House" or "The Chickens are Coming; the Chickens are Coming!"  In good news, I hear it is NOT illegal to have hens, only roosters in within city limits. Whew. I will do civil protest, but I'd rather not.

transplant time for perennials.

It's the second week of May, and if you are itching to start a lily garden, or just dig up something from someone else's flower garden, this may be the perfect week to do it.   Cooler, wet weather is the PERFECT time to move plants.   It cuts back on transplant shock, and you don't have to worry about having to water baby plants every day.  Also a good time for seeds, no need to keep the seedbed damp constantly. 

Plants I would recommend for moving to your yard for wonderful color later would be daylilies and  Asiatic lilies.   I dig  down under the whole plant and take  it out of the ground, then stand on a shovel that is set to divide the plant from the top down.  Then replant one half, and move the other.  Water  both and tamp down soil around the roots, for better contact with soil.  This helps plant acclimatize quicker.  Asiatic lilies (grows several upright stems) may be separated into clumps of bulbs, and replanted.  I have also found that my daisies have helped themselves to lots of ground space in my garden.   I think all they would take is a quick dig and a move. 

Maria caught me out in the garden this week with a shovel in my hand,  she went home with hostas, daylilies, and a few other goodies, which I believe she has planted already.  I will invite her over in June and July when the daylilies are in full bloom so she can pick colors.  My favorite is a 6 foot plant with HUGE blooms,  the centerpiece of the flowerbed.  Another favorite is Chicago Firecracker, from Greg Lough, at Sugar Creek Daylily farm, on IN 47, east of Darlington.   Ask around with your local gardeners to find a someone selling plants from their own beds.  This guy has a lily catalog that covers several pages.  And when you ask for a $6 start, he digs a huge shovelful.  He also has $100 plants that are brand new varieties. I can tell you it's a great field trip to his place. http://www.landspro.com/forums/showthread.php?2283-Sugar-Creek-Daylily-Gardens

I just remembered something.  I gave a big start from the tall daylily to a friend who had lost her husband a few years ago. I hate florist's flowers at funerals, and a beautiful perennial  transplant will come back for enjoyment for several years.   I went several weeks after the funeral, and she had time to walk me around her garden, and to know that someone was still concerned for her.

And speaking of demises,  have you considered your own?  I found out that in Indiana embalming is not required, good, because I consider it mistreatment of the body.  Also, concrete vaults around the waterproof metal casket are not required by the state, but may be by the cemetery.  I have discussed having a simple wooden box, made by a friend who has a lumber yard. He is freaked out every time I talk about it.  I think having your end decided before you go,  and deciding to go green is saving your family the trouble, and you get control over what happens to your body.   Some people write their essential "endnotes" and keep in an envelope on the fridge, very accessible, and easily changed. 

Update on sweet potato planting earlier in the week.   It was really hot ,80's, for a few days, and even with watering, they were a bit wilty.  I hope they all survive.  Gave myself permission to ditch some plants that are in the wrong place, and I didn't like in the first place. 

Dianne, almost burnt out with gardening this week

tilled, hilled, and planted

Our last frost date is definitely past, so I went in hunt of sweet potato starts today.  Hit two greenhouses without, and then bingo on the third.  If you have never planted sweet potatoes, it's not quite like plain ole taters.  Here we buy "slips" or small plants that started on a sweet potato and then were pulled off and planted in soil.   You can grow your own slips, if you think about it in time.  Here is someone else showing you how, I picked this site because he shows planting them in raised box bed. 
http://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/how-to-plant-and-grow-sweet-potatoes/index.html
Sweet potatoes can be grown in all 50 states, they like sandy soil, but I figure if I plant "Georgia Jets," they may not mind my Indiana clay too much.  They don't like to be stored long, so after harvest, if you have a ton of them, cook them, and freeze.

In order to plant them properly, I   tilled deeply, cursed loudly when I hit a brick (from old foundation), and hoed up two long row hills.  I tossed down some muriate of potash, a very necessary nutrient for root food like potatoes and carrots.   I also tossed out ammonium sulfate, or nitrogen, because my soil test showed that I had none in my garden.  It will be used by the plants for green, leafy growth.   Then I poked my flat hand down into the hill to make a hole to insert the potato slip into so I wouldn't bend or break the plant when sticking it into the hilled soil. I had enough room at the end of the rows to stick in some Kennebec white potatoes, they seem to do the best for me, those and some red potatoes.   I bought potato starts for .65/lb. today,  at a greenhouse, that was much cheaper than I saw anywhere else today.   If you paid $1/lb.  that seems to be a going rate, but I think it is too high, considering what you pay in the grocery for them.   Many in the food store have been treated to NOT sprout, so don't bother trying to grow those. 

I also moved broccoli out of a big pot into the garden, they are past size for being rabbit snack, so time to put in a bed.   I  broke down a big compost heap,, thinking I would plant potatoes in it, but decided that I'm going to use it as mulch around my broccoli, eggplant, pepper bed.  Did you know that if you plant different things together in a bed it confuses the bugs?  You shouldn't have as much pest infestation if you alternate plants.  I also don't plant in long single plant rows, but in a cross hatch pattern, more plants in less space, and less area to weed, since they grow closer together, and shade out the weeds.

It was 86 here today, so I made sure I went back and watered everything I have planted in the last week. 

I may have to post a picture of my filthy, dirty, nasty, wonderfully soft, faithful friend cut-off jean gardening shorts.  If yours are grosser,  you win.  I dare you to post a picture of your filthy gardening pants!!
If I weren't so danged tired right now, I'd run right out and do it.
Must. Take. Ibuprofen.

ALSO,,, I made the water in the shower run brown tonight, I was that dirty!

I'm glad the topic of contaminated soil has come up among some of us on facebook.  I'm wondering though, Maria, if you have raised beds, what soil did you use?  Did you buy topsoil?  composted manure?  just curious.  has anyone else purchased soil for their raised beds??  I have enough yard for gardens, but it has a mixture of clay in it from digging up and spreading foundation soil.  Hence, lots of composting and mulching. 
Also, M., would you give us an update on your pallet garden?

AND another thing, I have always been resistant to using weed and feed chemicals  on my lawn to kill grubs so the stuuuuppid moles will quit tearing up the lawn. My mom found a weed and feed withOUT phosphorus, at Big R, so she has applied it this week. I'll let you know how it works.  Phosphorus was taken out of laundry detergent in the 70's, I believe, to cut back on water contamination, but yet it remains in lawn treatments,,,that's one of those  "things that make you go ,,hmmm!"

Sorry, this appears to be the ADD post, but I guess I had a lot of garden stuff to chat about.

Dianne, dirt-free, and worn out

Soil testing, not to be left out

I have a fairly large garden to the northside of my house, pictures have been posted.  Anyway, about 2005, we bought this house and had a kitchen added on that side, so all the lovely clay soil was spread about the back, right where I wanted my garden. I have been composting, mulching , turning it, whatever since then. 
Finally bought a soil test kit,  it tests for pH (acid, neutral, or alkaline), phosphorus, potash, and nitrogen.  It is a fairly simple thing to do, that's why I left it in the box, and Bill did it.
You place a little test capsule specific for each chemical in the specifically labelled little test thingie, it has graded colors up the side.  When you add water and shake, the water should turn to one of the colors on the side of the container.  This tells you the amount of specific nutrient, or the pH that is present in your soil.   And so, because I have been good about using mulch, and adding compost, I have "0" nitrogen in my soil, that's right,   "0."   Nitrogen is used up in decomposition, so what little I had had been depleted more when I added all the rotten good stuff to the soil.   Also, the potash tester didn't show much color.
So, called my local greenhouse, and they set me up with some muriate of potash, and ammonia sulfate (nitrogen).  Fairly inexpensive, I bought several bags, so I wouldn't hoard it and not use it.  I am also just applying to each plant, not much, but not broadcasting it, I don't want to encourage the **&^&^%%  weeds.   I was hoping I'd get to drive a big ole tractor with a big ole nitrogen tank on the back of it, all over the garden, the yard, the neighbor's yard, and anywhere else I wanted, but NOOOOO,,, it's not that sexy. I just open a bag and toss it out.  Farmers around here use anhydrous ammonia in big white tanks to apply to 500 acres at a time.  They ride around in an air conditioned cab, listening to tunes, using their freakin' GPS, for heaven's sake.   I get a lousy bag and have to walk it.  I also don't have to worry about the druggies trying to steal my stuff, like the farmers do.  I guess anhydrous ammonia is used in the manufacture of illegal drugs, meth, to be specific, the drug choice of stupidheads.   I always wonder, have these idiots smelled this stuff?  it's awful. 
Also, my pH was slightly acidic, so I need to add some lime.  I'm in Indiana, so we have plenty of that, it's just crushed limestone.  In the fall after harvest, sometimes you will see big white piles of stuff on the edge of a field. That is limestone that is added after the corn has sucked out all that was applied last year.
So, when the sky decides that it's done raining for a while, I'll be out there feeding the tomatoes so they will have luscious green leaves, not the kinda sick looking yellow ones they have now.  Nitrogen helps with that. 
Potash (potassium) helps with root development, cell wall structure, moisture conservation, and photosynthesis.

If you have a flower bed, and you use mulch, you should be adding nitrogen, as it is depleted with the breakdown of the organic matter.  Guess I'll be tossing some out in my front perennial beds. 

Also, with all this rain, I have been moving perennials like crazy.   I use a shovel and cut right down the middle of the plant, pull out half, fill in the hole.  Then dig a hole where I want the transplant, throw in some bonemeal, and plant and water.   With this lovely, damp, not real sunshiney weather, transplants do well because they don't dry out or get stressed by heat.

Dianne, dirt, fertilizer, and all

Gardening is NOT a Family Affair

Gardening is not a family project!

Consider yourself warned.
It is, however, very good for families.

It seems that pulling together to provide for our daily bread is exhausting, not because hauling dirt, bending over to weed, getting up to your wrists in worm doo or cleaning up potting soil from your kitchen floor is work. It’s exhausting because hauling the vacuum out to clean up leads to emoting and temper flares, which causes youngsters to injure themselves. Then they are madder because you have forced them into child labor in the first place.

How much worse is this that this child labor is referred to as a ‘school project’ or learning. It doesn’t start well, but at least he’s not old enough to follow up with, “What will you do next year, when you aren’t home schooling me? You won’t be able to call it ‘learning’ then.”

I, the mom, start with, “We’re going to repot the starts and start germinating the other herbs and the squash. This’ll be fun. Find those teal and salmon colored garden gloves, kiddo.”  It should be fun, right? Getting to play in dirt. Not when mom talked about not splurging and sprinkling it around the kitchen. We’re indoors cause it’s cold and rainy outside, AGAIN.

My first sign that he doesn’t think is going to be any fun?  He demands to know where those gloves are and when I start saying exactly where each pair is, he interrupts with, “What salmon? What? What? Wha…?” Uh oh.  I’m in for a prostest fest! He repeated and for emphasis dropped the final consonant. He continues  cutting off every sentence out of my mouth. When it’s an instruction for the task, he says “I don’t wanna…” When it’s an oral assessment question, like, “What part of the seed becomes the plant?” he pulls out half a scientific fact. “The part that germinates…” He trails off. He’s already learning to BS. David Spade would reply, “Did I hear a Niner in there? Are you talking on a walkie talkie?”

It is real learning. We compare a popcorn kernel, a watermelon seed crushed open and an egg to talk about the kernel, the endosperm, the germ, the bran. The egg is a good comparison since it’s larger. Getting gooey with it is fun, for a bit. Till mom says, “Okay, now, time to finish transplanting the tomatoes. Now look for the seedlings with mature leaves. They are the ones with more than two points. It’s like the leaves are getting ‘fingers’.” He just starts filling  3” pots with dirt and dumping any old seedling it. THEN, he asks if it’s the right one. “This one. Not that one,” I say. He snorts. “How do you know?” He challenges. Wow. Bravado.

He is the only one in the kitchen with me because that is his project for the moment, but also because we’ve already had a blow up with the teenage daughter. She’s out earning money for someone’s present. It’s better for her to avoid this family affair right now. Dad is off on another honey do. He’ll be building raised beds for the yard later this week, when money isn’t quite so tight.

How do I teach my son, and daughter, that this thrift is partially about eating better without breaking our bank, which is broken already, and learning where good food comes from, and appreciating God’s green earth. I remember being bribed to finish weeding peas and beans with trips to Pine Lake, a stellar water hole that we longed to visit each summer. It was the only beach I visited in Indiana during my childhood years to boast soft white sandy beaches. It had the BEST racing slide. I still hated weeding.

Or, the day my pregnant mother napped my siblings and left me on the front porch with what felt like thirty cobs of corn to husk. It was August and I was husking sweet corn. It would taste great to me later, if I didn’t become a dead pin cushion for the dang bees who were batty for the corn in their final throes of existence. I wept as they crawled my scabby shins. I was sure I would be stung. I ran away, came back, tried so hard to finish. All I remember is wailing and sobbing and begging to be allowed to come into the cool air to finish. My mother would have no hairs of sweet corn in her newly mopped kitchen. I finished, sobbing all the way.

That’s what our house was like tonight. There was an episode of yelling and sobbing, but not about gardening. Instead it was about getting to be a teenager in the way the adolescent felt asserted her independence, not in the way her parents deemed ‘safe.’  When I said, let’s go ahead and finish this planting and transplanting, my son said something about the teenager still yelling at us. We were resigned to letting her finish emoting enough to settle into our demands. She wasn’t going to like it any more than my son made peace with his teal gardening gloves, handling an hour’s worth of minor planting in a temperature controlled environment and delaying his itch for the last of his Easter Peeps.

Gardening. It’s not for family fun. But it sure is for families.

My kitchen is now covered in trays of tomatoes begging Indiana to hustle its chubs and get 60 degree nights on regularly. It’ll drop to 38 tonight. The lettuce and arugula love it. The rutabagas are ‘growing the best’ declared my son with a glance.

So, as I finished by showing my son how we are trying to recycle rain water, and he demanded to know why technology wasn’t just going to fix our water problems in the future, I sighed.

“Drag the potting soil and earthworm casings outside, dude. I’ll sweep the floor.”

This unit is about patience. The fruit of what I’m planting won’t show up until they are grown ups. After all, I swore I’d never garden.