Garden Report
I am excited about gardening again — now that we’ve finally gotten some sun, the plants are perking up nicely. Both of the Roma tomatoes have blossoms and are starting to set fruit. I think the biggest threat to my tomatoes now is going to be Hambet — he picked two of the tiny tomatoes last time we were out! The Brandywine is tall and vigorous but no blossoms yet.
A couple of weeks ago, when I was training one of the Romas around its little teepee, I was a little too rough and snapped off a piece of stalk with its leaves. Just for fun, I tried just sticking it in the ground to see what would happen. It’s rooted and is starting to grow. So I transplanted it to the square vacated by the poor departed “Taxi” tomato. I will be quite tickled if it survives. More of the basils are starting to sprout — some in really weird locations — so I transplanted them to better locations. If the basils all make it, I will be running a pesto factory by the end of the summer. The white eggplants are starting to revive, too, so perhaps they will end up being a success as well.
I’m really pleased with this square-foot scheme — the intensive gardening idea really does seem to help keep the weeds down, and it’s easy to spot and yank any weeds that do pop up, so there’s less temptation to put weeding off.
The front bed — herbs and flowers — is looking a lot better, too. I did lose another lamb’s ear, but the rest seem to be doing really well. The herbs are doing great. I moved two rosemarys and they seem to be adapting to their new spot. The mints and purple sages are also flourishing. I’ve been making ice cream with the mint; perhaps Erik can suggest something to do with all that fresh sage.