We've had some fantastic growing weather, lots of sun and warm temps. Everything's growing like mad. Since I'm on super light duty, I had to wait for VPH to hill the potatoes for me. And boy did they need it (note the lovage in the ground behind the small pot of mint growing very nicely too):
I couldn't scoop compost, but I was able to bend over and hold the potato stalks while he poured compost into the containers:
The two big black trash cans of Yukon Gold potatoes will both need more hilling, but the big wooden box of Red potatoes has been topped off completely:
The fingerlings aren't doing quite as well. Both pots seem to have only 50% growth in them. But this fingerling, phlox, and basil grouping is still one of my favorite things in the garden right now (chair included for scale):
The most highly anticipated crop in our garden is, of course, tomatoes. These are teeny tiny little tomatoes on the Black Russian tomato plant and I'm ecstatic to seem them:
This is one of the Black tomato plants I grew from seed (thanks again, Jennah) and though it's a little tough to see in this photo, there are little flowers on it and the other one (impossible to see in this photo since it's not pictured):
You wouldn't believe that this handsome little Husky Cherry tomato:
Is on this sad little plant:
Not nearly as exciting or eagerly anticipated is Ichiban eggplant, but I was still happy to see the first flower on it a few days ago. It was getting hit hard by what I presume to be birds digging in the soil daily so I stuck some of the clear forks in it. One day later and no digging, let's hope it stays that way:
In the raised veggie bed, the nasturtium to the left of the trellis appears to be a climber (it wasn't supposed to be), so I wrapped it around the trellis. A few of the nasturtiums are just about to flower and now that I can squat, I think I'll thin the carrots some. I did thin the cukes to 3 plants at the base of the trellis. The two outside ones look great, but the one in the center is lagging behind. I will be transplanting some basil plants to the empty space left by the harvested radishes as soon as I have the stamina to do so:
All of the beans are doing well. In fact, I need to tear out the peas so I can use the netting on the fence for the Kentucky Wonder beans. There are a few containers where only 50% or 75% of the bush beans germinated, so I need to go around and fill those spots. That is not a problem in the table planter. Not every Royal Purple Bush bean germinated, but there are probably too many for the space (I won't be thinning them though):
And here's the entire gravel patio and wall o' tomatoes:
Remember I said the weather was beautiful and everything was growing like mad...take a look at the veggie garden today:
Apparently the way to grow good basil is to put the seedlings in the sun and forget to water them (lavender, coleus, and zinnia too):
The pots of herbs are doing really well:
The lemon thyme is blooming (calendar-worthy?):
But it doesn't really count because I bought the plant this spring. I was elated to spot flowers in this pot:
Because that's an over-wintered thyme blooming (not calendar-worthy, but still pretty):
Only one lonely moonflower in this container that keeps getting attacked by digging birds. My mom sent me malabar seeds (also known as basella or Japanese spinach) which I'll plant along the trellis and some of the basil seedlings will go in front. Again, when I have the stamina:
The Japanese maple has a new set of leaves:
When VPH weeded the wildflower hillside I asked him to leave a few just about to bloom plants so I could see what they were. One turned out to be Bladder Campion:
Pretty:
There are a few lupine plants in the wildflower patch:
I can't believe how many flowers there are going to be on the Endless Summer hydrangea:
And this heuchera is blooming so much
I've only been waiting 2 years to see this astilbe bloom:
Whereas all the ones in containers are blooming nicely for me after only a year. Should be a spectacular show soon:
I'm one week post-op today, but I'd say I'm only 65% at the moment. I've asked my friends who've had this surgery (a surprisingly high number) and most say 2-3 weeks until they were 100%. Having limits is absolutely driving me crazy!
I'm looking forward to the malabar seeds sprouting - sun and water should help them pop in a week. They grow very quickly, and love to vine. They're yummy, too.
And I can just taste those potatoes - mashed with lots of Irish butter. Hurry, Thanksgiving.
I'm glad you're recovering and really happy to see that everything's flourishing without strenuous effort on your part, but what's with the plastic forks?
Posted by: Mummer | June 09, 2010 at 08:16 AM
That was the gall bladder surgery, right? Glad to hear you're feeling better. I had that done a while back and 2-3 weeks sounds about right. I went back to work after 2 weeks. Could have after 1 week, but I wanted the extra rest. There wasn't much I couldn't do as long as I took it easy. By 3 weeks I was back to normal.
The garden looks great, too! You have such a great variety of plants. I didn't know so much could be grown in containers.
Posted by: Kate | June 09, 2010 at 04:10 PM
Mom -- I have to plant them first. Maybe this weekend. Maybe I'll ship you some potatoes when they come and you can store them down there for T-Day. Plastic forks are for keeping whatever was digging in that container from doing so. Seems to work.
Kate -- Yes, it was having my gallbladder out. I went into the office 1 week later, but I'm finding that I was a little more out of it than I thought I was. I may take a nap today. I've discovered that you can grow just about anything in a container provided the container is large enough and you remember to water.
Posted by: Heather's Garden | June 09, 2010 at 04:24 PM
Hope you have a speedy recovery.
What would you say are the benefits of growing potatoes in those plastic trash bins? I'm just curious about the idea. Less insect damage, perhaps?
Posted by: Fern | June 09, 2010 at 07:17 PM
Fern -- Thanks, me too. From what I've read growing potatoes in trash cans can prevent insect damage, but it definitely makes them easier to harvest. When you're ready, you just up end the cans (if you've left the bottoms intact with just drainage holes) onto a tarp and search for your potatoes. We didn't leave the bottoms on ours so we'll put a tarp next to them and then lift the cans straight up and knock the soil over onto the tarp. They can also grow faster because it heats up quicker in the cans (especially black ones like I have). We'll see how it goes this year. It might be the best idea ever or the worst.
Posted by: Heather's Garden | June 09, 2010 at 07:53 PM
LOVE all those blue containers!! Glad you're feeling better and able to start some light gardening again. Everything looks like it's thriving! :)
Posted by: Nancy Bond | June 10, 2010 at 09:43 AM
Nancy -- I do love my containers. Yes, luckily the garden is rolling right along without me. But hopefully in another week I'll be back to my old self.
Posted by: Heather's Garden | June 10, 2010 at 11:40 AM
Heather, your blog is a delight. You have a wonderful eye for composing your plants and then showing them at their best through your photography (I particularly love the third last picture with the grass and heuchera). I imagine the people who live in your neighbourhood are grateful for the beauty you have created. Thanks for the inspiration.
Posted by: Jansmith.wordpress.com | June 10, 2010 at 11:15 PM
Well, looks like typepad cares about capitals--my url leads back to a dud...sorry about that!
Posted by: Jan Smith | June 10, 2010 at 11:18 PM
Jan -- Thanks for the lovely compliments. I know my neighbors appreciate my garden because they've often said they wish we owned the house. I've found a lot of inspiration on-line, I'm glad you are too.
Posted by: Heather's Garden | June 11, 2010 at 05:09 PM