The garden is planted!!!

[Siwsan]

16 pepper plants (Bell and Chili) and 21 tomato (San Marzano, Marinara, Golden Jubilee, Cherry, Early Girl and Grape). Now I can decide if I want to plant squash.

As I patted the dirt around the final tomato plant, a feeling rushed over me. Not sure if it was euphoria or heat exhaustion so after more hydration and a wonderful shower, I'm taking some time off. Might even make a G&T because, just in case I got a mosquito bite, the quinine in the tonic will prove to be medicinally beneficial.

[MiHale]

1. 👏👏👏👍👍🤣😆

[NJCher]

2. congrats

I'm doing pepper plants today, too.

Because of the mild winter, I had more time to work on soil amendments, plus I do watering more regularly now. Last night I was--excuse me--drumroll here, astonished at how good my gardens look. They are flourishing. Maybe I will get some pics and post them.

I also go to way more trouble than most people when I put in new plants. People like my community gardeners, who act like I'm nuts for going to all this trouble.

I first fill the hole for the soil with soaked organic matter (chopped leaves, compost), then water it, epsom salts if appropriate, put in the plant, and top it with a corrugated cardboard box that has ample air circulation but which covers it from the sun for three-four days. Then I put mulch or straw around the base to keep the water from evaporating.

I say to the gardeners: would you just take a baby and put him on the bus to school? Hell no. Gotta' get 'em acclimated.

That they sorta' understand.

[2naSalit]

3. Congrats!

It's such a good feeling to have put it all in! Now the focus shifts to less laborious tasks. I finished mine last week, ten days ago-? I already have lettuce, spinach and radishes coming up. Most of my porch seeds are up but i think I may have had an old batch of seeds for the chives and some of the lavender. It's going to rain all week so I'll deal with reseeding those in the rain. I have them as in between filler so I guess I can wait for them.

Sounds like you're ready to bail on the produce department at the grocery store in a couple months! I envy you!

Enjoy your chill time with the kitties!

[wendyb-NC]

4. That's fantastic

Peppers and tomatoes are staples. Very good.

You need some G&T, after all that work and being targeted by mosquito's, it's the best relief.