Quick Update

Average corn in an average corn mound, photo probably taken in Normal,IL.

 We have had a few good rains over the weeks since I last posted. The garden has needed weeding, which is a good thing. The corn has grown at a nice rate, and the squash has finally sprouted and now puts on growth daily. The corn has just gotten tall enough to merit planting runner beans, which will happen in the next few days.
The pawpaw trees ramined dormant for almost a week after everything else in the area began to bud out. Over the last week, they have both put out their spring leaves and seem to finally be satisfied that warmer weather is here to stay.
Last Saturday, we planted two semi-dwarf apple trees; a Macintosh and a Fuji. I would have liked to plant a granny smith as well, but I took the measurements and I doubt I could squeeze another fruit tree into the front yard without the roots making it into the water line that feeds the fire hydrant.
The compost bin kicked into high gear Friday. I dumped all the grass clippings from the front yard and most of the clippings from the back onto the two bins. The nitrogen boost has done wonders for both piles. The left pile (and smaller one) ferments hotter than the right pile (which is bigger) for now. We will see if that trend lasts. All for now.

Blossoming strawberries!

Pea in the middle, spinach on the inside.

The Ouachita blackberry bush survived the puppies, and puts on new growth every day.

Young Pawpaw tree and young dog.

Slightly older Pawpaw tree.

Feel the heat!

Both compost bins are fermenting away.

Macintosh apple tree, planted 8 days ago.

Fuji apple tree planted at same time as other apple tree.

The long view of the corn mounds and squash.

Additional planting

Just put some more summer squash in between the corn mounds, as it looks like the last round failed to germinate.
Planted some oregano and basil in the bare spots of the keyhole garden to keep the spinach, kale and peas company.

Planted a row of bush beans around the inside of the keyhole garden w/ the okra. On that note, the okra does not seem to be putting up sprouts, so I will probably need to plant the Clemson Spineless that I bought a few days ago to make sure we have okra by summertime. All for now.

The first greens of spring.

We are just a few days away. With that in mind, I went out weeding in three sisters garden and took some pictures of the kale, spinach and peas growing in one of the keyhole gardens.

Newly planted Apache and Arapaho variety blackberry bushes to replace the bush the dogs chewed to the ground.

First corn sprouts of spring.

Spinach on the inside of the arc, pea plants in the middle and kale on the outside.

View of the whole garden.

Not much of the corn has made it about ground yet, and it went into the ground two weeks ago. None of the squash plants have emerged either, nor has the okra. I planted them early this year because we had such a mild winter. Also, Senator Inhofe brought a snowball onto the floor of the US Senate as proof that global warming isn't happening. I thought that would be a good barometer for how soon spring would arrive, and the temps and rain have not disappointed.

Springtime Begins the Planting Season.

Spring planting begins!

I have not posted in a while. Any gardener knows the winter upkeep is less than flashy. Turn compost here, keep strawberries covered there, and so on. But now that temps are above freezing in Oklahoma, the time to plant begins.

Important ingredient: cow poo. Not dog poo.

Two rows about 15 feet in length. Future site of corn, beans and squash.

Keyhole garden w/ spinach, kale and snap peas.

Keyhole garden #2, planted okra in it today.

Complete corn mound.

Another completed corn mound.

Hello garlic! (planted in November.)