September

04 September

I planted the first seeds - green onions and "babette" baby carrots. These are both Renee's Garden seeds, which attracted me instantly when I first came across them. I planted them all in those little plastic compartmentalised seedling trays.

09 September

I planted the rest - my herb garden, as well as Renee's Garden petits pois and multicolour radishes, and seeds for red hamburger onion, baby turnips, brussels sprouts, gourmet leaf lettuce and iceberg head lettuce. I can see I'm going to need plenty of pots ;-)

12 September

The day after the World Trade Centre tragedy/horror - everyone's feeling saddened and weary with the world. So nice, then, to come out and feel that life can go on after all - my carrots and green onions are sprouting, and the brussels sprouts are germinating as well. I think it was about then that I started to feel that there might be something spiritual to gardening as well.

Gosh! I got something to sprout!

14 September

There's more... how exciting. Everything is sprouting except for the old herb seeds, the catnip, and the brussels sprouts. (Though, as noted, they are germinating.) Lots and lots of little seedlings!

I showed Don, but even though he pretended not to be interested, he admitted that all the little shooty things were "neat" ;-) It also appealed to his sense of humour that the sprouts were not sprouting...

26 September

I transplanted some of my carrots into bigger pots this afternoon. They seem very spindly and I don't think I'll use the seedling trays again. It would be easier to plant them in one half of a big pot and replant them in the other half when they are big enough... The plastic trays crack and catch delicate little roots in the cracks. It's hard to imagine that such a little plant could ever develop a fat orange carrot.

My other plants are still growing - the next project will be to maybe obtain a half barrel for my lettuces, as they need more room and are growing merrily.

Some of my presumed-dead herbs are sprouting - sweet basil, oregano and parsley, as well as the catnip - I'm pleased, and so will my kitties be!

October

14 October

I discovered today that my radishes are nearly ready - they are looking distinctly bulbous and probably just need a few more days in order to round out. It's really interesting to finally realise how different plants develop - I had no idea that a regular thin root just essentially swelled up to make a globe! These are "Easter Egg" radishes, with pink, ruby red, white and purple radishes all coming from the same package...

Almost everything is transplanted now, though I need more plant pots. Something has been nibbling at my sprouts' leaves - a fly, I think... wonder what to do about that.

I will also soon be eating "gourmet" lettuce - by which I mean the five varieties of leafy stuff. The iceberg will take quite a lot longer, I guess. I'm relieved to refer to the plan I wrote and find out the carrots won't be ready for a month - I was worried that they weren't going to make carrot roots.

I may have lost the turnips in the recent heatwave, they badly need a new bucket, but they were a bit perkier after a good watering.

17 October

I'm sure that what is eating my sprouts isn't slugs, as they would leave a slimey trail. I've seen some flies around, and Dad suggested flea beetles. I have a recipe for a garlic and water spray that may do the trick. It doesn't seem to be upsetting the plants that much, but I don't like the idea of bugs getting a free ride on my veges.

Seem to have lost the oregano though.

21 October

First Harvest! It took Don a little while to suss out that he was eating our own produce, but he successfully ate three radishes today (I had one - they were mild and tasty). I also clipped a few of the "salad bowl" type lettuce and we had that with a hot sandwich.

It feels great! :-)

I got a book from the library called Cash from Square Foot Gardening. I'm not intending to make cash, but the method intrigues me. I love squares, and I love the simplicity of it. I'm going to be reading intensively for a while! I first stumbled over the book when I was browsing Amazon. Don's lost his job, so book shopping is on hold for now, but the book immediately caught my eye, which is usually a sign from the wyrd that I should be paying attention.

26 October

I moved green onions and the last of the carrots into the washing bowl that Dad suggested as a cheap container...

I know what the holes in the brussels sprouts are all about! I watered them and a leaf wiggled. Looked closer, and found tons of horrid green caterpillars, just the colour of my plants! The radishes have them and so do some of the turnips. I spent at least a couple of hours picking those suckers off. I may be too late with my brussels sprouts :-(

I planted three more sprout seeds and a couple more radishes and green onions to see if I could get more out of this season. We've had our first heavy rains, so I'm not sure, but this is California and the rules are different.

28 October

I have Square Foot Gardening from the library. And this is going to be it - this is what I will be using. Just a case of getting it together...

November

02 November

We've been eating lettuce and radishes steadily now - in fact, most of the first harvest of radishes is gone, and it's down to one container. I will of course be planting more - using a different method. One thing I like about the Square Foot Gardening method (I've joined various clubs in order to learn more and get some support from experts) is that you can plant quick growing plants to be raised while slow ones start to grow. And by mixing harvests in squares, you get an effect like crop rotation.

03 November

Big humph! I found out that one or more of the neighbourhood cats has found my catnip and trashed it. I mean, the poor leaves are chewed to heck, and everything is covered in white, coarse cat hair. Now I love cats, but I really resent the fact that someone else's beast got to my cats' catnip before they even had a nibble. I've lost a good half of my plants - and moved them to a bigger pot.

I went to Home Depot and bought supplies. Chicken wire for cages to cover the squares of my square foot garden. Four 3' long pieces of redwood lumber, 1" thick and 8" tall. And squares of birch wood, which I later discovered to be the wrong size - oops. I made a cage to cover seedlings and protect from marauding beasties. I bled a little too - that stuff is scratchy!

04 November

I started to clean up the deck today - raking leaves from the far corners, moving things out of the way. It was hard work. Did some weeding and raking and tidying elsewhere as well. Later I went to Home Depot and got a 4'x4' piece of hardwood for the base. Other chunks of wood were definitely on the pricey side.

05 November

We put together the four pieces of redwood today. The base will wait until tomorrow. In Orchard Supplies, I bought seeds for pak choi and breakfast radishes - the traditional red and white ones. Both are Renee's Garden.

06 November

Don and I put the base on the square foot garden. We both have doubts as to the suitablility of the hardwood. I think I might line the garden with plastic to stop most of the moisture going through and rotting it. Raising it up on breeze blocks will let air get underneath too, to help it dry out after rainy sessions.

Silver, our usually unflappable cat, did not like the circular saw ;-)

I don't really know the answers; it's just going to be a matter of trial and error, I do think.

I was hoping to get the thing outside today, but Don put a hammer through the base at the last minute and the repair job will be gluing overnight. Oh well! Fresh day tomorrow.

I finished clearing the deck, and moved things about. There is enough room for my square foot garden now. I noticed that the three brussels sprout plants I planted have sprouted, and that some radishes I didn't transplant are growing happily, so I don't think my season is done with yet.

My turnips are meant to be ready, but their roots haven't even started to swell yet! What is exciting is that the peas are now starting to make flowers!!! I will have fresh pod peas very soon... Yummmmmm!

The peas are supported by drinking straws (!). I added new straws to make the supports taller...

07 November

The box is complete, and Don lifted it out onto the deck for me. We had to go to Home Depot again to get more dirt for it. By the time we got home and I was done heaving the heavy things around, I was tired and it was nearly dark. Tomorrow is when it begins, then. It took me a while to clean the last bits of junk, and figure out exactly how to arrange things. It is actually very nice to look at!

I harvested the last of one pot of gourmet lettuce, and had it in a sandwich with cheese. Into the empty pot went one chewed but growing brussels sprout plant.

08 November

At last! My square foot garden debut is made.

I lined the frame with plastic bags to help protect the hardwood from rot. Then I put in a little earth, and rather a lot more of the dead leaves I took from the jasmine. They'll rot down and create nutrients. Then I dumped dirt into the frame. It took two and a half bags. I made little indentations/saucers for watering, and got a bucket and cup to water with. I also marked the (approximately) square feet with string and drawing pins. Now I'm all set. Pause a moment to admire the pristine, virgin square box and catch my breath - those bags are heavy!.

In the rear three squares, I planted a single brussels sprout seedling, one per square. Moving forward a set of three, I planted the left and right squares with a broccoli seed, and planted the corners with a single gourmet lettuce seed, and put Easter Egg radish seed in between those - so, eight plants surrounding the broccoli, all of which will be ready to munch long before the broccoli.

In the centre square I planted nine leek plants that were long overdue for repotting. Had lots left, so planted the front left square with another nine, and buried a few of the wimpier plants that more likely won't make it.

The middle front square is home to four pak choi (Chinese cabbage) seeds, and into the front right I transplanted four well grown iceberg lettuce plants that are supposed to be ready around the New Year. I had crowded them too much before.

It looks grand! :-)

Now I want more squares ;-)

11 November

I made another chicken wire cage and placed it over the opposite end's sprouts. The plants are really zooming upwards as it's been raining like crazy, and they seem to like it. I plucked a radish but the longer they are in the earth, the spicier they seem to get, and it was too hot for me.

The catnip is recovering...

12 November

It's been raining heavily all night and all day. The poor baby sprouts are bashed! I had the foresight to move the peas under cover, though. Don't want to lose those blossoms!

Made the acquaintance of a stray girl cat this afternoon. The catnip looks bashed again, but it's hard to tell whether it's because of the rain or because of the cats. The girl cat is in bad shape - one ear missing and a badly raw tail. Very soggy, too. Under our van is her current place, and Silver is miaowing out the window as I write.

I put plastic bags over the sprouts. With at least one inch of rain, we are having flash floods, and I think the babies have had enough water. My herbs were swimming, so I drained the water out and put it under cover. Everything else seems big enough to withstand, or hasn't sprouted yet.

14 November

I just went out - the storm's over for now, but I know that there will be more rain on its way. No need to water for a while!

Some of my squares are sprouting! I know I shouldn't be surprised, but you have to appreciate I'm new to all of this. In the rear left square, some of the breakfast radishes and gourmet lettuce are showing little peeks of green. My pak choi is sprouting, and some of the Easter Egg radishes in the middle right hand square are as well. They seemed to have come up to the surface, so I buried them a bit deeper.

It sort of looks as if the rain moved the seeds around a little, however. Since the potting mix I use is very loose, I guess that's more than just a possibility.

I like this hobby. :-)

15 November

Hm. The green onion seed package got left out - oops. It got a soaking and now some of the seeds are sprouting in the packet. I planted several in the back centre square, and will have to think about where to grow the rest. They have to be planted now. I will probably end up giving some away ;-)

I got a catalogue from Shepherd's Seeds today, the first one I've ever had. I spent a happy few hours viewing interesting gadgets and plants. Shepherd's is the parent company to Renee's Garden, and supplies varieties that RG doesn't do and that I like to eat. The gadgets seem to be a little on the pricey side, but I can adapt many of them myself.

17 November

Hah! The broccoli is sprouting! Some of the lettuces are too, and the rest of my garden looks fresh and happy. The heavy rain has eased, but I think there may be more. Oh, and it looks as if the first few pea flowers are now starting to form pods. Goodie!

I think I will have to build another square soon. The lettuce (iceberg) is going to be lost otherwise. Something has been eating holes in its leaves - slug/snails? I haven't seen any but it doesn't mean there aren't any! I will keep a look out.

I'm almost through the current lot of gourmet lettuce. Some of my first brussels sprouts plants are starting to look big and healthy. My catnip is recovering (for now).

19 November

I was dismayed and furious this morning to find that my patch had been dug up. Plants were lying there uprooted, some completely buried. I lost one broccoli plant and several lettuce and radishes. I was not a happy camper, particularly when I dug a bit deeper to see if I could locate the missing broccoli seedling, and found a large cat turd.

What is it with these selfish cat owners who let their cats run riot to wreck others' property and hard work? And the ones who abandon their pets to let them breed and run wild? While my initial reaction was to want to throttle the cat, the feeling I'm left with is to want to throttle the owners... Every one of my cats was a rescue, and is kept indoors... I can't understand how anyone could abandon such beautiful, affectionate critters...

I spent many hours today creating ugly chicken wire cages to cover the squares. All but the iceberg lettuce have them now, at least I learnt that to make them 11" square is an easier size than 12" square - and I learnt to plant the seeds a bit further into the square too. It doesn't look as nice any more, but at least I now have three pea pods and more on the way. Now I get to find out if the cages are cat proof...

22 November

Used up the last of the lettuce (first batch) today. Don rigged up motion sensors outside to his computer, and now, every time a cat passes by, the computer tells us of a "Kit-ty In-t-er-uder Al-ert..."

Sort of fun. Wondered how long it would be before Don got his high-tech into the garden... And boy do the cats look surprised when I open the window and tell them to scat!

23 November

The neighbour asked us to clear a bit of space, as he needs to fix his back steps, which are rotten, and one reason why I haven't been able to prune as much as I needed to ;-)

Don and I spent a few hours hacking and slaying. The rose bushes are significantly pruned - and got their own back on more than one occasion. Vicious thorns, nasty horrible vicious thorns! We trimmed the hedge, both the front and side, and when the debris is cleared away, it will actually be looking better out there than since we moved in.

Chased the neighbour-opposite-us's fat Siamese out of the garden a number of times. From the smell, I'd say it thought the bushes we cleared were its litter box. Don and I concluded much the same thing at much the same time - we need to get one of those toy water machine guns and keep it by the back door's window. ;-)

The downside is that my right hand is now badly blistered and sore in a couple of places, but the job was done that much more quickly with two of us going at it. Good news though - the cat cages do work!

24 November

It was pouring with rain today, again. All night and all day; heavy, some thunder. We actually had a short power cut this morning. All the electronic stuff coming back on again woke me up.

I spent a lot of time today reading gardening books from the library. My very own copy of Square Foot Gardening came in the mail. I am reading about astrological gardening, companion planting, and problem control. According to the Western Garden Book (Problem Solver), my garden is in zone 15, and I should be able to grow stuff year-around.

Gee, wonder when I'm going to get to go on holiday? ;-)

25 November

Still raining. Some of my seedlings were starting to drown/fall over, so I covered the tops of the cages with plastic bags. I have cut up some freezer bags to make over-covers in clear plastic.

Everything is growing, and there are quite a lot of pea pods now... slowly getting fatter. I don't know, really, when to pod them, so I'll just hope for the best and guess. The lower leaves got mildewed in the moisture. The turnips are very leafy now, but don't seem to be making turnip-shaped roots. Oh, and it looks as if some of the carrots are finally, finally starting to fatten up.

I found out recently that rutabaga is the American word for swede. And that swedes got their name because they were a sweeter turnip variety which came from Sweden.

There is a stray radish growing with the pak choi. Who knows how it got there ;-)

I must get some big, 33-gallon bin bags to pick up the rest of the debris which is lying around, looking wet...

28 November

It's not stopping raining! My seedlings are fair floating away. I have kept them as protected as possible with plastic shopping bags, and am working on a more solid cover made from old freezer bags. Had a laugh with a friend today, as seedlings are sprouting all over the square the cat dug over. I know which the broccoli is (yes, the replacement has sprouted), but the others could be anything. Obviously the cat decided I put them in the wrong place?

The turnips appear to be making turnip, at very long last. My hands are healing. I did get the big bags, and bagged up more stuff - but not all of it yet. Just too soggy! I wish I had my compost bin in place. All that greenery going away...

I transplanted the stray radish, so it will have room to grow.

December

01 December

The new cover is on the plants. It isn't big enough, but it's stronger. I have ordered "hot hats" - 10" square miniature plastic greenhouses. They might help. There will be rain for at least another week, making it two weeks without break. It could be worse. Could be snow.

The peas are slowly podding, and forming peas. Not ready yet, I don't think. But there are plenty. Might even have some for Christmas dinner. The sprouts are growing well now, I just need one more pot and they all have their own space.

03 December

Wheeee! I have carrots! I took a look again today and they are fattening up, poking up above the earth. How lovely!

I added more plastic to my big cover today, and now the whole top is covered. Some of the iceberg is heading up at last, so I'll soon be able to harvest that, too. And it looks like the extra spring onions I planted are finally starting to sprout.

08 December

I've been tied up with other things the last few days, not to mention the rain (looks like we have a reprieve for a few days now). I can tell the difference - it was very nice to go out and work.

I cut down some more jasmine, and got the last bits of the debris swept up. I did a fair amount of weeding and discovered all sorts of interesting plants hiding under the mess. It is looking much tidier. I think I will get a half barrel and put the irises in it; that way, I can use the earth I have to grow more veges. Might not be this year; I think there are other bulbs hiding down there, and I'd like to know where they are so that I can transplant those, too. Have to find out if, when the bulbs are over, I can use the earth to grow other things...

I have had a couple of pods' worth of peas now. They are not quite ready, but boy, are they sweet and delicious. They bear absolutely no resemblance to any frozen pea I ever ate... I also picked three carrots. They are wonky and twisted - the result of being too crowded in the beginning. I will know better next time.

The turnips are starting to form now, at least a few of them. I picked cabbage white caterpillars off them... I lost several of my iceberg, and picked off several leaves which are covered in white, powdery dots... some kind of mould, I suppose. Again, it's a learning experience - don't crowd them as much and the poor things will have a role other than fertiliser (though it all comes down to the same thing, in the long run).

The kitty intruder detector works very well. I chased out two of the neighbours' cats today...

10 December

Bit by bit, I'm winkling out the oxalis weeds behind the house. Now I know what critter used to get into our house and chew the lining. It's squirrels - I found a great many buried nuts and kernels. I have found a few in the garden, black ones. (Squirrels.) I hope to put a path back there, and fill in the gaps with gravel. I think we have to keep it clear or something because of the fire code.

11 December

I picked up a couple of 14" square planters today, the "cheap" kind (they're not that cheap!). Then I set to work digging up the irises from the back garden. I discovered that they do not have bulbs, but tubers, and they spread. It was difficult to re-plant them, but I did my best. I found some other interesting plants in there, some flags, and some shoots from bulbs of unknown sort. I'll let those come up, along with any others that might be hiding. I think, alas, in the general raking and tidying, I may have got rid of the nasturtiums :-(

It looks neater there, but the main point is that I didn't kill the irises (except for two that were plainly infested) and now have another 2'x3' space for future plantings.

I started looking at the path in terms of digging it up... I have never liked the way the stones are all higgledy piggledy - circles mixed with rectangles of different size... I decided I've have a shot at making it straight.

12 December

I relaid some of the path today. There were all sorts of interesting and grody things under the stones. I now have a small patch of straight path and more work to do. It's heavy work, and I don't want to do too much at once. The next step will be to build a similar sized and proportioned path at a right angle to it, taking out all the round flagstones for the path at the back of the house. Then I can move up the first lot of stones to intersect. It isn't easy because there are utility manholes and stuff back there around which I must work. And, of course, there's that I don't have a clue about laying paths, either.

I moved the flags (the plant kind) to the corner of the garden which won't have veges in, then got my measuring stick out and started to see what I have. And I got the awkward lump of grass out, and found an interesting and scary spider, with a violin shape on its abdomen. Poisonous, I think. I garden in gloves, after that unfortunate experience with blisters and rose cuts, but I guess I'm going to have to develop a whole new attitude towards bugs and slimeys - deal with them rather than shrink in horror...

I can do another nine squares on my deck, and another six opposite the shed. I can do four behind the shed, and up to eighteen beside the electricity meters. (Yes, lucky me, I house this useless structure. Don surprised the PG&E man with the kitty alert too...) Then there are the six behind the shed and between two lots of roses. If I am persuasive, I may get three or four lots of nine alongside the van, too.

There will be many vegetables this coming season. :-)

14 December

I have been working on the path, and the first section is now complete. I found earthworms underneath the stones, which is a very nice sign indeed. Seems I have healthy soil.

It's heavy work, so I'm only doing one or two paving stones a day. It's not really a perfect path, but I like it much better than the previous version.

Did adventures in Home Depot today. I should have shares in that company. I got a huge 4' x 8' block of thick plywood for the base, plus redwood sides. A very kind man helped me manouevre the enormous lump of wood onto my cart. Then I trundled around looking pleased with myself. Got to the van, the piece was way too big. So I trundled right the way back and got it cut. Then it fit - just about. After all that trundling I didn't want to do any more gardening.

17 December

Don and I put together box number two today. The breeze blocks are out there now (as a base) but I'm thinking I might get some casters to hold it instead. It will be good when it comes to cleaning, etc. I harvested a bunch of baby carrots. They are delicious.

The supports made out of drinking straws didn't really work for the peas. I got a stick of wood. They are happier now.

19 December

Today we hit Orchard Supplies and Hardware. It's more pricey than Home Depot, but it has my favoured seeds. Don came in and stocked up on strange stuff for some secret project or other that he has. I got seeds. Kale, a salad and a stirfry "mix", large carrots (the little ones are deliciously sweet, but Don grumbled about them being too small - illogical, since he eats baby carrots all the time). And baby spinach, and baby pickling type onions, and two types of chard, and two types of beet, and broccoli raab. Mmmmmmmm. I can't wait to plant them.

The Kitty Intruder Alert detected the possum, which came right the way up to our back door...

21 December

It's been raining heavily - really heavily - lately, so I haven't put the new box in yet. I have to put copper tape around the boxes, and am thinking of adding casters so that they can be moved more easily. I guess that will be good for sweeping up leaves. The copper tape, by the way, is to keep off slugs and snails. There is something in their goo that reacts with the metal and gives them a shock. Of all the critters in the garden, I least wish to deal with slugs and snails (wasps come in a close second). Worms, aphids, caterpillars, borers, grubs... these I can handle without feeling sick.

Hm, I saw a ladybird on some of my plants the other day.

The turnips will soon be ready. The brussels sprouts are slow, however: still, there will be at least one turnip, and some peas and carrots for Christmas. I seem to have got rid of the cabbage white caterpillars - no more new holes appearing. Fingers crossed.

23 December

First dry day for a while. I stopped being patient with the oxalis behind the house, and tore it up by hand. Of course, this won't do the trick - the roots are still in. But I hope to get a real spade (I bent my trowel) to dig it up, and get rid of the old termite-enticing bark as well.

I redid one of the flagstones, and now it doesn't wobble half as much. And I started on the last section of the path. I will probably need quite a lot more flagstones. Fortunately, they are cheap.

We put copper tape around the new garden bed yesterday. I evicted a snail from the turnip pot. It's the first one I've seen...

I worked out that one bag of earth weighs about 60 lb. I can just about stagger from the van to the garden with it. Does this mean I am strong? ;-) I shall have to buy heavy-duty casters if I want to make my gardens wheel-able.

25 December

We had the first turnip, three pods of tiny peas, and a few tiny carrots with our Christmas dinner. Don turned up his nose at them for being too small. The turnip didn't taste of much - I shall have to learn how to cook it properly.

I received many garden thingies for Christmas. I got kneeling pads, like skateboard kneepads, which will be very nice. A little gadget for making pots out of old newspaper, some clear plastic mini-greenhouses, two new trowels, a packet of cress seed, some plant food (needed, in the absence of usable compost) and Don showed me the irrigation/cat soaking device he had put together for me. We now have many critter detectors around the house. I don't think the hot hats will keep off cats, unfortunately, but am already thinking in terms of one very big, 3' square wire cage which can be lifted off fully rather than lots of little ones. It'll do for the smaller plants, at least. The hot hats can sit underneath them and make things grow faster. It was a revelation when I took off the wire cages - everything looked so much nicer to me.

I used one of the oversized cages to make the startings of a compost heap. I hid it between the shed and the deck.

26 December

Oops. I finally realised that the nasty smell was coming from the fermented combination of rainwater, failed potatoes and garden soil with manure in the bucket nearby. Ugh. I buried it under the rose bush. I'm sure the rose bush won't mind. I hope it rains (it looks like it might) and washes it away before anyone notices.

I am getting antsy. I want to plant my second square foot garden. I want to get some casters for it first, though.

30 December

The year's almost over. It's been raining constantly since Christmas and there's been no way I could go out and garden. The good news is that Don and I finally have the wheels on the new square foot bed and I have dirt to put in it, and we built a 3' square cage to go over it. Or rather I built, cursed, tangled and got scratched to make the obnoxious thing, and Don helped me when my hands gave up in pain from all the wire cutting. Making these cages is very tough on the hands.

Because chicken wire is floppy it ended up being slipped over the top like a sock, rather than stuck inside into the earth, as envisaged. This is, of course, superior :-)

I have enough wire to make another one, then I will be able to just take the things off and admire my plants when I want to, and it won't be a half hour fight with individual cages fighting with one another. If we have a break in the weather, as promised, I should be able to at least get it filled up with dirt tomorrow, if not planted.