In thi
s week of Hour-A-Day Gardening . . .
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Finally, Dry Conditions
I am sure I’ll regret this when we are in the increasingly common drought conditions later in the summer, but we had drier conditions, letting me get more work done.
More Transplants
This week, I was able to get the early transplants out: cabbage, spinach, kale, bok choi, etc.
Onions Planted
My onion seeds largely failed, as usual. I need advice on a good way to grow them! Let me know if you have a sure-fire method. I got 3 lb of sets from a local greenhouse and planted out 150 yellow and 50 red onions at 6 in spacing (6 in between plants, 6 in between rows).
Currant and Raspberry Pruning
I had a free afternoon, and was able to prune currant and raspberry patches. Our currants are being traind into a living fence. Two years ago, I planted cuttings at 3-ft intervals along fence lines. This year I pruned and wove the canes into one another. Over time, the branches will grow into one another and form a solid wall. Maybe we can even get rid of the metal fence some day.
I should have trimmed the raspberries last year, but time got away from me. This week, I just cut out last-year’s canes and all but one or two fresh canes. I train the canes onto a single-wire trellis and trim the side branches to about 2 ft long, creating an easier-to-harvest shape. Also, it allows more air flow, which helps keep down maladies.
Volunteers and Support
We’re always looking for volunteers. If you want to spend a few hours in a garden (and take home something yummy for your trouble), reach out to us at [email protected]. It can be regular or sporadic as you have time.
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The Data
Here’s the breakdown day by day. This week, I worked 6:45 again, bringing my total to 54 minutes a day. I’ll likely get over an hour a day by the end of May and then things slow down.
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