It took nearly 3 months, but the 2024 version of our garden is finally completed. The extra time this year was spent installing a fence around the garden. Last year we had more animal pressure than usual, and the chickens can be pretty destructive, so we fenced the garden. We started by installing wooden posts at the corners and gates last year. This spring, we ran a string line between posts, and installed t-posts and braces to support the 36-inch welded wire fence. Using come-alongs, we then stretched the fence material and clipped the fence to the posts. While at Tractor Supply one weekend, they had a flash sale on gates, so we bought two, and then built a third. The day after the last gate went up, two chickens managed to find a way in by squeezing under a gate. A 2x4 on the ground solved that problem. It has been entertaining sitting in the swing and watching the chickens walk the fence perimeter trying to find a way in.
While the fencing was going in, we also started seeds. For some reason, we decided to try eleven types of tomatoes this season. In addition to the usual Brandywine and Cherokee Purple, we have Apricot Zebra, Indigo Blue Chocolate, and many others. I wanted to try growing flowers to practice for a future project, so started varieties of marigolds, globe amaranth, and celosia. Maggie started all of the herbs from seed, as well as eggplant. We also started two kinds of cauliflower, three kinds of cabbage, and four kinds of peppers. We tried some new techniques this year, including starting seeds in 72-cell flats and then up-potting to 2-1/2 inch pots, and hardening off the plants in the screen porch. Other than losing some peppers to fertilizer burn, nearly everything survived without getting leggy.
The past 3 weeks have been spent getting things into the ground, but the last row of pepper plants went in yesterday. As part of our 'Year of the Perennial', we are trying our hand again with raspberries and strawberries. The raspberries are off to a slow start, but the strawberries look good. It rained all day today, so everything got a good watering. We had over 3 inches of rain during the week, so we hope the drought is finally behind us.
Now we just have to keep up with the weeding. And get all the seed-starting supplies put away for another year.
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