Grow. Eat. Live.

Grow.  Eat.  Live.
Grow. Eat. Live.

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Wednesday, May 20, 2015

THE 2015 GROWING SEASON IS IN FULL SWING...Reaping the benefits?

"Yes, Indeed"

2015 Garden Raised Bed
(work in progress)
Lacinato Kale, Radicchio, Marigolds, Lemongrass, Stevia, Lavender, Cucumbers, & Sweet Red Pepper
May 17, 2015




This past Sunday I started full swing in working on the backyard to prepare for more planting.  Gardening is work but it has beneficial results for the environment and yourself. Gardening is exercise and a stress reliever.

Bought new soil...




New starter tomato plants...


San Marzano, Black Krim Heirloom, & Golden Jubilee
"Tomatoes"

Found a good location to transplant the tomato plants...


clear any debris, cut any roots, apply good soil, and peat moss
*added bonus - eggshells I crumbled and added in the soil

*Garden Tip:  Eggshells are beneficial to plant life.  When using eggshells make sure you thoroughly rinse off the shells with water and mild liquid soap to avoid salmonella.  After rinsing let the eggshells dry out.  Then completely crush them up and sprinkle away.  Fends off pests and supply calcium nutrients to the plants.

Welcome to tomato and blueberry land
Tomato Plant

While finding a home for the tomato plants I came across a JAPANESE MUSTARD GREEN SPROUT!  Wow, these greens are just popping up all over the place.

Spreading the mustard green love all over

Unfortunately, I had to remove the sprouts to put them all in one location.  I've noticed their little roots - still young...

Hopefully the greens will survive their transplant new location

Besides the mustard greens sprouts popping up in the ground - my collard greens are back!  One collard green survived and thriving!  Planted one marigold, the mustard green sprouts, and a tomato plant in this area to keep the collard green company.

another area for plant life

Working on another area to add more plant life.  Goal is to plant perennials in this area.  Cost effective and less work for future.

new plant life will be in this area

*Update - As of May 17, 2015 the mustard greens (inside the elevated raised bed) still looks healthy and thriving and ready for harvest soon.  

Japanese Mustard Greens

Remember my Meyer lemon plant.  Well, she is still holding on strong and produced lots of flowers.  As usual some flowers dropped off and some stayed on (the stronger ones) and produced these future lemons!

Meyer Lemons are GROWING!
2015

P.S. the hot mess on the ground that's yellow and white are cornmeal and baking soda.  I had to control the ant population.  It hasn't been a week since I had placed some of my pot plants outside and already they've been attacked by the ants!  I'm hoping those little buggers will take the cornmeal mixture back to their hide away home and be gone.  Eventually, the rain will wash away the mixture off the ground.  I do not like spraying pesticides or bug spray around edible plant life or in home because of the toxins it can do to the body.

On that note... I highly recommend everyone grow something or place a plant on their windowsill, patio, terrace, and backyard.  Reap those benefits.  Know where your food comes from.  


REAPING THE BENEFITS "2015"




                                                                                                     Enjoy the Spring Season!
























2 comments:

  1. You have been busy! One tip for the eggshells that I learned from Daphne is to place them in the oven and bake them for a bit, which will kill off any bacteria but is much simpler than washing. I place the eggshells in an old coffee tin as we use them and when the in is full, it goes in the oven.

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