So without further ado here is what I've been up to this week.
Remember the before picture? AKA the dirt farm with our tiny pear tree stick in the bottom left of the picture that had been pruned back by a certain naughty beagle?
In hindsight the after shot one month later isn't that much different. But at least the lawn is filling in and the pear tree is living to fight another day (and the dog isn't allowed in the yard without supervision anymore)! The rhubarb in the back right is going gangbusters and is almost ready to cut. I can almost taste my first bite of Rhubarb Lunar Cake.
Eventually we're going to get rid of the shed - it's empty except for the cardboard boxes from our move (a year ago), it's ugly and takes up valuable real estate in our tiny yard. We've discovered it's built on a poured concrete pad so I'd like to put a pergola there for a new outdoor eating area saving our existing patio (where I'm standing to take these pictures) for lounging. In keeping with our Italian neighbourhood I'd like to try my hand at growing some grape vines up the pergola to provide shade and more green. Of course we'd also want to build a whack of privacy screens along the back block out the neighbours behind us like they did on this great blog. Then we could grow more pole beans and train cucumbers and things to grow up them too. Seems totally doable no? Now we just need to find the time and money.
I know there's still not too much to see right now. I'm starting a few things from seed and some (pole beans, zucchini, patty pan squash) haven't even sprouted yet. Because I like instant gratification and I'm impatient I did buy a bunch of seedlings. More expensive I know but until I figure out a good place to start things indoors it's seedlings and direct sowing seeds in the garden for me.
That said I did start a few herbs in the tiny kitchen window from a little herb kit my mom put in my Christmas stocking this year:
Speaking of direct sowing here are two types of radishes, red and a cool watermelon variety. I love raw radishes dipped in salt but also want to try my hand at cooking them this year.
Has anyone tried braising or roasting radishes?
Swiss chard seedlings. I also started some seeds in the beds as we can't get enough greens and this way their harvest will be staggered.
Here are some of our tomato seedlings which might have to be covered a few nights next week as the weather channel is calling for lows of 4 to 7°C. Everyone says wait until the Victoria Day long weekend before planting your tomatoes but do I listen? I'm trying five varieties this year; Lemon boy which proved to be a great producer last year, Brandywine, California Gold, Golden Honey Bunch (a grape tomato) and a plain red Oxheart from the corner store for our BLTs:
Here are some mustard greens I'm growing in our old recycling bin on the patio. I told you we love our greens here.
Purple kohlrabi! We used to eat the green ones on veggie platters growing up and the leaves are good steamed like broccoli leaves. I also planted marigolds throughout the gardens as they ward off cabbage moths who like to feast on all of the brassica family.
I got a late start on my peas and they are just starting to poke out now. At least they'll appreciate the cooler temps next week. I'm super excited for these as they have purple pods. Looking at the kohlrabi obviously I have a thing for purple vegetables!
Here are some chicory seedlings that all the nurseries here in Corso Italia seem to be carrying so I picked some up as a $1.19 experiment. Any ideas what I'd do with it?!
So there is a bit of a progress report from the yard and in another month from now (mid-June) I'll fill you in again. Hopefully by then we'll have a full lawn and less brown dirt showing in the beds.
I'm interest to hear what's in YOUR garden this year?
Fantastic! I'll supply the coconut martinis or mint juleps.