April 9, 2012

The first spinach of 2012.

What a glorious Easter weekend we had!  Tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, and other transplants have jumped into growth after recent rains and agreeable temperatures.  I don't think it's an exaggeration to say we pulled a million weeds over the weekend, however!  This reminds me of an organic gardening tip we haven't really followed this year but will try to follow from now on.  Freshly-tilled soil is a hot bed for weeds.  Tilling, especially in a new garden, turns up millions of weed seeds that rest beneath the surface. If you have the time after tilling, let weeds sprout first, skim them off without disturbing the soil deeply, then plant.  It's so hard to be patient with this technique when days lengthen and temperatures are prime for planting.  Something is always calling to get those hands in the dirt.

This 'Blue Girl' hybrid tea rose bloomed in time for Easter.

There are a hundred chores we could have done, besides weeding, but there was time only to re-till the future corn bed; organic humus from composting clover has made it rich and fertile.  Our first harvest of spinach came due, always a welcome celebration.  I wonder how much longer spinach will last since temperatures have been so unseasonably warm this year; it tends to bolt and turn bitter above 80 degrees F.  Other plants love the heat, and we will soon turn our attention to them.

A recent weather report says 60% of the nation is now in some state of drought, even before we head into the typically dry and hot months of summer.  We haven't had to use our soaker hoses much this spring, but we will be laying them out in the vegetable garden this year in case they are needed.  The first hybrid tea rose on our property bloomed in time for Easter.  We have loads of rose buds just ready to burst open, but a few opened early.

The vegetable garden in April.