Ambient temperatures were in the high 70s on Friday. I walked out to the garden and had a look. After dumping the compost bucket into the bin, I turned over a spade full of soil in this year’s garlic bed. The moisture level is about right for planting. I thought I’d give it the rest of the day’s high temperatures to dry and plant garlic today. Last year was such a mess, I didn’t get garlic into the ground in November as usual. My farmer friends tell me with late planting, I will still get a crop.
Some parts of the garden have two years of clean up to do. Tearing down fencing, pulling up fence poles, recovering plastic sheeting for another use, and taking care of the vegetable stalks will require a multi-day project. I’m determined to get a garden in this year.
My views about the garden are changing. For example, the last year or so we have had something digging tunnels in the lawn just under the surface. I don’t know if the pest is eating the roots of grasses and other plants, or what it is doing. I’m inclined to not plant potatoes this season because they are cheap at the farmers’ market or grocer, and it will give the little animals one less food source. Potatoes have never been a main crop for me.
It was good to be out in the warm sunlight with a fresh breeze blowing against me. The soil felt good, the way it should feel after a mild winter. Once I get going, it should take me about 90-120 minutes to get the garlic in the ground.
After planting, it needs mulching. I plan to use last year’s tomato stalks and leaves and grasses mowed into a bag from the lawn. I have to watch this type of mulch more carefully so it doesn’t get matted and prevent the garlic shoots from getting to the light as they grow. With wheat straw you can just mulch it and forget it until harvest. I want to avoid this input cost.
Off and gardening we are. I expect I’ll need more time working the plots to get away from the national news. Respite, as good as it gets.
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