Garden Update

As I write this on Tuesday I am weary. In the twilight hours of Wednesday morning we are predicted with freezing temperatures here in The Holler. I have feared this happening all spring as the high temperatures broke records day after day. Like everyone else I celebrated being able to open up the windows and doors. I enjoyed those things that come with warm weather like grilling outdoors and hanging clothes to dry. i thrilled over the early blooms and blossoms after a long winter. But deep down I knew that just as easily mother nature could swing again in the opposite direction with devastating results to my garden and orchard. With imminent 32 degree weather in the forecast overnight we have spent the day scrambling to cover tender vegetation. Straw what we can and cover what we can. But we know that there is no way we can protect everything. The fate of the gardens and orchard are in Gods hands.  

Notice the plums in the picture above. That was taken this morning. There is a huge crop of young plums hanging on the trees that if frozen will fall off.  

These are young peaches. Again the trees are loaded with young and tender immature fruit. 

These are the beginnings of apples. The bloom petals have fallen and notice the immature fruit just starting to swell. Again a bumper crop. 

The strawberries loaded with blooms and young berries. 

The grape vines are putting out new growth and if you look closely you'll notice the blooms are plentiful.  Another bumper crop of what would turn into grape clusters.

Just to show you that indeed we are a technologically advanced gardening operation here. Some of my favorite estate purchases and some of the most useful tools in the garden.  They require no gas or oil, just a willing human to push them along and do a great job of cultivating out those tiny weed seedlings. I'd say this one probably dated back to the 50's and cost me $10 years ago at an estate sale. 

This one dates back a little further but works like a charm at making furrows. Great for planting seeds or seedlings. Again no fossil fuel required.  Cost $5 : ) I also have one like this with tines for cultivating but it is at my son in laws right now getting some much needed welding repairs. All of these are still in use after all these years. Tokens of a slower and maybe simpler time. 

As you can see above the broccoli, cabbage and chines cabbage are doing well. All snuggled under their straw and growing like bad weeds. All these were seedlings I started. 

Spring peas, onions and potatoes. The mustard, lettuce, spinach and beets are all up in this garden also. Before these last rains we planted 2 more rows of peas and 2 rows of green beans, 2 rows of corn and another row of mustard greens. So this garden is now completely full and we will move on to the larger warm season garden that only has 2 rows of potatoes in it. Lots of room left.


Say a little prayer for us tonight and our gardens. Nothing is quite so disheartening as losing an entire crop like this. You feel so helpless but still try to do everything you can to prevent it. The worst hit would be the fruit trees that should they shed their fruit would not bloom again until next year. 

How's your garden coming along?

Blessings from The Holler

The Canned Quilter