Gardening Again!

The fields around our house are filled with tractors and workers as the winter farming season (the main revenue times for local farmers) began with the planting of broccoli, cabbage, lettuce and other winter vegetables. Not to be out done, we at the Olson Inn also planted our winter garden.

Lowes is conveniently (sometimes too conveniently) located next door to Randy’s work. He spends many a happy lunch hour wandering the premises. The Halloween displays were welcome at this time of year. The Christmas items are also on display. After all, who could do without a lighted Eifel Tower, Snoopy in a Santa Claus suit, etc.

With his various visits, he knows the store about as well as the employees. As he wanders up and down the various isles looking at the many items, he remembers what is offered and can mostly find items when he needs them: especially tools and lumber. He also knows where the gardening drip system components are. This was needful as the first gardening bed was completed and  needed water to be supplied to the plants that would soon be there.

On Saturday, September 29, 2012, we were looking for the plants that we wanted to put into the garden. Randy had previously seen them at Lowes, but had not looked at the prices. The broccoli plants were large, but cost $3.49 each. They were planted in single containers. One paid a premium price for larger plants that would not necessarily do well in the garden.

We ended up going to a local garden store we have been to before. They had furnished the rock and other plants that went into our yard. They were selling the same plants in six packs. While they were smaller plants they generally transplant better than the larger ones. They are also cheaper. We purchased broccoli, chard, chives, basil, ornamental kale, and leaf lettuce and headed home.

No doubt you are thinking, “What no tomatoes?” Sorry, they do not get planted until December or January. Our winter garden will make room for them as they are harvested. Randy may put in another bed as well.

With the heat of the day and other pressing Saturday activities we did not get them planted until dusk. So by flashlight, we finished planting our 3 foot by 8 foot bed. Water was not yet available so we hand watered the bed for the first week until yesterday, when Randy got the last needed parts and got the drip system installed. He then got the timer setup to water the plants. We had to find the instruction book for that. Fortunately, Georgia does an excellent job of keeping track of all of them.

For a totally finished garden bed, we still need to mulch and put the surrounding rock back into place. We may also need to spray the plants with Bacillus Thuringensis (BT). It kills the insect larva that chew on the plants by preventing them from digesting the material that they have ingested.