Garden Friday

Welcome to Garden Friday!
It's been a wet and wild week,
but we still managed to get a few projects completed.
 

 The tomato plants (which were blown about by TS Florence),
have all been pulled up.
Getting them from seed to maturity was a fun challenge,
but the constant battle between the squirrels and bugs
left me feeling that maybe next year I will let someone else grow them.
Or, perhaps I will grow some to sell starters for others.

 It's almost October,
the temps have been in the 70's and 80's,
and the okra is still flowering.
This is one crop that will return to my garden each summer,
as it is virtually care-free.
Aside from pickling it,
it has been enjoyed by sauteing it in coconut oil.

Our carrots are coming along,
although the germination is a bit sketchy.
This was the same tub in which I originally had quick germination,
and then the resident bunnies came to call.
After raising it up out of their reach,
it was reseeded, but germination was not quite as fast.
Elsewhere, in the hugelkultur bed we have more sown,
along with two kinds of beets,
and the germination has been dismal.
I still have time to resow before cold weather hits our area.

Earlier this week, we shared our rain barrel project.
It took us a while to get it finished,
but it's wonderful to have running water near the garden
that we don't have to pay for.
And thanks to Mother Nature,
they are already about 3/4 of the way full.
We worked this week to get my workbench moved,
so that I could organize it for sowing seed trays.
This is the before and after.

These corn crates were acquired from a local nursery.
We asked if we could have a few,
since they would be thrown out,
and the owners agreed.
We love upcycling anything we can.

They are perfect for storing all those little seed pots
so that they don't get blown away in a storm.

We can keep all of our cell packs tucked inside
so that we can find just what we need when it's time to sow seeds.

Other recycled containers help us store our miscellaneous items,
like garden staples, garden markers, twine and string,
and canning lids (which we sometimes use as plant markers).
Seedling trays fit snug in the corner,
and since they have drainage holes in the bottom,
we needn't worry about them collecting water to attract mosquitoes.

A stack of biodegradable pots sits at the ready,
for future plantings of broccoli, kale or lettuce. 
Organizing is one of my absolute favorite things to do,
so this was a labor of love.

 Even our birdbath is upcycled.
The top is the lid from an enamel canning pot I use as a planter.
The inserted stone allows for pollinators to rest and take a drink.

In the garden, it was so thrilling to see the Sugar Snap Peas coming up,
just a few days after sowing.
We also seeded lettuces, Swiss chard and tat soil,
but are still awaiting germination.
Hopefully, the rain will move that right along.

As far as the beets go,
I'm going to try using cell packs and then transplanting them,
although they are root crops, which do not usually like to be moved.
I'm not sure what else to do.
I've been jonesing for some beautiful beets. 

It's so fantastic having my own work space out there.
It may not be pretty to look at,
but it gets the job done.
So grateful for my little piece of paradise.

What's going on in your fall garden?