Special Delivery of Greens

Our governor, Roy Cooper, has ordered all residents to stay at home - except for essential outings and work - for the entire month of April in order to flatten the curve of the Covid-19 coronavirus and prevent it from overwhelming our healthcare system. In anticipation, I have loaded up my car with greens to deliver to our son, Andrew, and his family. Although acquisition of food items is deemed to be essential, I'm thinking I'm not going out unless I have to!

Rouse's Gates

Rouse has built another gate to provide access through the deer fencing. This one leads to "the-pond-that-used-to-be". We've had very rudimentary gates in the past. Now, with the "shelter at home" mentality of the coronavirus pandemic, there's time to spend making things just a bit more fancy. He's done a nice job, hasn't he?

Salad ... now, and into the future...

radish seedlings

nice head of bib lettuce

spinach ... looks like some bugs have been nibbling

Greens Galore!

One of the joys of gardening year-round in central NC is the bounty of greens that we enjoy during the winter and into the spring. Pictured is my kale bed: red russian, curly, and lacinato  varieties (front to back). See garlic bed in the background. Check out the new gate that Rouse the Spouse built, which gives us access to the back of the property through the deer fencing, without which there would be no garden!

mustard and kale ... enough to make a good pot of greens

Sue in the kitchen

Potatoes Planted

It was windy and chilly late in the day when I got the potatoes tucked into their lazy bed. Of course, I was able to make quick work of it because we were not lazy in prepping for this moment!

The compost had been 'cooking'. The leaves had been collected. The bed had been prepared.

The tatsoi, bok choy, and broccoli plants had run their course. We sure did enjoy their deliciousness this winter! But with recent extended periods of warm weather, they had bolted. The plants were removed and Rouse added 'dirt' from the ready compost bin, combining it with the existing soil to make an organically rich environment. Should be perfect for potatoes.

Four varieties:
Yukon Gold
Chieftain
French Fingerling
Banana Fingerling

Planted shallowly, watered in, then covered with a thick layer of leaves. Afterwards, I covered it all with a lightweight fabric row cover. I was afraid that the March wind would blow all the leaves away!

potato bed under cover in the foreground, mustard and spinach bed behind

Root Veggies Seeded

• Cylindra Beets
• Tokyo Market Salad Turnips
• Valentine's Day Radish Mix