Category Archives: garden

4.22.12 Garden in transition

Posted on April 23, 2012 by diary of a tomato

The winter covers have been pulled off, the fencing put back up, and the raised beds ready for another season. The overwintered chard and kales are thriving, providing plenty of greens. There wasn’t much left of the chard as we … Continue reading →

Posted in garden | Tagged , , , , | 22 Comments

4.22.12 Cellar onions and a lone tomato

Posted on April 23, 2012 by diary of a tomato

We took advantage of the rainy day by cleaning out the root cellar. Unseasonal warmth has shortened their storage life, and the sprouting onions and potatoes were consigned to compost. Though also beginning to sprout, we’ve still lots of usable … Continue reading →

Posted in garden, tomatoes / pomodorini | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

4.19.12 Apple, quince, and fritillaria

Posted on April 22, 2012 by diary of a tomato

After fearing frost damage, it’s a relief to see the apple tree finally flowering, though it’s the first time we’ve realized that the leaves precede the buds. We inherited several flowering quinces when we moved here,  just some of the previous … Continue reading →

Posted in garden | 4 Comments

4.19.12 Provoking the weather gods

Posted on April 19, 2012 by diary of a tomato

We had snow, we had hail, we had heat. What we haven’t had much is rain. It’s time to wash the windows and bring it on.

Posted in garden, tomatoes / pomodorini | 8 Comments

4.16.12 Spring emerges

Posted on April 16, 2012 by diary of a tomato

The rhubarb and asparagus have finally appeared — a sure sign that spring has finally arrived in our corner of Maine. As it leafs out, the rhubarb is like an unfurling piece of origami. We’ve been working on increasing fertility … Continue reading →

Posted in garden | Tagged , , | 34 Comments

4.9.12 Ramps and seedlings

Posted on April 10, 2012 by diary of a tomato

Several years ago we planted some ramp seedlings in a shady part of our garden in hopes that they would naturalize. Also known as wild leeks, they reproduce by seed which can take up to 18 months to germinate; we’ve … Continue reading →

Posted in garden | Tagged , | 6 Comments

4.8.12 First plantings

Posted on April 9, 2012 by diary of a tomato

  We’ve been waiting for the soil to warm up to 50°F — the minimum temperature at which we attempt to start seeds — before direct seeding the first Spring crop. Another  sign we watch for is when the dandelions … Continue reading →

Posted in garden | 14 Comments