I have eight beds all in a row. This is bed number eight. The last bed. It is the runt of the litter. It can be shaded at the end even in high summer. There is a tree at the other side of my neighbor's yard that is about 70' tall I would guess. It towers over the triple story houses. In winter those houses block light from from every bed, but in the summer that tree is what provides the shade. With the shading I was shocked at how well the onions grew. They really like full sun.
The end of the bed is in a cover crop that is growing by leaps and bounds. The front has three rows of kale, each a different kind. From left to right there is Winterbor, Red Russian (technically it is a mix, but mostly it is Red Russian), and Dwarf Blue Curly Kale. They were growing under a row cover, but this morning I uncovered it. The cover had holes in it. I'm hoping the kale can survive the onslaught of the cabbage butterflies which are always dancing around the yard. I usually don't uncover any brassicas in my yard. Too much caterpillar pain. But with the lack of sunshine here, I figured it might give them a better chance to grow. Then again maybe it will just be caterpillar food. Time will tell. The last time I grew kale uncovered it was just the Dwarf variety. In the fall it was eaten down to the numb. But in the spring it made a comeback and gave me a good crop. I've got my fingers crossed.
In the cove crop I was weeding out a bit of wood sorrel that I'm shocked can survive in that mess of oats, vetch, and peas. It is a thick cover crop. I found one dragonfly hiding out in the cover. It really blended in well. I always love seeing the bees and the other pretty insects sleeping in the garden.
I should be out planting my fall Asian green bed. I really should. But I just can't make myself do it this morning. My allergies are beating me down. I get a little of the drippy nose and itchy eyes, but the main symptom in the fall is always fatigue and headaches. Maybe I'll get out tomorrow and plant them. I need someone like Granny here. She is such a good worker bee. And I'm just not being one right now.
Another blog I read had issues with this a while back, and one of the commenters had an ingenious solution (I remember because I saved it to my ideas list! Haven't had a chance to try it yet though) Here's what they said:
ReplyDelete"Find some thick white fabric interfacing (the non-woven polyester stuff). Draw your version of a cabbage moth on it, over and over again . Cut out your moths and attach one of them to a highly visible leaf on each of your brassicas (I pinned mine on, so the head of the pin looked a bit like the head of my moth). Most cabbage moths are territorial and won’t lay eggs on a plant if another one it already there. It kept mine larvae-free all summer."
(from this post: http://littlehouseinthesuburbs.com/2011/11/bacillus-thuringiensis.html/comment-page-1#comment-14379)
Just the thought of that makes me giggle.
DeleteIf you do this, you have to post pictures. It makes me giggle to think of it, too.
DeleteI have a bed like that too - it has my tree kale it in it and currently a bunch of lettuces which don't mind the part sun conditions. Celery has grown well in that bed too. I just avoid putting anything into it that needs more sun.
ReplyDeleteI have a bed like that too. It grows great peas in the spring, but then gets too shady by mid- summer. Right now it is holding daylilies and iris froma bed I'm redoing.
ReplyDeleteToday my allergies hit me hard! It's gorgeous out and my sinus' feel like they are going to crack my face open. This is always the time of year I start wishing for the first frost.
Unfortunately almost my entire garden is like that! We are surrounded by large trees and I'm always surprised I get any harvest at all! I think this is the time of year that it becomes hard to get out there and get that garden work done. I lose steam too when it comes to getting in that fall garden.
ReplyDeleteGranny is inside having a big drink of ice water and waiting for the trees to begin shading the garage. I can't paint with the sun beating down hot on my head and back. I'd rather be working in your garden!
ReplyDeleteI also cover my broccoli family because of the cabbage worms. I use tulle.
ReplyDeleteI have lots of beds like that, I find potatoes do OK - although I'm typing that thinking that isn't actually helpful for you is it. Silver beet always does really well as does parsley and lettuce. Love the dragonfly pic.
ReplyDeleteWhen do you guys do for allergies? I have not found the OTC or even prescription stuff I can take very useful. Technically speaking, i.e. allergy pin test, I am not allergic, but if I do a lot of garden work, I'm coughing, nose running, etc. Thanks for any tips.
ReplyDeleteOh I have a lot for allergies. I have a allergy specialist that I see. I take shots. I do the OTC allergy medication and two prescription medications. Though one of those I don't like to take unless I'm really bad off since I don't like the side effects. Nose filters help a lot when I'm outside too. They cut down the allergen load by a lot. They look stupid, but it works.
DeleteI am always in awe at your fabulous garden.
ReplyDeleteNice pic of the dragonfly. I sit on the back deck in the evenings and watch them fly over the pond scooping up insects. Amazing flyers and mosquito hunters.
ReplyDeleteYour dragonfly picture is beautiful. All of my garden is in very hot, full sun. I wish I had a small area that was shaded. I hope you get to feeling better!
ReplyDelete