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Week 14 - Discoveries

Time in: 2pm
Time out: 6pm

Our first tomatoes are here! This one is called "Heartland" and here's what it says on the label: An excellent performer ideal for small space gardeners. Dwarf, compact plants produce mid-size, 6-8 ounce fruit, bright-red in color. Great fresh flavor. 80 days. Indeterminate.

Our final paper still remains the focus of this week, which is due sometime next week. So we're working out the kinks on that.

As for our garden duties, a few plants were moved around, hopefully to their benefit! The squash plants are getting really long and some small fruits are starting to set. It was suggested by Jared and Steve that they be moved to the ground.

I was a bit relentless to move them from their containers since they looked rather content clambering up the trellises. However, I ended up doing so regardless since it is true that once the fruit start to grow, gravity will not be so kind.

The tomatillos (grown from seed) were transplanted into the containers the squash once were. I think they'll be happy there.

By the way, this is the last blog of the semester. And coincidentally, we both have plans to move in the upcoming months so with that in mind, the blogging may not come on a weekly schedule. Still, wherever we go, there is always earth to turn, pictures to take and something to say about it. Besides, I never knew how fun this blogging thing was until now!

On another note, we harvested our first cucumber of the season. Boy, was it tasty!!

Here are some extra pics from the past few months work. I'm putting these up mainly for nostalgic purposes.








Summer's just around the bend, maybe we'll see you at the harvest party!

Week 13 - Paper Writing

Time in: 1pm
Time out: 3pm


There are always more things to do in the garden. We are only at the beginning.

For these couple of weeks, however, we are using the time we have to work on our final paper for our Horticulture projects class.

It'll be an quick run-down of all the things we learned, the mistakes we made as well as our triumphs.

Week 12 - Growing and Shading

Time in: 10am

Time out: 2pm

Holy Adillos! It has been about 15 days since I took a pic of the overall garden and there has been considerable growth - Here's a May first and a May fifteenth picture juxtapoxed.

Last Monday, we followed through with our plans to build a 8x10 ft. frame for a shade awning in front of the clematis plants to be sure they don't burn in the summer heat.

Thank you uncle Greg for helping to cut and sew the shade cloth and thank you Steve and Jared for building the frame!


It has been about a month since the plants were given an extra boost. This time, we used Gro-Power. 100% organic and made strictly from humus.

Some beautiful moments:

The first flower of the white clematis plant in bloom. In particular, this clematis is called Clematis pfordtii.

We got a couple of tomato plants growing out of the lower holes in the compost heap. Does anyone know what the one on the top is?...

The squash plants seem to be enjoying themselves.

I had no idea that eggplants have thorns!











A growing cuke. Hiding beneath the shade of its large, green leaves.

The tallest and largest tomato plant is called Marriane's Peace.

Week 11 - And They're Off!

Time in: 10am

Time out: 1pm

The tomato plants are growing, and these little cages just aren't cutting it any longer! So our main project for this week is to expand the cages. Easy yet time consuming.

The chopping of the pepper tree will have an effect the clematis plants. It was their primary source of shade, especially from the upcoming months of scorching heat we will soon be experiencing.

With Steve's handyman help, we've figured out a way to protect the newly exposed side of the shed by making a sort of awning with recycled wood and fabric. More on that next week!

Here are a few extra images:

Week 10 (part two) - Attack of the Tree Squirrels!

Time in: 8am

Time out: 9am

On our way to Santa Cruz, we received a phone call from my mom. The tree squirrels ransacked the garden!!

When we came home, we found out that our next door neighbor did a large pruni ng job on their California Pepper tree (Schinus molle). We're pretty sure that a lot of tree squirrel families lived within those sawed off branches. In turn, they probably panicked and attempted to search for food anywhere they can. Thankfully, because of the chicken wire, the tomatoes were untouched!

We also needed to replace the chili pepper flakes since their potency probably dulled out after a few weeks of watering.

Next Week's Tasks:

• Get more chili pepper flakes...It's on!!!

• Expand the chicken wire
  

• Maintenance

Week 9 - Stakes not Steaks

Time in: 5pm
Time out: 7pm


With the gracious help from my handy-man step father, Steve, we were able to find a way to prepare stakes for the tomatoes. At no cost!


We did this by dismantling a rickety old trellis we had (it may have been my older sister's if I am not mistaken).

Jared helped in the process by removing all the rusty old nails that held it together.

My dad then cut it down to an even 4 feet.

Steve and Jared secured the stakes into the ground, we decided on two per tomato plant.

And...Wallah!


Next week's tasks:

• A 4 day trip to Santa Cruz!!!