The calendar and weather is transitioning from spring to summer temps and nowhere is it more apparent than in the lifecycle of plants. Given the right conditions, they will show you the passing of time. Don’t believe me? Check it out for yourself.
(Clicking the photos makes them bigger.)
Ready just in time!
May 25th: slips set in their pot, covered with black plastic to raise the earth temp.
A small snack for Hubs: freshly pulled radishes.
A reward for me: my favorite flowers bloomed.
The overnighters: Oma’s tomato and chili plants are recuperating.
They’re even setting blooms! Not sure that’s a good idea.
New branches/leaves to replace the ones I trimmed. Basil’s doing well in its shaded spot.
Oma’s basil is also doing ok; the small green spots in the earth are new seedlings I sprouted.
Although constantly battling with the aphids/ants, the artichoke continues to put out new leaves.
Calendula is producing faster than I can use it. It too is plagued by aphids.
A new addition, the final for this year: Bay Leaf!
Spinach is giving it’s last performance; it’s getting ready to bolt. It has served us well!
Rather than picking and coming again, I may be forced to harvest the Romaine lettuce in one go. I’m thinking the shade will protect it for a few weeks.
The edible flowers received a thinning to allow for strong root development and to prevent fungal diseases.
All my worries about Rhubarb were for naught. Now I’ve just got to keep Hubs from harvesting them this year, lol.
Now that gooseberries’ fruit seem to be sticking around, I’ve got to figure out a way to use them.
May 25th saw the setting of the plantlings in their spots.
Using biodegradable pots in order not to disturb the plants’ roots, Rainbow chard seems ok.
Although happy to see the bloom, I’m concerned whether the chili plant is thick/tall enough to support the fruit.
Watching the snowpeas grow is going to be rather interesting.
The slicing tomatoes are blooming as well.
I do believe the zucchini is going to be a problem; this thing seems to grow swiftly and profusely.
Baby celery plants are adorable!
The sweet peppers have set blooms much earlier this year than last; hoping that’s a good sign, despite the plant being rather thin.
My paste tomato plant has also set blooms.
I wonder if this is a sign of old age, aphid destruction, or some fungus?!
The okras have been set for a week, dropped their baby leaves, and are budding new secondary leaves.
I would love to know why the animal kingdom seems to think my highbed was built for them? Now I’ve got to fight wasps!
Although growing, the beefsteak tomato is not as thick a plant as the bush varieties in front.
Expecting a long growing season and late harvest, I am surprised to see that it has blossoms.
I’m so excited about the star jasmine. Not only is it growing well….
but it’s getting ready to blossom!
Peony in bloom – gorgeous!!!!!
The first peony bloom produced seed pods.
The second did not. Isn’t that interesting?
Sunflower has been set all on its lonesome.
Casualties of…?? Green Tiger seedlings and the second sunflower just up and died on me. Was it the cold snap, too much water, too much sun? No idea!
I just re-discovered your blog. Wow – that’s a pretty impressive city garden!
I started reading your blog back in 2012 while my Austrian husband and I were thinking about where we’d move to for his work. We had packed up our belongings in Scotland (where he had been studying) and visited family in Jamaica (my mother’s side), England (my father’s side) and rural Austria (his family). I found your blog just after we got back from Austria! I was there for most of the summer, and visited a good few times previously, so it’s always interesting to hear about your perspective living there. We ended up in Seattle, and despite not having a language barrier it is tough trying to transplant a career. Not sure how long we’ll be here, and if we return to Europe it’s likely we’d be in Germany – all Austrians will obviously rush to say the two countries are not at all alike – but the thought made me seek out your blog again never the less. Huge congratulations on your language skills. I am rather in awe of what you have achieved!
Mit freundlichen Grüßen aus Seattle!
Naja, hallo Marsha! Wie geht’s?!
Thank you for your lovely compliments – they made me smile this morning.
There are difficulties in transplanting anywhere; even when one knows the language, there are cultural nuances to navigate and of course, job competition is skewered against a transplantee. Still, only the strong survive, oder?
I’d love to hear where you decide to migrate and how things develop, so drop in anytime.
Daumen drücken und alles Bestens!