Early June In The Garden
This week summer arrived on the Aran Islands. Throughout the garden, Johnny and I placed pots of veg in the spots they will be planted in the earth. Tonight as I left for work, Johnny (husband) and Margaret Maeve (eleven year old daughter) were planting out courgettes and pumpkins. Peas and beans will climb wire attached to the high stone wall to the right, and corn will go in the opposite end of the field. A pot of fresh compost fills each hole just before planting. Having started this task late in the day, the courgettes are the only ones spreading their roots in the soil tonight. Everything else will be planted tomorrow, except some pumpkins which will be done next Monday by the students who sowed the seeds.
It’s doubtful we will get a ‘Pumpkin Patch’ sign made this year, but a scarecrow is definitely going to make an appearance sooner than later.
Potatoes are growing very nicely with the first five ridges having been hilled up already. The last two ridges on the right are turned for brassicas, one filled with broccoli and turnip yesterday. Still to go into the next ridge, and a few more yet to be made, are cauliflower, green kale, and cabbages. The shorter center bit that’s prepared will be a lean-to for climbing yard long beans. The willow against the back wall, hardly noticeable anymore, is growing slow and steady.
Last Wednesday it was a most beautiful day. We planted out bush bean, celery, Swiss chard, and spinach in the L, O, and V beds, E already occupied by lettuce and carrots. (Yes, the beds spell LOVE!) It’s nice not to be staring at empty beds anymore. The next day the winds picked up again and were predicted to last two days so we scrambled and made mini tunnels to protect the beans.
The wind has come and gone and amazing weather has at last arrived. The tunnels saved the beans and they seem very happy in their tropical micro-tunnels so we are leaving them on for now. No, they’re not very attractive, but just for a wee while longer to give them a boost.
A couple other wonderful things happened this week outside of the homefarm of which I’ll write about another day. For now, I shall get some rest in hopes of rising with the sun.
Slán agus oiche mhaith, goodbye and good night. Melissa Xx
p.s. There is a photo album to accompany this post; the visuals are so helpful for getting the full garden 'picture'.
