A hard day's work fertilizing in my garden
Friday was very spring-like in the Northeast and I just happened to have the day off! I decided to do a little of what I love most - working in the garden. The temperatures were in the low 60's and the sun was shining, however, the weathermen reported rain for the weekend. I thought it would be a good idea to apply some of the springtime soil amendments so that the rain would help them seep into the soil. I like to do this early in the spring to help the plants grow healthy leaves and roots.
Martha, I'm in So. Calif and today bought six tomato seedlings for my very small garden patch. Two of the seedlings will go into an Upside Down Hanging Tomato Planter, an experiment that has my family chuckling. The rest are going into the garden tomorrow in a traditional manner. I like to keep an open mind. Growing tomatoes upside down is probably the strangest garden idea I've ever heard !
Posted by: Penny | March 29th, 2009 at 10:57 pm
Dear Martha, nice and refreshing thing to do early morning in this beautiful spring weather. Bless you Martha!
Best Regards,
Rowaida Flayhan
Posted by: Rowaida Flayhan | March 29th, 2009 at 11:12 pm
Hi Martha, What a beautiful spring day you had to work in your garden. Looks like you were really having a great time. Glad to know about the bone meal and the blood meal. I've got some blueberry plants that I got at Costco and I will add some bone meal to them. It's been really cold and wet here south of Seattle, but today was a surprisingly warm and sunny day. I didn't do any gardening yet, but hope to as soon as it stays above freezing at night. It's supposed to rain and be cold again tomorrow so I may have to wait a while. I did take my little dog for a two hour walk today and he had a fabulous day seeing all the other dogs that were out walking. Now he's sound asleep. Thanks again for sharing. I love your jacket. I have one just like it! Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | March 29th, 2009 at 11:28 pm
I am exhausted watching you work time for a break! I never saw anyone on this PLANET who has your go go go go go energy. I really mean it I could never ever keep up with you on a good day let alone a regular one. You never stop , you must have super duper genes.
I love raspberries, black berries, cherries, blueberries and strawberries any berries really. I can only imagine having a big garden and veggies and all these wonderful tastes, smells and food at my finger tips. I would be the one you would find sitting in the middle of the garden eating and day dreaming just hanging out looking at everything.
I have a mask like yours but mine is used for dusting my house, I have Asthma and to dust I must wear a mask and to vacuum too. They come in handy for so many different uses.
It looks like you were cold, here it is 85 each day and more to my sore back's liking.
Enjoy your week ahead.
Pam from California
It is so HOT I may have to get my swim suit attire out and go to the beach!
Posted by: Pam From California | March 30th, 2009 at 12:46 am
You have blackberries? I don't think I've ever seen photos of yours fully grown. I have wonderful memories of going blackberry picking with my family as a child.
My mother had a nose for picking out just the right spots and we spent many summer days walking up and down the hills at Hueston Woods State Park outside of my hometown Oxford, OH picking berries. It was hard work because it was the middle of summer and it would get quite hot during the day. We would leave early in the morning to beat the heat but we still had to wear long sleeves and pants to prevent scratches from the thorns on the blackberry branches.
At the end of an already long and tiring day, Mom would begin to make the jelly. Back then it was as simple as Sure-Jell pectin, Gulf Wax paraffin, Ball jars, and of course the sweet, juicy blackberries. To this day, nothing in this world tops her legendary jelly which was a hit throughout town.
I'd give anything to have one more jar of her jelly. Can't wait to see what your berries look like in full bloom.
Posted by: Sonya | March 30th, 2009 at 1:33 am
These are my favorite blog posts... you working on your farm. It's why I have loved you for - what 20 years now?? I don't quite have the farm you have (yet!) - or the number of berry patches (yet!) - but I will and meanwhile I LOVE being inspired by your posts!
Posted by: stephanie | March 30th, 2009 at 5:04 am
So nice to see you finally have a day off to do whatever you like to do, which happens to be working in the garden. It looks like fun.
The trees have started to bloom here in the city of Phila.. The forsythias in the park are in full bloom too. It has made me really believe we are in spring. I've seen daffodils blooming here too. Happy Spring!!
Linda
Phila., PA
Posted by: Linda | March 30th, 2009 at 7:26 am
Isn't life grand when you can just go outside and to the garden and do something? Why does it become so difficult to do such tasks.......
Hope it was a day to be proud of, but all days in the outdoors and especially in the garden are days to be proud of.
Posted by: Margie | March 30th, 2009 at 8:38 am
Hi Martha,
You look like a busy bee in your garden! Bet you enjoyed your long weekend doing just that, and washing your cats. Did you ever get a horseback ride in with the wet weather?
Just love your aqua jacket!!! Who is it made by, and I want one. Pleaes let me know.
Have a great week.
Kim in New Jersey
Posted by: Kim in Jersey | March 30th, 2009 at 8:45 am
Hi Martha,
This post is VERY helpful to me...I tend to want to 'trust' in the 'magic' of the garden...with a little help from the chickens!
Must admit, though, my increase could look better.
I'm going to break one of my gardening rules (do it in the dirt for free) and buy some bone & blood meal.
And THANKS!
PS Suppose a bandanna could substitute for a mask? Must say, you look ready to take on the cayenne! Maybe I'll just hold my breath!
Posted by: tinay | March 30th, 2009 at 9:41 am
Yep, you chose the right day, Martha, to accomplish this chore! Saturday in Maryland was mostly rainy, and Sunday started rainy followed with a brighter afternoon, ending then in a heavyheavy shower. If we (you-n-I) end up with some warm days...look out! It's still coolish but buds are already emerging nevertheless, and the grass has thickened up immensely just in the last two weeks. The forest's understory is coming alive, too, as the greenbriers and other entanglements begin to leaf out.
(It's) funny that you blog about bone/blood meal today...Last weekend, I was out with my trusty bag of blood meal, feeding some of the things around my house. I had to hand-water afterwards though, as we hadn't had any sufficient rainfall up 'til this past weekend. It's always a good feeling knowing that one has gotten things off to a proper start. Me-thinks, too, that I'll be commencing the season's 'maiden voyage' with my freshly-tuned-up-and-blade-sharpened lawnmower this weekend, if not before.
...So much to do...so little time!
=^..^=
"Charity, like the sun, brightens every object on which it shines."--Daniel Orcutt
Posted by: Cindy Bricker | March 30th, 2009 at 12:08 pm
Isn't spring exciting! I just returned to the northeast after 20 yrs of tropical living, and its like being reborn. I love the changing of the seasons, I feel more alive.
You're so lucky to have all that beautiful ground to work with (when you have time:-). Thanks for always sharing.
Posted by: Karen Hetzer | March 30th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
Hi Martha,
I'd be a cripple from bending if I had to fertilize as many plants as you have! I think I would rig up a long funnel just so I wouldn't have to reach so far over like I do when I pull weeds.
You know so much about soil and plants and what to add and not add to the soil - no wonder your gardens look so beautiful. I would really like to have a blueberry patch – I miss picking blueberries and raspberries to make pies and jams. Thanks for all these daily lessons you provide for us – in a hundred years, we might be as knowledgeable as you. No way; you know too much about everything! Trish
P.S. To Penny – I also have an upside down tomato planter and so far, my other tomatoes that are not upside down are doing better. ‘Strange’ is one word for it but I’m hopeful!
Posted by: Trish | March 30th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Dear Martha,
I'm glad to see you are choosing organic addatives for your garden. Did you realize that Scott's Miracle Grow is associated with Monsanto?
Posted by: Nick | March 30th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
Hello. Martha looks great wearing a milk mustache & a dust mask. It looks like she is wearing protective gloves to spread soil amendments. A good idea. Collecting trash in the spring can be muddy & profitable. A wk. or two ago I found a $5 bill on a stream bank. After errands today I walked on a recreation path. When the sun is shining I'll return with plastic bags & protective gloves to remove some trash.
Posted by: Mina Isham | March 30th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
many thanks for the great advice and photos. very helpful for the novice gardener. it is nice to see a 'celeb' still humble enough to do the work herself...and thoughtful enough to share it with her fans.
Posted by: kritter keeper | March 30th, 2009 at 2:22 pm
Good job Martha! And nice to have a sunny day to accomplish fertilizing tasks. I am just waiting for the weather to improve...sigh! it just keeps raining. But, i am about to plant my wheat grass for Easter! Always a project in this household.
Posted by: Sherey | March 30th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
Gardening sure is a lot of labor. But, it is fun to do & is well worth it. I can't wait to see your flowers growing & blooming with all the beautiful colors!
Posted by: Sherry | March 30th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
Fertilising in my garden,'tis a hard day's work.
Sunny friday,temp. low sixties,that's a perk.
Soil amendments like the rain,to seep into the ground,
The benefits to leaf and root,just keep going round
Raspberry bush needs dusty bone meal
Phosphorous supplement for growth's the deal.
Good tool to scoop,is the handy little pan
Spread goodies thinly,evenly,that's the plan.
Blueberry patch,beside the beautiful stone wall
Tree peony bed,where Martha gives her all.
Back tired from bending,but job is nearly done
Perhaps a wee pick-me-up and a warm bath to run
Some help to lime the box wood shrub,
Has earned a bounty of good hot grub.
Hope is,that all was done quite right.
Now it's time,for a hard sore night.
Posted by: celia stock | March 30th, 2009 at 5:33 pm
I so envy you in many many many ways.
Posted by: Norbie K. Las Vegas | March 30th, 2009 at 10:01 pm
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Posted by: David Dworkin | March 31st, 2009 at 11:41 am
Martha, YOU are the smart one! Wearing that mask! Here in Gilbert, AZ, so many things are blooming, and I was out fertilizing this weekend, too- but not wearing a mask. I paid for the past 2 days with a major headache from my allergies! I will use your great example, next time!
Here I am in sunny AZ, with flowers crowding my cottage gardens, and I am making my snowflake ornaments, and listening to Christmas music!
Posted by: Nancy Paine | March 31st, 2009 at 2:53 pm
Hello Martha,
I live on 5 acres in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. I am very excited about my gardens this year. This week I will be adding holly tone to all my bushes. This past weekend, I mulched. What a chore. It is hard work, but it pays off in the end when the flowers bloom and everything is green and delightful!
Posted by: Brenda Miller | April 2nd, 2009 at 3:50 pm
What we love about you Martha is that you are never afraid to get your hands dirty! You mention your box woods in this blog and I was wondering how the box wood room you planted with the mature specimens last year was developing - love to get an update!
Posted by: John York | April 3rd, 2009 at 11:41 am
Hi Martha,
Remember when I commented to you that I 'think' I found a 'Good Thing' in using old curtain sheers to cover garden & outdoor seed flats?
Well, back to my 'Do it in the dirt for free' method (And I can hear my Mother..."I can't BELIEVE that you've used MY curtain sheers out there in your garden!")...I won't be purchasing bone/blood meal after all.
After watching your show about the compost tea I got another 'Good Thing' idea using those same sheers as a huge cheese cloth to bag and steep my compost. I'll try using the inverted setting on the shop vac to aerate the tea, yes/no? Ha! I'm going to try it and see. I'l get back to you with the results. No purchase necessary!
A SHEER UPDATE: The sheers were 100% effective in preventing critters from eating my seeds, AND when we had these latest bouts of thunderstorms, tornadoes and "ToTos"; they kept the seedlings from getting pulverized by this CRAZY weather we're all having!
One more thing...you mentioned that there should be 'no smell' to the compost tea...well what about manure tea? Have to admit...mine smells! Don't EVEN go there Martha! Ha!
P.S. How's Palm Springs?
Bet you're seeing all those beautiful wildflowers right now...click, click, click! (From your eyes to ours!) Looking forward to that upcoming blog entry. Enjoy it all.
Posted by: tinay | April 4th, 2009 at 8:38 am
Question: I just moved into a new home with a large property with copious amounts of trees. In particular, I have a Maple tree, green something or other growing all over the bark. It looks like a green fungus and is apparent from the trunk, and extends down each branch. I'm not sure if I should be concerned, or how to treat it to keep it healthy? Also, just acquired a Magnolia tree and not sure how to care for it. Both seem to be growing well... Thanks in advance!
Posted by: Julie | April 6th, 2009 at 8:18 am
And I might add, Martha, that in my new gardening book, "Let's Get Dirty", there's an entire chapter devoted to the curtain sheer, and aptly named, "Sheer Gardening"...Ha!...Just had to tell you that I can also WEAR the SHEER while outside gardening in mosquito-ridden FL. It's really funny just how many uses I'm finding for them.
For example, we're having a very late freeze here so all the new growth on young tangerine tree will first be wrapped in the soft curtain sheer, protecting its leaves from the heavier blankets I'll be layering on. Also the sheer allows tree to breathe...and me, too when I'm wearing one...and I think I'm scaring the deer!
Posted by: tinay | April 6th, 2009 at 8:44 am