May 16, 2010

5:00 AM Gardener

There simply are not enough hours in the day to accomplish all that i want/need to accomplish. Woke up early and could not get back to sleep. If this was a work day I'd be sleeping like a rock but it's Sunday. A day where i could at least sleep until 7:00 AM. Not a chance. Gave up, ground some Newman's Own organic french roast and headed out to the garden. Did some major watering which in our state is the perfect time to water. It's in the high 80's and low 90's during the day now. (I'm pretty sure we are in for it this coming hurricane season.) I faithfully read other gardening blogger's posts and am amazed that they are still concerned at this time about FROST while our primary concern is preventing HEAT STROKE If we water after 8:00 AM it evaporates into the atmosphere and no one in this family wastes water. If we water in the evening we run the risk of mold, and fungus. 5:00 AM may not be my perfect time but the plants feel it is their perfect time. Today I have a number of projects going for the Independence Day Challenge which has basically given a name to what I do on a daily basis anyway. Am re-finishing an $8.00 plant stand for the genius, re-covering dining room chairs with thrift store vintage draperies for $4.00 and hoping to get the last coat of paint on my thrift store coffee table. This will be accomplished between every four hour plus two nebulizer treatments, cooking, cleaning, hanging out laundry, running to Home Depot for KILZ and cow poop and...gulp...doing the baby's hair. Oh, I DREAD that last one. In the meantime here's what's popping up in our garden:
Stupice tomatoes. A great, heirloom, potato leaf variety that comes from Czechoslovakia. It grows well in northern climates so this will be interesting in our sauna-like weather. Already, however, I can say the bugs do NOT like this plant so if it survives the heat and tastes good this will be a yearly choice.
St. Pierre Tomatoes. A beautiful French heirloom large in size, great for canning or fresh eating. They are excellent producers, even in bad conditions. (hurricanes included?) Popular in Europe.
Contender (Buff) Valentine Bush Beans: A heirloom bush bean introduced in 1949. Promises huge yields despite it's small size. Time will tell...they seem AWFULLY tiny to yield much at all.Ashe County Pimiento Pepper: A sweet, deep red, pimiento-type heirloom found growing in Ashe county, North Carolina. And a more shocking revelation...I've just discovered that I've been spelling "pimiento" wrong for 50 years. Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks?

3 comments:

Kelly said...

Halfway through this post I got sucked in by your side bar (this is my 1st visit) - what a fascinating family you have (pets included) - love it!!

As a New Englander i can't yet fathom your temperatures. YIKES! That big green tomato sure does look inspiring though. :)

SECRET PEPPER PERSON: said...

Kelly,usually the first year in Florida is the worse. when we moved from Oregon my mother lay on the floor in front of a fan for a year!

Kim said...

Your heirloom plants look beautiful! Have got to try heirloom varieties next year...