This was surely a week of extremes here in the Charleston, SC, area….again. I was quite concerned yesterday that I would wake to a late frost, but thankfully, the temperature dropped only to 35 degrees. Whew! I have a lot of new growth on my raspberries, elderberries, herbs, and even my grape vines. Plus, I’m beginning to harvest my asparagus. A frost would not have been good for the tender leaves. Fortunately, all is well in my Sanctuary Garden. Come take a look. This week’s garden photos!
I think I can safely say the unbearable summer heat is gone. Finally! Temperatures are in the low 80s during the day, but they’re getting down to around 60 at night. Maybe NOW my fall crops will germinate and grow. If only we could get some more rain. We had a half inch this past week, but it’s not enough after several weeks of nothing. That said, I’ve been pretty lazy in the garden the past couple of weeks, and I need to get out and replant several crops and prep the beds to plant the onions, garlic, and spinach next weekend. I think I needed a bit of a break, and I took the holidays as a great time to do that. Now it’s back to work because things are starting to pick up in my garden. This week’s garden pictures!
It’s almost autumn, but the temperatures are still in the 90s here in the Charleston, SC area. I’ve had to postpone some of my fall planting due to the high temperatures, but I’m hoping to plant beets and carrots on Labor Day weekend. What I’ve sown for the fall planting so far is in various stages of growth – from germinating under the ground to new seedlings to first and second sets of true leaves. I love the new life in my garden! The picture above is a Henderson Lima bean sprout poking through the soil (and grass clipping mulch) yesterday. Unfortunately, along with having new seedlings, I’m losing some established plants. It’s sad, but it’s gardening, where life and death are part of the cycle. My garden this week!
This is my second year gardening in the Charleston, SC area, but I am still amazed at the new things I see in my garden. For example, as my following knows, I planted three types of potatoes in five-gallon buckets – three white fingerling, two peach-colored fingerling, and five purple potatoes. (I bought them at the grocery store, so I’m unsure of the exact varieties.) The peach fingerlings are now blooming! (See picture above.) There are no blooms on the other potato plants, but I learned not all potatoes flower. Who knew? Come see what else is new in my garden this week!
Sanctuary Gardener 