Sanctuary Gardener Update ~ 6/10/13

I’m happy to say that all my plants survived the rain last week. The hydrangeas actually loved it. (See picture above.) I cleaned up all the dead branches that fell in the yard and saved them for kindling in the fire pit. Quite a few of my pepper plants had to be staked. I trimmed my paste tomatoes, though I need to prune them some more. I also had to tie most of my tomatoes again because they’ve grown so much. This will be the last time though because they are now taller than the stakes – and me! I have some new fruit growing and fruit progressing towards harvest.

Sanctuary Gardener Update ~ 5/13/13

We’re finally drying out a bit here, and it got quite hot (high 80s) for a few days. I’m battling new bugs (aphids on the snow peas and whiteflies on a couple tomato plants), but the neem oil seems to be working, thankfully. In preparing for this week’s update, I was amazed at the amount of growth in my plants just since last week. (The above picture is a view of most of my beds.) Green and growing? Then all is well!

Sanctuary Gardener Update ~ 4/29/13

It’s been only three weeks since I planted my spring crops, and the fight has already begun. I’m battling slugs, fire ants, and flea beetles! Plus, I’m already seeing some signs of a nutrient deficiency in several of my plants. I’m unsure if it’s a problem with magnesium or iron. Looks like I need to call Clemson University’s co-op for more insight. However, there is a bright side! Plants are growing and buds are opening in my garden – like the Black Krim tomato flower in the picture above.

Sanctuary Gardener Update ~ 1/27/13

Boy have things been busy this week here at my Sanctuary Garden! Not only do I have 14 raised beds that I’m tending outside, I now also have six flats of seeds and seedlings that I’m nurturing. The weather has cooled off since my last update with temperatures closer to average, so the growth of the outside veggies has slowed a bit. Yet, most of my winter crops now have their secondary (true) leaves. And seeds are already popping through the soil under my grow lamps!