This week in the DVG:
- We deadheaded flowers & pulled weeds.
- We prepared the okra bed by building mounds & hoeing out the clover, and then planted the okra (by the gourds).
- We planted watermelon, pumpkins, and bush beans by the keyhole garden, replanted bush beans behind the compost bins, planted peanuts in the old pot bin, planted pole beans in the front bed, planted tiny pumpkins in the back, and also planted beans at the fence & square foot garden.
- We observed that the soil in a couple of beds have “hardpan.” This is probably the result of yearly shallow tilling that causes very hard, compacted soil below the tilled surface. We amended the soil by double digging and adding gypsum to break up the hardpan, If we don’t do this, the hardpan will cause plants to have a shallow root system and water will not penetrate through the compacted soil.
- We observed a yellow flower resembling a dandelion. We identified it as Carolina False Dandelion because when the stem was cut, a milky sap was exposed. It is a member of the Aster family and is a cool season annual or biennial. We pulled the weeds to prevent more seeds from germinating.
- We fertilized the Fig trees.
- We trimmed, tied up & removed the lower leaves of tomato plants. We fertilized & placed blocks around some volunteer tomatoes located outside the fence (so they won’t get damaged by the weed eater).
- We planted Cowpeas. They are a legume that we will used as green manure in the future.
- We checked the garden for cucumber beetles, caterpillars, and damage.
- We began construction of the teepee/maypole garden.
- Alan Markellhung constructed & donated the new Welcome sign– thank you!!