Mid 30s this morning here but in a few days will hit 80. Got my taters and onions in. Supposed to rain last night but didn’t. I was hoping it would. I raked a spot as smooth as I could for the greens, lettuce and cabbage but was hoping rain would smooth it a bit more before planting those tiny seeds. If I had planted them and then we got a heavy rain, the seeds would get moved all over the place. We don’t have a well here yet so I’ll have to pull one of our water tanks down there and sprinkle the area. I really should be doing drip irrigation but I don’t want to spend the money yet with this virus thing going on. Same with the high tunnel. Between the two, it would be close to a grand that I’d prefer to keep in the bank right now. I say in the bank but we’re also pulling cash via the ATM and keeping some of that on hand.
Beau put the finishing touches on the new beds around the greenhouse, yesterday. They are ready to receive and I am chomping at the bit! One set of roses has already arrived and I just ordered the other batch, yesterday. (Bare Root from Jung's, of course!) Remember - this is a work in progress and it will take a few years for the roses and other plants to get established, but in a lot of ways the planning and the anticipation is the most fun part of a new garden project!
The beds were filled with virgin soil from the pasture, then a topping of composted mule manure. Beau tilled it all in for me with our small tiller.
The gravel walkway will be soaked down with the hose when we drag the hoses out. That will help it harden into place.
The materials for the project totaled $350.00, mainly for the wood. Labor was free. ;) This also solves the problem of a weedy SLOPE that was and impossible to mow eyesore.
I'll have pictures later in the week of the rose varieties that are going in there. All are sturdy Rugosa-types that are good to Zone 4. I want these beds to be beautiful, but as self-sufficient as possible. Herbs and medicinal roses will be on the west-facing side.