My poor little garden is beginning to not be poor any more. It’s growing! I’ve been able to apply some worm tea to one of the boxes but I don’t remember which one it was. I should have noted it for comparison but it’s too late now. Fish emulsion in rainwater is another thing I’ve fed it. I don’t think it had enough goodies in it when I first planted. I may be overdoing it now but it seems to be thriving. Finally.
This is another thing I’m trying—instant compost. I take my table scraps and chuck them in the blender:

I don’t add water to this. It’s juicy enough as it is. Using the tamper, I guide the chunks into the blades until they are all chopped up:

Taking care not to let it touch the plants, I pour it around the base:

According to the people at VitaMix, it will slowly decompose and feed the soil. They also say to use a separate container (an additional purchase) to grind the scraps for compost. Why? I ask. It’s all food and it’s clean. I don’t put anything on the garden or feed Ralphs that hasn’t been washed first.
As you can see, it doesn’t make enough for all the plants so I put it around the ones that seem to need it the most at the time. Besides the one that had the main stem die, something knocked another (maybe a neighborhood cat?) and broke it. It’s coming out from the bottom and I’m rooting the piece I had to take off. I don’t think I’ll remove the suckers this time around.
Since I don’t have a system for a trellis or staking, I’m letting the plants sprawl this season. Next year, I plan to have another box in a sunny location where I can actually either cage the plants or tie them up:
Here’s my Cinnamon Basil that’s beginning to bush out. It tries its best to flower but I keep pinching it back. I put some in my tomatoes this afternoon and it was delish!
And now, TA-DA! (Drum roll, please!) Baby tomatoes!
This variety is Early Girl. I couldn’t resist getting them because they bear much more quickly than anything else and getting a late start is putting me ‘way behind. I should be able to eat one before frost. Watch for more in the Square Food Adventure!
Oooh, cool, Tommie, you’re my hero! Three years Raw AND an accomplished gardner!!!
XO
FLoop
I can claim the three years but accomplished gardener, I ain’t… 🙁
fabulous, tommie! how rewarding to start seeing the fruits of your labor!!!
It was work getting it set up but I can truly say it’s been feed, water and sit back and watch since. The tomato in the picture has tripled in size. Still little but getting bigger!