This time I started with wet newspaper (soaked well for several minutes)...
...then a layer of soaked straw from my manure pile (horse/cow mix that's been rained on several months)....
.....with the "extra nutrient mix" (equal parts bone meal, greensand and kelp meal) sprinkled atop. This was sprinkled on each subsequent layer: peat moss, Hyponex "potting soil" (mud-crumbled to break it up), peat moss, crumbly/composted manure. 
...then a layer of soaked straw from my manure pile (horse/cow mix that's been rained on several months)....
.....with the "extra nutrient mix" (equal parts bone meal, greensand and kelp meal) sprinkled atop. This was sprinkled on each subsequent layer: peat moss, Hyponex "potting soil" (mud-crumbled to break it up), peat moss, crumbly/composted manure. Then it was planted with: 2 eggplants 'Japanese White Egg' in the back, zinnia 'Benary's Giant Purple' in the center, pepper 'Early Jalapeno' in the right front corner and Tomato 'Sun Pride' in the left front corner (planted lying down like the ones in the last post). Add a layer of mulch and we're almost good to go.
This planter is out in the open along a regular deer path by the river, so I decided to leave nothing to chance! This was a nice piece of mesh, so I just bungeed it to stay up, trying to keep it intact as possible for later use. This planting took place June 24th.
By July 6th, I have a zinnia opening up!
And by the 10th, it was almost ready to cut and bring inside.
Blooms were visible on the eggplants by August 16th...
....along with small tomatoes and this "Herculean" grasshopper (see how it looks like he's balancing the tomato on his head? Dorky, I know :)
'Early Jalapeno' peppers are coming along nicely....
....and the entire planter is bursting at the seams by the end of August!
The zinnia produced 5 flowers, and if we hadn't seen an early freeze there would have been more for sure.
The blooms get so pom-pom looking as they age......
...I find them to be display-worthy until they fall apart!
The eggplant only managed to produce this lone fruit, despite the many blossoms. This year I'm planting shorter season varieties (this 'Japanese White Egg' was listed as 65 days, this year I'm planting 'Fairy Tale' at 50 days, and 'Udmalbet' at 51 days.) 
However, when sauteed with mushrooms, swiss chard, and 'One Ball' summer squash my eggplant was deliciously satisfactory! :-p
As the season wound down, this little garden responded very well to the wire protection....
....making quite a structural statement in my yard!
The 'Early Jalapeno' peppers were harvested twice...
This planter is out in the open along a regular deer path by the river, so I decided to leave nothing to chance! This was a nice piece of mesh, so I just bungeed it to stay up, trying to keep it intact as possible for later use. This planting took place June 24th.
By July 6th, I have a zinnia opening up!
And by the 10th, it was almost ready to cut and bring inside.Blooms were visible on the eggplants by August 16th...
....along with small tomatoes and this "Herculean" grasshopper (see how it looks like he's balancing the tomato on his head? Dorky, I know :)
'Early Jalapeno' peppers are coming along nicely....
....and the entire planter is bursting at the seams by the end of August!
The zinnia produced 5 flowers, and if we hadn't seen an early freeze there would have been more for sure.
The blooms get so pom-pom looking as they age......
...I find them to be display-worthy until they fall apart!
The eggplant only managed to produce this lone fruit, despite the many blossoms. This year I'm planting shorter season varieties (this 'Japanese White Egg' was listed as 65 days, this year I'm planting 'Fairy Tale' at 50 days, and 'Udmalbet' at 51 days.) However, when sauteed with mushrooms, swiss chard, and 'One Ball' summer squash my eggplant was deliciously satisfactory! :-p
As the season wound down, this little garden responded very well to the wire protection....
....making quite a structural statement in my yard!The 'Early Jalapeno' peppers were harvested twice...
.....before the frost ended our party! Unfortunately the tomatoes never did ripen :(
More 2009 reviews on the way...
More 2009 reviews on the way...
6 comments:
"Herculean grasshopper" LOL
LOVE the "tub in a chair" planter!
And the wire screen did not detract from it's beauty. Excellent idea!
It certainly was healthy and productive too.
Dinner looked yummy. Where those home grown mushrooms too?
What kind of bucket is that, sitting next to the jug of zinnias?
v.
Thank you! The mushrooms WERE home-grown 'wine cap stropheria'...post on them is pending :) The bucket is an old mop bucket with wooden wringer rollers...I just love to collect that kinda stuff!
We love all your cool plants!
Thank you so much!! :)
THank you for that breath of summmer in the midst of a damp snowy winter. I love the grasshopper photo!
Funny thing is that I was stressing a bit last year over my lack of blogging time during the growing season...I think looking back during the winter is definately good for the winter blahs.
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