Transplanting the turban

As suspected, the Turk's Turban squash (and the patty pan squash) seeds are a bit big for the little compost pods and are quickly outgrowing them. The roots are already stretching far beyond and I fear if I don't do something about it they'll just die.


Today I cleaned up some old plastic pots (I have collected lots over the years) and got some potting soil to transplant the bigger squashes. There, more room.


I'll wait a few days for the patty pan. One is doing pretty well, the other is just starting to peek through. Overall, I am pretty pleased with the pods. Compact, very easy to handle and transplant, everything germinated eventually, and there's no danger of the soil getting water-logged. I still have another tray but wondering if I actually need it - if everything survives then I already have plenty to fill up my little garden.

Reviewing my plant list for this year I just noticed that I should get the Welsh onions and the rocket (aka arugula) sown. It's not a desperate rush, it's been so cold until recently that a few days won't hurt, but may as well do a first sowing. I have a habit of not spacing sowing out over time so I will try and improve on that.

What I should really do is make a plan of what goes where - I haven't done that this year. Last year, the tomatoes were in the wrong place (not sunny enough) and I think they'll go where the beans were. Keep forgetting what I have, so yes, definitely more planning needed...

Portland sauna

Yet again it is too hot. Too hot for humans and too hot for plants. Everyone and everything wishes for AC. I think I even heard snippy mutterings from the rainbow chard today.

I also decided in my wisdom that today was the day that I would harvest the seeds of the arugula aka rocket. As a consequence I also had to sort out the strawberry plants and their runners that sharing the same area (long story but as reported earlier they were actually growing outside my plot boundary). 100 degree weather is not really ideal for this endeavour. I also dug up my first harvest of potatoes (Dark Red Norland, enough for a small meal, slightly disappointing amount). Nevertheless, I got it done, even though sweat was pouring off me.

Finally the first pepper harvest and others on the way. I've now had quite a few tomatoes but still waiting on more to come. The Velvet Red is a small cherry tomato which I wouldn't grow again - not enough output to make it worth it, although the foliage is pretty. The Momotaro is good and uniform with quite a good taste. The Costoluto Genovese is hanging full and is delicious but sometimes has the tendency to rot at the top of the stem. I am still waiting for Black Prince (which is starting to ripen) and the Striped German.

Lots of different flowers again - a sunflower has opened up, the aubergine aka eggplant is prettier than I ever thought and the flowers on the cucumbers and beans ensure lots of produce to come.

It's in times like this that you notice that the garden sucks up most of your life. Watering and harvesting every day is time-consuming. But then you take what you have laboured for home, cook it, serve it to friends and everything is alright.

Second harvest and more prep

What a difference a couple of weeks can make.

There are now about 10 tomato plants in my plot plus 4 more in my backyard. What was left over from what I couldn't fit into my backyard went in yesterday (I see a tomato glut in my future...).

Toxicfingers gave me a contraption for my birthday that seems to be very popular here in the Northwest: the "wall-o-water". It's a ring of ribs that are filled with water and form a teepee around the plant. The water is supposed to heat up during the day and then radiate warmth back during the night. I used it to protect my most feeblest tomato plant, the Gold Nugget Cherry. (Note that the other tomato plants are looking fine and are indeed already flowering)

Everything is doing grand. Second harvest of the year has been some sprouting broccoli and arugula. Both are already starting to flower and I hope they are not too bitter for eating. I need to remember to reseed some more to keep them going over the summer.

The strawberries should also be ready soon (the handful that I will get out of it). So far no sign of slug nibbles; coffee grounds may actually work to keep them away.

The collards and potatoes are sprouting, too. Very exciting!

Started my first set of pole bean sowing, a mixture of Kentuck Wonder and some "Tuscan" beans I got on Earth Day at a community garden stall. I think soon the garden will really start to fill out.

Garden Clear-up

Remember how I said that spring has sprung? Well, not so much this week... Yesterday there was an Earth Day event at Overlook Park to which I cycled through hail. Good outcomes though: ended up with more free seeds (corn, borage, sunflowers) and other free swag (little thermos!).

Which brings me on to my first update on seeds. As I reported a couple of weeks ago, I saved some seeds from a store-bought squash to see if it would be usable. It is!


Now I have to figure out what to do them until it is time to plant them in the garden...

Today was the community garden clear-up (early 9am start - ugh - but new thermos came in handy). Usual suspects turned up to do some work and we managed to clear a path of weeds before turning to our own projects. Another clear-up is scheduled for beginning of May, with more volunteers (hopefully). Apparently all plots have been allocated and there is now a waiting list. Two more people turned up when I was leaving, they were the garden's Produce for People coordinators and have commandeered the raised beds - usually reserved for disabled people but not claimed this year - for growing stuff for the program. They used to be at Reed (famed and fabled for being nice and huge and then being closed to make way for student dorms) and seem very organised.


Before leaving I was checking over my plot briefly. Removed a few weeds but now it's easy if I can keep on top of them. Strawberries are still liking it. Arugula Roquette has germinated - yay!


There is no clear sign of the other variety of arugula yet but I'm hoping there will be soon. I think the broccoli was starting to peek through too. Sowed some chives and another row of broccoli.

Came home, had some breakfast/brunch, and then nerdishly made a list of seeds and a planting calendar. Now I'm feeling sleepy and I need a nap...

My new friend is a rake

The garden fork has been my constant companion since I started this garden. I have now dug over the entire plot 3 times. Not sure whether a spade would have been a better tool (there are none in the tool shed). I prefer the fork to the "claw" - it doesn't feel comfortable enough and turning over weeds on a large scale is impossible.

Today, I went back (in the rain!) to fork in the semi-composted manure I spread on it last week. As I went along I removed all grasses and sprouts in the soil that managed to keep on growing after being buried for at least 2 weeks. I certainly don't want those to get going when the weather gets a bit warmer...

The soil now actually feels and looks nice. Crumbly enough to use a rake to form one small bed (not worth it yet for the rest). Raking a new bed is very enjoyable, it feels like precision surgery after all that digging.


I had some strawberry plants in pots and seed packets at the ready to make use of the new bed. I sowed two short rows of rocket: Bog-standard rocket and Sylvetta Wild (both from the Territorial Seed Company). The strawberry plants were a "parent" plant I got from Livinsgscape Nursery last year (a free gift after buying something else) and 4 plants from its runners. Hopefully we do not get a late frost but keeping them in pots any longer didn't seem like a good idea (I keep forgetting to water them as they sit on the porch). The variety is Hood:

Hood is a pacific northwestern variety characterized by fruit borne well above the soil on strong, upright clusters. The berry is large, round and conic. The skin is glossy bright medium red. The berries are firm with a pleasant flavor. The fruit ripens midseason. Nice for preserves and jams. - Lassen Canyon strawberry growers

The first plants and seeds are in. Woohoo! The season has started.