Food Security – What I Planted In The Garden Today

It was a very productive day today in the garden and I was able to help a lot of plants. My food security is increasing daily and soon I’ll be free of any dependence on grocery stores and supermarkets.

Annuals

Alliums

Some of my garlic plants were too close and a few were peeking up out of the soil since the wind and rain had shifted it somewhat. So I managed to make sure the garlic plants and onion plants were placed better and I added soil where I could. It looks like the allium companion plants have all germinated as well. I have grown coriander in between the rows and I also planted a few chili plants there. There could be a few celery seedlings there as well, but the storm likely took them out.

Root vegetables

The beetroot seeds that I placed here and there throughout the garden have now turned into beautiful plants, so I carefully separated them so that each plant has more room to grow. I don’t like removing plants to give others more room, so either I do it this way or I eat anything that I need to remove as microgreens.

Tomatoes/tomatillos/physalis

I replanted some of the tomatoes to give them more room. The tomatillos and physalis were planted outside in their own containers.

Greenhouse

I used the soil from one emptied container to fill the vertical systems in the greenhouse.Then I planted spinach seedlings in the one the middle of the greenhouse. I divided the winter thyme seedlings up and planted them in the vertical system at the front of the greenhouse.

There were a few more germinated radish plants on my fibre mat, so I took them outside and planted them where there was room and the depth was enough. I also planted two hemp seedlings next to the corn.

The 4 Sisters

It looks like the magpie has gone to town on yet another squash plant, so I transferred one from another container where I had two.

I noticed that I have two more empty containers, so I will likely fill them with compost and sawdust and either transfer some tomatoes there or plant some more of the four sisters.

Perennials

Two of the three pink blueberry plants were lost since the weather kept shifting between spring and winter for weeks on end. They simply couldn’t take it, despite all of the winter protection they were under. The remaining pink blueberry plant has now been planted among the other blueberries. Hopefully, that will help it grow strong and turn into a viable plant by next year. As long as I have one, I can eventually propagate it.

I rearranged things a little bit more in the greenhouse and watered them lightly mid-day. I also watered a few perennials and the four sisters with fertiliser (golden water). But I do need to water with the hose as well.

The aphid population is going down – don’t jinx me – but I will have to keep up with the spray and water daily to make sure it stays that way.

There’s a lot of new growth on the plum tree, so by next year, it should have more of a wineglass shape. However, one part had broken off in the wind, so I removed the leaves from two-thirds of that fresh branch and planted it next to the plum tree.

The plum tree appears to love the company of the sage that I planted next to it.

Hydroponics

By transferring some of the hydroponic plants to the containers in the garden, I was able to make room for the varieties that I am hoping to grow all year round indoors. Komatsuna, salad, cherry tomatoes, celery and basil. I also have kale growing hydroponically, and a chili/pepper plant.

Conclusion

There will be more berries, rhubarb, asparagus, herbs and green onions for me to harvest this weekend.

I think that by the time I get back from my short vacation after midsummer, many of the plants will have begun producing food for me to harvest.

I have a lot of good food growing, but I’d still like to have more to harvest daily. I’ve noticed that some seedlings were lost to the storm last week, so I may need to evaluate and see if I need to plant some more.

It’s mostly leafy greens and black kale in particular that I am considering planting more of. I want to have so much of it that I can preserve it and eat it regularly. I love leafy greens.

That was it for today. Have a great day!