Kinda puts the kibosh on the few outside tasks I was planning for this morning but there are plenty of other things to put my efforts on inside.
You all know I'm not doing the full-blown garden this year but along with a couple of beds of greens for daily big salads this summer . . . I did plant out a raised bed of slicing cucumbers on the 15th of this month. (We do love our cucumbers. A summer tossed salad is not quite complete without several thick slices of crunchy cucs.) When hubby asked what I was doing with seeds in my hand, I innocently replied, "Oh, nothing." (He's having a little trouble keeping me from planting seeds when he's away from home or when I sneak out under the cover of darkness.)
Seriously, I told him I was putting in a bed of cucs because once they're planted, thinned and mulched, there is no more upkeep before picking and eating them. (I think I got away with that one.)
But immediately after planting the cucs on the 15th, we were hit with a spell of wet, cold weather and I was about convinced the seeds had rotted.
Surprise, surprise. The seeds weren't dead but just hibernating while waiting for some warmth to poke their little heads through the soil. That 90+ degree day we had last Friday evidently did the trick.My second replanting of lettuce still isn't doing anything. So many gardeners have been having trouble this year with seeds not germinating that it's starting to feel a little spooky. It's downright scary, and I don't like it.
My Monday laundry routine is started but I'll not be hanging anything out today because of the weather. Much as I like drying clothes on the line, it does speed up the whole process by just throwing the wet clothes in the dryer. Lazy, maybe, but to some extent more efficient. Except if you consider electricity and/or gas used by the dryer. Oh, heck. Alright, I'll go drag out my drying racks.
We have had a few dark days in a row, but no rain to accompany it. Kinda like getting the candy bar wrapper with out the candy bar. Glad to see your cucumbers made it up.
ReplyDeleteFinally we are getting a couple of sunny hot days. Unfortunately I don't really like hot days. I think I'll have to have the husband put in the window a/c unit. There goes my light in the kitchen.
ReplyDeleteGrow cukes, grow!
A BED of cucumbers??? LOL, I only plant 2 or 3 seeds at a time and have enough for pickles LOL! Thunderstorming here too, but we need it badly! And it's 91 outside so I imagine the bugs will be really bad when it's done raining - I'm staying in today :)
ReplyDeleteI am afraid of cucumbers. I planted some last year and there were giants in the vines! It just seems to soggy to plant anything. I hung up the heavy flannel sheets off the guest bed (can you tell how often I have guests???) and then the skies opened up and we had a monsoon. They may dry by August. Maybe.
ReplyDeleteCOUNT VEGGIE MOMMA-OUT THERE PLANTING IN DARKNESS-VERY FUNNY.I AM NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO THE HUMIDITY COMING ALL WEEK.MY SON DAN SAYS HE'S DYING OF HYPOTHERMIA IF I TURN ON THE AIR AND I SAY I'M DYING OF THE HUMIDITY. HE PAYS THE UTILITY BILLS BUT I PAY THE HOUSE MORTGAGE-WHO DO YOU THINK WON-HA!@I TIED UP MY TOMATERS TODAY-YAY THEY GREW A INCH
ReplyDeleteIt HAS been quite the challenging growing season this year! First so cold, then so dry, and then so cool and rainy...Glad your cukes made it! :)
ReplyDeleteJane - That is THE MOST frustrating thing when you need rain . . . to get the dark, gray skies but no moisture. Hang in there, lady.
ReplyDeleteSparkless - I can take hot days better than hot, HUMID days! That humidity just drains me.
Erin - Okay, a bed of cucs sounds like more than it is. I make an 8' long raised mound down the middle of a 4 x 8 bed and plant the cucs in a row on the top of the mound. When they germinate, I thin to only 4-5 plants, then let those grow. And, yes, it's way too many cucs for the two of us to eat, but I can usually give them away without too much trouble!
Susan - You've gotta keep on top of those cucumbers or they can get so big you can hardly lift 'em! I throw over-sized ones to the chickens/geese and they gobble 'em up. (They like salt and pepper on them.)
judy - I'm not a fan of air conditioning either but we USUALLY don't have much need for it up here.
Patty - Thanks, Patty. How are your tomatoes doing?
You are a sneaky one....Ms Oh-I'm-not-gardening this year. Uh huh. You're going to end up with a better garden than anyone. It starts with salads and what's next?
ReplyDeleteI don't blame you one bit though. I could NEVER NOT garden. You're a do-er
We've got the drippy mist this afternoon-that ought to about finish those berries with the mold.
Salad greens and cucumbers... the gateway veggies....
ReplyDeleteJudy
Sue - Oh, rats. So sorry to think about the rest of your strawberries getting moldy. If it was too dry, you could water them but not much you can do when it gets too wet. :o(
ReplyDeleteJudy - Can't go without salads in the summer time!
It rained all this week, which actually was great cause I was busy teaching sewing at a day camp and would have had no time to water or do anything in the garden anyways. By the end of the week I had a jungle to control (weeds, tomatoes gone crazy). I'm hoping I will have lots of cucumbers this year, so far it looks good. I love to juice them with a lime. So good...... light and refreshing.
ReplyDeleteok, please send some of your energy my way.....pretty please?
ReplyDeleteTina
I knew I should have sent those tomato seeds to you! See if I ever listen again! You've gone all Comando! With underwear I hope!
ReplyDeleteJulie - Juicing cucs with a lime! Now that DOES sound refreshing. I'll have to try it. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteTina - Sorry, I'm using up every bit of energy I have . . . puff, puff. I keep thinking if I could just get more sleep, I'd have a little left over at the end of the day!
APG - With underwear . . . and a bug jacket!! ;o}