A Seed Saver's Garden

[digitS']

We have Tokyo onions as a regular.

They are growing in a very shady location this year. That may not be so good and they are really growing slowly. Purchased onion sets should make up for some of the lag.

I will be able to report on how much shade the Tokyo can take – no afternoon sun.. One thing, there isn't a great deal of need for the giant size they usually accomplish but, we will see.

 

[flowerbug]

What a day!

One of my least favorite garden jobs (and also most favorite at the same time, from an end game point of view) is getting rid of turf to increase garden space. It is the most challenging, unpleasant work and the fact that my yard is full of clay doesn't help. ...

just be glad it isn't full of quack grass, but yes, i'm in a similar situation and it's hard to keep areas clear once i've got them done. it takes a few dedicated years to get the quack grass out and if any is next door it is always wanting to come back in. a very deep and well sealed edge is critical and i don't have that in some places and pay for it each year in having to dig the stuff all out again.

 

[heirloomgal]

This is interesting about the Tokyo onion, never heard of it. But when I googled it the Latin name is Allium fistulosum which I planted this year. I've sort of pieced together (I think) that Tokyo White is a cultivar of of that species, but not the same as Welsh Onion which are also Allium fistulosum. I believe that is what I've planted, someone's longtime family grown Welsh Onions.

Is there a detectable difference between the two, Tokyo and Welsh? Funny too, I find the Welsh onions considerable spicier than the walking onions, so far into the season anyway.

 

[heirloomgal]

just be glad it isn't full of quack grass, but yes, i'm in a similar situation and it's hard to keep areas clear once i've got them done. it takes a few dedicated years to get the quack grass out and if any is next door it is always wanting to come back in. a very deep and well sealed edge is critical and i don't have that in some places and pay for it each year in having to dig the stuff all out again.

Oh there is indeed quack in there, but its mixed in with the 'true lawn grass' and a smattering of other weeds. It isn't much of a problem in that context, its when it runs up against the side of something that it seems to go nuts.

I've given up hope for a perfect swathe of weedless lawn, because I don't want to use the chemicals to achieve it. Or water it. And realistically, in the peak of summer heat all my neighbour's lawns which are professionally cared for by companies go brown and dormant, being only one type of grass. Those of us with a mix in the lawn actually stay green, the weeds, clover etc. all seem to handle the heat so much better. So long as I keep it short it's passable. I will probably try to organically fertilize it somehow this summer.

 

[heirloomgal]

It was a thrilling day! My body is feelin' it, but it was one of those days when so much got done. DD & I managed to expand our newly dug piece of front yard bed by double, which was what I hoped for but wasn't sure we'd do as the first part was so hard going. I'm pretty excited about having that new space! Bush beans will work marvelously there. The whole edible landscape feels like a nearly blank canvas waiting to be painted!

DH has been wanting to get rid of some growing boxes I've had (and used) for many years, and they've finally rotted enough that we pulled them apart and disposed of them. He was happy, lol. I took all that soil and added it to various areas in the front yard, particularly the new bed. The soil will be in good shape for beans and all that soil I added today has Rhizobium phaseoli in it naturally as I used that soil for growing beans several times.

I'm actually feeling so excited to start planting I can't quite concentrate enough to strategize a plan of what/where!! I did get the corn transplants put in though!! And luck was on my side because it's going to rain tonight!