Bees are gone. Not sure if was CCD or something else. They did leave me a bunch of honey at least, so when the rhubarb comes in I'll be making some rhubarb honeywine. I fed the dead bees to the fish. The tilapia were not super excited, but I caught the cats actually top feeding to get at the floating bees. With a second topbar hive standing ready, I am prepared to kidnap another swarm when the season starts in another month. I'll get the other defunct hive cleaned up and ready too, in case I have opportunity for two swarms.
I hooked up the LED grow light, and could virtually see the plants respond within minutes. It was especially gratifying to see my moringa come back from being a stick. I had to move it in to avoid the cold.
Got most of the garden in, including some companion plants for my fruit trees:
Sweet cherry - Mint, yarrow, pole beans
Tart cherry - Yarrow, nasturtium
Juneberry - Chives, oregano
Peach - Yarrow
Asian pear - mint, pole beans
Crabapples - pole beans
Apricot - Yarrow
Aside from providing ground cover around the bases of the fruit trees, the beans help to fix nitrogen, the yarrow attracts pollinators, is edible, and medicinal. The mint and oregano I transplanted. Everything else, planted from seed.
I was intent on getting some perennials going this year, so planted two varieties of asparagus and some horseradish. The yarrow, mint, and chives should also be perennials. It seems the neighbor's raspberries have run under the fence and are volunteering next to where I planted a different variety of raspberries last year. The strawberries are already blossoming, and the lovage is thriving.
My hugel bed is a big U, planted like this with mostly annuals:
Debating about whether to bother with tomatoes this year, previous attempts have not been very successful. I planted an extra two containers with lettuce this year to keep up with my 7 year old, who loves salad. I prefer to keep it in large planters on the patio, for convenience and to keep the rabbits out of it.
Tried grafting apple scions onto my crabapples again this year, so far without success. Looks to be a good year for crabapples though, judging by the blossoms, which made it through the one mild freeze we had in early April.
I hooked up the LED grow light, and could virtually see the plants respond within minutes. It was especially gratifying to see my moringa come back from being a stick. I had to move it in to avoid the cold.
Got most of the garden in, including some companion plants for my fruit trees:
Sweet cherry - Mint, yarrow, pole beans
Tart cherry - Yarrow, nasturtium
Juneberry - Chives, oregano
Peach - Yarrow
Asian pear - mint, pole beans
Crabapples - pole beans
Apricot - Yarrow
Aside from providing ground cover around the bases of the fruit trees, the beans help to fix nitrogen, the yarrow attracts pollinators, is edible, and medicinal. The mint and oregano I transplanted. Everything else, planted from seed.
I was intent on getting some perennials going this year, so planted two varieties of asparagus and some horseradish. The yarrow, mint, and chives should also be perennials. It seems the neighbor's raspberries have run under the fence and are volunteering next to where I planted a different variety of raspberries last year. The strawberries are already blossoming, and the lovage is thriving.
My hugel bed is a big U, planted like this with mostly annuals:
| Garlic | Garlic | |
| Dill | Carrots | |
| Cucumbers | Peas/ Radish | |
| Beans | Kale | |
| Onion | Broccoli | Onion |
| Onion |
Debating about whether to bother with tomatoes this year, previous attempts have not been very successful. I planted an extra two containers with lettuce this year to keep up with my 7 year old, who loves salad. I prefer to keep it in large planters on the patio, for convenience and to keep the rabbits out of it.
Tried grafting apple scions onto my crabapples again this year, so far without success. Looks to be a good year for crabapples though, judging by the blossoms, which made it through the one mild freeze we had in early April.