Gardener Du Jour

Part III
Season: Almost Spring

This is the continued story of Marshall and his garden tips. Follow me as I learn from Marshall, a gardener for 61 years.










Marshall: "I'm mad."
Why?



"The peach tree is about to bloom. I'm afraid we'll get another freeze. I'm not happy. What can I do if it gets killed."

Marshall, is it time for me to start seeds?
"Almost. I'll tell you when. You aren't going to have much of a garde, anyway. But you can try.
I'm tired. I'm upset."

He shakes his head back and forth.

"This climates different. Don't know when we're getting a cold spell. Hey, I got basil in a little pot. You can make your own seeds. You know the little black seeds. If you start your plant early enough, you'll get seeds from it. You can make seeds from just about anything."

"I'm going to plant some yellow stripe zucchine. I know you like it. Oh, well. The peach tree--she'll take 28-26 degrees. No bees around either."

It's looking good.

"It should be pruned. Let it go--I'll tie the limbs. This tree ought to last 20 years. I don't know if I'll last that long. Here's my Dutchess Pear. Look at these flower buds. No bees to pollinate them. They'll just drop off."

"Pray to God we don't get a freeze. I'm going to call the ag center to see if it's too early for my trees to bud."

"See how the dirt is--oh, it's warm."

GARDENING: Gardener Du Jour
Part I Season: Winter
Here's the dirt: Marshall says, "go get your gardening soil" for your seeds.
Is it time to start little, baby seedling?

No. Is it time to dream over the seed catalogs? No. It's time to order, man! Who in the world is Marshall? Marshall is gardener du jour. Come back and I'll share Marshall's story, his gardening secrets, and his garden with you.

Not exactly the garden in three dimensions, but I'll send you pictures of the masterpiece. You wouldn't want to see mine. I harvest and nurture renegade sprouts from compost that vine across the garden making a mess until I exterminate it round about August.

See you for our almost spring, spring, almost summer, and summer into harvest garden link.

Gardener Du Jour Part II

Season: Almost Spring
Marshall left dropped this by the house. “I knew you liked flowers.”

22 degress Marshall plans his garden when he’s not planting.
“I started some seeds to see if the potting soil was any good. Two years ago, I got a terrible batch—lost everything. It’s good soil. You’re plants won’t dampen off.”
Dampen off?

“Yeah, it’s a fungus. The plants just wilt and die.”

Thanks for the seed catalog, Marshall.

Marshall rubs his hands together. “I got millions of catalogs. I use them for reference. I cross check plants to see what they're resistant to. I try to avoid blight. I’m going to plant Early Goliath tomato seeds. They seem to work on my soil.”

“I hope I have a good garden this year. I’ve been gardening since I was five years old. It depends on so many things—the soil, the climate, the weather, finicky plants. Everything has to be just right.”
I’m growing everything—melons, squash, tomatoes. Even cantaloupe. Cantaloupe is the only thing I can’t grow. Marshall rests after planting a persimmon-"It probably won't do any good."

And, Marshall waits for spring.

Gardener Du Jour

Gardening Du Jour Pictures

<