Signs of life on the balcony.
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i didn’t realize sorrel was a perennial.
Neither did I, but I’m not complaining!
what area climate-wise do you live in?
Zone 7B.
technically i’m in zone 6b, surrounded by 6a. based on the actual low temp of 6⁰ f this last winter though, it would barely make the 7b zone range.
i like sorrel & have spare planters… just might see what happens here are far as overwintering it goes.
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Sorrel has come up as a perennial in my zone, 6B. (Snow Belt in southwestern Ontario)
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So… Florida has entered the chat. 9b/10a depending on the map.
Im a couple of weeks behind,but not irreparably so, as weve got some chilly weather coming this week, so Im loathe to set out new starts just to get them cold-stunned.
Ive ordered 5 yards of compost in bulk to fill my 4 x 8 beds. Ill till in some Black Kow and some chicken compost to amend that.
Ill put together a drip irrigation system, as we wont be reliably into the rainy season til June or so, and we are currently under severe drought conditions. Drip systems are exempt from the once-a-week watering restrictions, so are the way to go. Ive just ordered the rest of the bits to replace the old ones
So a pricey week, especially with having been RIFd this week, but its a one time cost that I wont have to repeat next year.
Bought some starts at a local grower that Ill put in once the chill passes and Ive got everything put together for them.
Chickens and bees are still on the to-be-contemplated list…one neighbor would be fine with both. The other neighbor would have apoplexy, which just makes them all the more appealing…
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Sitting here listening to it absolutely chuck down rain (for the first time in months) and being not a little annoyed that Ill have to use the hose to wet down rhe compost thats being delivered tomorrow (if it’s not sodden and heavy when it arrives).
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Patience is a virtue!
I started tomato and eggplant seeds today; almost all the varieties listed a few days ago, and Principe Borghese.
I spent yesterday at a class in a school garden yesterday!
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Ooh…the truck just left me a huge pile of lovely fluffy black compost…still warm.
I hadnt realized we’ve another front coming through so if I get it into the beds, Mother Nature will water it all in for me.
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We’re chipping away at it. Thus far have seeded (either directly or in a green house or both)
Spinach
Kale
Romaine
Carrots
Shelling peas
Potatoes (two varieties)
Onions (three varieties)
Tomatoes (two varieties)
Peppers (five varieties)
Herbs (various)
Our perennial herbs, berries, and fruit trees are coming back to life. An apricot tree has started blooming, with peaches and pears not far behind. Spring is coming!
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Wow! I know nothing about growing asparagus but I know that’s big! Does it have something to do with how old the “patch” is? Is it this years growth?
I am potting up some peppers, some for the third time already!
It’s been pretty hot already, but these manzano pepper buds look promising for mid March.
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It is big - a monster.
This particular bed (we have two) has been subject to much abuse. The oldest plants were planted (bare root) - probably 15 years ago? - at an entirely different location. Initially, and at our old house, we moved them every couple of years looking for a “better spot”, inadvertently setting everything back to “Go” each time we moved them.
When we moved to our new house about 10 years ago, we brought the plants with us, saw some good results and after a few years boosted the bed with new bare-root plants. All was good. Then, last year had to move everybody again when we raised the bed. Last year’s harvest out of this bed was abysmal - the early fern-out caused by disturbing the plants brought in hoards of asparagus beetles. We ended up treating the bed before we harvested much. This year, we’ve been high in anticipation seeing what might come out of it. So far = OK (but not as good as a new bed).
This big boy - I suspect - is from one of the oldest plants who somehow was left unscathed. We’re going to give this bed another year before deciding whether to throw in the towel and plant a new one.
In the meantime, about 3 years ago we planted a second bed - nicely raised - and it’s looking good so far. Everything is growing uniformly.
My #1 take-away is - if one is he##-bent on growing asparagus (which we are) - is to plant a bed in one’s best spot, and leave it there undisturbed - year after year - for up to 20 years. Any moving and shuffling will set one back seriously on one’s harvest. My #2 takeaway is plant a back-up bed.
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Interesting! So is that spear more than a year old or something, or is it the age of the crown!
That’s the age of the crown. The spear’s come up every year. You harvest the bigger spears when edible (resembling grocery-store fodder), and let the thinner ones grow 4-5 feet tall to fern out to draw energy to the plant for next year.
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Oh! 
Always learning!
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I’m taking tips! (hahaha pun intended) . I planted asparagus last year. I hope some will be thick enough to eat, but I’m guessing I’ll have to wait until next spring.
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I worked hard this week!
Im super happy with the compost I received…fluffy and black, and active enough it was still warm when I got it last week.
Rushed to get it into the raised beds as we were expecting storms later in the day and I wanted it to get watered in…without having to shovel heavy, wet compost!
Let it settle a couple of nights as the temps in the low 40s were a little cool for the tiny starts.
But now? Tomatoes (in earthboxes), peppers, cukes, zucchini, cantaloupe, watermelon, taters, romaine, kale, and onions are settling into their new homes.
Also planted boxes with glads and calla lilies, dragged a huge pile of palm fronds to the curb (and stacked more for next week’s collection) and tidied my front entryway.
Phew.
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