The Fun Survival Stuff Is Here!
Gardening March 2013 - Lemons & Raspberries
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| Before The New Planting - Container Garden - March 20 2013 Image: M Burgess |
I said when I started this blog that there is fun stuff to do when you are doing survival planning and one of those activities is gardening.
My prepper planning includes two resident rodents, Guinea Pigs so I insist on having access to fresh home grown vegetables for them and for me. I live in Las Vegas so the gardening can get a little tricky here, but it is simple to set up.
I have a small porch but still manage to keep some lovely growing things in pots there. With the weekend coming up it is a great time to put in or replant a garden if you have not already done so.
In our fair city the weather for Las Vegas is finally beautiful and just right for gardening projects. Summer knocks most plants for a loop with the heat but it is early enough to get some plants going and set before the heat comes down.
I was driving home today intent on doing something entirely different when I just had to drop by the plant place! Well, I did need some new green peppers! I love having things in the garden that I and my Guinea Pigs can eat! Nothing beats a fresh tomato or anything home grown!
My container garden barely survived below freezing temperatures. I was really surprised several of the plants lived through this cold snap. A strawberry, a rosemary plant, 2 lavender plants, and a few onions made it through. My two year old lemon tree is still hanging in there. I wish like heck I had more room and more time. I would be found for sure in a section of my garden somewhere up to planting and tending some tasty goodies!
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| Lemon Tree Blossoms - March 20 2013 Image: M Burgess |
Lemon Tree In A Pot?
My lemon tree is in full bud and bloom and if the wind doesn't knock all the buds off of it again I should have a nice crop of lemons. These flowers are very fragrant and they are fun for the bees and butterflies to visit. There visits mean the flowers are pollenated and will bear fruit. In fact their are tiny lemons on it as we speak.. er rather read.
The pollen count is high right now. On St. Patrick's Day in Las Vegas we generally get the first dusting of flower pollen everywhere so my allergies are kicking up at this time as well. Funny how all that yellow green dust comes in to welcome the Irish holiday!
Ah, it's ok. The sneezing means I don't have to bundle up anymore. Spring is definitely here!
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| New Plants For Veggie Garden 2013 Image: M Burgess |
I added a new plant to test out this year. I have wanted to see if anything besides strawberries could be grown in a small scale garden so I purchased a raspberry plant. If it does well I am sure to have blossoms with in a couple of weeks.
I also bought these sets of starter plants:
Armenian Cucumbers- Banana Peppers - Green Peppers - Yellow Crook Neck Squash - Tomato - Raspberry - Sweet Pod Peas - And a marigold plant.
I just have to have a little color!
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| Marigolds Image: M Burgess |
Tried And True Vegetable Plants For Container Gardening
These plants are already tried and true container garden items for my experience as a small area gardener. I have successfully grown all of these over the past few years and I like the way they look when the plant fills out, the fruits and veggies they produce, and the general comfort they give me.
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| Potting Soil & Spade Image: M Burgess |
After you have set in your plants there is very little effort you need to take care of them. Watering when needed and tending to their pruning and picking is about all you need to do to keep up with them. The fertilizer will come out next week. It's a bit of a shock to them to be transplanted so I want to let them settle before I give em a boost of nutrients. Try to fertilize LIGHTLY every 6 weeks or so. Heavy fertilizer will burn them so go easy on it.
If you are replanting in containers you do need to add fresh soil every year and update the soil as it is drained out the bottom of the containers. I removed most of the leftover soil from the last season and replaced it for the new plantings and for the existing survivors.
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| Raspberry In A Pot Image: M Burgess |
Preparedness Garden For The Family
All of the foods in this garden are part of my family diet plan and survival preparedness efforts. My family at this time include me and 2 guinea pigs. If the we ever have to rely on a garden for food substances I want to make sure this garden is in full growth mode as my piggies are used to having fresh foods. You really can't store foods for pets like these. You have to grow them!
More about gardening and guinea pigs are in this article:
My Guinea Pigs Favorite Foods
You will see some images from my garden last year and photos of my ill fated Sweet Red Pepper plants....
I will update you with new pictures soon and I hope when you drop in you could share what you do for your garden and ...
Hey, do you know what I should expect from that new raspberry plant?
