Transplanting the Seedlings

This week has been a busy one with Pap and I trying to get our seedlings into the ground. The weather has been pretty nuts with a few frosts all the way into the first week of April. Of course this prevented us from transplanting until the weather warmed up!

Pap did try a new technique in the garden called double dig. There is some controversy surrounding this method, and it is a very intensive physically demanding technique. Basically, it involves removing the top layer of soil to the depth of a spade in a trench format and setting it aside. Then loosening the soil underneath and adding compost, manure and other amendments before adding the soil back to the top layer. Many people say this is just alot of extra work which can be done more simply by tilling or mixing in your soil and amendments to the top layer. The other side of the argument says this technique helps with aeration, drainage, and that more veggies are reaped from this type of bed. So we will see! The area Pap did the double dig is where the corn will go along with squash and beans. Yes, we love to plant using the three Sisters method. This is a companion gardening method where you plant your corn, add a squash or two below the corn ,and then add peas around base of corn. The corn grows, and the peas trellis up and around the corn. 

Here is a picture of the soil bed that Pap did the double dig on. Only a gardener can truly appreciate a picture of only dirt! Right!

We transplanted squash, a few varieties of peppers, eggplant, zucchinis, cucumbers, and planted seeds of marigolds and nasturtiums between some of the beds. These are flowers that help control some of the un-beneficial insects. Apparently, some "bad" insects are repelled by these flowers. Nasturtiums and marigolds also help attract pollinators along with other beneficial insects.

Here are some of our transplants grown from seeds. They were busting at the seams in their little containers, and now stand happy and tall in the ground.

 Happy Gardening!

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