Apples in Bloom. 4.21.21

Going around the yard, I think most of the apple varieties are blooming now.  It's interesting - sometimes such a big deal is made about having the same bloom times for pollination.  Right now, only a few are not in full bloom.  Some flowers might not get pollinated.   Then again, thinning the set fruit is a pretty big chore, so that's probably a good thing.  

Finished blooming - only Dolgo Crabapple.

More or less full bloom:

Gravenstein, Airlie Red Flesh, Rubinette, Northpole columnar, TastyRed Columnar, Golden Treat Columnar, Jonathan, Jonared, Priscilla, Prima, Queen Cox, King David, Jonagold, WineCrisp, Zestar, Sweet-16, Redlove Era, Akane, Sutton's Beauty, and probably some I've missed.

First Apple Blossoms. Redlove Era and Urban Apple Tasty Red

 These are the earliest apple blossoms so far.  I have not checked down the hill.  Maybe there are some there too.

Urban Apple Tasty Red

Redlove Calypso.  Almost blooming.

Redlove Era.  These surprised me.

Irrigation System Project. 4.18.2021

 Here is the start of my new irrigation system.  There is still a lot of work to be done, and more parts to buy.

I buried the stretch of 1/2 inch tubing that goes from the tap to the garden.  It's easily depressable, and I don't want to trip over it or mow it, so it's buried in 3/4 inch vinyl pipe that was lying around for years.

Here is the splitter.  We still have access to the regular garden hose.  The irrigation system side also has an anti-siphen valve. 

This drone view shows most of the area I want to irrigate.  I think I need four separate lines, each with its own shut-off valve.  One for sweet corn area, and strawberries.  Corn requires a higher volume output.  One for miniature fruit trees, which I think I'll set up with soakers.  The tomatoes will also get soakers, I think, which is good to prevent soil borne diseases from contaminating the leaves.  The raised beds will get 1/4 inch drippers, which I think will be easier to judge the output.  It will all depend on how I feel about each arm of the system.  Maybe tomorrow or the next day, the section for raised beds will be completed and ready for testing.  There are various complications in each area, which I will work out as I go.

Seedling Update. 4.18.2021

 Here are the current seedlings.  Some of the tomatoes, all of the potatoes, a few of the peppers, the marigolds, and early started lettuce are all planted outside.  Today I up-potted the seedlings of dwarf tomato varieties and kept a few extras.

All that's left to start are some squash, pumpkins, and cucumbers.  If I'm in the mood for it, I might plant some Swiss chard and a few other veggies directly in the garden now, and of course corn and beans in May and June.

Daffodils are Still Blooming. 4.15.2021

It's nice to see that some of the daffodils are still blooming.