Paper Mulch And Irrigation System for Garlic. 4.28.22

 I weeded the garlic, then cut brown butcher paper for mulch.  That should minimize weeds and conserve water.  I laid the soaker hoses in place.  When it heats up and dries out, I'll test the soakers, possible punch new pinholes in the hoses, and test them.  If they work, then tuck them under the paper mulch.

Rhubarb Divisions. 4.28.22

 Here are the rhubarb divisions I forgot to photograph yesterday.  I'm happy they are growing so well.  They probably need another year to harvest.  I gave them a good dose of organic vegetable fertilizer when I moved them to their current locations.

The top one is too close to a clump of camassia.  I'll dig, divide, and move the camassia this summer when they are dormant.

Rhubarb Growing Nicely. 4.27.22

 The original rhubarb plants are quite lush now.

I forgot a photo of the divisions so that will need to happen another time.

Espalier Apples Blooming. 4.27.22

 This is Zestar.  Last year I grafted Rubinette to make the top two tiers.  It needs to fill in but this is a good start.  I haven't installed weed barrier and mulch here yet.  Soon (LOL).

This is Redlove (TM) Odysso (TM).  I grafted something else (Freedom.  I made a mistake in the prior post and said Liberty).  to the top a couple of weeks ago.  Not a great grafting job but buds are starting to swell.  This is my first bloom for Odysso.  Lubera nursery in Switzerland, who created the Redlove varieties, claims Odysso is the sweetest of their red flesh apples.

Rework, Repair, Improve and Extend Drip Irrigation System. 4.27.22

Last year, the areas where I installed drip irrigation were so much easier to water.  For areas without the drip lines, I had to carry buckets of water or haul garden hose around.  I'm not always up to all that work, especially in the heat when it is needed the most.

Plus of course, drip is considered more water conservation friendly.  So win/win.

However, I had to pull out the lines to install and repair the raised beds.

Time to get to work before summer. Waiting too long made it harder for me last year.

This year, each of the beds will have a shut off valve.  So when water isn't needed for a particular crop, I can turn off that bed's water supply and still water the others.  Or, when one needs less water thN the others, I can control that. 

This is the start of the system for the tall raised bed.  Next it will need lines to distribute water to each plant.  I may wait until the lettuce and radishes are done, and tomato plants are in place.  It's not needed yet.

Here it is for the big planter box.   This is an extension to supply water to more garden plants than I did last year.  Last year, I had to hand water this area.The main line is installed.  I'll add the distribution lines when they are needed, although I started some already.

The lines for the garlic are 1/4 inch soaker hoses.  Last year the clogged up and I used a safety pin to punch tiny holes and convert them into minisprinklers.  They are outside the bed because watering isn't needed yet and the lines get in the way of weeding.  It's messy.  I should find a way to make them neater.

The lines are all held in place by brackets.  That's a lot better than having them sprawl all over the place.

There is still a lot of work to do.  I ran out of energy and some of the parts.  I think this was a good start.  About 1/4 of the system is done, or about half of what I had last year, only better.