To watch this video in better HD, click here to view on vimeo.
So this video was shot two weeks ago. As you’ll see, I gave you a taste of the incredible amount of rain we’ve been getting here in North Carolina and all around the southeast. At one point as the rain is coming down, you can just hear the frustration in my voice. Yet, I’ve been around gardening long enough to know that build it right and things will work out.
And that’s the case today. We’ve finally had a glorious week of sunshine and I’ve taken full advantage of being outside playing in the garden. The plants have indeed rebounded. The seeds have germinated nicely and the sun has dried out the saturated soil and greened up the foliage. But just as things are getting good, I’m leaving for a few days. I’m looking into a “garden-cam” to monitor the garden online 24/7. Am I obsessive? Maybe a little, but I do think about it often while I’m away, plus I thought it would be fun for anyone to log in and check out the garden whenever they want. So, I’m making progress on that but unfortunately it won’t be set up before I go.
Back to the video for a moment. I realized I didn’t take any time in it to show you how I constructed the bamboo fence. If anyone wants to know, just looking at it will let you see it’s a simple weaving process. So far it has served its purpose well and is quite sturdy. And of course, the best part is the price…free!
I haven’t spent any more money yet so I still have a little over ten dollars on standby to deal with potential pest or disease issues that might come up. I have two more videos to edit this week so look for those to appear soon.
Current Expense Count (still the same):
Seed starting Mix: 2 bags….$7.00
Twine for bamboo………….$2.27
Two tomato plants…………$5.28
Total……………………….$14.55
Available……………………$10.45
Thanks for keeping up with my progress and especially for your support. I love getting your comments on this blog and when you post them on YouTube too.
About Joe Lamp'l
Joe Lamp'l is the Host and Executive Producer of the award winning PBS television series Growing A Greener World. Off camera, Joe dedicates his time to promoting sustainability through his popular books, blog, podcast series, and nationally syndicated newspaper columns. Follow Joe on Twitter
Hi Finny. Great to hear from you! Yes, I find it hard to believe that I found myself wishing the rain would go away. But now, the sun dominates again and my garden is thriving. I am uploading my next video this afternoon so I hope you’ll check it out. You’ll really see the progress and a new challenge I’m dealing with. Thanks for being a part of it!
Wow – the rain is getting to you, too? It’s been SO cool here in NorCal (although nowhere near as rainy) that I’m thinking my tomatoes will probably take a full month longer to ripen over last year’s.
*Sigh* We must have wished too hard for rainfall this year given our recent years of drought. Sorry, Joe!
Meanwhile, you’re so patient with your cats. If my cat had curled up on one of my baby plants I’d have shooed her out of there in a heartbeat!
Keep it up – we’re rooting for you!
Another great video! I really am enjoying the progress reports, even though I know they are a bit behind reality.
Hope your garden got to soak up some sunshine earlier this week. We had a few hot, sunny days that the tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and okra really enjoyed. Of course, yesterday and today we are back to wet and cool, but summer will get to the Southeast, eventually, and all our gardens will be happy!
Thanks Brent. I appreciate every opportunity to spread the word and your assistance with that!
Hi Joe
Great site! Very informative. I hope your ideas will catch on. I will refer more people to your site in the future. Thanks again for putting this information together in one place.
Brent Pohlman
http://blogmidwestlabs.com
Hi John. Yeah, I’m too stubborn to back off now. Have not hit the super juice yet but it will make its debut on Saturday when I have a chance to see the garden again. It will be time!
HI Joe: Just checking on your progress tough luck with the weather. Have you tried the super juice yet (if you know what i mean) I have to give you credit for your determination to make the work.
Keep it up things will go your way, I am sure.
John
Hi Jeph. Actually both of those cat are mine, plus the one that usually makes the closing cameo. Funny how I get the “please Daddy, can we keep him?” look every time a new kitten shows up!
Regarding planting your tomatoes, I think you may have the right approach. They do well when you plant them in troughs and cover them up like you’re suggesting. Maybe lay off the watering on the ones already deeply planted and they should recover.
By the way, those pepper plants in the video episode were from you (at least the biggest ones!). Did you recognize your plastic bags?
LOL I’m guessing only one of those cats is yours?? And aren’t they helpful- you finally get a non-rainy day, a chance for the plants to recover from having their roots drowning, and the cat wants to sit on your plants. I’m working with our puppy – the same “Off!” that gets him off people and occasionally furniture also means “stay off this big plot of fun-looking dirt with some sprouts here and there!”
So I planted most of my tomatoes last weekend, and finished them this weekend. Many of the ones I planted last weekend are SERIOUSLY drooping/wilting. I think the soil’s so heavy (a few inches of what I’ve amended overall, with “bowls” of amended, compost-filled soil stirred up with clay, all surrounded with clay) – it seems like maybe the “plant them as deep as possible” isn’t working for last week’s tomatoes. I think they’re drowning after all the rain we’ve had (1/3 inch so far this week, nearly 2 inches last week). Have you had this happen before? For the tomatoes I planted this weekend, I decided to try lying them on their sides in troughs that are only a couple inches deep… Fingers crossed!
And THANK YOU SO MUCH for the video of the bamboo! I’ve seen some of that stuff around here in various places and never known was it was. I just tried a more scenic route home last week, and passed a house with a side yard that was FULL of what I was considering “super tall, dead asparagus ferns”. Now I know what it probably is – bamboo!
Nice! I particularly like the addition of cat paws. Helps produce a nice pepper. ::grin::
Keep up the good work.
Take care,
Shawna Coronado
Hi Bryan. I hear you. I’m now on vacation and away from my garden so I’m already antsy about the watering situation while I’m gone. I’ll keep you posted on the developments for sure so stay tuned!
It hasn’t rained for quite as long down here in FL, but it rained enough over the last few weeks to put a damper on my gardening plans as well. It will be instructive to see how your plans (and plants) adapt to the weather!
Also, love the bonus cat clips!