How lucky we are when we can find a mentor. Debbie is a Master Gardener and willing teacher. And since I was not raised on a farm or with any pass down farming knowledge, it has been all trial and error for twenty years! Mostly error. Every week that I go to her house and stand in her greenhouse in all its tropical luxury or outdoors among the cattle and rolling hills, I learn so much. So many things that would seem obvious coming to light.
We planted onions last week. In a 10×10 bed she stuck the thermometer in and it registered 40 degrees. We gathered up the bags of onions. Every four inches we punched a little hole a few inches deep with our fingers. Four inches in every direction went an onion. She asked me if I knew which way to plant them, what side faces up? I was so thankful that I did. Sometimes I feel like a complete kindergartener in the soil but then I am happy in those moments when I can puff out my chest and say, “Yup!” I have planted my fair share of upside down daffodils, tulips, onions, and garlic over the years. I think I know better now! I rather fear that in a month or so she will know which side of the bed I planted. I imagine her beautifully straight rows on her end and the crooked grid on mine! Onions every which way!
Roughly 20 minutes of water a day if there is no moisture. Perhaps doubled that in the heat of summer. In late summer the green tops will topple and the onions will be complete. Now I need to know how to cure them and keep them all winter. Mine turned to water after a month!
We are back from our trip and after redecorating my lair, I am getting out in that garden. Need to pick up a soil thermometer. Doug hasn’t had time to put in the drip lines yet so a low sprinkler on the early crops should be sufficient until he has a sunny weekend.
I can already smell the caramelized onions….