The North Field
Cliff wrote about planting corn, Rachel about tobacco crops, and most recently, Jerry about soybeans. Well, this past weekend I finally got my crops in. Yes, I know it’s late. Yes, I know my yield will be down because of that, but at least it’s done. I even regained control of the vineyard.
This is the north field more commonly referred to as the garden. It has four tiers. That’s the main reason Char won’t let me get a tractor. The cost of constructing a drivable ramp is a bit prohibitive. So I am forced to work the north field by hand.
The crops this year consists of six tomato plants, two green peppers, two squash, one zuccinni, two cucumbers, one rhubarb, and three grapes plants.
I spent a lot of time in the top tier of the garden, which I refer to as the vineyard. The grapes have been in for about four years.
Over the past two years, they had gone a little wild and had pretty well taken over that section of the garden. They were all over the ground as well as the fence. They needed to be pruned drastically. My neighbor really liked them along the fence and told me a few times they help “soften” the view of the fence. While I appreciate his input, I kept cutting them back while telling him there is a big difference between growing for decoration and a growing for production.
I started to explain to him the cane pruning method but he just walked away shaking his head.
This is the north field more commonly referred to as the garden. It has four tiers. That’s the main reason Char won’t let me get a tractor. The cost of constructing a drivable ramp is a bit prohibitive. So I am forced to work the north field by hand.The crops this year consists of six tomato plants, two green peppers, two squash, one zuccinni, two cucumbers, one rhubarb, and three grapes plants.
I spent a lot of time in the top tier of the garden, which I refer to as the vineyard. The grapes have been in for about four years.
Over the past two years, they had gone a little wild and had pretty well taken over that section of the garden. They were all over the ground as well as the fence. They needed to be pruned drastically. My neighbor really liked them along the fence and told me a few times they help “soften” the view of the fence. While I appreciate his input, I kept cutting them back while telling him there is a big difference between growing for decoration and a growing for production.
I started to explain to him the cane pruning method but he just walked away shaking his head.
posted by Ralph at 8:38 PM
14 Comments:
Ralph, love your North Field. It is as simple as our North field! Actually not, you have tiers, we have flat ground, perhaps we will take photos and post them. We also have a west crop that contains herbs and rhubarb, a few chives and oregano. I plant parsley and basi every year, the parsley hasn't ever come back, although it is supposed to, bienially! Hope you have a bumper crop even without that tractor!
my hubby makes homemade wine!! you should visit with your grapes and he can make us some. it is the best.
Ralph,
You know I have all this acreage, and I don't have a garden. I'm afraid it would cut into my blogging time. I suppose gardening could be just as therapeutic as blogging, but why take the risk. Plus, I'd much rather visit a blogger than visit my garden.
But yours looks nice. Let us know when the crops are ready.
My First Wife and I got all our crops in three Saturdays ago. All two of our tomato plants.
Ralph, a good replacement for the tractor is a nice John Deere two-stroke weed eater with detachable ends, like a tiller, edger, and tree trimmer. Nothing says "I'm serious about this" like a high-RPM, oil-burnin' engine in the palm of your hand. And, what does he mean by "soften" the view? Is he trying to say that you harden the view?
Your North Field is lovely actually. The tiers may make a tractor impossible, but they also make it more attractive.
My girly side is showing, isn't it? *G*
You know, this past weekend I helped my neighbor get a few veggies in her 'back 40' also. We planted about 13 cucumber plants, a squash, and 3 pumpkins....they said they really liked cucumbers - I said I really hoped so. :)
I planted my garden--two tomato, four pumpkin and one cucumber plant ( I don't like cucumbers as much as Christa's neighbor) in my front yard. It's the only place with enough sun.
Luckily it's hard to be the biggest hillbilly in my neighborhood.
The north field looks great Ralph. Your work shows and will pay off I'm sure. I have no garden at all this year. Well, there is one plant that has come up on its own but I'm not sure what it is yet. It's either a cucumber, watermelon, squash, or canteloupe. Time will tell, unless it dies first. I'm not holding my breath!
It's right out there among the flowers.
Looks like you did a good job on pruning the grapeviness and your neighbor didn't even want to hear about your way of pruning. Geesh!
Ralph, I love the look and of course I'm sure Char appreciates you spending so much time working on it. and not being in the house with her. One more thing: "but he just walked away shaking his head."
I don't know if you've ever noticed that about yourself before...but that's a pretty common reaction by folks after a discussion with you.
Ralph, your North Field looks great!
Now, ‘Who will help you eat the vegatables?’ asked Jim.
And ‘Who will help you drink your homemade wine?’ asked Jim.
Hint, hint, 'Jim will help you eat those vegatables and drink yoiur homemade wine.' I forgot, does Ralph say that line?
..
I love your garden idea. The tiers are great. I do wish I could do that here. My entire back yard (three lots) is on a hillside. However the work involved would do me in! I have two tomatoes and two peppers growing on my front deck in huge pots. Actually there are nine big pots , each with flowers etc, but one thing they all have in common is the blue lake climber beans in the back of each pot. I am hoping they will climb up the deck posts and then along the rail so I can pick a handful whenever I want for supper.
Now that's the way to garden. Sure brings back memories of the garden filled with raspberries, strawberries, peaches, pairs, peas, squash, potatoes, etc. Not here in Florida of course. When I lived out west.
The north field is looking good..
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