Debbie's Garden

We had another cloudy day today in Marietta, but no rain fell on the market!  It was a beautiful day out there, lots of folks swarming in for their fresh veggies and herbs! I am glad to be a part of the market, it is a wonderful social event every week, and i enjoy helping people with learning to grow their herbs and such. Of course, more often than not, I learn something from them, too!  Just came in from working on transplanting some Japanese Wild Parsley, which has a slightly carroty flavor. Very interesting herb, if you see it you should try some! And a Hearty Thanks to all who come out to the Marietta Square Farmer's Market on Saturdays, you are what keeps us going! I heard a rumour they may extend the market into the fall, possibly through November! Wow! Hope they do....well have a great week, i'm off to plow and plant...!  debbie

Hi from Marietta, GA! We are having RAIN again, or is that, STILL? I haven't seen this much rain for years. I guess we should be catching up on what we've missed the past several years. Unfortunately some of my plants are actually "drowning" so to speak, i've lost three or four lavender bushes, and they are on a hill so drainage should be at a maximum! I'll be glad if we ever get a couple of sunny days in a row, maybe it will dry things out a bit. Of course we have to worry more about the mold and fungus types when it stays wet too long. But...on the upside, i have not had to use anything but rain water so far to water my plants this year! And everything that isn't drowning, is flourishing!!  It has been a bit cool for Georgia this year, as well.  This is keeping some of the veggies from sprouting as quickly, and the basil doesn't want to grow fast like it would if it were warmer.  I planted some new basils, one of them called Oriental Breeze, and one called blue spice, and Amethyst (it's purple!) and i also planted LEMON thyme. All are sprouting!!  Also, in my personal space, my black beans and lima beans are up, pole beans, radishes, and early corn. I have the tomatoes and peppers planted. Trying to get some okra up, it doesn't want to, says it's too cool yet! LOL! Well that's about all i have, if it will stop raining, i can get some more herbs potted up for market next week! Hope everyone is having a great Memorial Day Weekend!  debbie

Hi all! Got new basil seed the other day, and planted them. Soon I will (hopefully) have Basil - Christmas, and Basil - Purple Petra (i have a few of those left from earlier this spring). We've had such a cool spring here in Georgia, that the basil has been slow to grow. Hopefully the weather will be a little warmer from now on!  I have other new varieties I have yet to plant, will try to work on that in the next week or so.  Also received some fresh culantro seed. Culantro is a perennial, and has almost the same flavor as Cilantro, and it's hardy when it's hot, unlike cilantro! So I am getting some of those going, and also some more fennel.  I will be going out to the Marietta Square Farmer's Market again this Saturday with my herbs, 9am to 12noon....hope to see you there!  Have a great weekend!!  deb

Opening day at our local Marietta Square Farmer's Market was yesterday (Sat). Considering the weather was threatening (it held off, thank God) and there were over 60 market vendors, and we were also competing with the Arts & Crafts event, I did well!  I sold a lot of herbs, and some of those pecans from the fall, too!  Several people stopped by to say hey that had emailed me. All in all it was a great market day! Now I've been busy since then, in between thunderstorms, potting up various mints (orange, pineapple, apple, spearmint and curled spearmint, lemon mint and peppermint) for all the folks who love love love mint!!  And started some more basil, as i am getting low already. Ordered some new varieties to try today, too, one called blue spicy basil and then purple ruffles, cinnamon basil, and a few others i can't remember. I like to have several varieties available. Also some lemon thyme, i have lots of folks ask for it so i ordered a couple of seed packs for that. Thyme grows well from seed. Well I'd better call it a night, hope you all had a great weekend and that next week the sun shines on us all! Happy Gardening!

I seem to have not had time lately to blog! Getting ready for the Farmer's Market, which opens this weekend in Marietta, GA....Saturday, May 2, 9am to 12noon. I will be there with bells on.....well, at least with herbs!  Hope to see you locals there, it will be great! Opening day is always exciting, as we vendors get to see each other, and you, after a long absence! I enjoy the social aspect as much as the actual making money! For anyone coming, they are having the Arts & Crafts festival, so look for the Farmer's Market on the Mill St. end, down by the coffee shop and the railroad tracks! That is where they put us when there's something else going on.  Can't wait to see you! HAVE AN HERBY DAY!! debbie

Hope everyone had a glorious Earth Day....and the days will continue to be sunnier and warmer! I finally have limas and okra coming up, and a few cucumbers poking through the earth! All is good. My son built me another raised bed frame, so i know what i shall be doing this weekend...digging, amending, and readying it for some more veggies! Can't wait! Need to plant more basil, had a blight of some sort, like a "wilt", go through all my basil in the greenhouse....not sure but i think it could have been something in the soil. I will definitely use different potting mix. Has anyone had that happen before, and if so, what did you find out and/or do about it?? Thanks for any experience you may share. Everyone have a great day!

Hi all, it's a beautiful day in the neighborhood today, with the temperature being right at 70 degrees in Marietta, GA!  And sunny to boot! Have been working feverishly these past two days to get the plants ready for the sale tomorrow, and I believe I am ready!!!  Lots of perennials and herbs, and some veggies (tomatoes and peppers) too. By daughter Georgia and her friend will be setting up a booth of baked goods, and i know there are a couple of craft vendors. It's going to be great! Come on out if you live in the area, it's a FREE Event (Band Jam 2009), and donations are welcome of course, all proceeds going to Point of Need Ministries. If you need more info, it's 1955 Canton Road, Marietta, GA, Sat. April 18, 11am until 4pm, lots of music while you shop! Looking forward to a great day, it's supposed to be sunny and warm like today. Hope to see you there!! deb

Well, we certainly have had our share of rain here in Marietta, making up for the past two years i do believe! LOL! Hopefully, the weather man is right and it will be sunny the rest of the week...i see it peeping through occasionally and am told it is here to stay for a few days!

I'm getting ready for BAND JAM this weekend, and the PLANT SALE !! Can't wait! If you are in the area, please do drop by....Canton Road Plaza, 1955 Canton Road, Marietta, GA 11am until 4pm...come early for good deals!! Perennials, herbs, some veggie starts....and lots of great music, too, and vendors. Can't wait to see you there! In the meantime, I'll be busy getting the rest of the perennials divided for sale....have a great day! 

debbie

Well i am taking a break, it's been a good "planting day" - Happy Good Friday, all! I managed to plant some baby lima beans (2 varieties-i love baby limas!) Planted some okra that i soaked the seed all night so hopefully it will be up in a few days. Planted some cucumbers, Marketmore is the variety. Also so marigolds (white) and zinnias (dwarf), and some chamomile. Oh...and some soy beans too, just for fun, and nasturtiums among them all!  :-)  Cleared some more ground, raked some more...it's not easy work some days...thinking about hiring my son some Saturday soon to help do some more clearing. We'll see....! Also set out some Better Boy tomatoes and planted basil in with it....last year i did that, as suggested, and it did seem to make the tomatoes produce more! Amazing! I am also getting ready for my plant sale next weekend, at Point of Need Ministries on Canton Road (APRIL 18, SEE MY LH PAGE AND MY FACEBOOK)....hopefully I will have everything ready! I have a load of perennials: Gardenia, butterfly bush, rosemary, irises, coreopsis, to name a few....some annuals, too! Marigolds, sundrops....and herbs (basil, chamomile, thyme, oregano, tarragon, parsley, cilantro, dill, sage, evening primrose, purple cone flower /echinacea).....I could go on, but I won't....so yea I've been a bit busy lately! Keeps me out of trouble...haha....everyone have a grand day!  debbie

Finally a nice, sunny day, and relatively warm....temps are getting back up into the seventies. I might make it after all!  Moved the plants back out of the greenhouse this morning, i know they were glad....back into the OPEN AIR. I am planning to plant my beans tomorrow on Good Friday, and hopefully some cukes and more squash. Had a couple of things get burned from the frost the other night, but not too many things since i was prepared. I just forgot to cover some things, and a few got zapped! Oh well can't win them all! I can't wait to be outside in the sunshine for a full day tomorrow, and the whole weekend is supposed to be nice. Yeehaw! If i don't get back on for a few days, everyone have a Happy and Safe Easter!  deb

It is currently 52 degrees in Marietta, GA as i write this blog. However, it will supposedly be going down to below freezing tonite and tomorrow night!!  Have to go cover the squash with frost cloth this evening, and bring the tomatoes and peppers (in pots) back into the greenhouse...i put everything else that needed protection in yesterday afternoon. What a chore that was! Can warm weather just come and stay? I saw my first hummingbird Saturday afternoon, flitting around the baskets of impatiens....which reminds me i need to bring those in, too, i guess!  Guess i will hunker down for the next few days and stay warm....knowing that by Good Friday it will be in the seventies again! Everyone have a blessed day!  debbie

Today was a good day! I got a late start on my gardening, then took a break to go visit with my daughter Georgia and grandson Tommy....he's such a cutie, always something new (he's 10 months)!  Then back home for some transplanting....into bigger pots, not into the ground because.... A little birdy (weather man) said it's going to go down below freezing AGAIN on Monday night and Tuesday night. I guess my plants will get hauled back into the greenhouse AGAIN...i am sure they are over it, just as i am! Well, i guess better to be safe than sorry, so Sunday afternoon think of me as i start loading the greenhouse again :-) Have a good night everyone!

Good Morning! I am trying to be cheerful on this again rainey, damp, cold morning in Marietta, GA! I know it is spring, it feels like spring...but i can't get to the gardens...too much muck! I am praying the weekend will bring sunshine and warmer days. I have too much to do! This weekend, if all goes as planned, i will put in some more beans, possibly lima beans, in my newly rejuvenated raised beds. I will plant caladium bulbs in pots...i will ready my herbal seedlings and flower starts for transplanting into bigger pots for the plant sale on the 18th. I will dig up the yard (!) dividing some things. I want to do it all at once...LOL! First let's just pray for sunshine....ya'll have a great day!

Not much to report from Marietta, GA today....more gray clouds and sprinkles off and on all day. Waiting for sunny skies and warmer temperatures. Had to put a few things back in the greenhouse "just in case", it got down to 37 night before last, and low forties last night. Temps are going back up, though, thank God! It's supposed to be a low of 51 tonite. I dug some Nature's Helper and Manure into an old bed last night, plan to plant some more veggies. Can't wait for a sunny day so i can get out there again! Everyone have a great night! If you get a minute send a comment my way....even if it's just to tell me HEY and where you are from and the weather....no reason we should be strangers on here!

Well I couldn't stand it! In my last post I mentioned it was raining and I guessed I'd be inside....or on the porch.....well, the porch won! I transplanted some purple petra basil, and some opal basil. Then proceeded to plant some tarragon (never grown it from seed before so this should be interesting), some GREEN RUFFLES basil, which I've also never grown before, but i do like to grow different types of basil.  I also planted some East Indian Lemongrass. Tomorrow I will be dividing and repotting tomato plants and various types of peppers, and pray they will grow a bit before the Plant Sale in April! My friend Michelle said she wants some of those bell peppers - the variety i planted is Big Dipper. Also have cayenne and sweet banana coming along....my friend Linda gave me some heirloom tomatoe seed the other day, and even though it's kinda late, i went ahead and planted them anyhow....can't hurt, i'll just have a late harvest :-)  Hope everyone else had a pleasant and productive day.