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Tough love in the garden day

14 years ago

Any little plants in my garden that can't make it three days without watering or rain will be history by sundown. :)

I've decided that I'm not going to baby along any fussy plants - not when so many others are willing to grow without being so demanding. Our last several chances of rain all vaporized to nothing as they got close so we are starting to slide back to drought conditions. I'm just not willing to spend all summer hauling water out to teeny tiny little plants that seem determined to cry and die unless they get extra special tender loving care. Not gonna do it.

There are plenty of plants that would just love to be divided and take over the fussers' places in the garden. Today they get that chance.

It's going to be another long hot day in the gardens today. But this should sure make things easier long term.

Lynda

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Comments (7)

clarejoe
14 years ago
you are on the opposite side of the weather spectrum from us. We are on the 11 straight day of rain! I feel like screaming!! and we will be having rain everyday for the next 5 days as predicted!
countrycarolyn
14 years ago
Every day I say I need to water this evening. Something here lately has been stopping me, I checked earlier and I got some wilt going on. Its finally hit june average temps, and my plants are feeling it. I plan to water this evening I dont believe I can get away with another day. Next week upper 90's all week long, heat index of 103 today. No rain in site!!!
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kqcrna
14 years ago
A wise decision, Lynda, if you have to carry water to them. My garden hose reaches everywhere so it's not quite so bad. We have still been getting lots of rain here, though the forecast is for hotter and drier. It rained again overnight.

I don't water as much as I used to. I grow mostly things that will tolerate some drought. And I find that most things can wilt in high heat, even if it doesn't need water. If I ignore it, most things will perk up when the temp moderates in evening.

Karen
token28001
14 years ago
We got lots of rain this spring. The roots are deep and the soil is moist. Just because they're wilting in the sun doesn't mean they NEED the water. I'm not wasting my time. Only the strong survive. Something tells me more wintersown plants will make it than store bought.
lgslgs
Original Author
14 years ago
Karen - if I use the hose it currently takes 4.5 hours to water all of the flowers and veg plants. It's about 7 hours with the watering can but I usually split that up over two days.

I'm really lucky that we've had spring rains after three years of drought and this year (now know as the year of the insane winter sowing) has been our best growing year in over 5 years. If there ever was a year for the big garden expansion this certainly was it.

I expect to spend future years just happily enjoying my perennials and direct sowing my most cooperative annuals. I'll probably still WS a few things but not on anywhere near the scale as this year. It's not like we have any yard left for more plants anyway. :)

Lynda
bakemom_gw
14 years ago
Good girl! Crack that whip and join the club.
kqcrna
14 years ago
Now that it got so hot so fast, it is amazing how fast things are drying out. There's a line of rain just east of here now, but it looks like it will fall apart before it gets to me.

Karen

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