The straw bales are planted and the berries are growing


OK, this is about more than bales, but the focus of our garden is the bales. The berries are a new addition this year. This is our 4th year growing in straw bales, and we are planting 40 bales, just like last year. Trying lots of new stuff - we'll see how it goes. So here's the newest...


Chuck strung new wire for our tomato trellises. He used a heavier gauge and put in two rows. Heard about this tip, because if you need to cover them for cold weather, you can slide plastic in between the wires then anchor it.

 Our 4 sets of front bales. In this pic the only planting is the nasturtiums, which are supposed to help keep the squash in the next bale healthy. We'll see ;)


 Nasturtiums up close and personal. Well, kinda...


I added marigolds next to the Nasturtiums.


Closest to the mail box I planted beets - Detroit Gold and Heritage mix. In the next set I planted two kinda of carrots (Scarlet Nantes and Danvers). I've never grown carrots, but it sounded fun...and the little girls who just moved in down the street are super-excited to help me harvest them.


Closest to the fence are two kinda of summer squash - Early Summer Crookneck and Cocozelle.


Our back bales - with potatoes, squash (butternut & black beauty), Swiss chard, and peppers (Big Jim & Nu Mex Heritage 6-4). The bales on the hill are planted with watermelon and cantaloupe.

 
This year we decided to try snap dragons and petunias in pots. We planted early, figuring that even if they wilt in the upcoming heat, we will still have at least a month to enjoy them. This is our front porch, where we often will sit after getting  home from work.

We have some tomatoes! Super excited :)

As for the rest of the non-bale garden...

 

Two of our 3 blackberries are off to a good start. The other one is a bit slower getting started.


Chuck built a nice wine bottle edge around our berry patch :)

 

The man swings a wicked rubber mallet...what can I say ;)

 

Three out of 5 raspberries have a good start. Still hoping the other two will start something. This is the first time I have tried planting something like this from bare root.

And then there is the xeriscaped area, which is doing fabulous!


We can't wait for those hesperaloe to start blooming! Lots of stalks, but we have to wait a bit longer for blooms.


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