A Gardener's Diary

[Monksdream]

May 21-My channel 14 forecaster assured me of very little rain Sunday. She was only partially correct. There was very little rain until 4:30. Since then, a steady drizzle all the way into the evening.

A curious event this morning. Never happened to me before. As I was walking up the path to the end of the row to check on tomatoes and cantaloupe plants a Lady Beetle sunk its jaws into the skin of my right forearm. What did I do to provoke such an attack?

I have completed sowing all the watermelon hills next to the slope. Somehow I lost count. I thought I made 12 but I ended up with 11. I also sowed a hill for the Polish model melon to empty the packet and a hill for Jenny Lind cantaloupes. I still have Jenny, Charentais and Sugar Baby watermelon seed but they will be gone come Monday, barring rain.

I have been mulching the pepper plants with leaves I collect under the railroad bridge. Might as well put to use what is close by.

The first cukes have formed. Some pollination has taken place, even it's not by honeybees. I've noticed wasps. Some species are good for pollination.

I've yet to see an eggplant fruit although some plants have flowered.

And more tomato plants are fruiting.

I will take the bus to Wal Mart for more Espoma fertilizer. The last 8 lb bag didn't last long. Neither has the manure I hauled last Wednesday from Bobby's stable. It will all be in the beds before the weekend.