Getting High Tunnel ready to plant

Yesterday was a wonderful day to work in the High Tunnel.  It was rainy and cool.  We were able to weed the amended beds (Picture 1 shows the weeds),  Add more compost and soil and level out the total house and put down a center mulched path. (Picture 2)  Then we started forming the beds which run perpendicular off the center path approximately 4' wide and 9' long with narrow foot paths between (Picture 3).  We are amending the beds with minerals and a little compost   So today we will finish forming the beds and plant, plant, plant.  We are trying different vegetables so see how things grow since this is a new adventure for us.  We are excited.

Squash Bugs

 

 Been fighting Squash bugs all morning.  Not much fun.  Need to had pick the eggs off the leaves and then if you missed any the little bugs hatch and start eating the leaves.  Not much one can do organically but hand remove the eggs and squash (literally) the bugs.  The main ingredient in Neem Oil will get rid of them so I am trying to find that.  To help ward them off I did spray the plants with Neem Oil.  Yes it is organically approved.  It is difficult to watch these beautiful plants fall pray to these bugs.   At this point my plants do not look this bad and I am hoping to keep them under control.

July is here!!

It is so hard to believe how fast the time goes.  Yesterday was the 4th of July.  Happy 4th to all of you.  I hope you were able to relax a little.  The summer is here and so is all the heat.  At least we are getting relief at night down in the 60's.  All the summer plants are happy!!  By that I am referring to tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, squash!!  The cool weather crops on the other hand - lettuce, and peas have shut down.  I am working on growing some lettuce that can withstand heat of summer so we will see how that goes.  I will keep you posted.  I was not ready for the heat to come so fast so I lost some of my greens to bolting.  Plants certainly do tell you what they like and don't like.  I am still battling the Bunny.  I think I know where he lives so we are clearing away the edge of the garden fence that we think is his portal to food and putting up some netting.  Hopefully, this will stop him/her/babies.  We will see.  This is pick up day so this entry needs to be short,  Stay cool.