Marjoram, slow planting and ashes
I am a true fan of slow living, things happening in a nice slow way, everyone and everything taking the time needed and all together being able to enjoy the moment.
Well, the planting in the garden these days doesn't go exactly as described above. It is a rather demanding and tiring work.
The pleasure and satisfaction of seeing the raised beds finally having green life on them is indescribable and I forget all the tiredness, mostly mentally, seems that the body refuses to forget so easily :)
Tomorrow a friend is coming for help and I hope everything will be easier shared amongst three persons.
We have ordered 3.500 herbs in total and the first 1.200 marjoram, rosemary and lemon balm plants arrived about 10 days ago.
We started with marjoram.
First tip
When your marjoram arrive just before Christmas and the agriculturist from the nursery plant tells you that the planting can be delayed and there is no need for rush, then maybe you should hurry! Yes, of course the plants are ok 10 days after the delivery, but they grow so fast that they grow roots in the neighboring boxes, and instead of moving upwards they get twisted together. And that means a lot of time to make things clear!
I must also admit that I really enjoyed my days off, it was unexpected and wonderful! But if I knew how much they would grow, I think I would have preferred to get the job done immediately :)
It is indeed amazing how fast they have grown, maybe because they came from a snowy area to a pretty warm area. I hope they will not get super confused...
Second tip
When I asked this agriculturist for any advice, he gave me just one, something I had never heard before. To leave the plants floating in water for about 20'' just before planting them (without sinking them). This way the roots will wake up and will react as quick as possible adjusting to their new environment.
What I noticed for sure is that, although the temperature was high and the sun was burning they seemed to hold on pretty well until the first watering a few hours later.
I wonder if anyone of you do this trick!
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This beautiful big lady is our best supplier of compost! A big bag of 900 liters black rich yummy compost!
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Some of the marjoram plants look better than the others, but hopefully all of them will become happy healthy big girls!
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When the specialists talk about professional herb gardens, they say that plants must be replaced every 4 to 5 years. Thinking about this, I realized that with raised beds there will be no need for that. Year after year the soil, with some care, will become richer and remain smooth, while when you plant on the ground tilling might be inevitable every few years, especially here where the soil is very heavy. I guess we'll see!
For the end, we'll just go for a quick look to the olive grove.
Having a wood stove means a lot of ash production. Ash has all the basic elements the soil and the plants need, apart from nitrogen that disappears during burning. We collect the ashes and throw them around the olive trees, not close to the body, but under the perimeter of the branches. I am talking about a very small quantity of ashes, about 2-3 handfuls per tree (our smaller trees have 6-8 meters diameter) and we add it once or maybe twice per year. It is much more powerful that it looks :)
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Dirty feet, happy souls :)
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The director of the whole project.
Just a heads up. We've always heated with wood and have a LOT of woodash from hardwood at the end of each year. I would put it down lavishly for any plant that liked potash. It wasn't until years later, when I finally did my first soil test, that I discovered that potash was one of the LAST things I should have been putting down. The soil was severely imbalanced. There was a lot of potassium in my soil already. It's taken longer to correct it...
Thank you so much for your input dear @goldenoakfarm!!!
You know, there are things that are so clear in our minds, like now that I found inportant to say that it should be spread in the perimeter, not close to the trunk because I wanted to emphasize how careful we should be, and not to throw a big quantity on one spot especially close to the body, but I didn't think to mention that we throw about 2-3 handfuls for each big tree (6-8 meters diameter the smaller ones) once or twice a year!
I am going to add it in the text, too, so that it will be extra clear! I found your comment excellent, thank you!
I am glad that your soil has returned in a more balanced state. Nature usually needs longer to recover that it takes to us to bring her out of balance... But we only do because we are trying for the best, so I guess she forgives us :)
Indeed, as for me, I can't skip working on my vegetable garden, or else, pests and insects will take over.
Oh yes! Gardening can be a very demanding everyday work, especially a vegetable garden!!! But also a very rewarding one!
Good luck with pests and insects and all the hidden enemies :) I am sure you are doing your best, cause I have seen your garden through your posts and it is gorgeous!
Thank you, may vegetable garden is still in the work, a lot of work has to be done. Good afternoon!
Gardens are a never-ending project!!! Enjoy the process!!!
You have been busy! I still want to use the ash in my soap making. I always forget it in the garden - kind of as it gets added to the compost
Super busy!!! And we have just started :)
I also keep forgetting to use it in my soap, lol! Although, in my case, all the ingredients are under the same roof, so even worse for me :)
Ash is great in the compost!!!
You also make soap?!! We could be related!
Oh yes!!!
It's funny that we choose a slow life but gardening work demands things get DONE or you pay for it later!!!
The paradox of living in nature, haha! You are so right!!!
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Love this journal gardening. That is great about soaking in the water before planting. I haven't ever done that.
Thank you Sara!!! I hadn't even heard about this trick before, but so far it works great! The plants look a lot less stressed after the transplantation. Especially today that we planted over 500 plants (I can't believe it!!!) and we managed to water them after 5-6 hours, they were still looking great! Highly recommended :)