Yesterday we ended up getting soaker hoses for the raised beds in the garden. This means I can turn several of them on at the same time and let them run for half an hour or so. Having multiple hoses going at the same time cuts the water pressure a bit but leaving them on a bit longer will provide all the water those beds need. There are 11 raised beds and two 4 x 4 raised container beds. Because we have two faucets that will be hooked to the hoses, I should be able to run four at a time. The only thing I will have to hand water will be the tomatoes which are in buckets or grow bags, the peppers which are in grow bags and the herbs which are in large pots. We’re also putting soaker hoses on the grape vines, elderberries and raspberries. That will cut my watering time from about three hours per day to probably about one hour per day. That all makes me very happy because (1) the mosquitoes were just awful for a while. They aren’t so bad now but there are plenty of bugs that aggravate me when I’m out there watering. (2) it’s HOT. Yesterday it was 87 when I went to bed at almost midnight. We have several days this week when the high will be very near 100.
Yesterday I trimmed the basil and filled three trays in the freeze dryer with basil. I filled the fourth tray with mint. That should all be done today and I will get the last of the eggs in the freeze dryer.
I also made pickles yesterday. I had started soaking them in lime water Wednesday?? They soaked for 24 hours, then I rinsed them, let them soak in ice water for an hour, rinsed and did the same thing two more times. Then I made the brine/syrup and let them soak in that overnight. Yesterday I heated it all up, put them in jars and water bathed them. I got 7 quarts and 1 pint of pickles. I want to make one more batch of the red hot candy pickles but for those, I need to peel the cucumbers and that’s a bit more trouble with the finger.
Speaking of the never ending finger saga, I think in the next couple of days, I should be able to see how much of the nail is cut. I’m hoping that the cut didn’t go all the way across my nail so the nail will continue to grow as usual and then everything can some day be trimmed, filed and look normal. Wishful thinking?
Diane Kummelman says
Could you put a timer on the soaker hoses? Just a thought!
judy.blog@gmail.com says
That would work but the faucet and splitters are right out the back door. I can turn them on without even getting off the concrete. I can’t run them all at once and, depending on how long it’s been since we’ve had rain, they sometimes need to run longer than other times. Even with having to turn the hoses on and off, it will be a piece of cake after having to hand water all of them.
Pat/SC says
We used to have little weighted tubes attached to a bigger hose that could be used for individual pots. It saved time and water and we’re not that expensive (at that time). Saves sanity, money and water!
judy.blog@gmail.com says
They have been purchased and hopefully will be installed soon.
ginnyclyne says
I am glad that you found a way to water the garden that is more efficient. I do not have a garden just some pots on our elevated deck (it is up one story). I gave up gardening because it was just a fight with the wild life here in Connecticut and it was not fenced. My husband installed a dripper system on a time for all of the pots of tomatoes, string beans, herbs and flowers. It works great as when we are on vacation and the dog sitter forgets to water.
justquiltin says
Looks like you definitely had healthy basil crop!
judy.blog@gmail.com says
Yes, I have mastered basil! I plant it in the long, narrow window box type containers and plant it a bit thick. Every time I trim it, I put the top several inches in water. It roots and I plant it in a separate pot. Last summer I ended up with 20 half gallon jars full of freeze basil and should get more this year. It will produce like crazy til frost.
I think the main thing causing me to be so successful is that every day before the afternoon sun gets too hot, I move the basil into the shade. I haven’t had any trouble with it bolting since I’ve been trimming it often and giving it afternoon shade.
Sheryl says
.. It sounds like a good solution to your watering. We have a landscape type watering system in our pots with timers. It,s not as convenient for us to turn our water on/off here. I think we’re going to have to move our planting dates up with the heat we’re seeing. Our garden is just a bust this year. 🙁