Root Bound Garden Squares

I was preparing a new garden frame this weekend to replace my tree root infested frames. I took off one of the old frames and tried to salvage what soil I could. It turned out to be a much more difficult task than I expected. The tree roots created a tough interwoven network within the soil.

I can't be angry with the tree for finding water and nutrients within easy reach, but dangit, I spent years building up the fertility and tilth of that soil. It is a bit discouraging to see it taken over like this in the span of a couple of seasons. There is nothing to do but to learn from the experience, salvage what I can and start over again.

Tree root bound garden soil

Detail of frame edge

Tree roots extracted from two 4' x 4' garden frames

Tomatoes Transplanted On

This evening, I transplanted the tomatoes to larger containers. The tomatoes will be planted out after the middle of May when most danger of frost is past, along with the basil and coriander. I've got 26 healthy plants, but will probably use less than ten. If I had finished creating the new planting bed last weekend, I would have planted the rest of the cold hardy plants such as celery, parsley there along with another seeding of radishes and spinach, then would have had enough room under the existing lights. Next week will be the time to start fast growing squash, melon and cucumber plants to be planted out at the same time as the tomatoes.

Tomatoes In Soil Blocks

Tomatoes after Transplanting

Seedlings Under Lights

Breakfast of Champions

Homegrown asparagus, spring onion, sunflower and radish sprouts; avocado, heirloom tomato, and shiitake mushroom from the Co-op, and pressure cooked adzuki beans in a spelt wrap; plus fresh squeezed carrot, apple, celery, ginger juice. 

First Asparagus

Last weekend we had sunshine between showers and temps around 70 degrees and now, all of a sudden, the asparagus is ready for the first cutting. The tomatoes in the basement are about three inches tall and will be transplanted to one quart containers soon. I will get more potting mix and Bumper Crop this weekend for a new frame and the grow box container gardens.

Emerging asparagus on April 13

First cutting, April 23