Garden Chronology of Colt Mazeau

2002 (Year 4)

Over the winter, something tore down chicken wire fence along front of plot. Started planting in April. This year was a drought.

INVESTMENTS:: Leased plot, $30; cart, $26; pepper sauce and squirt bottle, $2; navy beans, $1; seeds and tomato plant, $6. Total: $65
WEEDS:: The purchase of a 3.5 cubic-foot cart at the beginning of the season is giving me a leg up in the mulching process. The cart has a capacity of about six times that of the bucket I had been using to transport leaves from the city's drop-off pile to my plot. For the first time, I feel as if I have caught up with the weeds. Now all I have to do is keep up with them!
RODENTS:: I bought some hot pepper sauce and mixed it with water in a squirt bottle to spray on bean and tomato plant leaves; the hope was that the smell/taste would deter groundhogs and rabbits. No such luck.
WINTER CROP RESULTS:: Annual ryegrass survived winter as usual. Some mustard came up here and there.
SUMMER CROPS PLANTED:: "Flowers of Monet" which included English marigolds, Seine Valley poppies, bachelor's buttons, and hollyhock; navy beans; basil; and tomatoes. Some of the flowers did nicely. The beans were seriously damaged by rodents while young. The basil, cherry tomatoes, and self-propagating dill did fine.
WINTER CROPS PLANTED:: Annual ryegrass.
PERENNIALS:: Planted lemon grass and discarded evergreen shrub.