My garlic gets planted in the fall and most are harvested by June 15. I dug the small Vietnamese 3 days ago and there is a real trooper as my First Wife is still able to use last years crop while the others turned to powder. I grow 6 varieties now but at one time I was planting 10. Some are soft neck and some are stiff neck. Chinese Pink matures very early here in Eureka Ca. but I lost the seed stock last year and must buy new bulbs again soon.
The weather is a little cooler here this season and the sun is not heating the soil. I found a 12# bag of Lily Miller 5-10-5 at a Do It Best lumber yard a few weeks ago for about $10. 4# boxes are not cost effective here. At 76 I find it hard to get motivated and get things accomplished like hooking up the drip lines and timers but the soil is holding the moisture of early May’s rain...
At 76, my FRiend, you are my gardening hero. You are the same age as my dad, who is still going at it just as you are!!!
It was a person of your vintage and wisdom, that led me down this crazy path of green leaves, evil bugs, beautiful flowers and delicious fruits. About a hundred years ago, when I was a tot, I was blessed with a grandpa. I thought this man hung the moon, and I still do. He remains the smartest man I ever knew, despite his sixth grade education. He instilled in me a love of nature and of science and a relentless discovery ethic. He taught me to always ask “but why?” And I’ve been doing that over 40 years. After I finished a “vocation” at 30 years old, I later entered an “avocation” inspired by him.
The youngsters of your family are truly blessed to have your example.
Just think, the ones who seem like the most lost of all causes.... (!) They are going to be the ones to surprise you how they turn out!
(Like I most certainly would have surprised my grandpa. LOL)