March 27, 2026
Yesterday (March 26), we planted potatoes. We are trying a hilling method that I expect will work only once.
In the new tall garden beds, we decided to hill the potatoes by layering dirt around the potato plants. We shoveled a large amount of Bama Dirt into the bed over the branches and stumps. I put the potatoes on top of the dirt. Bruce covered the potatoes with bagged dirt with compost.
When the potatoes sprout and the plants get to 6 inches tall, we’ll add more dirt to the bed as a way to hill the potatoes up. This will allow us fill up the bed slowly with dirt.
As I am describing this, I have realized it is going to be an interesting task to dig the potatoes out of the bed. I’ll see how it goes.
All that dirt moving was enough hard work for me! I took it easy and watered plants after all that shoveling
Bruce’s shoulders and one knee started hurting; he really noticed the pain after stopping moving dirt. He apparently twisted too much while moving dirt. He woke up this morning with knee pain.
Bruce’s shoulders often hurt. His primary care doctor is sending Bruce to an orthopedic doctor. Over the years, Bruce has been to several orthopedic doctors. None of them can determine what is wrong. I expect Bruce will get sent to PT.
The ginger from Raintree Nursery has sprouted.
The lilies and alliums, planted in the fall, have sprouted and are growing fast. Last fall, I planted the 2 Months of Alliums Mixture from Breck’s among the Irises. I wanted to have flowers before the Irises bloom. I could picture the allium flowers floating above the Irises. The large alliums are growing the fastest. Their stems are about six inches tall with flower buds. Other alliums are just leaves right now.
The lilies are about four inches tall.
In the flower beds, I am letting any violets that have sprouted in the garden, stay. I am not going to consider them weeds, but bonus plants.
The sunset was lovely; the sun was a ball of orange then red as it disappeared below the horizon.
Blackberry Homestead 