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 
Gorgeous sunsets! Wow, I’m so impressed you planted ginger. That’s amazing! I think you both should take a bit of time off (though I know gardens don’t wait until our shoulders don’t hurt) but sometimes, a little R&R pays off in the long run. Stay well and have a lovely weekend.
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I do love the sunsets here. I hope the ginger does well, I guess I’ll find out later.
It always feels like there is so much to do. We do need to take days off now and then.
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How exciting to be able to harvest some fresh ginger from your own potager. Good for you! I’ve gotten better about taking a day or two off lately. No point making oneself sick or so sore you can’t do anything but suffer, right? 😉
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Right! 😄
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Just wonderig, why will “hilling the potatoes” only work once?
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It will only work once since we won’t be filling the bed again. We’ll be doing trenching and then hilling.
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OK got it. Good luck with your harvest!
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Thanks!
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I will be curious how your ginger will do. Will you use it in cooking or baking?
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I hope to use it in cooking. I am hoping it will spread and I’ll get more every year.
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That sunset is stunning!
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Thank you!
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I look forward to hearing what it is like to grow ginger!
(I tried growing ginseng once, but the critters turned out to be extremely tenacious about getting to my poor plants. That’s as close as I’ve come to ginger. 😆)
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I am hoping it will be a success story and not a failure story. 😄
I’ve never tried to grow ginseng, it sounds like something fun to try. Critters are awfully clever at getting to people food!
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