tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45376857957333530902024-03-21T11:05:09.455-05:00GardeningA light-hearted look at one family's attempts to improve the quality of their food in suburban America.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07410846819281048732noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537685795733353090.post-45905679792823222702014-06-04T10:13:00.001-05:002014-06-04T10:13:51.106-05:00May 2014<br />
May bypassed spring and jumped straight into summer again. Long, warm days has the garden really blooming.<br />
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The peas, radishes, and turnip greens are the stars of the month. Adding some sage and chives to daily meals is a real flavor bonus.<br />
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The traditional greens of lettuces, chard, and kale are just about ready for harvest. I started the second progression plants in the shadow of those that are almost ready.<br />
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The seed tape experiment is finally starting to show up. Nice little riot of color. It seems to require an additional 2-3 weeks to germinate, so next year's planting may have to be done in late February instead.<br />
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I've moved the almond tree into the front yard, and it has take well to the new location.<br />
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Blueberries are getting their first blossoms this year.<br />
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Added 4 fruit trees along the front sidewalk. Hopefully they'll grow to their maximum 12' size and frame the sidewalk in nicely.<br />
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Last year I had transplanted some truly pathetic looking roses that were straining on the north side of the house. They've really grown in nicely on the east side but are in need of some training.<br />
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Looks a little better anchored into the masonry. With luck, next year they'll continue to grow and I can start making little curves and shapes with them.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07410846819281048732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537685795733353090.post-91169630778815181772014-06-04T10:01:00.002-05:002014-06-04T10:01:46.070-05:00Early Spring (April 2014)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Long overdue update. I tried to start some seeds in cheapo potting soil and they just didn't do well. I'm going to stop buying bagged soil and try to source it locally instead. Not thrilled with the price or the petroleum byproducts in the bagged stuff. This was supposed to be some turnips, onions, chives, and celeriac.</div>
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The pepper seedlings have taken well. Though I had to modify the peat pod seedling kits. They work wonderfully to get a seedling going. But the soil seems to leach all of the moisture out of the peat, and then it becomes hydrophobic. So even while the surrounding soil is nice and moist, the plant roots are stuck in a dried out ball of peat. Next year I'll try moving the seedlings into small pots instead of directly into the garden.</div>
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The Jerusalem Artichoke patch is quite a bit bigger than last year. I'll leave this little corner wild and overgrown with the bramble cutoffs tossed in the middle. Three rabbits have taken up residence in there from time to time. They've left most of the garden alone and prefer to chomp on the clover.<br />
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The new additions this year included 4 grapes. The concord seedless are coming out quite nicely.<br />
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I also planted Kiwis this year. Both of the female plants are doing well, but the male dropped all of its leaves and looks to be quite dead. I'll wait a few months to see what happens.<br />
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The two muscadine grapes also look dead for all intents and purposes. I hate waiting.<br />
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The greens bed has a few bits of Kale, Bok Choy, Swiss Chard, and various lettuces popping up<br />
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There's also the garlic I planted last fall that seems to be doing well<br />
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I opted not to grow corn this year, and converted the bed to grow melons, cucumbers, and bush beans. <br />
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And then finally we have the tomato patch. Sadly, all of these lovely baby plants that were grown since January got completely taken out by a late frost. The backup seedlings just never took off, and even the backup, backup direct planted seeds didn't do anything. I had to resort to buying plants, ugh. oh well, next year.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07410846819281048732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537685795733353090.post-30890281323093500542014-04-13T20:33:00.000-05:002014-04-13T20:33:08.625-05:00Strawberry bloomsJust a pleasant picture update of the strawberry patch. Can't wait for those blooms to turn into tasty berries!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07410846819281048732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537685795733353090.post-20584924629975317092014-04-10T11:59:00.000-05:002014-04-13T20:34:06.895-05:00Spring 2014Spring has finally hit and the grounds are starting to come back to life. The buttercups are one of my favorite Spring indicators, and they look so fresh in a vase on the window. This year I'll be deviding these bulbs out into more appealing areas than just three clumps by the driveway.<br />
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I'm trying a method of cold germinating seeds this year. Add some perlite and a few tablespoons of water to a plastic bag and add a couple seeds. A few weeks later you'll have some great sprouts, ready for the garden. Still waiting to see if these produce any faster or better than just dropping the seed into the ground.<br />
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The asparagus patch is yielding well. This is the second year, but there is already enough for a small serving for breakfast. I'd never had raw asparagus before now; delicious! Sweet and crunchy, much like a snow pea. Some garlic I had tossed onto the compost pile produced a mass of garlic shoots, so they got transplanted to the front of the asparagus patch.<br />
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This bed that produced such poor peppers last year will be the site for my tomatoes. The area gets shaded pretty well during the hot part of the day. I'm hoping the tomatoes will benefit from the break. Some perennials made their way back; chives in the front, horehound in the middle, and then parsley and more chives at the end, off the frame.<br />
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This was the emergency pepper patch last year, but this year will see some trellised beans, carrots, and turnip greens followed by beets. The chives on the left established really well last year, and the sage plants survived the colder than usual winter.<br />
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And then we have the mother strawberry patch. I planted 100 plants last spring, pulled out about 50 plants to put along the new fence row, and there are still 150 or so plants in the original bed. I guess I'll just let the mother patch continue to make runners and move those around the yard as needed for berry production. Lifetime supply of strawberry plants, and a great little ground cover for my blackberries to boot!<br />
I'm not sure what the blue flowers are, but they make a pretty carpet for this area. It'll be a shame to mow them in a few weeks, but it's starting to look overgrown. Not "natural" for a suburban setting.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07410846819281048732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537685795733353090.post-43722232379562611432014-02-28T11:54:00.001-06:002014-02-28T11:54:46.791-06:00Lasagna GardenSo I'm growing Lasagna!! No not really. This is just a name given to starting a new flower or garden bed with a layer of cardboard, to kill the grass and suppress weeds. Then layering mulch, dirt, and compost on top of it. As the materials decompose, the turn into rich top soil. The decomposition also brings in creepy crawlies to "till" up the soil underneath your cardboard. Very little energy input + reclaiming potential mulch from the landfill = cheap and easy way to establish a new bed.<br />
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So for this area along our fence, I pilled up about 2' of leaves from this last fall on top of the cardboard. Then added a 2" layer of the heavy, red clay we call soil down here. This is not technically, a well constructed lasagna garden, but I'm interested to see how it goes.<br />
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This is an east facing fence. I'm hoping to grow amaranth and sunflowers along the back, strawberries in the front, and then assorted herbs and artichokes in the middle.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07410846819281048732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537685795733353090.post-36609096752157476162014-02-28T11:32:00.000-06:002014-03-20T10:13:15.361-05:00Seed TapesI wasn't gifted with hands made for fine, detail work. They're great for digging, demolition, and the fun stuff. When it comes time to sow small seeds (lettuce, carrots, etc) however, not so good. Inevitably I have to rely on the method of scattering seeds all over the place and then trying to thin them out into some semblance of order.<br />
I've been interested in seed tapes, since it saves a lot of seeds, a lot of time, and it looks better. But they also cost a lot more than I'm willing to pay.<br />
Pinterest has been full of ideas on how to make your own seed tapes; and sensing the opportunity to save some money, I dove right in. And surprisingly, they turned out really well! Time will tell how they work in practice.<br />
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The "glue" is made by adding water to 1/4 cup of white flour and mixing well. How much water? Well, that depends. I added a tablespoon at a time. This started as a stiff doughy consistency, then doughy, then runny-doughy, then a little soupy, and finally to something that resembled thick latex paint. You want it just runny enough that it will drip off the end of your brush.<br />
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For my "tape" I used extra newspapers, though just about anything will work (paper towels, drywall tape, etc). It just has to be biodegradable and contain no toxic chemicals. <br />
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I created 2 sizes. <br />
The standard 1/2" wide tape shown in the picture, with evenly spaced seeds dropped into globs of glue. These will be for creating your typical rows of lettuces.<br />
Then there was the 1 foot wide tape. These I got a little more creative with, making patterns with different colored greens to be used as a mescalin mix. This is where homemade tapes can really be fun. There is no limit to what you can create, or how large your "tape" can be. Just "glue" the tapes end to end, or in a triangle, or a circle, or whatever!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07410846819281048732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537685795733353090.post-77385396559721588572014-01-07T13:03:00.003-06:002014-03-20T10:16:00.605-05:00Gentlemen, start your seedlings!January is finally here! Spring planting sneaks up on you fast. The last fear of frost is pretty much gone around here April 1st. Working 8-12 weeks back from that date puts us at, gulp, last week! I'm already behind schedule!! According to my journal, this is when i need to be starting seedlings for Peppers, Tomatoes, Eggplant, Okra, Artichoke, Leeks, and Celeriac.<br />
Last year I was trying out the <a href="http://garden.timtroyer.com/2013/04/spring-2013-update.html">milk jug greenhouses</a>, which seemed to work, but direct seeded plants in April quickly overtook the seedlings.<br />
I had planned on replacing my greenhouse (again) last fall but you only get done what you get done :-)<br />
Plan b is as follows:<br />
I purchased several of the Jiffy 72 cell greenhouses from Walmart at $8 each (even better priced than Amazon). These have always worked well for me as a seedling starter. That's if you can't get the seedlings transplanted when they grow too large for the space that you end up with weak, spindly seedlings.<br />
I cleared off a middle shelf (<a href="http://images.lowes.com/product/converted/035441/035441186563lg.jpg">like this</a>) in my garage and rigged up two 48" fluorescent shop lights above the middle shelf.<br />
These lights get plugged into a timer left over from the Christmas lights so they click on at 6am and off again at 10pm.<br />
Finally, under the seedling trays goes a warming mat. <a href="http://www.territorialseed.com/product/5427/168">Something like this</a> would be ideal. In my setup I reused a Brew Belt that's designed to keep a glass carboy at 70F. Just anything to help keep the temperature up.<br />
3/20/2014 update - I had to fabricate a 1/4" raised platform for the brew belt as it was getting hot enough to melt my plastic trays and dried out the peat pods directly above it. Sometimes it pays to buy equipment designed for your project :)<br />
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Here we have the starts of<br />
- Black Hungarian Jalepeno<br />
- Black Beauty Eggplant<br />
- Celeriac Root<br />
- Pasilla Bajio Pepper<br />
- Purple Beauty Pepper<br />
- Red Marconi Pepper<br />
- Edirne Purple Eggplant<br />
- Black Brandywine Tomato<br />
- Purple Tomatillo<br />
- Chile Ancho Pepper<br />
- Orange Sunset Pepper<br />
- Jing Orange Okra<br />
- Tomato Gypsy<br />
- Amish Paste Tomato<br />
- Dad's Sunset Tomato<br />
- Purple of Romagna Artichoke<br />
- Bleu De Solaise LeeksAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07410846819281048732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537685795733353090.post-76434330115347004902014-01-07T12:33:00.000-06:002014-01-07T12:33:20.132-06:00Winter HarvestThe trial winter garden has been growing quite well. My only regret is not making it larger :-)<br />
I've been able to pull out bits as I want them from November on into the 5 degree January we've been experiencing here in Tennessee. <br />
I did end up loosing my Paris Island Cos Lettuce, Buttercrunch Lettuce, Purple Broccoli, Swiss Chard, Wando Peas, and Bok Choy to the frost. Next winter I will try covering the garden beds with some Reemay or a similar row cover to keep the frost off. <a href="http://www.territorialseed.com/product/1669">Territorial Seeds</a> has a pretty good collection of row covers, though I don't think I'll worry about the hoops... just drape it over the plants.<br />
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Despite the extreme cold, for here anyway as we usually don't go below 20 degrees in the winter, winter harvesting is still a great deal of fun. Clockwise we have carrots, leaf cabbage, parsley, kale, Jerusalem artichokes, and turnips (the turnip greens succumbed to the frost). I had to knock the ice off of the leafy greens... hardy indeed!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07410846819281048732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537685795733353090.post-25206531885439907452013-11-19T19:51:00.001-06:002013-11-19T19:51:44.656-06:00Jerusalem Artichokes I've been watching these guys grow from <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi77QrV8fLl5adsbrPSDMdiqPpPypJfy6bPcSw34yJ3K0aegLtV1XS0jJJRItiShS4fxUs9U4lXUCttR7DOFuAI8CevVOt36vwn7EaMtEqc0Zq0sZ1020t-6m2jUKZY4FSotM3qOSxhCb4/s640/Jerusalem+Artichokes.jpg">tiny</a> to <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVg-avG4PrFqC-DASCXDLbAQjYaOgYV5f8Cupa0d5cWdIlQ3Fh7Xclr5P7h2Z77u-p7DiZNSW1ZQ9GXlXH1Eo0hIqw1z1qYVcgTklJ3jvAjPw5hOxtyGeUMwrDKkcSFx8n0mPHan6jD3E/s640/Jerusalem+Artichoke.jpg">HUGE</a> all year; all the time wondering what in the world they're going to taste like, and worrying if they'd even have tubers since they never quite flowered.<br />
There were plenty of reasons to be worried. They were planted in a terrible location with only a few hours of morning sun, under an oak tree. The bed itself took form by accident as it was just a place to pile sod while I double-dug my garden beds. The clay soil wasn't even improved with peat moss, manure, or even yard wastes!<br />
But tonight, after the first frosts have rolled through, I took a flashlight and dug up the little alien-looking things. Yum right? I just about bailed on the whole project, but that was a lot of work to give up before the first try. So I scrubbed them with a vegetable brush and cut off the little bumps. They take on the color of your soil, so mine have a faint reddish tinge to them from the clay.<br />
Honestly I didn't much care for them raw. They have a pleasant crunch to them, like a raw potato, and I could see how they'd be good shredded into a salad.<br />
Instead I opted to slice them thin (less than 1/4 of an inch) into little chips, and simply sautee them for about 5 minutes in butter and salt. After which time they looked exactly like potatoes. They tasted much like potatoes, right down to that buttery soft baked potato texture. You could cook them a little less, or cut them a little thicker than I did to keep some of that crunch. But they have a fantastic nutty flavor that makes potatoes seem incredibly bland by comparison. I absolutely love these!!<br />
Storing them for the winter couldn't be more simple. You chop the stalks down (into foot long sections and drop in place for added soil build-up), and then just leave them right in the ground. They will not spoil all winter long. Dig up however many you need for that day, and drop two or three back into the hole for next year's crop.<br />
Fortunately, in addition to tasting good, being easy to grow, and storing well; they're full of great nutrition and health benefits. While they have a high starch profile, much of it is made up of insoluble fiber, including inulin (not the nasty stuff they add to processed foods instead of sugar and fat but the good stuff). It has a documented stabilizing affect on blood sugar. So much so that it is being actively investigated as a method to help stabilize diabetes (why not just eat the stuff?). <br />
So now the only hard part left is to figure out where else these giant sunflower like crops will fit in my yard!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07410846819281048732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537685795733353090.post-58611718633601810112013-11-04T09:03:00.002-06:002013-11-04T09:03:48.721-06:00Fall Fare The Fall/Winter garden harvest might be my favorite. Especially turnips. I can't say I've always liked them... I've tried making various stews and what-not, but the grocery store variety just tasted foul. But fresh out of the garden, especially after a frost, those are great! I treat them just like a potato to make hash browns, mashed turnips. Never tried a baked turnip... the comparison might break down there :)<br />
So I pulled up 3 smallish turnips and steamed them, along with their greens, with some carrots and garlic. Added some fresh parsley and bacon to the turnips, carrots, and garlic for a great side paired with some grilled steaks. Simmered the turnip greens with the bacon drippings and voila! Good eats!<br />
Now I just need to find a few acres to raise my own beef and pork.<br />
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To date, I've only grown the traditional purple topped variety. However, I have big plans for next year with entire garden beds dedicated to turnips :)<br />
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Baker Creek (www.rareseeds.com) has a number of delicious looking varieties purported to be both sweeter and more complex (some slightly nutty, others richer) than the standard purple tops.<br />
I suppose I'll have to pick one... turnips are a bit more difficult to give away than tomatoes :)<br />
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<a href="http://www.rareseeds.com/golden-globe/">http://www.rareseeds.com/golden-globe/</a><br />
<a href="http://www.rareseeds.com/navet-des-vertus-marteau/">http://www.rareseeds.com/navet-des-vertus-marteau/</a><br />
<a href="http://www.rareseeds.com/boule-d-or-turnip/">http://www.rareseeds.com/boule-d-or-turnip/</a><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07410846819281048732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537685795733353090.post-90216546951033557062013-09-29T18:10:00.000-05:002013-11-04T09:25:42.590-06:00Fall updateFall is finally here. Cool evenings, hot and muggy days, lol. The summer crops are winding down, and the fall plantings are starting to kick in.<br />
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The blackberries took off, even have some suckers coming up already. May have to move them back into the shade. I don't need <b>that </b>many blackberries. May put some muscadines here instead.<br />
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The raspberries in the back are also going well. Got a few reds this year, and am looking forward to the buckets of gold raspberries next year.<br />
The blueberries didn't do so hot. I planted the first bundle I came across in my spring fever daze; definitely better to do your research first. All three varieties were northern high bush which will grow here in middle Tennessee, but have to be pampered through the summer. There are a few southern highbush and some rabbiteye blueberry bushes I'm looking at to replace the two that didn't make it.<br />
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The carrots are ready for harvest, or long storage in the garden until I need them this winter. First year sage and chives are also doing well. A surprising harvest of 2-liter soda bottles can be seen springing up on the right... Pepsi variety. Lol, just kidding. I've been burying 2-liter bottles with holes punched through the bottom in the beds. I can pop the top and drip water into them, saturating deep underground instead of just wetting the top layer of soil.<br />
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The peppers are loving their new, sunnier spot. Instead of a measly 4 hours of sun, they now get 10-12 and a plethora of tasty (if late in the season) peppers have finally arrived.<br />
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I managed to save some peas from the spring harvest and they're growing quite well in the front here. I'll have to trellis them this weekend. Butternut squash, some buttercrunch lettuce (hmm seeing a theme here), and some butter-broccoli (no, not really, just standard broccoli) are tucked in behind.<br />
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The turnips have done better than I could have hoped. Huge, thick greens. Even a half-dozen of fist sized purple turnip! They made some great turnip hash browns for breakfast and a creamy turnip and ham soup for supper.<br />
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The fall greens are coming along nicely in the first bed. Some baby romaine in the front, bok choy swiss chard, and kale behind that. I've found that swiss chard is a lot more to my liking if I boil the leaves in salt and lemon juice for 2 minutes. Then I used them just like spinach, with even better results.<br />
I had been having a terrible time with slugs earlier in the year. They don't really care about the BT treatments. I found that cutting some water bottles in half, sinking them into the ground, and then filling them with beer (the maltier the better) makes a terrific slug trap. Their annoying presence has dropped significantly since I started using the traps.<br />
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Swiss Chard update (11/4/2013):<br />
So you have this beautiful Swiss Chard. It might be green, red, yellow. But what do you do with it? I just tastes so bitter! I've found that if I remove the stem, rough chop the leaves, and then <b>boil in salt water for 2 minutes</b> that bitter taste goes away. And unlike spinach, boiled Swiss Chard maintains a delicious, slightly crunchy texture, not slimy at all. It's then perfectly suited to saute with bacon and eggs, add to a casserole, just about anything (except maybe a salad).<br />
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The Jerusalem Artichokes continue to amaze me. Here they are, a good 12' tall, and they're in the shade of a giant oak tree, with maybe 4 hours of sun a day! They've not flowered, but goodness are they growing!<br />
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And the final surprise, if a little (a lot really) disturbing. Tomato hornworms. Now I <b>hate</b> these things. They exist solely to eat holes in my most perfect tomatoes. I've been sorely tempted to resort to pesticides to kill these little buggers. I had almost decapitated this guy (especially because of all the eggs on it's back), when I remembered something about this being a good thing from some podcast ages ago. Did some digging, and these eggs belong to the Braconidae family of wasps that prey on the tomato hornworm. Yes the hornworm is alive, and yes the larvae are actively feeding on him. I almost feel bad for the nasty little worm... but then I remember my poor tomatoes and the feeling quickly subsides.<br />
Being a nursery for wasps wasn't really appealing though, until I read that these are tiny (1/2" long) and they kill more than just hornworms. After reading this list I do believe my garden is in for a great shift next year as the beneficial insects move in. They kill: caterpillars, beetles, aphids, <b>squash bugs</b>, and <b>stink bugs</b>! Pardon me as I enjoy an evil chuckle; muhahahahah!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07410846819281048732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537685795733353090.post-6273695031094059992013-09-26T16:17:00.003-05:002013-09-26T16:17:44.967-05:00More than vegetablesI spent some time trying to companion plant flowers and herbs into the vegetable garden this year. Some of the herbs have been highlighted in previous posts, but here are two of my favorite flower varieties.<br />
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First is bachelor's button. I'm loving having the silvery foliage and bright flowers tucked into a corner.<br />
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My absolute favorite are Zinnia. There is an amazing variety of colors and heights. I made the mistake of planting the first I found, which ended up being a tall (4') variety. It looks a little silly have these towering flowers next to 2' tall vegetable plants. However, they make beautiful cut flowers, and if you keep dead-heading the blossoms (cut off the head when the petals fall off) they bloom from spring to winter. They've been hit by some powdery mildew next to the squash, but they continue to perform great. In the background you can see some young Cosmos (the fearny green leaves). This are ok, but they look too much like weeds to fit into a vegetable garden. Plus they get to be 5-6' tall and don't really bloom until August.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07410846819281048732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537685795733353090.post-16177654654606582712013-09-26T16:12:00.000-05:002013-09-26T16:18:39.797-05:00Summer Update<br />
The 3 sisters bed is starting to scare me a little. The corn is <b>really</b> dense. To the point that some of the squash is getting squeezed out. The cucumber trellis continues to do well.<br />
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The beans are starting to grow up the corn as well.<br />
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The squash (white scallop) is doing great! I was burned last year on my summer squash as the squash vine borer<b> destroyed</b> my zucchini and yellow crookneck squash. White scallop is a North American native and has more solid stems that stand up to those nasties quite well. In my neighborhood, two other gardeners (who had no squash issues last year) both lost their crops to vine borers. Additionally, while there is evidence of powdery mildew on some of the leaves, it doesn't seem to care. The squash themselves tastes like a cross between a butternut squash and a zucchini (to me anyway). If they're 4" in diameter or less, there are really no seeds, and can be used just like summer squash (skin and all). I think my favorite recipe is to fill a casserole dish with them, and then drizzle with olive oil and add salt and pepper and Parmesan cheese. Bake at 400F for 30-60 minutes until the squash are tender.<br />
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The pepper patch is filling in every nicely... except the peppers. Jalapeno, pableno, and bell alike are all growing <b>slowly</b>. The shade has been a big problem, but the spring/summer has been very cool and rainy for this area (under 80F). I've now transplanted half of the pepper plants to a sunnier location.<br />
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Also getting a good yield of tomatoes from my Rutgers and Roma plants. I've not had any cracking even though the rains lately have been torrential... very happy with these varieties.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07410846819281048732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537685795733353090.post-27350555606833152492013-09-26T15:59:00.000-05:002013-09-26T16:18:20.857-05:00Spring GardenSpring has been some time ago, time to upload the news :)<br />
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Sometime around May:<br />
The daily harvest continues to be full of greens (like the spinach and radish greens) and radishes themselves. I found that radish greens sauteed in butter are fantastic! I'm not sure why I've never tried them before. Oh ya, I didn't have access to fresh radishes. They're slightly spicy, but no where near like radishes themselves, thick but not chewy.<br />
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Strawberries are putting on some berries, but since it's the first year, they're quite small and not really sweet. Additionally, my berry patch location has a lot more shade than I had thought. The Oak tree nearby put on it's leaves and well, now the patch has maybe 4 hours of sun. I'll have to move them this fall.<br />
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The Jerusalem Artichoke patch is coming up nicely. No idea what to expect out of these but they're alive at least.<br />
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The new pepper patch is coming along. The herbs and flowers are doing great. The large leaves at the top are Nasturtiums. They help repel pests and grow into a living mulch. On the bottom we have Marigolds which do the same thing. For the herbs, from the left we have bachelor's button, sweet basil, dill, cilantro, more dill, horehound, and then tai basil.<br />
The peppers are not doing so well, again because of the unexpected shade from the oak tree.<br />
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My first bed has been planted with (starting at the bottom) garden bush beans, spinach (now going to seed), romaine lettuce, swiss chard, and then peas.<br />
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Another new bed is where I'm trying the 3 sisters companion planting (Corn, Beans, and Squash). It's coming up nicely.<br />
Here's the squash popping out the side with a bit of beets growing on the side. Quick note about fresh beets... they're fantastic. I do not enjoy beets from the store, but fresh, sauteed with some beet greens... very sweet, slightly crunchy, delicious!<br />
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And lastly is the surprises from the compost pile. From the left we have Hollyhocks, some kind of green thing growing :), and some volunteer pumpkins. Also added a couple more hop varieties there on the right.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07410846819281048732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537685795733353090.post-10535793189572957222013-05-06T15:22:00.003-05:002013-05-06T15:23:12.080-05:00Another Spring Harvest<br />
Another spring day harvest. Purple broccoli, few cups of spinach, a bit of romaine lettuce, some red radishes, and some white radishes!<br />
Tasty lunch ensued shortly after :)<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07410846819281048732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537685795733353090.post-8289752259460986312013-04-27T11:47:00.000-05:002013-04-27T11:47:02.011-05:00Spring 2013 Update<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Quick update on the spring garden. The lettuce and spinach are coming up nicely. We're already seeing weather in the 70s in April here in zone 7b. Hopefully the spinach will grow a bit more before bolting.<br />
The lettuce is just a mix of red, green, and speckled romaine. They do very well for me in hot (70-80F) in raised beds, though their flavor does bitter toward the upper temperatures.<br />
You can also see my improvised mini-greenhouses in the background (reclaimed milk jugs). These have done surprisingly well. You just cut around 90% of the jug, leaving an inch or so under the handle for a flap.<br />
Fill to 1/4" inch under the bottom portion with potting soil, add 2 or 3 pepper, tomato, or other seed, and then duct tape the jug back together. I set these out a little late (February), so the seedlings just barely have 2 leaves on them. You can sent them out in December if you wanted, the seedlings will stay safe and sound from frost, snow, you name it. Just add a bit of water every 2 or 3 days.<br />
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The asparagus is establishing well (on the right). Pretty spindly, but that is first year growth for you. I used the trench plant method. Dig a tench about 12" deep and 12" wide or more. Amend with plenty of organic matter, and spread your asparagus crown roots in all directions. Then cover with just enough dirt that the crown is still visible but the roots are well covered.<br />
After the first year growth dies back this fall, I'll go ahead and fill in the rest of the tench. This should provide a strong root system for a small second year harvest, and then plenty after that.<br />
I decided to go with the Mary Washington asparagus for a mix of male and female plants. My hope is plenty of baby asparagus plants self-seeding over the years for a permanent asparagus patch. Growing all male plants (like Jersey Knight's are typically sold) allow for a greater yield, but the patch will have a limited lifespan.<br />
And the Cascade Hops to the left are going very well this year. They'll grow up to 1' foot per day in the late spring.<br />
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And then we have the strawberry plant, doing just wonderfully. I opted for a mix of June-bearing and everbearing plants, 100 in all. They're spaced very close together (less than 12"), so I'll have to be diligent about cutting back any runners or it'll turn into a poor producing ground cover.<br />
The strawberries are grown on a spur of the moment raised bed. My original plan for a circular planter was nixed because I noticed the northern part wouldn't receive enough sun. So I laid out a row of newspaper, 4 sheets thick and about 3' deep, and covered with about 6" of well amended soil. For "straw" i just use lawn clippings (just make sure you haven't been using any pesticides on it or have grass going to seed).<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07410846819281048732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537685795733353090.post-60266129055764506472013-04-19T16:44:00.000-05:002013-04-19T16:44:04.324-05:00Purple Broccoli and CarrotsAnd ribs... can't forget the ribs!<br />
I had the joy of filling a gallon bag of purple broccoli, grabbing some overwintered carrots, and mixing up this tasty dish. My camera phone couldn't quite capture all the aroma and flavor :)<br />
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The ribs were left over from last night, but still excellent with the dry rub.<br />
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1 Tbsp Oregano<br />
1 Tsp Ground Mustard<br />
1/2 Tsp Cloves<br />
1/2 Tsp Salt<br />
1 Tsp Sugar<br />
Slow cooked at 350F for 4 hours in a foil pack. Let sit for an hour, and then finished up on the grill.<br />
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<span id="goog_1056836738"></span><span id="goog_1056836739"></span><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07410846819281048732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537685795733353090.post-32521671547229354542013-04-11T14:07:00.002-05:002013-04-11T14:07:55.305-05:00Late seedlingsMy poor greenhouse got smashed up right before Christmas 2012. I had made it out of 3/4" PVC and it proved quite rugged, standing stalwartly through 30-40 mph winds without a problem. I had specifically picked out thick walled PVC for the extra UV protection, and the pipes themselves are still as flexible and sturdy as the day I bought them. The connectors, on the other hand, well I didn't think about the connectors. Over the last year, the UV light weakened them to the point I could snap one in my hands. So, on a blustery day in December, one joint finally gave and the whole thing came tumbling down.<br />
The next greenhouse will be timber-frame, but in the mean-time I cobbled together a cold frame to start some seedlings this year.<br />
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Unfortunately, it doesn't hold much heat, so while the seedlings are finally starting to pop through, it's August. The direct planting seeds will overtake the seedlings in no time. Oh well, at least I have spares in case the cutworms take out the ones in the garden.<br />
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I tried using paper egg cartons this year for starting flowers, and it works really well (so far). <br />
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I also tried my hand at rolling newspaper into seedling pots, and those have been terrific. <br />
There's a lot more room for soil (and thereby roots), so my tomatoes, peppers, and the like can sit safely in the cold frame until planting time.<br />
Also, when putting them into the ground, there's no need to remove the seedlings from the "pots". Just poke a few holes in the sides and bottom and plant the whole thing.<br />
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Hopefully the new greenhouse will be built (and still be standing) by Christmas. I hope to have a little rocket-stove inside to provide a little heat. Maybe by next April, I'll have well established plants ready to go into the garden instead of baby seedlings. Still, it's fun no matter the outcome.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07410846819281048732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537685795733353090.post-70398989294515915492013-04-03T12:23:00.001-05:002013-04-11T14:11:49.204-05:00Purple Victory<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Purple Sprouting Broccoli</td></tr>
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The first sprouts are finally starting to peek out from the overwintered purple broccoli! Keeping up with the BT spray... I don't intend to share this year's crop with those leave munching caterpillars.<br />
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Update 4/11/2013:<br />
I had the good fortune to harvest a few of these purple beauties and they are <b>tasty!</b> Raw they taste much like any broccoli, except maybe a little lighter... less <b>BROCCOLI</b> and more mmmm broccoli. But lightly steamed they are amazing. Kind of like a mix between broccoli and asparagus. Both the purple buds (which turn green during cooking unfortunately), and the loooooong stems they grow on are tasty. I think you can eat the baby leaves too, but I nipped them off.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No Caterpillars in 2013!!</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07410846819281048732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537685795733353090.post-39759525456182731572013-03-31T15:22:00.001-05:002013-04-26T09:52:58.888-05:00Square Foot Gardening in 2013I wasn't really happy with how haphazardly last year's garden was laid out. In reality, if I saw something that look fun, I stuck it into the ground somewhere.<br />
So this year, I've spent a great deal of time planing <a href="http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net/companion-planting/">Companion Planting</a> and <a href="http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net/plant-spacing/">Square Foot Gardening</a>. Why?<br />
- Sq ft gardening makes much better use of small spaces. And because your soil is well amended, it can support more plants per ft than an unimproved bare patch of dirt.<br />
- Most plants seem to grow better (for me anyway) in clumps instead of rows.<br />
- Companion plants improve the taste, increases productivity, and/or controls pests of your veggies. And you end up with a crop of herbs or beautiful flowers to boot.<br />
- Companion plants are all things I want to plant somewhere anyway... might as well put them in where they can do double duty.<br />
In the end, I came up with this truly overwhelming design. This translated into an equally overwhelming pile of seeds that I picked up from Walmart. Slight rabbit trail. I had a fully populated shopping cart with one of the online, heirloom seed companies, equaling several hundred dollars. Just before I purchased them, I was cruising through the aisles of Walmart to find these same heirloom seeds for $0.50 a packet vs $3-6 a packet plus shipping. I'm all for paying a bit more to support the small guy, but when you get into that much of a price difference, it's time for you to get a better business model.<br />
Onto the Spring 2013 garden plan.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiFqIh3hgHZxaep3mWo5ScG7dK8fy4snita4bNzycUpD5Bb4-TMGCvFXhH8xttlMJO8wlMDlx9MmrTlPMNPFNzansNfZ1pQD99acDxp2sP3eLNKXcPyHBaQrAZZt_tlhInlXvsDFlEhjk/s1600/Garden+Design.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiFqIh3hgHZxaep3mWo5ScG7dK8fy4snita4bNzycUpD5Bb4-TMGCvFXhH8xttlMJO8wlMDlx9MmrTlPMNPFNzansNfZ1pQD99acDxp2sP3eLNKXcPyHBaQrAZZt_tlhInlXvsDFlEhjk/s400/Garden+Design.jpg" width="380" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spring 2013 Plan</td></tr>
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In addition to the two existing 4x8' beds, the new plan calls for three new 4x12' beds. I can't put into words just how much work it is to prepare just one 4x12' bed with nothing but a shovel and a wheelbarrow, then to improve the heavy clay soil by hand mixing it with bagged compost and peat moss (or coconut coir... cool stuff). But it took me about a week, working 1-2 hours a day to get ready to plant.<br />
Was it worth it? Every second!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Square Foot Gardening Template</td></tr>
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First off, the soil mix of 1 part composted manure : 1 part peat moss : 2-3 parts clay has a much more appealing look that last year's beds (which were still very red in color).<br />
Second, the soil is actually workable instead of being a big wet goopy mess.<br />
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So I measured and staked off my squares and started planting. I can't shake the weird feeling of not putting my carrots into a row, or freaking out that everything is planted too close, but I'm going to stick with it and see what happens.<br />
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If this works, the output would be incredible (from my row growing point of view). In a single 4x4 square, you could produce 128 ears of corn (assuming you get 2 ears per stalk). Or for bush beans where you can grow 9 in 1 sq ft. Or the most interesting of all... squash, pumpkins, and melons where you can grow one in a 1'x2' rectangle .. if you trellis them. My experiment with trellising summer squash worked well last year, though I'll need to use a more sturdy frame for the larger fruits. We'll see what happens!<br />
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Update: 4/26/2013<br />
Finally got the last bed in place. Fun fact, between the three beds I've dug, moved, dumped, scooped up again, mixed with organic matter, moved back, and raked over 8 tons of earth. What a good shovel and wheelbarrow :)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07410846819281048732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537685795733353090.post-12968600788514195982013-03-31T14:53:00.003-05:002013-04-03T12:29:09.925-05:00Spring 2013 - Berries oh my!Spring is finally here! I celebrated by planting a few hardy items in early March.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WQ-PjzX8HDA/UViTFMmooTI/AAAAAAAAB6Q/UMmx6B_1CNc/s1600/Spring+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WQ-PjzX8HDA/UViTFMmooTI/AAAAAAAAB6Q/UMmx6B_1CNc/s400/Spring+2013.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spring Peas</td></tr>
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Here you can see some snow and sugarsnap peas coming up. I've planted some beets in with them, and potatoes in the rows.<br />
A little further back we have Swiss Chard, Lettuce mix, Spinach, and Radishes.<br />
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I may have then gone a little overboard, but I seriously wanted some berries and things in the garden. So also around the first of March, my shipment from Burgess arrived. Needless to say it was a tiring week of digging, fertilizing, and planting. But it has started to pay off already, just 1 month later.<br />
100 Strawberries<br />
3 Golden Raspberries<br />
3 Black Raspberries<br />
3 Red Raspberries<br />
5 Blackberries<br />
6 Blueberries<br />
10 Asparagus<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbRzReprhuptOer6VnpYN8Bb_zptOJWmGmAZB_3DCyZdsYuwircRTvUFYm45tILXJcoTXrV0LDkBnuZlR5wejKn_AqQZNI1PrAAhLWDss8xGa5AjsH8ALMNsU_tnR2JNLe_J_olULADq4/s1600/Strawberries+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbRzReprhuptOer6VnpYN8Bb_zptOJWmGmAZB_3DCyZdsYuwircRTvUFYm45tILXJcoTXrV0LDkBnuZlR5wejKn_AqQZNI1PrAAhLWDss8xGa5AjsH8ALMNsU_tnR2JNLe_J_olULADq4/s400/Strawberries+2013.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strawberries coming up</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3KEcWrrcXcU/UViUAY3OK4I/AAAAAAAAB6g/QXP3pjlKIqU/s1600/Asparagus+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3KEcWrrcXcU/UViUAY3OK4I/AAAAAAAAB6g/QXP3pjlKIqU/s400/Asparagus+2013.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby Asparagus coming up</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07410846819281048732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537685795733353090.post-90616811254961709292013-03-31T14:47:00.002-05:002013-04-03T12:30:14.396-05:00Fall GardenOne of the things I wanted to experiment with here in zone 7b was a fall garden. Where I'm from (zone 5) after the harvest you put up your tools and hibernated for 6 months.<br />
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So I made a second 4x8 bed and planted Lettuce, Spinach, Green and Purple Broccoli, Cauliflower, Kale, and Pole Beans in the first week of September.<br />
I also added a small section of Radishes and Carrots in the first bed.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmNsrVH6kL_wpr35lAOyOEzd0q745y8Itj9dB7HToaTpNcHqBK24Tby8MHmUZI-RBkk33qO1sdLewsvYlH8044T3Q1eO6bvYGNijwxUhMDogY3RxQAx3K6RRpOvpuPtLthp5oP5Y-TXiE/s1600/Fall+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmNsrVH6kL_wpr35lAOyOEzd0q745y8Itj9dB7HToaTpNcHqBK24Tby8MHmUZI-RBkk33qO1sdLewsvYlH8044T3Q1eO6bvYGNijwxUhMDogY3RxQAx3K6RRpOvpuPtLthp5oP5Y-TXiE/s400/Fall+2012.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Everything was going great until a week or so before our first frost date (Nov 1st). The beans weren't quite ready and the frost took them. A simple row cover probably would have protected them without a hitch. Next year... next year.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhykIp0ZpuH7Gne6PPiwC1zwcTBL8AGd3VC5vlkO8CFFJBqfPVaHfqIUYWCf7HYMt5aR9zE-J2kPltHOMfpiAS-lWo6tdP89ISeoFTomzq7Ae7GQ3w3pju884brthzpTVNuZCYw2nFqIqE/s1600/Fall+Garden+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhykIp0ZpuH7Gne6PPiwC1zwcTBL8AGd3VC5vlkO8CFFJBqfPVaHfqIUYWCf7HYMt5aR9zE-J2kPltHOMfpiAS-lWo6tdP89ISeoFTomzq7Ae7GQ3w3pju884brthzpTVNuZCYw2nFqIqE/s400/Fall+Garden+2012.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fall 2012 Garden Bed</td></tr>
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I did have a number of items planted in my newly finished greenhouse that continued growing just fine. I think the greenhouse cost a whole $75, and the self watering containers were made from reused pop bottles.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVsz4OCm4JJdlBDD3cPy2hflvBQ8xnJmFtBjCD9mUd7nPEyLPLYDzFGayj5RMRRJUXvfRrSrlIZZAPhgZU-bU56dSIMgnhHrQ5H_g4Zr77NDG9ZRQ9QAiAYiSpYAqwqLDqFI4U7JbikVU/s1600/Garden+Fall+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVsz4OCm4JJdlBDD3cPy2hflvBQ8xnJmFtBjCD9mUd7nPEyLPLYDzFGayj5RMRRJUXvfRrSrlIZZAPhgZU-bU56dSIMgnhHrQ5H_g4Zr77NDG9ZRQ9QAiAYiSpYAqwqLDqFI4U7JbikVU/s400/Garden+Fall+2012.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fall 2012 Garden</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJqQWyxtew3aPYG1Pr_wurZhrLe9g8nEv1PYD5LaqzCcC78b3EC5vN0zEOpCwM3n9ECn-1lvsPA3aZvTh_yaj9rpdK38SWYEvpxakh8Sa9QxwZoQtjDgMCDwWP-sRQm62I730z2CG740Q/s1600/Green+House+v2+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJqQWyxtew3aPYG1Pr_wurZhrLe9g8nEv1PYD5LaqzCcC78b3EC5vN0zEOpCwM3n9ECn-1lvsPA3aZvTh_yaj9rpdK38SWYEvpxakh8Sa9QxwZoQtjDgMCDwWP-sRQm62I730z2CG740Q/s400/Green+House+v2+2012.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fall 2012 Greenhouse</td></tr>
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So come spring of 2013, and a few tough items made it through unprotected.<br />
Purple Broccoli<br />
Kale<br />
Carrots<br />
Cabbage<br />
Green Broccoli and Cauliflower, though an attack of fall pests didn't leave enough to grow. I found that applications of BT (Bacillus Thuringiensis) saved the rest of what you see here. Best thing about BT, it is safe for human consumption, unwashed, even if it was applied the day you harvest.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dXC1QKhJ7oM/UViR-5D8aZI/AAAAAAAAB6I/FCuCvLSdgyU/s1600/Overwintered+Garden+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dXC1QKhJ7oM/UViR-5D8aZI/AAAAAAAAB6I/FCuCvLSdgyU/s400/Overwintered+Garden+2013.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The survivors of Winter 2012-2013</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07410846819281048732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537685795733353090.post-81290793170161373502013-03-31T14:33:00.001-05:002013-05-01T17:31:36.635-05:00How'd we get here I started tinkering with a garden at our new house last year (2012). I've never really had much success with gardens, though I've been trying for decades. I was horrified to dig up the yard and find nothing but thick red clay. Turns out this was a blessing after all, as it forced me to change my methods. For future reference, if what you've been trying doesn't work, try something new.<br />
I was listening to an episode of The Survival Podcast (great gardening info in there), and heard <a href="http://www.waldeneffect.org/blog/Hugelkultur/">Hugelkultur</a> explained for the first time. Essentially it's adding a buried layer of wood to decompose over time (years to decades depending on the size of the logs). As the wood decomposes, the soil above moves and shifts subtly providing aeration without human power. Once the wood has rotted well, it becomes an underground "pond" soaking up any rainfall like a sponge, and forcing your plants to develop deep roots to tap into it, resulting in stronger plants and drought resistant garden.<br />
Well, in my neighborhood, I couldn't have mounds of dirt so I modified things a bit. <br />
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1. Dig down 18-24" or more (enough to bury your logs). I opted to go with branches and twigs instead for a faster start.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Raised Bed" Step 1</td></tr>
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2. Add your largest logs/branches<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Raised Bed" Step 2</td></tr>
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3. Pile the rest of the branches, twigs, and as much nitrogen rich organic matter as you can spare.</div>
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As the wood initially breaks down, it is going to take up Nitrogen from your soil. It will be returned as the wood breaks down, but adding additional Nitrogen now helps this.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvKNU1EbrSWkT9NlPebGV7sbutfhwI1gXLSpY1tGVtuIdMkHk6qX5PenFvF-YfjCV5VxQDj7vMKLu4EEbhyphenhyphenn-O6PRihuuRXj2TY8bJHOi-LwdhWil7ghqaqiJNw8DbnqpA6FKOR-uQm2o/s1600/Raised+Bed+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvKNU1EbrSWkT9NlPebGV7sbutfhwI1gXLSpY1tGVtuIdMkHk6qX5PenFvF-YfjCV5VxQDj7vMKLu4EEbhyphenhyphenn-O6PRihuuRXj2TY8bJHOi-LwdhWil7ghqaqiJNw8DbnqpA6FKOR-uQm2o/s320/Raised+Bed+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Raised Bed" Step 3</td></tr>
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4. I opted to save the sod and return it on top of the wood pile, grass side down. I was a little worried about grass growing in my bed, but after a full year, there's been no grass (and very few weeds for that matter).<br />
I thought the grass and especially the roots would break down and improve the soil<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Raised Bed" Step 4</td></tr>
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5. I then improved the clay soil I pulled out with some bagged compost from Lowes and surround the bed with some rocks for a more finished look. If you have a few dollars to spend, should consider building your beds out of cedar (like the pre-fab fence sections at Lowes).<br />
I didn't have extra dollars, and the rocks were from elsewhere on my property where I no longer wanted them. Win/Win.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBSLBOOERiqJ8KIy4jxfeltYc2FclEXxAXN1VzVL0_t0YjbDgIZ0x03HRF0TN7-t5jm8R_MmbQpOoqkiDMuTkhSyGgnb52_SzK9tMioGk8Vl0UutbVy1EcAN-oJ8P49bhnshJFPTHcXaU/s1600/Raised+Bed+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBSLBOOERiqJ8KIy4jxfeltYc2FclEXxAXN1VzVL0_t0YjbDgIZ0x03HRF0TN7-t5jm8R_MmbQpOoqkiDMuTkhSyGgnb52_SzK9tMioGk8Vl0UutbVy1EcAN-oJ8P49bhnshJFPTHcXaU/s320/Raised+Bed+5.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Raised Bed" Step 5</td></tr>
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So, did it work? Yes and yes.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spring 2012 Garden</td></tr>
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Swiss Chard in the front<br />
Jalapeno and Pablano Peppers 2nd<br />
Tomato and Bell Peppers 3rd<br />
More Tomatoes and Lettuce 4th<br />
Trellised Zuchinni and Summer Squash in the back<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPUpfjcvzC1kRQNzd3VjhDGbtC3Ui3iQg4wWMRZo3bBXw1edlNO6mBDBNWolGiDoF4n376shLqX148wJOSjGx5VXpiz_sguH89ye5wxVh5JKyr9iRFXHAzLEDWjbGTdcaTVC3S33MB2Gg/s1600/1st+bed+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPUpfjcvzC1kRQNzd3VjhDGbtC3Ui3iQg4wWMRZo3bBXw1edlNO6mBDBNWolGiDoF4n376shLqX148wJOSjGx5VXpiz_sguH89ye5wxVh5JKyr9iRFXHAzLEDWjbGTdcaTVC3S33MB2Gg/s320/1st+bed+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summer 2012 Garden</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgArl-iEo4bRCrZVqPMf7WlW2AoW1GAPAHrDJqdvuI-ZDVCQEq15ovSYctNxaiFXmkbYfsBK3KkN2Gvb3m3zSpS061ShVFyooZSV8UEi9UYJOigHlU9v3yf1lLW4NDCMiAeCZY6PAWsV3k/s1600/Peppers+Fall+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgArl-iEo4bRCrZVqPMf7WlW2AoW1GAPAHrDJqdvuI-ZDVCQEq15ovSYctNxaiFXmkbYfsBK3KkN2Gvb3m3zSpS061ShVFyooZSV8UEi9UYJOigHlU9v3yf1lLW4NDCMiAeCZY6PAWsV3k/s320/Peppers+Fall+2012.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jalapeno</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN9-h-huMIUc9I4Iu-hgGVCPXR9VR-LBUhx_rBLdpmurYoleZ_D628AatkeloqFKcBzBD4VOP3VWWuvwgfqj9BpDt5qxZHfuT7KRnCBZq33f5xPTYhq0H0HE74LLShyphenhyphenZYzIX8TtXPt0Y8/s1600/Pableno+Peppers+Fall+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN9-h-huMIUc9I4Iu-hgGVCPXR9VR-LBUhx_rBLdpmurYoleZ_D628AatkeloqFKcBzBD4VOP3VWWuvwgfqj9BpDt5qxZHfuT7KRnCBZq33f5xPTYhq0H0HE74LLShyphenhyphenZYzIX8TtXPt0Y8/s320/Pableno+Peppers+Fall+2012.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: start;">Red Pablano</span></td></tr>
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Suffice it to say, I'm a big supporter of Raised and Woody-core Bed!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07410846819281048732noreply@blogger.com0