J.D.'s Special C-Tex Tomato: (Sunshine Community Garden Plant Sale, $2)
Description: J.D Brann's cross of a black and early red that produces purple/black beefsteaks with outstanding flavor. Indeterminate. 80 days.
Planted: 3/16 in the grow box
Experience for the first half of the season: 2 tomatoes, the plant looks healthy.
Taste: I like the flavor a lot - like I really hope I have a Krim and a JD at the same time so I can do a comparison. The flavor is very assertively tomato - not quite smokey, but not acidic.
Experience by the end of the season: The plant did pretty well (though not a heavy producer). I think I will try it again in the future.
Raspberry Miracle Tomato: (Sunshine Community Garden Plant Sale, $2)
Description: Bears large deep red fruit with delicious flavor. Up to 16 oz. Indeterminate. 80-85 days.
Planted: 3/16 in the grow box
Experience for the first half of the season: 4 tomatoes, the plant looks sickly.
Taste: The flavor is much better than store-bought tomatoes, but it's very much a basic tomato flavor. So basically, I'd grow it again, but I still prefer the flavor of the Krim and JD's better.
Experience by the end of the season: Produced better than the JD's CenTex, and better than Krims, but I don't like the taste as much.
Pink Berkeley Tie Dye Tomato: (Sunshine Community Garden Plant Sale, $2)
Description: Unbelievable looks and flavor. Striped with port wine interior that gushed tomato flavor. Indeterminate. 75-80 days.
Planted 3/17 - there were two tomatoes in the same pot. One planted in flower pot, one planted in the west garden bed.
Experience by the end of the season: Meh. I liked the other tomatoes better.
Black Krim Tomato: (From Seed - Botanical Interests, pack opened Jan 2011)
Description: 70 days from transplanting. Indeterminate.
This Russian heirloom originated
in Krim, a Crimean town on the
Black Sea. Baseball-sized fruits
weigh 10 - 12 oz. and have
reddish-brown flesh filled with an
earthy, almost smoky flavor. Fruit
sets well in heat and is the most
reliable of the black tomatoes,
producing even under adverse
conditions from summer to fall.
Provide support for vines that
reach 6 feet or more.
Planted 3/17 - two planted - one in the west garden bed, one in a flower pot.
Experience by the end of the season: The one in the flower pot died, but the one in the garden produced a few tomatoes.
Roma Tomato: (From Seed - Botanical Interests, pack opened Jan 2011)
Description: 80 days from transplanting. Determinate.
An absolutely excellent heirloom
tomato – firm, meaty, 3-inch
oblong fruits with few seeds, on
compact plants. Very prolific plant for a bountiful harvest!
As a determinate type, most of
the fruits ripen at the same time,
which makes this tomato a good
choice for canning. In areas with a
long growing season, a second
successive planting will double
your harvest!
Planted 3/17 - two planted - one in the west garden bed, one in the flower pot.
Experience by the end of the season: the one in the flower pot died, and the one in the garden became infested with root knot nematodes. Before I pulled it up, it did produce enough green tomatoes for me to make green tomato chutney.
Trinidad Scorpion Pepper: (Sunshine Community Garden Plant Sale, $2)
Description: 90-120 days. Outrageously hot, these peppers mature to a red color. It is a tall plant that should produce many 2-3 inch peppers.
Planted 3/17 in the flower pot.
Experience by the end of the season: Didn't produce anything. Saved for next year.
Marjoram: (Sunshine Community Garden Plant Sale, $2)
Description: Tender perennial. Flavor
is considered milder but more
complex than its relative, oregano.
Some describe the flavor as having
a hint of balsam. Very
popular ingredient in German
sausage and herb breads.
Planted 3/17 in the flower pot.
Experience by the end of the season: The oregano is hardier and actually survived the winter. This plant just always seemed a little behind the 8-ball and didn't make it through the winter.
Dill: (Sunshine Community Garden Plant Sale, $2)
Description: Warm season annual. Foliage is delicious sprinkled
on potatoes, tomatoes, salmon,
spinach, cucumbers and lamb
chops. Dill is an important host
plant for caterpillars of swallowtail
butterflies. (and thus the main reason why I have it every year - that and to make a batch or two of Dill Dough Bread).
Planted 3/17 in the flower pot.
Experience: This spring started out a bit warmer than normal and so the plant was a bit aphid ridden - but it also ended up hosting both swallowtail caterpillars and lady bugs (on account of the aphids). I didn't get to make the Dill Dough Bread, though.
Sage: (I don't remember - I've had the plant for a while now waiting to be planted)
Description: Perennial. Sage’s flavor is bold and
assertive, and considered very
valuable as a digestive aid to
high-fat foods such as pork,
wild game and cheese.
Often paired with stuffing, it
also livens up vegetables,
potatoes, soups and stews.
The plant has beautiful, edible
purple/blue flowers, and the
gray-green foliage provides
an excellent contrast in the
garden or containers.
Deer resistant.
Planted 3/17 in the flower pot.
Experience: Is flourishing in the flower pot and made it through the winter.
Pot Douglah (or whatever the new hottest pepper in the world is): given to me by Laura at WillsFamilyAcres.
Description: "News of the douglah possibly being the hottest won’t come as shock to
those who have had one. I’ve read post after post and watched countless
taste test videos where the verdict was that the douglah was the hottest
pepper the person had ever tasted."
Planted ?? I don't remember when I planted it, but it's in the east garden
Experience: The plant doesn't look all that hot - almost like it's constantly not getting enough water. It also probably isn't getting enough sun. Dug up and saved for next year.
Chocolate Habanero: given to me by Laura at WillsFamilyAcres
Description: The notorious & viciously hot Chocolate Habañero ranks among the
deadly few at the top of the heat scale registering upto 450,000
scoville heat units. Indeed the Chile Pepper Institute of New Mexico
State University reported that the Chocolate Habanero Chile was the
hottest chile pepper they had tested. Also known as the 'Congo black'
the fruits have a unique, rich flavor unduplicated by any other pepper.
The 2" fruits ripen from an emerald green to a gorgeous, chocolate brown
approximately 100 days after transplanting. The ultimate salsa pepper
used to make the famous Jamaican Jerk Sauce. The variety is a must for
heat lovers.
Planted ?? I don't remember when I planted it, but it's in the east garden
Experience: The plant(s) are still tiny, but I have high hopes now that the heat has set in. Dug up and saved for next year.
Cossack Pineapple (Ground Cherry): From seed (____ pack opened in Jan 2013)
Description: 60 days. 1/2" diameter berries have a delicious flavor reminiscent of
pineapple. Bite-sized berries are so tasty that they may never make it
into the kitchen, especially if you have children. Excellent for
preserves, hot dessert toppings, salads or mock pineapple yogurt. Plants
are short (12"-18") but with bushy spreading lateral branches which
choke out weeds. Fruits ripen to a pineapple yellow. Pkt (0.06 g).
Experience: The plants flowered and have produced fruit before planting into the garden. I've only ever gotten a few fruits at a time and so I just eat them straight from the plant. The fruit are tangy and good - don't know if I'd want more than a few at a time, though.
Holdovers from last year -
Lemon Balm: (2 plants) Planted in 2010. Removed from the garden in fall 2013 because I just wasn't using them for anything.
Oregano: Planted in 2012
Garlic Chives: (2 plants - one transplant, one from seed) Planted in 2012. One plant removed in fall 2013.
Parsley: I always let the plants seed out every year, so they're essentially wild in my yard now.
Lavender: Planted in 2012. Died during the summer.
Summer Thyme: Planted in 2012
Chile Pequin: Planted in 2012. Died in the winter of 2013
Aurora Pepper: Planted in 2012 - the original plant died, but I just threw a pepper in a pot and it's sprouted. The plants have one pepper each. Plants saved through the winter.
Aji Crystal Pepper: Planted in 2012 - dug up and kept in a pot over the winter, now sitting in a pot. The plant is covered with peppers. Plant kept over the winter to be planted in the garden in 2014.
Showing posts with label Growing Season 2013. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Growing Season 2013. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
What I planted/harvested in 2013
December 30, 2013:
In the end, I got a handful of Ground Cherries (enough that I'll plant again), a handful of Black Jalapenos (again, I'd plant these), about 10 Red Demons (which I love), and I pulled enough Raspberry Miracle and Roma tomatoes at the end to make a half-batch of green tomato chutney. When I pulled the Roma Tomato, I found that it had been infested with root knot nematodes - and it was in the newer bed, which now means that both of my beds have nematodes (fie!). I did get 3 small eggplants (if we had had a winter like a few years ago, they would have gotten much bigger). The lavender plant did die, and I dug up and gave away the large garlic chives plant. I didn't collect any chile pequins from the plants (left them for the birds), but they did produce. I planted a pacman broccoli, a marathon broccoli, a green jade brussels sprouts, and a cauliflower plant in the east garden bed (sometime in late October/early November). The west one still has a bunch of oregano and a bunch of lemon balm, plus the swiss chard and one small garlic chives plant.
October 15, 2013:
I can harvest Red Demons and Black Jalapenos (I've actually pulled a few of each to use in cooking). I continue to get a small amount of Cossack Pineapple Ground Cherries. The tomatoes appear to be setting fruit.
September 8, 2013:
Harvested a handful of the Cossack Pineapple Ground Cherries. weeded the gardens and pulled dead tomatoes (Berkley Tie Dye and Black Krim). The eggplants are finally starting to flower, and the Renee's Black Jalapenos and Red Demon peppers are starting to set fruit.
August 14, 2013:
Harvested the remaining J.D.'s CenTex tomato and went ahead and harvested the Berkeley Tie-Dye as well. It's official that the Roma and Krim tomatoes in the pot are toast, as is the Berkeley Tie-Dye in the garden. The Berkeley in the pot isn't looking too good either. We've been harvesting some of the Aji Crystal peppers for a while - they're spicy, but not spicy enough for our tastes. The Lavender plant is half dead...mostly dead, whatever.
August 4, 2013:
Harvested all the remaining garlic (Burgundy, Maiskij, Red Inchellium)...I really need to start things like Broccoli for the fall... Put up some news paper on the tomato cage in the garden to try to shade some of the plants.
July 28, 2013:
Watered all the edibles with seaweed fertilizer (trying to get them prepped for the hot weather of August).
July 11, 2013:
Harvested another J.D's CenTex tomato and Berkeley Tie-Dye. The Raspberry Miracle will be harvested tomorrow.
June 30, 2013:
Farmer's Almanac: Good Day For Transplanting.
Edibles: Transplanted Nadia Eggplant to the potato box. Transplanted the Cossack Pineapple to the potato box. Transplanted 2 of the 3 Orange Fogo to the potato box. Transplanted one of the Red Savinas to the potato box. Transplanted 3 of the Red Demons to a bigger pot and placed next to the Aji pepper. Transplanted 1 of the Red Demons to the west garden. Transplanted the Renee's Black Jalapenos to the west garden. Watered everything in with fish emulsion.
June 29, 2013:
Watered everything in the front yard and back with fish emulsion. It only took me like 3 hours and almost the entire . I also used ALL of the water that was left in the rain barrels and cleaned out the southern one (it's be a while since it was cleaned). Here's hoping it actually rains tomorrow like predicted.
June 26, 2013:
Edibles: Pulled 3 elephant garlic to use in recipes. Dug up some ginger to also use in recipes. I really need to transplant the peppers and eggplant that I have sitting in the little 4" pots.
June 17, 2013:
Ornamentals: I watered everything in the back yard well. Also deep watered the possumhaws and the elm.
June 16, 2013:
Edibles: Harvested another Raspberry Miracle (for a total of 4) tomato and a JD's CenTex (for a total of 2). [edited: Ended up having to throw out one of the Raspberry Miracles because I let it go bad]
Ornamentals: I watered everything in the front yard well. Also deep watered the Red Oak and the Bradford Pear.
June 15, 2013:
Edibles: Harvested 3 "Raspberry Miracle" tomatoes over the last few days. Have not eaten any yet. Will likely be thrown in a pasta sauce with chard (which is still growing in my garden) and some yellow squash from a coworker. There aren't any more Raspberry Miracle tomatoes on the plant at this juncture, and there are 2 left on the JD's CenTex. The Krims and Romas do not have any tomatoes on the plants either. The Aji pepper has a bunch of peppers on it, but I have not harvested any yet. The Cossack Ground Cherries have some fruit on the wee tiny plants...Don't know when they'll be ready.
May 27, 2013:
Farmer's Almanac: Plant Late Beets, Potatoes, Onions, Carrots, And Other Root Crops.
Ornamentals: Transplanted Pale Pavonia, 2 verbena, 3 Arizona Blanketflower, 3 Scabiosa, 2 pink guara, the Summer Snow, the Russian Sage, the Red Sage, the Pink Skullcap, the Pink Salvia Gregii, and the Lion's Tail.
Edibles: Roma and Krim tomatoes planted, Pot Douglah and Chocolate Habanero transplanted. Harvested the first Tomato of the season - a JD's CenTex Special. It was very good. Kinda like the Black Krims, but a bit more of that acidic tomato flavor. Ate it in pasta sauce with my friend's Golden Jubilee tomato I got for taking care of her garden whilst on vacation - it was good, but not as good as my CenTex.
May 23, 2013:
Finished harvesting the onions. Cut back the lemon balm, oregano, thyme and garlic chives.
May 17, 2013:
Harvested most of the onions this week. As per usual, they aren't exactly big, but they sure are yummy. Cut back the parsley (again).
May 8, 2013:
Cut back the parsley (only in the back yard) so it wouldn't shade out the tomatoes. Removed the peas since they were toast.
May 4, 2013:
Farmer's Almanac: Favorable Time For Planting Late Root Crops. Also Good For Vine Crops That Can Be Planted Now. Set Strawberry Plants. Good Days For Transplanting.
Edibles: Transplanted the Cossack Pineapple Ground Cherry, Nadia Eggplants, Red Savina Habanero, Renee's Black Jalapeno (F1), Orange Fogo, and Red Demon into 4" pots (except for the ones that I didn't have space for - those were spread out within the seed sprouting box - Orange Fogo, Red Demon and one lone Nadia separating the two). It's so late in the season I doubt I'll get anything from any of the plants, but that's how it goes, doesn't it?
Ornamentals: I picked up some bi-color iris from Diana. I actually specifically got it for my inlaws/parents, but neither are in Texas at the moment so I ended up planting the iris out by the gas meter - I figure plants would rather be dug up again at a later date than sit around with their roots not in the dirt.
May 3, 2013:
Weather been crazy, yo. On the 1st it was 80-some-odd-degrees, then the cold front moved in and it was crazy windy and kinda chilly (night-time temps in the low 40s). It's finally starting to return to normal, though we did set records for coldest temperatures the last two days (mid 40's at night).
April 27,2013:
So one of the problems with using a grow box is that one doesn't have to water the plants every day. Because of this, one does not have to inspect the plants everyday and, as such, one will be completely flummoxed when one finally sees a tomato - one as big as a golf ball on the plant (JD's Special CenTex). When did that show up? Also, we've been eating peas out of the garden all week. I call it "standing in the garden eating peas." Really we just stand in the yard pulling peas off the vine that look ripe and eating them. The butterflyweed has some issues with both aphids (expected) and spider mites (not expected) so everything got hosed down good and proper. Also watered the ornamentals in the back yard. Not deeply though...which means I really should water again tomorrow. Considering I haven't watered everything for a while (looks like the 1st was the last day that I noted it), it all looks amazing. It should be noted that I forgot to mark down when I made compost tea and watered all the veggie beds and new(ish) plantings with it...it must have been the 13th since that's when we mulched the possumhaws.
April 20, 2013: The Hinckley's Yellow Columbine was blooming this morning (it actually bloomed last week, but the flower stalk was not strong enough). I find it fitting that it's blooming today.
April 6, 2013:
The Zilker Gardenfest was today, and I picked up a Tropical Butterflyweed, Almond Verbena, and Summer Snow plant. I planted the Tropical Butterflyweed and Almond Verbena when I got home. Now I just need to find a place for the Summer Snow plant.
April 1, 2013:
Since I had to go to the dentist this morning, I watered all plants well (except trees). And found a fire ant mound and a carpenter or acrobatic ant mound...YAY!
Edibles: I found a strawberry the other day and told Shawn to go ahead and eat it. He said it needed to ripen for a day or two more and lo, when I went to pick it this morning, it had been entirely eaten by slugs/caterpillars/snails. And this is why I shouldn't listen to him when it comes to 'when things are ready to pick'...sure they may not be primo, but when you only have 2 plants, you better take what you can get when you can.
March 30, 2013:
Shawn pruned up some of the trees and then chipped the limbs. The only problem? He did so in the area right where I planted all the yarrow. Stomp, stomp, stomp on the poor yarrow. Instead of freaking out, I just let him continue until he was done and then watered the poor plants with fish emulsion again. I also prepped some 4" pots so I can transplant peppers/eggplants from the seed starter thing (maybe they'll grow faster if they're more spread out...even though the plants are only maybe half an inch tall...I probably could have left the growing bin in the little green house for a little longer than I did since the peppers/eggplant like the heat).
March 28, 2013:
Farmer's Almanac: Favorable Day For Planting Root Crops, Fine For Sowing Hay, Fodder Crops, And Grains. Plant Flowers.
Ornamentals: Planted the milkweeds by the second rain barrel; planted the white and red yarrows as well as the recently purchased betony in the shady area by the Firespike plant per the plan. Watered all new plants with the fish emulsion.
Edibles: Noticed a strawberry today. Which is good. I hate planting plants and then getting NOTHING from them - it's one thing if the critters get the fruits of my labor, it's another when the plant just doesn't do anything.
March 24, 2013:
Went to Natural Gardener and Barton Springs Nursery today with my parents (we're trying to figure out which plants they like and dislike). Bought 2 4" 'Paprika' yarrows and a gallon of Alaska Fish Fertilizer. Currently NG is out of milkweed (they'll have more on Thursday). At Barton Springs Nursery, I got 6 - 4" milkweeds, 3 - 4" Betony plants and 1 - 4" Caldwell Pink Rose. Due to projected lows being in the mid-30's, I will not plant anything until later in the week (everything, including the tomatoes in 4" pots, are inside for the next two nights). Watered all the seedlings, veggie plants, ginger and butterfly bush with the fish emulsion.
March 17, 2013:
Farmer's Almanac: Favorable For Planting Crops Bearing Yield Above The Ground.
Edibles: Separated and planted the Pink Berkeley Tie Dye (there were two tomatoes in one pot), 2 Krims and 2 Romas. Planted the Scorpion Pepper. Planted the Sage, the Dill, and the Marjoram. Broke apart the Ginger pieces and replanted them.
Ornamentals: Watered everything well except trees.
March 16, 2013:
Farmer's Almanac: Favorable For Planting Crops Bearing Yield Above The Ground.
Edibles: Planted the Raspberry Miracle and J.D.'s Special CenTex Tomatoes in the Grow Box.
Ornamentals: Planted the Ruby Crystals Grass to the Hell Strip. Dug out the area by the rain barrel, again. Backfilled with rock instead of dirt.
March 9, 2013:
Who would have thought that the little decapitated tomato would have made it? Waiting for the storm to roll in so I didn't water any plants except for those that I planted today. Planted the Yaupon Holly, Carolina Buckthorn, Hummingbird Plant, Gulf Coast Penstemon, Blue Penstemon. Moved the Philippine Violet (unfortunately not really where it's final place is supposed to be...)
March 3, 2013:
Watered all plants well (except trees). Based on advice from Roberta, I watered all my sad little tomatoes with seaweed (okay, actually she recommended fish emulsion, but I don't have that, I have seaweed though). Watered the betony plants with the seaweed as well. Seaweed stuff purchased from Barton Springs Nursery on Feb 16 for $11.
March 2, 2013:
Sunshine and AOG plant sales today. Purchased JD's Special C-Tex tomato, Pink Berkeley Tie Dye tomato, Raspberry Miracle tomato, Dill plant, Marjoram plant, Trinidad Scorpion Pepper Plant from Sunshine for $2 each. Purchased white yarrow plants from AOG for $2.50 each.
February 25, 2013:
We had a crazy windstorm today - windy all afternoon and night. Gusts up to 51 mph in the area by the house. And of course I had just moved the tomato seedlings to a less protected area in the yard. They look sad and pitiful and aside from one, are all still alive.
February 24, 2013:
Watered all plants well. (did water possumhaws and elm, but no other trees)
February 18, 2013:
Transplanted the tomatoes from the little seed bed starter container into 4" pots. A grand total of 7 Romas and 6 Krims were transplanted.
February 16, 2013:
Farmer's Almanac: Fine for planting aboveground crops where climate is suitable.
Ornamentals: I'm going with the theory that anything that you plant for whatever is growing aboveground is an 'aboveground crop', even if you never harvest it. I purchased a Big Muhly, Augusta Deulberg Sage, 2 Ruby Crystals Grass, and a Coral Honeysuckle vine from Barton Springs Nursery today (already planted all but the Ruby Crystals). I purchased two Gulf Muhlies (and planted them) from the Natural Gardener. I also planted the 2 Big Muhlies I already had as well as the 2 Texas Betony plants.
February 8, 2013:
Some of the peas have sprouted...as have some of the quinoa? carrots? I don't remember what I planted where...oh well, I'm sure I'll figure it out when they get real leaves on the plants. All of the greenhouse plants have come up, save one little Naga. That's okay. If I actually get the number of habanero plants to actually survive, it won't be that big of a deal.
February 4, 2013:
Even when I'm trying to keep track I do a crappy job - I think most of the seeds (in my greenhouse) have come up... the only ones lagging were the Naga Jolokia and Cossack Ground Cherry, so I need to make a concerted effort to check on them. I don't think anything has come up from what I planted in the garden...but it's only been about a week.
January 26, 2013:
Farmer's Almanac: A Most Fruitful Time To Plant Beets, Carrots, Onions, And Other Hardy Root Crops. Also Good For Transplanting.
Edibles: Red Savina and Red Demon peppers have sprouted. Transplanted the onion starts into the east garden bed. Sowed Quinoa, Carrots (Sunshine Mix), and Peas in the west bed.
Ornamentals: Purchased and transplanted 3 Dianella plants by the deck. Transplanted 2 Bluebonnets, 2 Ruby Crystals Grass, and 1 Verbena in the Hell Strip.
January 16, 2013:
Noticed the Black Krim and Roma seeds sprouting. Cat grass sprouted over the weekend and is now approximately 3" tall.
January 13, 2013:
The Cat Grass planted on January 6 have sprouted and are about 1" tall (last night there was nothing, today, BOOM! Cat Grass).
January 6, 2013:
Farmer's Almanac: Today is a good day to plant root crops and leafy greens. Start seed beds.
Ornamental Seeds Sown - Candy Tuft (white pinnacle), Cosmos, Coneflower (Purple), Gomphrena (Eleanor's), Grow Green Wildflower mix, Larkspur (from Caroline), Marigolds (tagetes), Scarlet Flax, Cat Grass
Edibles Seeds Sown - Eggplant (Nadia), Ground Cherry (Cossack Pineapple), Habanero Chile (Red Savina), Naga Jolokia, Renee's Black Jalapeno (F1), Thai Chile (Orange Fogo and Red Demon), Tomato (Black Krim), Tomato (Roma)
In the end, I got a handful of Ground Cherries (enough that I'll plant again), a handful of Black Jalapenos (again, I'd plant these), about 10 Red Demons (which I love), and I pulled enough Raspberry Miracle and Roma tomatoes at the end to make a half-batch of green tomato chutney. When I pulled the Roma Tomato, I found that it had been infested with root knot nematodes - and it was in the newer bed, which now means that both of my beds have nematodes (fie!). I did get 3 small eggplants (if we had had a winter like a few years ago, they would have gotten much bigger). The lavender plant did die, and I dug up and gave away the large garlic chives plant. I didn't collect any chile pequins from the plants (left them for the birds), but they did produce. I planted a pacman broccoli, a marathon broccoli, a green jade brussels sprouts, and a cauliflower plant in the east garden bed (sometime in late October/early November). The west one still has a bunch of oregano and a bunch of lemon balm, plus the swiss chard and one small garlic chives plant.
October 15, 2013:
I can harvest Red Demons and Black Jalapenos (I've actually pulled a few of each to use in cooking). I continue to get a small amount of Cossack Pineapple Ground Cherries. The tomatoes appear to be setting fruit.
September 8, 2013:
Harvested a handful of the Cossack Pineapple Ground Cherries. weeded the gardens and pulled dead tomatoes (Berkley Tie Dye and Black Krim). The eggplants are finally starting to flower, and the Renee's Black Jalapenos and Red Demon peppers are starting to set fruit.
August 14, 2013:
Harvested the remaining J.D.'s CenTex tomato and went ahead and harvested the Berkeley Tie-Dye as well. It's official that the Roma and Krim tomatoes in the pot are toast, as is the Berkeley Tie-Dye in the garden. The Berkeley in the pot isn't looking too good either. We've been harvesting some of the Aji Crystal peppers for a while - they're spicy, but not spicy enough for our tastes. The Lavender plant is half dead...mostly dead, whatever.
August 4, 2013:
Harvested all the remaining garlic (Burgundy, Maiskij, Red Inchellium)...I really need to start things like Broccoli for the fall... Put up some news paper on the tomato cage in the garden to try to shade some of the plants.
July 28, 2013:
Watered all the edibles with seaweed fertilizer (trying to get them prepped for the hot weather of August).
July 11, 2013:
Harvested another J.D's CenTex tomato and Berkeley Tie-Dye. The Raspberry Miracle will be harvested tomorrow.
June 30, 2013:
Farmer's Almanac: Good Day For Transplanting.
Edibles: Transplanted Nadia Eggplant to the potato box. Transplanted the Cossack Pineapple to the potato box. Transplanted 2 of the 3 Orange Fogo to the potato box. Transplanted one of the Red Savinas to the potato box. Transplanted 3 of the Red Demons to a bigger pot and placed next to the Aji pepper. Transplanted 1 of the Red Demons to the west garden. Transplanted the Renee's Black Jalapenos to the west garden. Watered everything in with fish emulsion.
June 29, 2013:
Watered everything in the front yard and back with fish emulsion. It only took me like 3 hours and almost the entire . I also used ALL of the water that was left in the rain barrels and cleaned out the southern one (it's be a while since it was cleaned). Here's hoping it actually rains tomorrow like predicted.
June 26, 2013:
Edibles: Pulled 3 elephant garlic to use in recipes. Dug up some ginger to also use in recipes. I really need to transplant the peppers and eggplant that I have sitting in the little 4" pots.
June 17, 2013:
Ornamentals: I watered everything in the back yard well. Also deep watered the possumhaws and the elm.
June 16, 2013:
Edibles: Harvested another Raspberry Miracle (for a total of 4) tomato and a JD's CenTex (for a total of 2). [edited: Ended up having to throw out one of the Raspberry Miracles because I let it go bad]
Ornamentals: I watered everything in the front yard well. Also deep watered the Red Oak and the Bradford Pear.
June 15, 2013:
Edibles: Harvested 3 "Raspberry Miracle" tomatoes over the last few days. Have not eaten any yet. Will likely be thrown in a pasta sauce with chard (which is still growing in my garden) and some yellow squash from a coworker. There aren't any more Raspberry Miracle tomatoes on the plant at this juncture, and there are 2 left on the JD's CenTex. The Krims and Romas do not have any tomatoes on the plants either. The Aji pepper has a bunch of peppers on it, but I have not harvested any yet. The Cossack Ground Cherries have some fruit on the wee tiny plants...Don't know when they'll be ready.
May 27, 2013:
Farmer's Almanac: Plant Late Beets, Potatoes, Onions, Carrots, And Other Root Crops.
Ornamentals: Transplanted Pale Pavonia, 2 verbena, 3 Arizona Blanketflower, 3 Scabiosa, 2 pink guara, the Summer Snow, the Russian Sage, the Red Sage, the Pink Skullcap, the Pink Salvia Gregii, and the Lion's Tail.
Edibles: Roma and Krim tomatoes planted, Pot Douglah and Chocolate Habanero transplanted. Harvested the first Tomato of the season - a JD's CenTex Special. It was very good. Kinda like the Black Krims, but a bit more of that acidic tomato flavor. Ate it in pasta sauce with my friend's Golden Jubilee tomato I got for taking care of her garden whilst on vacation - it was good, but not as good as my CenTex.
May 23, 2013:
Finished harvesting the onions. Cut back the lemon balm, oregano, thyme and garlic chives.
May 17, 2013:
Harvested most of the onions this week. As per usual, they aren't exactly big, but they sure are yummy. Cut back the parsley (again).
May 8, 2013:
Cut back the parsley (only in the back yard) so it wouldn't shade out the tomatoes. Removed the peas since they were toast.
May 4, 2013:
Farmer's Almanac: Favorable Time For Planting Late Root Crops. Also Good For Vine Crops That Can Be Planted Now. Set Strawberry Plants. Good Days For Transplanting.
Edibles: Transplanted the Cossack Pineapple Ground Cherry, Nadia Eggplants, Red Savina Habanero, Renee's Black Jalapeno (F1), Orange Fogo, and Red Demon into 4" pots (except for the ones that I didn't have space for - those were spread out within the seed sprouting box - Orange Fogo, Red Demon and one lone Nadia separating the two). It's so late in the season I doubt I'll get anything from any of the plants, but that's how it goes, doesn't it?
Ornamentals: I picked up some bi-color iris from Diana. I actually specifically got it for my inlaws/parents, but neither are in Texas at the moment so I ended up planting the iris out by the gas meter - I figure plants would rather be dug up again at a later date than sit around with their roots not in the dirt.
May 3, 2013:
Weather been crazy, yo. On the 1st it was 80-some-odd-degrees, then the cold front moved in and it was crazy windy and kinda chilly (night-time temps in the low 40s). It's finally starting to return to normal, though we did set records for coldest temperatures the last two days (mid 40's at night).
April 27,2013:
So one of the problems with using a grow box is that one doesn't have to water the plants every day. Because of this, one does not have to inspect the plants everyday and, as such, one will be completely flummoxed when one finally sees a tomato - one as big as a golf ball on the plant (JD's Special CenTex). When did that show up? Also, we've been eating peas out of the garden all week. I call it "standing in the garden eating peas." Really we just stand in the yard pulling peas off the vine that look ripe and eating them. The butterflyweed has some issues with both aphids (expected) and spider mites (not expected) so everything got hosed down good and proper. Also watered the ornamentals in the back yard. Not deeply though...which means I really should water again tomorrow. Considering I haven't watered everything for a while (looks like the 1st was the last day that I noted it), it all looks amazing. It should be noted that I forgot to mark down when I made compost tea and watered all the veggie beds and new(ish) plantings with it...it must have been the 13th since that's when we mulched the possumhaws.
April 20, 2013: The Hinckley's Yellow Columbine was blooming this morning (it actually bloomed last week, but the flower stalk was not strong enough). I find it fitting that it's blooming today.
April 6, 2013:
The Zilker Gardenfest was today, and I picked up a Tropical Butterflyweed, Almond Verbena, and Summer Snow plant. I planted the Tropical Butterflyweed and Almond Verbena when I got home. Now I just need to find a place for the Summer Snow plant.
April 1, 2013:
Since I had to go to the dentist this morning, I watered all plants well (except trees). And found a fire ant mound and a carpenter or acrobatic ant mound...YAY!
Edibles: I found a strawberry the other day and told Shawn to go ahead and eat it. He said it needed to ripen for a day or two more and lo, when I went to pick it this morning, it had been entirely eaten by slugs/caterpillars/snails. And this is why I shouldn't listen to him when it comes to 'when things are ready to pick'...sure they may not be primo, but when you only have 2 plants, you better take what you can get when you can.
March 30, 2013:
Shawn pruned up some of the trees and then chipped the limbs. The only problem? He did so in the area right where I planted all the yarrow. Stomp, stomp, stomp on the poor yarrow. Instead of freaking out, I just let him continue until he was done and then watered the poor plants with fish emulsion again. I also prepped some 4" pots so I can transplant peppers/eggplants from the seed starter thing (maybe they'll grow faster if they're more spread out...even though the plants are only maybe half an inch tall...I probably could have left the growing bin in the little green house for a little longer than I did since the peppers/eggplant like the heat).
March 28, 2013:
Farmer's Almanac: Favorable Day For Planting Root Crops, Fine For Sowing Hay, Fodder Crops, And Grains. Plant Flowers.
Ornamentals: Planted the milkweeds by the second rain barrel; planted the white and red yarrows as well as the recently purchased betony in the shady area by the Firespike plant per the plan. Watered all new plants with the fish emulsion.
Edibles: Noticed a strawberry today. Which is good. I hate planting plants and then getting NOTHING from them - it's one thing if the critters get the fruits of my labor, it's another when the plant just doesn't do anything.
March 24, 2013:
Went to Natural Gardener and Barton Springs Nursery today with my parents (we're trying to figure out which plants they like and dislike). Bought 2 4" 'Paprika' yarrows and a gallon of Alaska Fish Fertilizer. Currently NG is out of milkweed (they'll have more on Thursday). At Barton Springs Nursery, I got 6 - 4" milkweeds, 3 - 4" Betony plants and 1 - 4" Caldwell Pink Rose. Due to projected lows being in the mid-30's, I will not plant anything until later in the week (everything, including the tomatoes in 4" pots, are inside for the next two nights). Watered all the seedlings, veggie plants, ginger and butterfly bush with the fish emulsion.
March 17, 2013:
Farmer's Almanac: Favorable For Planting Crops Bearing Yield Above The Ground.
Edibles: Separated and planted the Pink Berkeley Tie Dye (there were two tomatoes in one pot), 2 Krims and 2 Romas. Planted the Scorpion Pepper. Planted the Sage, the Dill, and the Marjoram. Broke apart the Ginger pieces and replanted them.
Ornamentals: Watered everything well except trees.
March 16, 2013:
Farmer's Almanac: Favorable For Planting Crops Bearing Yield Above The Ground.
Edibles: Planted the Raspberry Miracle and J.D.'s Special CenTex Tomatoes in the Grow Box.
Ornamentals: Planted the Ruby Crystals Grass to the Hell Strip. Dug out the area by the rain barrel, again. Backfilled with rock instead of dirt.
March 9, 2013:
Who would have thought that the little decapitated tomato would have made it? Waiting for the storm to roll in so I didn't water any plants except for those that I planted today. Planted the Yaupon Holly, Carolina Buckthorn, Hummingbird Plant, Gulf Coast Penstemon, Blue Penstemon. Moved the Philippine Violet (unfortunately not really where it's final place is supposed to be...)
March 3, 2013:
Watered all plants well (except trees). Based on advice from Roberta, I watered all my sad little tomatoes with seaweed (okay, actually she recommended fish emulsion, but I don't have that, I have seaweed though). Watered the betony plants with the seaweed as well. Seaweed stuff purchased from Barton Springs Nursery on Feb 16 for $11.
March 2, 2013:
Sunshine and AOG plant sales today. Purchased JD's Special C-Tex tomato, Pink Berkeley Tie Dye tomato, Raspberry Miracle tomato, Dill plant, Marjoram plant, Trinidad Scorpion Pepper Plant from Sunshine for $2 each. Purchased white yarrow plants from AOG for $2.50 each.
February 25, 2013:
We had a crazy windstorm today - windy all afternoon and night. Gusts up to 51 mph in the area by the house. And of course I had just moved the tomato seedlings to a less protected area in the yard. They look sad and pitiful and aside from one, are all still alive.
February 24, 2013:
Watered all plants well. (did water possumhaws and elm, but no other trees)
February 18, 2013:
Transplanted the tomatoes from the little seed bed starter container into 4" pots. A grand total of 7 Romas and 6 Krims were transplanted.
February 16, 2013:
Farmer's Almanac: Fine for planting aboveground crops where climate is suitable.
Ornamentals: I'm going with the theory that anything that you plant for whatever is growing aboveground is an 'aboveground crop', even if you never harvest it. I purchased a Big Muhly, Augusta Deulberg Sage, 2 Ruby Crystals Grass, and a Coral Honeysuckle vine from Barton Springs Nursery today (already planted all but the Ruby Crystals). I purchased two Gulf Muhlies (and planted them) from the Natural Gardener. I also planted the 2 Big Muhlies I already had as well as the 2 Texas Betony plants.
February 8, 2013:
Some of the peas have sprouted...as have some of the quinoa? carrots? I don't remember what I planted where...oh well, I'm sure I'll figure it out when they get real leaves on the plants. All of the greenhouse plants have come up, save one little Naga. That's okay. If I actually get the number of habanero plants to actually survive, it won't be that big of a deal.
February 4, 2013:
Even when I'm trying to keep track I do a crappy job - I think most of the seeds (in my greenhouse) have come up... the only ones lagging were the Naga Jolokia and Cossack Ground Cherry, so I need to make a concerted effort to check on them. I don't think anything has come up from what I planted in the garden...but it's only been about a week.
January 26, 2013:
Farmer's Almanac: A Most Fruitful Time To Plant Beets, Carrots, Onions, And Other Hardy Root Crops. Also Good For Transplanting.
Edibles: Red Savina and Red Demon peppers have sprouted. Transplanted the onion starts into the east garden bed. Sowed Quinoa, Carrots (Sunshine Mix), and Peas in the west bed.
Ornamentals: Purchased and transplanted 3 Dianella plants by the deck. Transplanted 2 Bluebonnets, 2 Ruby Crystals Grass, and 1 Verbena in the Hell Strip.
January 16, 2013:
Noticed the Black Krim and Roma seeds sprouting. Cat grass sprouted over the weekend and is now approximately 3" tall.
January 13, 2013:
The Cat Grass planted on January 6 have sprouted and are about 1" tall (last night there was nothing, today, BOOM! Cat Grass).
January 6, 2013:
Farmer's Almanac: Today is a good day to plant root crops and leafy greens. Start seed beds.
Ornamental Seeds Sown - Candy Tuft (white pinnacle), Cosmos, Coneflower (Purple), Gomphrena (Eleanor's), Grow Green Wildflower mix, Larkspur (from Caroline), Marigolds (tagetes), Scarlet Flax, Cat Grass
Edibles Seeds Sown - Eggplant (Nadia), Ground Cherry (Cossack Pineapple), Habanero Chile (Red Savina), Naga Jolokia, Renee's Black Jalapeno (F1), Thai Chile (Orange Fogo and Red Demon), Tomato (Black Krim), Tomato (Roma)
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Around the Yard - Early Sept 2013 - Edibles Edition
Finally we come to my "Edibles" Section of the yard (never you mind that I have herbs all over the place so it's not a TRUE 'edibles only' section). The garden proper looks sad. I mean, comparatively...as in 'compared to other peoples' gardens.' I think it's because I never fertilize. I hardly ever add compost, and I don't think I've refreshed the mulch in a few years. So yeah. I PLAN on pulling out the summer plants, digging out all the mulch, adding some soil & compost, and then adding both the mulch I still have and fresh mulch. Of course, this plan would work much better if I didn't have herbs and other plants that will survive year-round.
A few years ago, I made the mistake of adding lemon balm to the garden. It was intentional - it was one of my science experiments. The experiment was to see if it repelled the squash vine borer. I didn't notice any difference, as in, all my squash was still destroyed. We did, however, discover that lemon balm works relatively well as a mosquito repellent. Temporarily, at least. And I'd rather smell like lemon than sweat. And so, the lemon balm was given reprieve after reprieve. Then I added Garlic Chives, and two Chile Pequin, and Swiss Chard, and Thyme, and Oregano. And now I have have very little space in my gardens for important plants like tomatoes, peppers and eggplants. Ironically, I just recently pulled out all the lemon balm because I don't really use it for anything and it doesn't seem like any of the beneficials like it either.
Maybe I should move the herbs to a different location (perhaps to the area by the possumhaws). I should really clear out the area where I actually PLAN to plant chile pequins and move them this fall.
We also have a potato box full of plants that aren't potatoes. Because of course we do. We created the potato box because my mom said that I just HAD to do a potato box. We have grown potatoes in it twice. and I've never had to go more than 3 slats high. The grand plan, of course, is to plant the seed potatoes in the ground, as the plants grow, you add a slat and some dirt. Then the plants grow more and you add another slat and more dirt. Continue so on and so forth until you've got six slats and a shit-ton of potatoes (also, 'shit-ton' is the SI unit, just so you know). Actually, I wonder how this would work on a smaller scale for tomato plants - you know, since tomatoes create roots where the stem is buried...would you end up with more tomatoes? I feel another experiment coming on.
Anyhoo, back to the potato box plants that aren't potatoes. In case you haven't already noticed, the husband and I are, generally speaking, lazy. Why put away your garden stuff when it's past the season which you're using it for when you can just leave it out there creating an eye-sore in your yard? We tell ourselves that we've left it there to help the Arizona Ash stump decompose quicker. In reality it's just that we're lazy and we keep saying that we'll try potatoes again. In the mean time, I use it as a regular planting bed. Right now it's got a Habanero, Eggplants, an Orange Fogo Pepper, and a Cossack Pineapple ground cherry. Let me tell you about the ground cherry. I got the seeds from The Great Outdoors when I went to get a Christmas gift for my mother in law. They were on clearance, and they were right by the register. I thought they were some type of tomato-like plant. And I guess they technically are since they're in the same family. The fruit looks like little tomatillos, and they are sweet and tart. I like them. The husband isn't as much of a fan, but he'll eat them. The plant we have has been doing pretty well and making a bunch of fruit. They're like peas, though - you have to have a bunch of plants to get enough to do something with otherwise, they're just an item that you stand out in the garden eating the ripe ones when you see them.
The eggplants just recently started flowering, so I don't know if we'll get anything from them this year. The habanero and the orange fogo will be dug up in about a month and I'll try to keep them alive through the winter so I can use them next spring.
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| Looking toward the photinia |
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| Looking away from the photinia |
A few years ago, I made the mistake of adding lemon balm to the garden. It was intentional - it was one of my science experiments. The experiment was to see if it repelled the squash vine borer. I didn't notice any difference, as in, all my squash was still destroyed. We did, however, discover that lemon balm works relatively well as a mosquito repellent. Temporarily, at least. And I'd rather smell like lemon than sweat. And so, the lemon balm was given reprieve after reprieve. Then I added Garlic Chives, and two Chile Pequin, and Swiss Chard, and Thyme, and Oregano. And now I have have very little space in my gardens for important plants like tomatoes, peppers and eggplants. Ironically, I just recently pulled out all the lemon balm because I don't really use it for anything and it doesn't seem like any of the beneficials like it either.
Maybe I should move the herbs to a different location (perhaps to the area by the possumhaws). I should really clear out the area where I actually PLAN to plant chile pequins and move them this fall.
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| Potato Box plants...none of which are potatoes. Naturally. Also, I don't remember why there's a pipe-cleaner twisted around the one post. I'm sure I had a good reason at the time. |
Anyhoo, back to the potato box plants that aren't potatoes. In case you haven't already noticed, the husband and I are, generally speaking, lazy. Why put away your garden stuff when it's past the season which you're using it for when you can just leave it out there creating an eye-sore in your yard? We tell ourselves that we've left it there to help the Arizona Ash stump decompose quicker. In reality it's just that we're lazy and we keep saying that we'll try potatoes again. In the mean time, I use it as a regular planting bed. Right now it's got a Habanero, Eggplants, an Orange Fogo Pepper, and a Cossack Pineapple ground cherry. Let me tell you about the ground cherry. I got the seeds from The Great Outdoors when I went to get a Christmas gift for my mother in law. They were on clearance, and they were right by the register. I thought they were some type of tomato-like plant. And I guess they technically are since they're in the same family. The fruit looks like little tomatillos, and they are sweet and tart. I like them. The husband isn't as much of a fan, but he'll eat them. The plant we have has been doing pretty well and making a bunch of fruit. They're like peas, though - you have to have a bunch of plants to get enough to do something with otherwise, they're just an item that you stand out in the garden eating the ripe ones when you see them.
The eggplants just recently started flowering, so I don't know if we'll get anything from them this year. The habanero and the orange fogo will be dug up in about a month and I'll try to keep them alive through the winter so I can use them next spring.
Saturday, August 17, 2013
August = Blah
Usually August isn't so bad. Oh! Don't get me wrong - it's hot, miserable, and the plants and cats hate it (okay, the one cat loves it, but she'd live in the oven if I let her). BUT! There's an end in sight - the sun starts to go down a little earlier, it doesn't quite feel like it's trying to kill everything at 6:30 at night.
And I suppose it's not that bad this time around either, but it just seems worse since I've actually had tomato plants give up the ghost (first time I can remember that plants have actually died - sure they wouldn't look good, but they didn't die). And the tomato plants get watered every day! Some plants do better than others - the Rose Bed gets by with almost no water at all and looks great, while the Hell Strip area can look a little weedy if the plants aren't blooming. I'm most impressed by my little Caldwell Pink Rose - it's in a small 1-gallon pot, it gets full sun, and while it does get watered every day, it's actually thriving - my pepper plants in pots aren't doing nearly as well. The Firespike and Philippine Violet both use more water than I'd like (the violet more so this year than in the past because I moved it to a location that gets more sun), and the passionvine and Turk's Cap need more water than I'm willing to give if they're ever going to bloom consistently, but otherwise most of the ornamentals are keeping on, keeping on.
But seriously, maybe the garden would look better if I pulled out all the dead plants...
Also, as a head's up - I know blogging has been a little light around these here parts, and it's mostly been because we've been trying to go for a jog every night after work. And now it's probably going to get even more sparse because my Dad had to be taken to the hospital on Thursday with heart problems. He's doing better now, but does have to have a heart valve replaced on Monday - so any thoughts and prayers you can spare would be greatly appreciated.
And I suppose it's not that bad this time around either, but it just seems worse since I've actually had tomato plants give up the ghost (first time I can remember that plants have actually died - sure they wouldn't look good, but they didn't die). And the tomato plants get watered every day! Some plants do better than others - the Rose Bed gets by with almost no water at all and looks great, while the Hell Strip area can look a little weedy if the plants aren't blooming. I'm most impressed by my little Caldwell Pink Rose - it's in a small 1-gallon pot, it gets full sun, and while it does get watered every day, it's actually thriving - my pepper plants in pots aren't doing nearly as well. The Firespike and Philippine Violet both use more water than I'd like (the violet more so this year than in the past because I moved it to a location that gets more sun), and the passionvine and Turk's Cap need more water than I'm willing to give if they're ever going to bloom consistently, but otherwise most of the ornamentals are keeping on, keeping on.
But seriously, maybe the garden would look better if I pulled out all the dead plants...
Also, as a head's up - I know blogging has been a little light around these here parts, and it's mostly been because we've been trying to go for a jog every night after work. And now it's probably going to get even more sparse because my Dad had to be taken to the hospital on Thursday with heart problems. He's doing better now, but does have to have a heart valve replaced on Monday - so any thoughts and prayers you can spare would be greatly appreciated.
Friday, June 14, 2013
Lady Bug Pupa
The Dill plant hung around just long enough to get 2 swallowtail caterpillars off on a good foot, a bunch of aphids showed up and so did the lady bug larva. And then they did this - pupated into actual lady bugs. How awesome is that? Unfortunately, that redish blog in the background is a new crop of leaf footed bugs. ick.
Saturday, June 8, 2013
The State of the Garden
You know, generally I feel like I'm a competent veggie gardener. Not great, but not horrible. And then I went and took care of my friend's garden for the week while she was out of town. Flowers artfully arranged and blooming, garden clean and in perfect square foot gardening order. Plants all green and flourishing. Tomatoes everywhere. Squash plants actually growing.
And then, there's my garden. Overgrown. Sometimes struggling. Nothing flourishing (except the parsley). My tomatoes are barely growing, they definitely don't have any tomatoes on them (except for the ones in the grow box - OOO, which, by the way - I just got my first JD's Special CenTex tomato the other day. It was wonderful! Like right up there with the Krims...or from what I remember - I would like to be able to do a direct comparison taste test, but see aforementioned issue with tomatoes). The garlic is generally puny, and it probably doesn't help much that I planted it really late (which, by the way, you should totally check out Roberta's crazy awesome garlic haul).
It's just generally like that one scene in the Simpsons - the "Why doesn't my Grill look like that?!" one - right before he runs into the messed up grill with a beach umbrella. Of course, it ends up becoming the kickoff to his artist career.
I know that I need to add more compost. I need to pull out all the plants, remove the mulch and add more soil and compost. I know I need to do this, I just can't ever seem to get around to it. It would also require digging up and transplanting a bunch of herbs - of course most of them could stand to be divided anyway. And I really should move the chile pequins to the part of the yard I actually want them in...
Yeah, I should really just buck up and do it - do the work to get the soil back into working order. Then my garden can go back to being productive and not a hot mess.
Still, I probably ought to ask my coworker what her secret is.
And then, there's my garden. Overgrown. Sometimes struggling. Nothing flourishing (except the parsley). My tomatoes are barely growing, they definitely don't have any tomatoes on them (except for the ones in the grow box - OOO, which, by the way - I just got my first JD's Special CenTex tomato the other day. It was wonderful! Like right up there with the Krims...or from what I remember - I would like to be able to do a direct comparison taste test, but see aforementioned issue with tomatoes). The garlic is generally puny, and it probably doesn't help much that I planted it really late (which, by the way, you should totally check out Roberta's crazy awesome garlic haul).
It's just generally like that one scene in the Simpsons - the "Why doesn't my Grill look like that?!" one - right before he runs into the messed up grill with a beach umbrella. Of course, it ends up becoming the kickoff to his artist career.
I know that I need to add more compost. I need to pull out all the plants, remove the mulch and add more soil and compost. I know I need to do this, I just can't ever seem to get around to it. It would also require digging up and transplanting a bunch of herbs - of course most of them could stand to be divided anyway. And I really should move the chile pequins to the part of the yard I actually want them in...
Yeah, I should really just buck up and do it - do the work to get the soil back into working order. Then my garden can go back to being productive and not a hot mess.
Still, I probably ought to ask my coworker what her secret is.
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Season Roundup - Fall 2012
Strawberry Plants:
Meh...very meh - I've seen flowers on one of the two plants, but no fruit. I may have to give up on strawberries...or maybe they're like peas - I have to plant an entire bed of them in order to get any appreciable amount.
Experience: Meh. I don't know why I try to grow strawberries every year...I'd actually have to DO something in the garden in the fall if I really wanted to get some strawberries (the garlic and onions are so easy to care for, I just really should forget the plants that are fussy).
Swiss Chard:
Didn't do anything until February. It may be the fertilizer, it may be the [very warm for this time of year] weather.
Experience: Hit a growth spurt - not sure if it was fertilizer or the fact that we started having some cold snaps, but the plant did grow gangbusters for a while. I've only cut off leaves once - and that was to make the feta chicken pasta with the chard instead of spinach.
Mustard Greens:
A variety of purple greens. Came to me all flea beetle infested and I've had to fight them since. They haven't done anything, but at least started looking healthier in February.
Experience: Didn't really grow much, but did do a little better in March/April. Did good enough that we were able to pull off the leaves and use them on our sandwiches. I wasn't a fan of the "generic bitter green" flavor it imparted, but Shawn LOVED it. As in he deemed the sandwiches good and requested that I grow mustard greens again in the future.
Snap Peas:
Didn't plant until January 26. Doing well.
Experience: Finally were able to harvest some peas in April. Again, not enough to actually prepare anything with them, but enough to stand out in the garden picking and eating peas.
Carrots:
Didn't plant until January 26. Never came up.
Experience: Didn't come up - or there may be ONE carrot.
Quinoa:
Didn't plant until January 26. Never came up.
Experience: Noticed in late April that there was ONE plant that came up - it's hiding behind the parsley and peas.
Garlic - all varieties I have already planted:
Didn't plant until December. I really just planted ones that had already started sprouting. So of course they're all growing...though not very big and beefy yet.
Experience: Garlic is garlic, yo. It doesn't really seem to be growing much, but then the garlic rarely does grow much.
Onions:
Onions starts I grew from seed were transplanted to the garden on January 26. As per usual, some of the starts are doing great while others are not.
Experience: Most have managed to pull through, but those closest to the chives are most definitely stunted. I noticed some of the tops have started to fall over already so I'll be harvesting them soon.
Dill:
Purchased a dill plant as a replacement for the fennel plant that didn't make it through the winter - it was just always covered in aphids. The dill is doing well, and even has a caterpillar on it (and some ladybug eggs). Unfortunately, it looks like it is also covered in aphids now because it's starting to get warm. I should clip some leaves and make the dill dinner rolls then resign myself to the fact that it is for the caterpillars.
Holdovers from last year:
Lemon Balm: Still in a mat-like state, but they were never damaged by the weather (not that we really had any cold weather).
Experience: Starting to grow back into a mound form. The one on the west side of the bed has migrated over the years.
Garlic Chives: Died back to the roots which is surprising considering we didn't have all that cold of weather this winter. The large plant has come back with a vengeance.
Summer Thyme: Never died back. Will need to be cut back to prevent legginess.
Experience: Didn't cut back like I said I would because it started blooming. And then the bees came and it was glorious.
Oregano: Did wonderfully - lush and green. I'll have to start clipping it soon.
Parsley: As per usual - just seeded all over.
Experience: The garden and the front yard are CRAZY with the parsley. This year almost all of the plants are in the planting beds which is good, but the bad part is that they're all taking over the beds. They just started blooming and the bees and ladybugs are going beserk. Obviously we won't be removing them for a while...
Lavender: Never died back. Started putting out new growth in late February.
In case it isn't patently obvious, I really need to start a "just the herbs" bed. It would clear out large amounts of my regular garden bed and then maybe I can go back to having a normal garden (that is - tomatoes in the garden).
[NOTE: Originally published on March 5, 2013. Updated on May 4, 2013]
Meh...very meh - I've seen flowers on one of the two plants, but no fruit. I may have to give up on strawberries...or maybe they're like peas - I have to plant an entire bed of them in order to get any appreciable amount.
Experience: Meh. I don't know why I try to grow strawberries every year...I'd actually have to DO something in the garden in the fall if I really wanted to get some strawberries (the garlic and onions are so easy to care for, I just really should forget the plants that are fussy).
Swiss Chard:
Didn't do anything until February. It may be the fertilizer, it may be the [very warm for this time of year] weather.
Experience: Hit a growth spurt - not sure if it was fertilizer or the fact that we started having some cold snaps, but the plant did grow gangbusters for a while. I've only cut off leaves once - and that was to make the feta chicken pasta with the chard instead of spinach.
Mustard Greens:
A variety of purple greens. Came to me all flea beetle infested and I've had to fight them since. They haven't done anything, but at least started looking healthier in February.
Experience: Didn't really grow much, but did do a little better in March/April. Did good enough that we were able to pull off the leaves and use them on our sandwiches. I wasn't a fan of the "generic bitter green" flavor it imparted, but Shawn LOVED it. As in he deemed the sandwiches good and requested that I grow mustard greens again in the future.
Snap Peas:
Didn't plant until January 26. Doing well.
Experience: Finally were able to harvest some peas in April. Again, not enough to actually prepare anything with them, but enough to stand out in the garden picking and eating peas.
Carrots:
Didn't plant until January 26. Never came up.
Experience: Didn't come up - or there may be ONE carrot.
Quinoa:
Didn't plant until January 26. Never came up.
Experience: Noticed in late April that there was ONE plant that came up - it's hiding behind the parsley and peas.
Garlic - all varieties I have already planted:
Didn't plant until December. I really just planted ones that had already started sprouting. So of course they're all growing...though not very big and beefy yet.
Experience: Garlic is garlic, yo. It doesn't really seem to be growing much, but then the garlic rarely does grow much.
Onions:
Onions starts I grew from seed were transplanted to the garden on January 26. As per usual, some of the starts are doing great while others are not.
Experience: Most have managed to pull through, but those closest to the chives are most definitely stunted. I noticed some of the tops have started to fall over already so I'll be harvesting them soon.
Dill:
Purchased a dill plant as a replacement for the fennel plant that didn't make it through the winter - it was just always covered in aphids. The dill is doing well, and even has a caterpillar on it (and some ladybug eggs). Unfortunately, it looks like it is also covered in aphids now because it's starting to get warm. I should clip some leaves and make the dill dinner rolls then resign myself to the fact that it is for the caterpillars.
Holdovers from last year:
Lemon Balm: Still in a mat-like state, but they were never damaged by the weather (not that we really had any cold weather).
Experience: Starting to grow back into a mound form. The one on the west side of the bed has migrated over the years.
Garlic Chives: Died back to the roots which is surprising considering we didn't have all that cold of weather this winter. The large plant has come back with a vengeance.
Summer Thyme: Never died back. Will need to be cut back to prevent legginess.
Experience: Didn't cut back like I said I would because it started blooming. And then the bees came and it was glorious.
Oregano: Did wonderfully - lush and green. I'll have to start clipping it soon.
Parsley: As per usual - just seeded all over.
Experience: The garden and the front yard are CRAZY with the parsley. This year almost all of the plants are in the planting beds which is good, but the bad part is that they're all taking over the beds. They just started blooming and the bees and ladybugs are going beserk. Obviously we won't be removing them for a while...
Lavender: Never died back. Started putting out new growth in late February.
In case it isn't patently obvious, I really need to start a "just the herbs" bed. It would clear out large amounts of my regular garden bed and then maybe I can go back to having a normal garden (that is - tomatoes in the garden).
[NOTE: Originally published on March 5, 2013. Updated on May 4, 2013]
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Tomatoes
What does one do when one already has 13 (strike that, 12 since one got clipped) tomatoes in 4" pots? Go to the Sunshine Community Garden and Austin Organic Growers sales to pick up yet more tomatoes. Naturally.
I picked up Roberta a little late because I was too busy watering my garden to actually leave on time. Once I got her safely ensconced in my car (and with her sitting ramrod straight because of a bad back), we headed over to Buck Moore to pick up some chicken feed and to look at the baby chicks. Then we headed over to the Sunshine Community Garden Plant Sale. There I picked up a Trinidad Scorpion Pepper for my husband; a dill plant to replace the poor aphid ridden plant in the garden; a marjoram plant because I like me some Italian food; and Raspberry Miracle, J.D.'s Special, and Pink Berkley Tie-Dye tomatoes. I can't say "no" to tomatoes. WEIRD TOMATOES, I WISH I KNEW HOW TO QUIT YOU! Of course I rationalized the tomato purchases by convincing myself that the tomatoes I started from seed (Black Krim and Roma) didn't look all that hot and they may not even produce, so I might as well purchase some good plant starts to hedge my bets. Never mind the fact that I have no where to put 16 tomato plants. I still had to talk myself out of getting an eggplant (I've got 5 still in the seed starter thing that I need to transplant to 4" pots). After Robera purchased her 9 plants (or however many she got), we headed south to the Austin Organic Growers sale.
The Austin Organic Growers Sale is a sale that I stumbled upon back when I first started gardening. I'm not sure how I managed to find the AOG sale advertised but not the Sunshine Sale since most know of Sunshine but not AOG. Nonetheless, the husband and I went down to that AOG sale where we learned about the Sunshine Sale so we decided to hit it up on our way back north. Ever since, I've gone to both sales. In recent years, the AOG has started getting plants from Gabriel Growers (the same vendor that provides the plants for the Sunshine Sale) in addition to the plants that the club propagates on their own. But I digress - Roberta and I headed south to the AOG sale, paid our $2 to get into Zilker Botanical Gardens and went to the sale. I found some white yarrow that I have been looking for since making my garden plan. Roberta purchased some other plants too (including a lemon verbena that none of us (meaning the sale people and the two of us) knew whether it was an ornamental or an edible) (Note: It's both).
Then we went and ate lunch at El Alma. It was delicious.
We headed back to Roberta's where we hung out on her front porch talking and throwing bread pieces at the chickens and guinea while sitting with Beagle in the sun.
Damn it was a great day.
I picked up Roberta a little late because I was too busy watering my garden to actually leave on time. Once I got her safely ensconced in my car (and with her sitting ramrod straight because of a bad back), we headed over to Buck Moore to pick up some chicken feed and to look at the baby chicks. Then we headed over to the Sunshine Community Garden Plant Sale. There I picked up a Trinidad Scorpion Pepper for my husband; a dill plant to replace the poor aphid ridden plant in the garden; a marjoram plant because I like me some Italian food; and Raspberry Miracle, J.D.'s Special, and Pink Berkley Tie-Dye tomatoes. I can't say "no" to tomatoes. WEIRD TOMATOES, I WISH I KNEW HOW TO QUIT YOU! Of course I rationalized the tomato purchases by convincing myself that the tomatoes I started from seed (Black Krim and Roma) didn't look all that hot and they may not even produce, so I might as well purchase some good plant starts to hedge my bets. Never mind the fact that I have no where to put 16 tomato plants. I still had to talk myself out of getting an eggplant (I've got 5 still in the seed starter thing that I need to transplant to 4" pots). After Robera purchased her 9 plants (or however many she got), we headed south to the Austin Organic Growers sale.
The Austin Organic Growers Sale is a sale that I stumbled upon back when I first started gardening. I'm not sure how I managed to find the AOG sale advertised but not the Sunshine Sale since most know of Sunshine but not AOG. Nonetheless, the husband and I went down to that AOG sale where we learned about the Sunshine Sale so we decided to hit it up on our way back north. Ever since, I've gone to both sales. In recent years, the AOG has started getting plants from Gabriel Growers (the same vendor that provides the plants for the Sunshine Sale) in addition to the plants that the club propagates on their own. But I digress - Roberta and I headed south to the AOG sale, paid our $2 to get into Zilker Botanical Gardens and went to the sale. I found some white yarrow that I have been looking for since making my garden plan. Roberta purchased some other plants too (including a lemon verbena that none of us (meaning the sale people and the two of us) knew whether it was an ornamental or an edible) (Note: It's both).
Then we went and ate lunch at El Alma. It was delicious.
We headed back to Roberta's where we hung out on her front porch talking and throwing bread pieces at the chickens and guinea while sitting with Beagle in the sun.
Damn it was a great day.
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Focus on the Farmer's Almanac
Since Sheryl at the Yard Fanatic had such good luck with carrots using the Farmer's Alamac, I thought I'd give it another try. For Christmas a few years ago, my friend, Bond, gave me an Almanac which I dutifully read through, cover to cover, and then promptly set aside. I only ever looked at it to make sure I wasn't planting on a bad day...and even if I was, I was more like, "C'est la vie. I've only got time to plant today and so today it shall be."
And so, here we are. A few years later, a few years older and a few dollars poorer. I asked for the almanac this year and my father-in-law bought it for me and so I shall attempt to stick to the almanac schedule at least through one growing season. Give it the "good ol' college try" (who every came up with that phrase, that's such a weird phrase)
On January 1, I looked at the almanac and determined that the best time to go about throwing wildflower seeds about was on January 6...at least that's what I'm choosing to believe "start seed beds" means. I also believe it means "start all seeds for the spring season as long as they are in flats and not in 4-inch individual containers. Also plant garlic even though it is much too late in the season, but what else are you going to do with it? eat it? It's already sprouting." And lo, on the 6th, the Epiphany, the 12th day of Christmas, the day the wise men made it to the sweet 6.5 pound baby Jeebus, I was outside spreading seeds like crazy. And starting my little seed flat. And putting together my mini greenhouse that I got from my dad.
Today, I read the Almanac again to see if there's a good time coming up for carrots or peas, and I read this, "January 14th-16th - Fine For Planting Any Aboveground Crop Where The Climate Permits. Extra Good For Peppers, Tomatoes, Peas, And Other Vine Crops." Ah good, peas. I can plant peas in a week. Also. CRAP! I should have started all my seeds in the flats on the 14th instead. Boo Urns. Oh well, c'est la vie.
***As part of my "focus" goal, I've been trying diligently for the last two days to get some pages going that I've wanted for a while now. Across the top of the page, you should see tabs for Blog, Freeze Dates, Rain Fall Amounts, What I'm Planting/Harvesting, Plants I Love, and (eventually) My Experiments.***
And so, here we are. A few years later, a few years older and a few dollars poorer. I asked for the almanac this year and my father-in-law bought it for me and so I shall attempt to stick to the almanac schedule at least through one growing season. Give it the "good ol' college try" (who every came up with that phrase, that's such a weird phrase)
On January 1, I looked at the almanac and determined that the best time to go about throwing wildflower seeds about was on January 6...at least that's what I'm choosing to believe "start seed beds" means. I also believe it means "start all seeds for the spring season as long as they are in flats and not in 4-inch individual containers. Also plant garlic even though it is much too late in the season, but what else are you going to do with it? eat it? It's already sprouting." And lo, on the 6th, the Epiphany, the 12th day of Christmas, the day the wise men made it to the sweet 6.5 pound baby Jeebus, I was outside spreading seeds like crazy. And starting my little seed flat. And putting together my mini greenhouse that I got from my dad.
Today, I read the Almanac again to see if there's a good time coming up for carrots or peas, and I read this, "January 14th-16th - Fine For Planting Any Aboveground Crop Where The Climate Permits. Extra Good For Peppers, Tomatoes, Peas, And Other Vine Crops." Ah good, peas. I can plant peas in a week. Also. CRAP! I should have started all my seeds in the flats on the 14th instead. Boo Urns. Oh well, c'est la vie.
***As part of my "focus" goal, I've been trying diligently for the last two days to get some pages going that I've wanted for a while now. Across the top of the page, you should see tabs for Blog, Freeze Dates, Rain Fall Amounts, What I'm Planting/Harvesting, Plants I Love, and (eventually) My Experiments.***
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Fall Clean Up (round 2)
I've already posted one entry about fall clean up (which you can see here). But, the problem with being soft hearted, is that it means I have to do multiple fall clean ups, and multiple spring clean ups, and multiple prunings, and all sorts of other multiple things. It's a pain in the ass, but you do what you gotta do when you are incapable of being a ruthless bitch about removing plants.
I can't prune things properly - I'll snip a branch here or there, but I can never remove a third of the plant like I'm supposed to (rosemary), and so I end up having to prune the plant monthly instead of just a few times during the year. I can't pinch back things properly either - I feel bad for the plant every time I remove some leaves for cooking and so the plants end up being spindly and tall rather than bushy and short (basil I'm especially bad about)
I can't pull out a tomato plant while it's got tomatoes on it. Thankfully I can manage to remove flowers so it won't start any new tomatoes. And my husband is just as bad - I seriously was going to yank my tomato plant, but my husband managed to get it a reprieve because he wanted the 2 tomatoes that were on it. Those two tomatoes were eaten by the raccoon/possum/squirrels, but it ended up with 4 more tomatoes before I started pulling blossoms off so now we've got 4 green tomatoes that should be ripening, but they're not going to make it through the freeze this coming week, so do I pull the green tomatoes, wrap them in newspaper and hope they eventually ripen, or do I just toss the whole plant?
I should have pulled out all the pepper plants during the first round of clean up but didn't because I want to collect seeds...the problem is that we're now expecting our first major frost and the peppers aren't at the optimal time for seed collection. I really don't want to dig up the tall plants, but I'll go ahead and dig up the small plants, plus prep my Ghost Pepper for the winter by pruning it back and bringing in the pot.
I am getting better about not accepting plants just because they need a home. It's to some extent the same mentality I had to have while volunteering at the humane society - constantly telling myself I can't have something just to keep me from saving everything. [Of course, the problem now is that whenever I walk a dog at the humane society, I'm having to really convince myself I can't take the dog home. At least in college it was easier because our rental house didn't allow animals; now I own my house and I can have whatever animals I want, now the problem is that my cats don't want me to have whatever animals I want.]
On the plus side, Mother Nature always does what I can't, and so, by next weekend I should be able to pull out all the remaining 'summer' crops and will finally be able to plant my [non-existent] fall garden.
I can't prune things properly - I'll snip a branch here or there, but I can never remove a third of the plant like I'm supposed to (rosemary), and so I end up having to prune the plant monthly instead of just a few times during the year. I can't pinch back things properly either - I feel bad for the plant every time I remove some leaves for cooking and so the plants end up being spindly and tall rather than bushy and short (basil I'm especially bad about)
I can't pull out a tomato plant while it's got tomatoes on it. Thankfully I can manage to remove flowers so it won't start any new tomatoes. And my husband is just as bad - I seriously was going to yank my tomato plant, but my husband managed to get it a reprieve because he wanted the 2 tomatoes that were on it. Those two tomatoes were eaten by the raccoon/possum/squirrels, but it ended up with 4 more tomatoes before I started pulling blossoms off so now we've got 4 green tomatoes that should be ripening, but they're not going to make it through the freeze this coming week, so do I pull the green tomatoes, wrap them in newspaper and hope they eventually ripen, or do I just toss the whole plant?
I should have pulled out all the pepper plants during the first round of clean up but didn't because I want to collect seeds...the problem is that we're now expecting our first major frost and the peppers aren't at the optimal time for seed collection. I really don't want to dig up the tall plants, but I'll go ahead and dig up the small plants, plus prep my Ghost Pepper for the winter by pruning it back and bringing in the pot.
I am getting better about not accepting plants just because they need a home. It's to some extent the same mentality I had to have while volunteering at the humane society - constantly telling myself I can't have something just to keep me from saving everything. [Of course, the problem now is that whenever I walk a dog at the humane society, I'm having to really convince myself I can't take the dog home. At least in college it was easier because our rental house didn't allow animals; now I own my house and I can have whatever animals I want, now the problem is that my cats don't want me to have whatever animals I want.]
On the plus side, Mother Nature always does what I can't, and so, by next weekend I should be able to pull out all the remaining 'summer' crops and will finally be able to plant my [non-existent] fall garden.
Friday, October 5, 2012
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