So, hubby is really helping quite willingly this year. He went out and bought me 100, 3" Jiffy peat pots and 15' of jack chain to suspend my shoplights over my seedlings. (I'm gonna need more seed starting soil.)
My 14 year daughter even said she'd really like to help me garden this year! That would be awesome since i could really use the help.
Hopefully i can keep the weeding down by using black plastic mulch.
If i can work out a soaker hose DIY, we will be particularly golden. If not, i'll have to do the "find a puddle and poke a hole" method.
Maybe i'll eventually succeed in being that great stay-at-home housewife i have always wanted to be. :)
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Seeds came in
Order from Pinetree is in:
and for the heck of it, here's the hibiscus from Renee's
Right now i'm boiling some water to saturate my seed starting mix. I have used Miracle Grow's brand of seed starter for a few years and my only issue with it is that it is so dry right from the bag that it is impossible to water. The peat just floats and it takes days before the water seeps in. So, i'm going to pour very hot water straight into the bags and see if it helps. I have done this before with very dry peat moss and sphagnum moss. This should also help sterilize the soil better. It will take ages to cool, which is no big deal because i'm not quite ready to plant yet.
This weekend i may plant the hibiscus and leonotis if i get my lights hooked up to my mini greenhouses. I'm having a hard time deciding how to do this simply and still allow me to raise the lights as the time goes. I don't have enough chain to keep the lights low.
I'm almost tempted to buy more seeds, but i really need to stop. I have enough! Really!
I did get my seedling heat mat. I found a nice one on Amazon for about $26.00. It should be here by Thursday since we have Prime with free 2 day shipping.
and for the heck of it, here's the hibiscus from Renee's
Right now i'm boiling some water to saturate my seed starting mix. I have used Miracle Grow's brand of seed starter for a few years and my only issue with it is that it is so dry right from the bag that it is impossible to water. The peat just floats and it takes days before the water seeps in. So, i'm going to pour very hot water straight into the bags and see if it helps. I have done this before with very dry peat moss and sphagnum moss. This should also help sterilize the soil better. It will take ages to cool, which is no big deal because i'm not quite ready to plant yet.
This weekend i may plant the hibiscus and leonotis if i get my lights hooked up to my mini greenhouses. I'm having a hard time deciding how to do this simply and still allow me to raise the lights as the time goes. I don't have enough chain to keep the lights low.
I'm almost tempted to buy more seeds, but i really need to stop. I have enough! Really!
I did get my seedling heat mat. I found a nice one on Amazon for about $26.00. It should be here by Thursday since we have Prime with free 2 day shipping.
Monday, February 25, 2013
Snowy February
January was fairly dry, but we are more than making up for it in February. We had the big storm 2 weeks ago, got well over two feet of snow from that. We had some cold rain last week. Saturday through last night, we had another storm that left us with another foot of snow. As of now, the weather forecast is telling us that more may be on the way this Wednesday through Friday. This storm is expected to be mixed with rain and we may have snow accumulations of at least 6 inches.
This was yesterday morning when we had about 4 inches:
I wonder how long this stuff will take to melt this spring?
I'm hoping to order my seedling heat mat today so i can start my pepper seeds as soon as the time comes.
This was yesterday morning when we had about 4 inches:
I wonder how long this stuff will take to melt this spring?
I'm hoping to order my seedling heat mat today so i can start my pepper seeds as soon as the time comes.
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Schizandra from seed
Chinese magnolia vine is another name for Schisandra Chinensis.
It is a medicinal plant with red berries that grow in clusters a little like grapes and a little like currants. Its also called the "5 flavor berry" as the berry has the tastes of sweet, sour, bitter, salty and pungent. The berry is basically supposed to be good for just about everything and contains antioxidants, trace vit/min and other goodnesses that i can't think of off the top of my head. Basically, its considered another of the "Superfruits".
Ok, that said, i'm going to try growing it from seed. I bought a packet of seeds from Bountiful Gardens the year before last and just never got to do anything with them. The price was around $2.00.
I looked around online to get more ideas on how to germinate the seeds, they are considered difficult. Apparently it can take over a year with some seeds, but can be just a few weeks in others. Hopefully i have good luck. The other thing with this plant is that there are 2 sexes and both are needed for berries. I need enough to germinate so i have a chance at getting at least one male or at least one female. They grow well from cuttings i understand, so if i get one of each, i'll be fine. I tried searching online to see how to tell the sexes apart visually (before berries, of course) but i didn't find anything, so i'm working blind.
Dried berries:
Soaking the dried berries.
I'm using one of my seed sprouting jar toppers.
Berries after about 12 hours of soaking in room temp water.
Seeds removed from the pulp.
Some of the berries had 2 seeds and others had one. I ended up with 26 seeds to work with.
I'm also following some directions given here: How to grow Schizandra from seed. They say to soak the seeds for about 5 days, changing the water daily.
Back in the jar they go.
A bunch of them are floating though. I hope that is not a bad sign. Usually floating seed is bad seed... who knows? A packet only costs $2.50 now, i could always try again if this does not work... but it will set me back in the time it will take to get berries.
We'll see how it goes!
It is a medicinal plant with red berries that grow in clusters a little like grapes and a little like currants. Its also called the "5 flavor berry" as the berry has the tastes of sweet, sour, bitter, salty and pungent. The berry is basically supposed to be good for just about everything and contains antioxidants, trace vit/min and other goodnesses that i can't think of off the top of my head. Basically, its considered another of the "Superfruits".
Ok, that said, i'm going to try growing it from seed. I bought a packet of seeds from Bountiful Gardens the year before last and just never got to do anything with them. The price was around $2.00.
I looked around online to get more ideas on how to germinate the seeds, they are considered difficult. Apparently it can take over a year with some seeds, but can be just a few weeks in others. Hopefully i have good luck. The other thing with this plant is that there are 2 sexes and both are needed for berries. I need enough to germinate so i have a chance at getting at least one male or at least one female. They grow well from cuttings i understand, so if i get one of each, i'll be fine. I tried searching online to see how to tell the sexes apart visually (before berries, of course) but i didn't find anything, so i'm working blind.
Dried berries:
Soaking the dried berries.
I'm using one of my seed sprouting jar toppers.
Berries after about 12 hours of soaking in room temp water.
Seeds removed from the pulp.
Some of the berries had 2 seeds and others had one. I ended up with 26 seeds to work with.
I'm also following some directions given here: How to grow Schizandra from seed. They say to soak the seeds for about 5 days, changing the water daily.
Back in the jar they go.
A bunch of them are floating though. I hope that is not a bad sign. Usually floating seed is bad seed... who knows? A packet only costs $2.50 now, i could always try again if this does not work... but it will set me back in the time it will take to get berries.
We'll see how it goes!
Thursday, February 21, 2013
All ready
Seed orders are complete. I'm 99% sure i have everything i need for this year.
I have my seed starting soil, plenty of plastic pots from last year, though i might get some square peat pots for the cukes and squashes later on. I would like a seedling heat mat, but i don't have the $20-$40 to spare right now. I will need something to warm my pepper seeds.
I'm going to try one more year (did i say that last year?) to grow peppers at home, this will use up the rest of the seeds i have this way. I don't have much luck with them, germination or growing. If they do germinate well, they don't produce much in the summer or the earwigs get to them. Same with eggplant. But.... i am planning to use black plastic mulch this year. It might be just the thing.
Oh, boy. I got some serious sticker shock the other day.
I get tons of catalogs every spring and i will flip through some of them if i have time. The last 3 years or so, i really haven't done much browsing in other catalogs. Well, the nice, shiny Burpee catalog caught my eye and i started paging through.
Holy. Moly.
There are some insane prices in there. Average packet price seems to be about $5. See above prices from Pinetree and why i almost choked.
Ok, in Burpee's defense, i'm sure there are more seeds in their packets than in Pinetree's.... 30 from Pinetree to Burpee's 50.... but if i only need 5-10 seeds each year and can save my own seeds, that is just crazy.
I'm ok with buying the occasional $4 packet of seeds for something unusual or unique or perennial but at those prices i could not fill my garden.
There. That is pretty much it for buying, just have to wait on things to arrive. Meanwhile i'll find the time to clear off my seed starting spaces, sort through things and get organized.
Maybe i'll actually get some pictures to post instead of these pure text entries.
Product #: 3201-BOLTARDY BEET (46 days)
Price: $1.25
Quantity: 1
Subtotal: $1.25
Product #: 35-RUBY QUEEN BEET (60 days)
Price: $0.95
Quantity: 1
Subtotal: $0.95
Product #: 48-MAJOR BROCCOLI (F1 hybrid 43 d
Price: $1.50
Quantity: 1
Subtotal: $1.50
Product #: 13201-GENERAL LEE CUKE (F1 hybrid 66
Price: $1.35
Quantity: 1
Subtotal: $1.35
Product #: 136-NATIONAL PICKLING CUCUMBER (52
Price: $0.95
Quantity: 1
Subtotal: $0.95
Product #: 139-DIVA CUCUMBER (58 days)
Price: $2.25
Quantity: 1
Subtotal: $2.25
Product #: 146-BOSTON PICKLING CUKE (heirloom
Price: $0.95
Quantity: 1
Subtotal: $0.95
Product #: W482-MINOWASE RADISH (55 days heirl
Price: $1.25
Quantity: 1
Subtotal: $1.25
Product #: 371-EARLY BUTTERNUT (F1 hybrid 82
Price: $1.50
Quantity: 2
Subtotal: $3.00
Product #: 41602-MORTGAGE LIFTER TOMATO (77 day
Price: $1.35
Quantity: 1
Subtotal: $1.35
Product #: 41204-MATTS WILD CHERRY TOMATO (55 d
Price: $1.65
Quantity: 1
Subtotal: $1.65
Product #: 428-MARTINOS ROMA TOMATO (heirloom
Price: $1.35
Quantity: 1
Subtotal: $1.35
Product Total: $17.80
Discounts Applied: $0.00
Tax: $0.89
Shipping: $3.95
Special_Handling: $0.00
Order_Total: $22.64
I have my seed starting soil, plenty of plastic pots from last year, though i might get some square peat pots for the cukes and squashes later on. I would like a seedling heat mat, but i don't have the $20-$40 to spare right now. I will need something to warm my pepper seeds.
I'm going to try one more year (did i say that last year?) to grow peppers at home, this will use up the rest of the seeds i have this way. I don't have much luck with them, germination or growing. If they do germinate well, they don't produce much in the summer or the earwigs get to them. Same with eggplant. But.... i am planning to use black plastic mulch this year. It might be just the thing.
Oh, boy. I got some serious sticker shock the other day.
I get tons of catalogs every spring and i will flip through some of them if i have time. The last 3 years or so, i really haven't done much browsing in other catalogs. Well, the nice, shiny Burpee catalog caught my eye and i started paging through.
Holy. Moly.
There are some insane prices in there. Average packet price seems to be about $5. See above prices from Pinetree and why i almost choked.
Ok, in Burpee's defense, i'm sure there are more seeds in their packets than in Pinetree's.... 30 from Pinetree to Burpee's 50.... but if i only need 5-10 seeds each year and can save my own seeds, that is just crazy.
I'm ok with buying the occasional $4 packet of seeds for something unusual or unique or perennial but at those prices i could not fill my garden.
There. That is pretty much it for buying, just have to wait on things to arrive. Meanwhile i'll find the time to clear off my seed starting spaces, sort through things and get organized.
Maybe i'll actually get some pictures to post instead of these pure text entries.
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Order up!
Started ordering things this weekend.
Went to Renee's Garden Seeds and got my hibiscus seeds, then over to Pinetree and ordered a couple pounds of Adirondack Blue seed potatoes. The picture at their website is not very good, i don't think they are trying to be shady, but the example photo is extremely blue, lol. Anyway. I also bought some bush bean seeds for Dragon Langerie and Carson Yellow. Oh and a nice sunflower mix.
I went through my stash and found that i am in the market for new tomato, cucumber, beet and broccoli seeds.
I only have 5 Beit Alpha cucumber seeds left and 5 Boston Pickling as well as 5 Spacemaster (which i think i'll skip this year). I have plenty of Specialty White, but all these seeds are getting old and i expect maybe 2 plants out of the 5 seeds.
I have plenty of seed for the two varieties of San Marzano tomatoes (Lampadina and the ones i got from Providence Acres). I also have plenty of German Orange Strawberry. I don't think i grew those again last year. The year before, they got horrible blossom end rot, not a one was edible. I also have plenty of Banana Legs left, but we really didn't like them all that much. Too acidic, not very flavorful. The Sweet Chelsea cherry tomatoes crack and split like crazy... not impressed. I'm not sure if i will plant Pruden's Purple again this year. Absolutely delicious tomato, but last year the stem end scars and radial cracking were so big and deep, half the fruit was useless for slices. It was annoying in years past, but 2012 was unacceptable.
I only have a few beet seeds left, not enough for even a small block of them, so i will need to get a new packet of something.
I only have Waltham broccoli seeds left, though i have plenty.
There was something else i was sure i wanted... but it has totally slipped my mind at the moment!
Well, on to studying the catalogs.
I may get some seeds for Starbor kale.... i honestly don't remember what became of the seeds. There seems to be no evidence that i ever grew it. I think i started some last year, but they were no-shows... its a mystery.
Went to Renee's Garden Seeds and got my hibiscus seeds, then over to Pinetree and ordered a couple pounds of Adirondack Blue seed potatoes. The picture at their website is not very good, i don't think they are trying to be shady, but the example photo is extremely blue, lol. Anyway. I also bought some bush bean seeds for Dragon Langerie and Carson Yellow. Oh and a nice sunflower mix.
I went through my stash and found that i am in the market for new tomato, cucumber, beet and broccoli seeds.
I only have 5 Beit Alpha cucumber seeds left and 5 Boston Pickling as well as 5 Spacemaster (which i think i'll skip this year). I have plenty of Specialty White, but all these seeds are getting old and i expect maybe 2 plants out of the 5 seeds.
I have plenty of seed for the two varieties of San Marzano tomatoes (Lampadina and the ones i got from Providence Acres). I also have plenty of German Orange Strawberry. I don't think i grew those again last year. The year before, they got horrible blossom end rot, not a one was edible. I also have plenty of Banana Legs left, but we really didn't like them all that much. Too acidic, not very flavorful. The Sweet Chelsea cherry tomatoes crack and split like crazy... not impressed. I'm not sure if i will plant Pruden's Purple again this year. Absolutely delicious tomato, but last year the stem end scars and radial cracking were so big and deep, half the fruit was useless for slices. It was annoying in years past, but 2012 was unacceptable.
I only have a few beet seeds left, not enough for even a small block of them, so i will need to get a new packet of something.
I only have Waltham broccoli seeds left, though i have plenty.
There was something else i was sure i wanted... but it has totally slipped my mind at the moment!
Well, on to studying the catalogs.
I may get some seeds for Starbor kale.... i honestly don't remember what became of the seeds. There seems to be no evidence that i ever grew it. I think i started some last year, but they were no-shows... its a mystery.
Saturday, February 16, 2013
I'm itching..
...to get going starting seeds. However, its still too soon. I could go ahead and Wintersow i guess, but the way these last few springs have gone, i'm not sure how well it will work out. Wild temperature swings are not helpful. Also, i don't really have an open surface outside to put anything on. I do still have those two, tall greenhouses, but i have nothing to strap them to when the wind blows.
I do need to go through my seed stash again, begin to plot my garden and clear off that pathetic excuse for a seedling shelf that gets cluttered up with all sorts of things in the off season. lol I wish i could use my greenhouses for shelves instead. Maybe if my mental state (which has been on a low for a few weeks) perks up i'll be able to come up with something. The good Lord knows i have plenty of odds and ends to work with!
I know i'll have to mail order a few packets of seeds this year. Those hibiscus seeds i want can be found at Renee's Garden Seeds for $2.99 a pack currently.
I'm going to try and start the leonotis leonuris early. I was going to try and direct seed them, but i have the worst luck with direct sowing and weeding. Another reason i don't like to grow carrots. The leonotis take time to flower and we are just on the low end of being hot enough for them to really take off. I intend to get a big head start on them. My concern with starting too early is keeping them from getting leggy before i can plant them out.
I'd like to try growing a half or whole row of sunflowers perhaps. The wild birds enjoy the seeds from my Jerusalem artichokes very much, so maybe they'd like big sunflower discs? I'm going to see if our oldest daughter (now 14) would like to help me select the varieties.
Ground cherries are a definite "go" for this year. Interestingly enough, i found canned ground cherries at Reny's a few weeks ago. They were labeled as "Golden Berries". They were packed in a heavy syrup. I picked up a couple cans for $2.99 each. They were ok, wouldn't buy them again really but i would consider trying to can them myself if i could find some recipe guidelines. I have also seen them sold on the interwebz in dried form. Quite expensive. I do have a dehydrator. Lots of the berries went to waste last year simply because i couldn't keep up and they can be somewhat tedious to harvest.
We're planning to use plastic mulch in the rows this year to keep down on those cursed weeds. It seems that every year the worst thing that happens is that the weeds take over so quickly. I just can't seem to keep up.
I'm considering the possibility that the plastic mulch might make the ground cherries easier to harvest.
I'll also have to do something about tomato blight. It took my plants down so quickly i didn't have a chance.
Since today is Friday (it took me three days to pick this entry into existence), i'll plan on making use of any uninterrupted time on Saturday to look through seeds. I especially need to get my garden mapped out and printed off before my GrowVeg subscription runs out.
I do need to go through my seed stash again, begin to plot my garden and clear off that pathetic excuse for a seedling shelf that gets cluttered up with all sorts of things in the off season. lol I wish i could use my greenhouses for shelves instead. Maybe if my mental state (which has been on a low for a few weeks) perks up i'll be able to come up with something. The good Lord knows i have plenty of odds and ends to work with!
I know i'll have to mail order a few packets of seeds this year. Those hibiscus seeds i want can be found at Renee's Garden Seeds for $2.99 a pack currently.
I'm going to try and start the leonotis leonuris early. I was going to try and direct seed them, but i have the worst luck with direct sowing and weeding. Another reason i don't like to grow carrots. The leonotis take time to flower and we are just on the low end of being hot enough for them to really take off. I intend to get a big head start on them. My concern with starting too early is keeping them from getting leggy before i can plant them out.
I'd like to try growing a half or whole row of sunflowers perhaps. The wild birds enjoy the seeds from my Jerusalem artichokes very much, so maybe they'd like big sunflower discs? I'm going to see if our oldest daughter (now 14) would like to help me select the varieties.
Ground cherries are a definite "go" for this year. Interestingly enough, i found canned ground cherries at Reny's a few weeks ago. They were labeled as "Golden Berries". They were packed in a heavy syrup. I picked up a couple cans for $2.99 each. They were ok, wouldn't buy them again really but i would consider trying to can them myself if i could find some recipe guidelines. I have also seen them sold on the interwebz in dried form. Quite expensive. I do have a dehydrator. Lots of the berries went to waste last year simply because i couldn't keep up and they can be somewhat tedious to harvest.
We're planning to use plastic mulch in the rows this year to keep down on those cursed weeds. It seems that every year the worst thing that happens is that the weeds take over so quickly. I just can't seem to keep up.
I'm considering the possibility that the plastic mulch might make the ground cherries easier to harvest.
I'll also have to do something about tomato blight. It took my plants down so quickly i didn't have a chance.
Since today is Friday (it took me three days to pick this entry into existence), i'll plan on making use of any uninterrupted time on Saturday to look through seeds. I especially need to get my garden mapped out and printed off before my GrowVeg subscription runs out.
Monday, February 11, 2013
Looking around online...
I wanted to know more about the type of hibiscus that is often found in herbal teas. I found that it is a plant often called sorrel, roselle, and even Florida cranberry.
Here's a website with photos:
Discover the many uses of the Roselle plant.
And a website with a nice video:
Roselle, Plant of the Week
So... now that i know what it is called, i of course want to find out if i can grow it myself...
Looks possible, but it needs a lot of room... 3 foot spacing minimum- but it can be container grown. I think if i decide to try it, i'll go with the container option. I have a nice 30 gallon rubber tub that i could fill with soil.
Dave's Garden
Seeds available at Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/ROSELLE-HIBISCUS-Sabdariffa-Fruit-Flower/dp/B004Z3HUU6
Here's a website with photos:
Discover the many uses of the Roselle plant.
And a website with a nice video:
Roselle, Plant of the Week
So... now that i know what it is called, i of course want to find out if i can grow it myself...
Looks possible, but it needs a lot of room... 3 foot spacing minimum- but it can be container grown. I think if i decide to try it, i'll go with the container option. I have a nice 30 gallon rubber tub that i could fill with soil.
Dave's Garden
Seeds available at Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/ROSELLE-HIBISCUS-Sabdariffa-Fruit-Flower/dp/B004Z3HUU6
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Just a bit of snow...
For my area at least, this predictive map was spot on:
]
It was nice to stay in and watch the snow fall, and blow around. We were lucky like most and didn't lose power which allowed us to enjoy two days of quiet, enforced relaxation. School was called off for Friday
When all was said and done we got around 24-28 inches of snow. its hard to tell really because it blew and drifted so much.
Poor Molly had to go pee in this. It was still blowing and snowing when she had to go out on Saturday morning. We had a 4 foot drift on the front steps that she and i had to plow through but the wind had blown a clear spot at the end of the drift.
Here's a couple videos of the clearout.
Front part of the house. I took this leaning out of the living room window.
Backyard from the driveway:
We had a snow drift that covered the kitchen window entirely.
Well, that's it for the storm update.
] It was nice to stay in and watch the snow fall, and blow around. We were lucky like most and didn't lose power which allowed us to enjoy two days of quiet, enforced relaxation. School was called off for Friday
When all was said and done we got around 24-28 inches of snow. its hard to tell really because it blew and drifted so much.
Poor Molly had to go pee in this. It was still blowing and snowing when she had to go out on Saturday morning. We had a 4 foot drift on the front steps that she and i had to plow through but the wind had blown a clear spot at the end of the drift.
Here's a couple videos of the clearout.
Front part of the house. I took this leaning out of the living room window.
Backyard from the driveway:
We had a snow drift that covered the kitchen window entirely.
Well, that's it for the storm update.
Monday, January 14, 2013
January Thaw
Not my favorite time of winter at all. Things get muddy and slushy, the snow looks dingy. The air warms up just enough to tease of spring that is well over another month and a half away. Our temperature right now is 53 degrees F with bright sun and cloudless skies. Pretty when you look up...icky when you look down.
However, the seed catalogs are coming in like mad. I got my first one before Christmas, Pinetree Garden Seeds. I tend to order from them the most. Their prices are great, lots of variety, good customer service, quick shipping and especially important- they are local here in southern Maine. So i was happy to get the catalog so soon. Another nice surprise was that Kitazawa seeds sent their catalog early this year. Normally they are one of the last to arrive. By then its a little too late to order. I know i could go online, but i like to plot my orders by catalog and go online to submit my orders.
I don't tend to order flowers anymore since my focus has been on edible landscaping in fruit or berry form. I know there are a number of perennial herbs, but after filling all my available space with those dwarf trees and medium shrubs, there really isn't any other spot to put them. The only non-edible flowering plants i kept are my old fashioned bleeding heart and some stargazer lilies that hubby keeps mowing over. If he can stop hitting the lilies long enough for me to find them, i'll probably dig them up and give them to my mom.
On another note... i have been currently noticing a large population of robins lingering in the area. Where i grew up- less than 15 miles away, we didn't see robins in the winter. It was always a big deal to see the "first robin of spring" pecking for worms in the recently thawed earth. It was taken for granted that they all flew south for the winter. Experience bore it out. Since moving into a more towny area i have noted that they apparently don't all go south. So i looked it up. Robin Migration . Seems what i have been seeing is not unusual. Based on what i read on that link, things make sense. Our town's streets are lined with trees that produce tiny crabapple-like berries, a small park about two blocks away is lined with ornamental berry trees. We have many ash trees as well in the neighborhood. Looks like the robins have plenty of food for the winter over here. At my youthful home, the pickings must be slim. Not many ash trees are usual. Its mostly pine, oak, maple, spruces and other pine trees. The fruit is all in the summer, blueberries, raspberries, choke cherries, etc., but nothing that lingers through the winter. Anyway, i thought that was interesting.
Well i'm signing out for the evening. Most of my entries take the whole day, picked at a bit at a time.
I have a nice fantasy novel to sit back and read. We installed new flooring this weekend and i'm sore from the effort. I'm going to take some valerian, read and call it a night. :o)
However, the seed catalogs are coming in like mad. I got my first one before Christmas, Pinetree Garden Seeds. I tend to order from them the most. Their prices are great, lots of variety, good customer service, quick shipping and especially important- they are local here in southern Maine. So i was happy to get the catalog so soon. Another nice surprise was that Kitazawa seeds sent their catalog early this year. Normally they are one of the last to arrive. By then its a little too late to order. I know i could go online, but i like to plot my orders by catalog and go online to submit my orders.
I don't tend to order flowers anymore since my focus has been on edible landscaping in fruit or berry form. I know there are a number of perennial herbs, but after filling all my available space with those dwarf trees and medium shrubs, there really isn't any other spot to put them. The only non-edible flowering plants i kept are my old fashioned bleeding heart and some stargazer lilies that hubby keeps mowing over. If he can stop hitting the lilies long enough for me to find them, i'll probably dig them up and give them to my mom.
On another note... i have been currently noticing a large population of robins lingering in the area. Where i grew up- less than 15 miles away, we didn't see robins in the winter. It was always a big deal to see the "first robin of spring" pecking for worms in the recently thawed earth. It was taken for granted that they all flew south for the winter. Experience bore it out. Since moving into a more towny area i have noted that they apparently don't all go south. So i looked it up. Robin Migration . Seems what i have been seeing is not unusual. Based on what i read on that link, things make sense. Our town's streets are lined with trees that produce tiny crabapple-like berries, a small park about two blocks away is lined with ornamental berry trees. We have many ash trees as well in the neighborhood. Looks like the robins have plenty of food for the winter over here. At my youthful home, the pickings must be slim. Not many ash trees are usual. Its mostly pine, oak, maple, spruces and other pine trees. The fruit is all in the summer, blueberries, raspberries, choke cherries, etc., but nothing that lingers through the winter. Anyway, i thought that was interesting.
Well i'm signing out for the evening. Most of my entries take the whole day, picked at a bit at a time.
I have a nice fantasy novel to sit back and read. We installed new flooring this weekend and i'm sore from the effort. I'm going to take some valerian, read and call it a night. :o)
Monday, December 24, 2012
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Updates
A little update on my summer and fall.
I got lots of elderberries this summer. I picked about a third of them which amounted to about 2 pounds.
This picture is of the squashed i picked. Four Delicata and nine Butternut. I processed all of them into dehydrated powder for easier storage. More on that later.
The Red Russian kale did awesome again this year. I should always grow it. Even the dog likes it, and our toddler does too.
My tomatoes blighted out early this year, it was pretty sad. I hardly got to use any of them because they rotted so quickly. Worse thing was that it was really a bumper crop coming on.
Butterflies!
I managed to find three Monarch caterpillars at the end of summer. They were quite large at the time and only about four days from pupating, so we didn't have to wait long for butterflies.
My 3 year old helping me release one back into the "wild".
The release spot. It wasn't quite ready to fly, but i didn't want to leave it in the jar too long so it would rip its wings.
A small harvest of Jerusalem Artichokes. This all came from a spot about three feet square. I have 10 feet of them....
Processing squash into powder:
These are the ones i used, plus one more Butternut and a pie pumpkin.
Topped and tailed for safer handling.
Seeded.
My largest stainless steel bowl.... mostly full of almost all the squash and pumpkin.
I ran the mush through my Foley food mill to get a uniform consistency.
I spread the puree thinly on the dehydrator trays lined with plastic clingfilm.
Started up the dehydrator and went outside to look around.
I found more ripe Goji berries.
This is their first year and between the two plants i must have gotten almost 50 berries. I'm liking that!
Playing outside for a bit. Its getting very cold. We've had a number of frosts by now and its been as cold as 22 degrees.
A day and a half later... once the top was dry enough, i peeled off the plastic and flipped the sheets of puree to continue drying.
I broke the sheets into chips which i ran through the blender until ground into powder.
End product:
Quart jar mostly full of squash/pumpkin powder. Convenient for rehydrating to be eaten with a little butter and sugar or to be made into pies. Such a reduction in volume is worth the time and effort!
That's all for now!
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Mushroom articles
http://gardentenders.com/members/Radicalfarmergal/blog/series/464
http://www.growveg.com/growblogpost.aspx?id=261
http://www.growveg.com/growblogpost.aspx?id=261
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Frost advisory for tonight.
Looks like gardening season may come to a close earlier than normal this year. Its September 19, normally we're frost free until within a week of October first. Its just an advisory, however, but it is a definite sign of the end of summer.
In a way, i'll be glad to get everything taken apart and put away. Since the tomatoes got blighted i have not weeded and things are looking pretty bad out there!
Other than the ground cherries, nothing has really been providing any longer. Well...besides the kale.
Last night's heavy wind and rain blew the Jerusalem artichokes around quite a bit. They are still pretty much upright, but they are leaning in all directions. I think after a hard frost hits, i'll have hubby take the heavy duty weed whacking blade to the stalks, clear them away and start digging as needed.
We'll be weed whacking the rest of the garden too. Hubby wants to rake all the plant trash into a pile and burn it this fall so the garden will be cleaner in the spring. i guess its worth a try.
In a way, i'll be glad to get everything taken apart and put away. Since the tomatoes got blighted i have not weeded and things are looking pretty bad out there!
Other than the ground cherries, nothing has really been providing any longer. Well...besides the kale.
Last night's heavy wind and rain blew the Jerusalem artichokes around quite a bit. They are still pretty much upright, but they are leaning in all directions. I think after a hard frost hits, i'll have hubby take the heavy duty weed whacking blade to the stalks, clear them away and start digging as needed.
We'll be weed whacking the rest of the garden too. Hubby wants to rake all the plant trash into a pile and burn it this fall so the garden will be cleaner in the spring. i guess its worth a try.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Summer is almost gone.
Its been cool out these last few days. Which has been welcome. There was even a frost warning last night for northwestern Maine.
The garden did ok this year. Not great but acceptable. My tomatoes got blighted out, but they were productive enough we ended up with plenty of good ones we were even ablevto share a few.
The kale was , as usual, spectacular.
The butternut winter squash has done well too. I managed to get 8 very niced size squashes. The delicata plant that survived gave me 4.
The cucumbers did ok. I was getting about three every other day, but then the vines just dried up.
I was not able to keep up with the green beans, but i planned on saving the seeds anyway.
The elberberries have done nicely too. I managed to pick a pound and a half and de-stem them over the course of a day. I plan to make syrup ou
t of them if i can find the time.
The grapes were beset by Japanese
etles so they look pretty sad. Last year i sprayed them along with the apple tree, but i abandoned my schedule for spraying... no apples this year though we are nibbling grapes off the uneven bunches.
The Carmine Jewel cherry plants are doing well, leafing out nicely. So are the beach plums and the seaberries.
The goji surprised me and flowered. I have even picked 6 or 7 berries and there are more yet to ripen.
I would have had lingonberries if my youngest daughter hadn't plucked the green berries off.
The prune plum is growing well despite even more Japanese beetles, the autumn olive is growing like the weed that it is. The Jerusalem artichokes are going like gangbusters despite the powdery mildew they have.
The summer squash were delicious while they lasted, which didn't seem very long.
The big thing this summer has been the Aunt Molly's ground cherries! They are very sweet and good, tasting like non-acidic pineapple. My youngest daughter loves them. Every day she picks a bunch and eats them on the spot.
The weeds did get away from me again this year but not as bad as last year!
Well this is my first attempt at posting a full entry from my phone, so we'll see if it posts.
The garden did ok this year. Not great but acceptable. My tomatoes got blighted out, but they were productive enough we ended up with plenty of good ones we were even ablevto share a few.
The kale was , as usual, spectacular.
The butternut winter squash has done well too. I managed to get 8 very niced size squashes. The delicata plant that survived gave me 4.
The cucumbers did ok. I was getting about three every other day, but then the vines just dried up.
I was not able to keep up with the green beans, but i planned on saving the seeds anyway.
The elberberries have done nicely too. I managed to pick a pound and a half and de-stem them over the course of a day. I plan to make syrup ou
t of them if i can find the time.
The grapes were beset by Japanese
etles so they look pretty sad. Last year i sprayed them along with the apple tree, but i abandoned my schedule for spraying... no apples this year though we are nibbling grapes off the uneven bunches.
The Carmine Jewel cherry plants are doing well, leafing out nicely. So are the beach plums and the seaberries.
The goji surprised me and flowered. I have even picked 6 or 7 berries and there are more yet to ripen.
I would have had lingonberries if my youngest daughter hadn't plucked the green berries off.
The prune plum is growing well despite even more Japanese beetles, the autumn olive is growing like the weed that it is. The Jerusalem artichokes are going like gangbusters despite the powdery mildew they have.
The summer squash were delicious while they lasted, which didn't seem very long.
The big thing this summer has been the Aunt Molly's ground cherries! They are very sweet and good, tasting like non-acidic pineapple. My youngest daughter loves them. Every day she picks a bunch and eats them on the spot.
Well this is my first attempt at posting a full entry from my phone, so we'll see if it posts.
Friday, September 7, 2012
Friday, July 20, 2012
A lot going on actually
I just don't know where to start.
The blueberries are almost done, we've gotten a number of overflowing handfuls of beautiful, flavorful berries this year. That's even with my youngest daughter grabbing the unripe ones before they all started to ripen.
My tomatoes are going strong. We have many green tomatoes growing and sizing up. We ran out of tomato cages this Spring so only about a third are caged up, the others are kinda growing naturally-- which i know is going to turn into a big mess, lol. I know they can be staked, but that takes pruning and its way too late for that. Besides, after all my reading i still don't get how to stake and prune tomatoes.
Out weeding and my daughter pulled up my Kai Lan Queen kales. I guess its ok. We haven't more than snacked from them. If i grow them again i'll do a whole row, they don't seem to produce enough tips for a meal all at once if you only plant 3.
Three days ago she picked our first Golden Zebra summer squash. It was a little small (5 inches or less) but it was crisp and flavorful. I'll plant it again. More are on the way.
Funny thing happened to one of my beach plums and one of my cherry plants. The main stem seems to have died, all the leaves crumbled and dried, but both are resprouting at the roots. They are on opposite ends of the yard and looked like they got hit with Round-up or something. Butthey are coming back strong anyway.
The green beans are flowering right now, looks like a good potential crop.
The weather has finally cooled down, we'd been dry and hot for the last 2 weeks the lawn is going brown in places which has my hubby all annoyed.
Well thats it for now. I'm still working on getting my phone working for posting, hopefully i'll get some pics up with it soon!
The blueberries are almost done, we've gotten a number of overflowing handfuls of beautiful, flavorful berries this year. That's even with my youngest daughter grabbing the unripe ones before they all started to ripen.
My tomatoes are going strong. We have many green tomatoes growing and sizing up. We ran out of tomato cages this Spring so only about a third are caged up, the others are kinda growing naturally-- which i know is going to turn into a big mess, lol. I know they can be staked, but that takes pruning and its way too late for that. Besides, after all my reading i still don't get how to stake and prune tomatoes.
Out weeding and my daughter pulled up my Kai Lan Queen kales. I guess its ok. We haven't more than snacked from them. If i grow them again i'll do a whole row, they don't seem to produce enough tips for a meal all at once if you only plant 3.
Three days ago she picked our first Golden Zebra summer squash. It was a little small (5 inches or less) but it was crisp and flavorful. I'll plant it again. More are on the way.
Funny thing happened to one of my beach plums and one of my cherry plants. The main stem seems to have died, all the leaves crumbled and dried, but both are resprouting at the roots. They are on opposite ends of the yard and looked like they got hit with Round-up or something. Butthey are coming back strong anyway.
The green beans are flowering right now, looks like a good potential crop.
The weather has finally cooled down, we'd been dry and hot for the last 2 weeks the lawn is going brown in places which has my hubby all annoyed.
Well thats it for now. I'm still working on getting my phone working for posting, hopefully i'll get some pics up with it soon!
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Phone thing
Well the phone thing isn't going well. For it to work, i had to switch from my Yahoo account sign-in to my Google account. Fair enough.
But on my phone, Google does not recognise my password which i have reset about 5 times now. I don't know what is going on, but it stinks!
But on my phone, Google does not recognise my password which i have reset about 5 times now. I don't know what is going on, but it stinks!
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
After a few weeks
I've been busy, not so much in the garden but with fun family stuff. The garden is doing well, things are getting huge. I'd like to post some pictures soon.
I got a new Droid Razor phone the other week. I've been playing with it. I used to have just a basic flip phone which didn't even have a camera, but this is a really cool phone. The camera on it is better than my actual camera. I think there is a way i can take pictures on the phone and upload them to and post on Blogger. I haven't figured this out yet, though i did figure out how to get things on Facebook. So i'll be posting pics that way if i find that it can be done and i figure out how to do it. If not i'll go back to actual camera and cable.
Well so far summer has gone nicely.
There are a ton of grape clusters, we've gotten some nice handfulls of blueberries and they taste wonderful. The York and Nova elderberries are in full bloom.
The temps have been wonderful, mid and upper 70's. We got a lot of rain about 3 weeks ago, but its been pleasantly dry since.
Well, i'll go play with my phone and do some weeding this evening.
I got a new Droid Razor phone the other week. I've been playing with it. I used to have just a basic flip phone which didn't even have a camera, but this is a really cool phone. The camera on it is better than my actual camera. I think there is a way i can take pictures on the phone and upload them to and post on Blogger. I haven't figured this out yet, though i did figure out how to get things on Facebook. So i'll be posting pics that way if i find that it can be done and i figure out how to do it. If not i'll go back to actual camera and cable.
Well so far summer has gone nicely.
There are a ton of grape clusters, we've gotten some nice handfulls of blueberries and they taste wonderful. The York and Nova elderberries are in full bloom.
The temps have been wonderful, mid and upper 70's. We got a lot of rain about 3 weeks ago, but its been pleasantly dry since.
Well, i'll go play with my phone and do some weeding this evening.
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