For Thanksgiving we had close to two feet of snow. Then this last week or so we got a bunch of rain and melted it all. :( It is such a bummer to see it all go away so quickly. Last night we got a skiff. At least enough to make the ground white again. It is supposed to snow all week too. Good, we might actually get a white Christmas.
I'm thinking this year's garden planning might not be much planning. I have a feeling I'll be more worried about diapers than seeds this winter. I'm hoping to use cloth diapers more this round. If only disposables weren't so dang convienent. They are sooooo much more expensive. Cloth can be more expensive to set up initially, but much cheaper in the long run. We'll see how ambitious I am once we are in the trenches again. Somehow I don't think it will lead to a well planned garden either way.
Seed catalogs should be showing up here soon though... Then I can at least daydream for a little while.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Friday, November 19, 2010
Winter?
Well, it is almost Thanksgiving. We never got the garden tilled. Pulled and cut all the plants except the brussels sprouts. We'll see if they produce. Everything had to do battle with the slugs this year so nobody did super well. We had some funny weather to boot. It never really did get warm. We only had a few days of the hot summer weather.
We did get my compost moved to the most clay filled section of the garden. I pulled the fence from around the garden as well. I left fence up around the compost. The dog would live in there if I didn't.
Speaking of my compost... I ended up having an avocado pit sprout while it was in the compost pile. So we threw it into a pot and brought it in. Now we have an avocado tree growing in the house. Well, more like seedling still. We'll see how it does as a house plant. I know it won't survive our winters outside.
The seed catalogs have already started to come in. I'm thinking I'll do a lot from seed, but with a new baby and a toddler this upcoming spring I think we'll have to do a few more plants. I really liked mulching my paths with a sawdust meant for animal pens. I think we'll have to do that again.
So basically my plans for next summer:
We did get my compost moved to the most clay filled section of the garden. I pulled the fence from around the garden as well. I left fence up around the compost. The dog would live in there if I didn't.
Speaking of my compost... I ended up having an avocado pit sprout while it was in the compost pile. So we threw it into a pot and brought it in. Now we have an avocado tree growing in the house. Well, more like seedling still. We'll see how it does as a house plant. I know it won't survive our winters outside.
The seed catalogs have already started to come in. I'm thinking I'll do a lot from seed, but with a new baby and a toddler this upcoming spring I think we'll have to do a few more plants. I really liked mulching my paths with a sawdust meant for animal pens. I think we'll have to do that again.
So basically my plans for next summer:
- Have Tom put a border/raised beds in the garden
- expand the tomato section
- mulch with sawdust
- mulch the strawberries this should really be done about now (maybe Tom will this weekend if I ask really nicely.)
- make sure I sprinkle the slug killer early
- plant lots of peas for Bear
- plant lots of tomatoes for Bear
- lots of onions for us
- try to get cucumbers to grow again (haven't had much luck with 'em but Bear really likes 'em)
- expand the herb section
Of course all of that is on top of the plans for the house. Things like replacing a couple windows and painting the porch.
So now for current weather. We've gotten a little snow. Enough to say we did. It melted after a day and now it is supposed to get really cold. I think predicted is supposed to be somewhere around 10 degrees F. Not much above that for a high during the day. Maybe we are getting into winter? I kinda hope so. I'm ready.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
October 16th
Been a month since I posted... We've had our first hard frosts. About 28 degrees F last week. Did in what was left of the tomato plants and the squash plants. I'm hoping I can convince Tom to help me tear up plants and till for the fall. At 6 months pregnant I'm not feeling super up to doing all that needs done.
I didn't get as many tomatoes as I had hoped this year. Heirloom varieties don't seem to have the yields of the hybrids. Of course the hail and blossom rot didn't help this year either. The squash did okay, and I seem to have a couple of ears of corn but haven't tried them yet.
I've moved the compost to the bed that is full of clay and needs some organic material. I'm not done moving the pile, but that is another one that I need Tom's help with. I think the only other major thing to do will be to get some sort of raised beds going. I pulled the fence and we are hoping to make it a little more ascetically appealing. I might have to do some online idea browsing for raised beds and landscaping.
I didn't get as many tomatoes as I had hoped this year. Heirloom varieties don't seem to have the yields of the hybrids. Of course the hail and blossom rot didn't help this year either. The squash did okay, and I seem to have a couple of ears of corn but haven't tried them yet.
I've moved the compost to the bed that is full of clay and needs some organic material. I'm not done moving the pile, but that is another one that I need Tom's help with. I think the only other major thing to do will be to get some sort of raised beds going. I pulled the fence and we are hoping to make it a little more ascetically appealing. I might have to do some online idea browsing for raised beds and landscaping.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Garden update
I realize it has been awhile...
The tomatoes are starting to finally ripen. I've had to do battle with hail and blossom rot this year. Not a great year for tomatoes. It really doesn't help that I tried several heirloom varieties that appear to be more apt to get the blossom rot, split skins, etc. That and they don't seem to be quite the producers that the hybrids are. Ah well, they do have incredible flavor though.
I've also had scabby potatoes this year. Our cool, wet summer has not been great for a veggie garden. I managed to get a head of cabbage, lots of green beans, a few carrots, lots of onions, dill went crazy, tons of peas, and a few beets. I'm not good at keeping up with the lettuce and spinach. I do have a couple small tomato plants that were from previous year's seeds. They seem to be doing alright.
Oh, the tomatillos have done well this year. I'm getting ready to make another batch of salsa verde from them this weekend.
My big challenge has been to keep things from freezing this last week. Now if I can just make it another week or so until the tomatoes finish ripening so I can make the salsa...
The tomatoes are starting to finally ripen. I've had to do battle with hail and blossom rot this year. Not a great year for tomatoes. It really doesn't help that I tried several heirloom varieties that appear to be more apt to get the blossom rot, split skins, etc. That and they don't seem to be quite the producers that the hybrids are. Ah well, they do have incredible flavor though.
I've also had scabby potatoes this year. Our cool, wet summer has not been great for a veggie garden. I managed to get a head of cabbage, lots of green beans, a few carrots, lots of onions, dill went crazy, tons of peas, and a few beets. I'm not good at keeping up with the lettuce and spinach. I do have a couple small tomato plants that were from previous year's seeds. They seem to be doing alright.
Oh, the tomatillos have done well this year. I'm getting ready to make another batch of salsa verde from them this weekend.
My big challenge has been to keep things from freezing this last week. Now if I can just make it another week or so until the tomatoes finish ripening so I can make the salsa...
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Gardening leads to thoughts on saving money...
It has been kind of entertaining to read the headlines lately. There is almost always at least one blurb about how to save money. The best part is that it is usually directed at people that in all reality have a fair amount of money along with a job. Most of the suggestions are good ones, but really don't go far enough if you truly have little to no income.
A little background: I grew up in what would be called a poverty stricken family if you looked at the finances. We didn't feel like we were in poverty and yet our income level was well below the standard poverty level. Now, I am not saying we were poor. We weren't. We never really wanted for anything, other than maybe some more money. We always had enough to eat and we had clothes to wear. We had a roof over our head and as kids we got to do plenty of extracurricular activities.
But...Here is where we did things differently from other people. I very seldom remember having new clothes until I was paying for them myself. Everything you wanted you had to save up for. There were lots of times I wanted to do something or buy something that just wasn't possible at that time. If we didn't have the cash in hand it wasn't possible. There were no credit cards, no home equity loans, and no car loans. We didn't drive new cars. Quite the opposite in fact.
In order to make ends meet there were things like the fact we didn't have insurance unless we were in school. Then we had the coverage through the school disctrict. It didn't amount to much but it did help. Mom and Dad made almost all of our food from scratch. We shopped for almost everything second hand. When something was purchased that was new lots of research went into it. It had to be something that was going to last. There was no t.v., no dishwasher, no microwave, and lights were used as little as possible. This meant our utility bill stayed low. Wood heat ensured the power bill didn't spike in the winter. It couldn't, there was no other option.
We had a small garden too. My poor mom though. We lived at 6200 feet so not much more than peas, potatoes, and carrots would grow. We did harvest lots of berries from the wild and we went hunting every fall. I know, not an option for most city dwellers but we weren't living anywhere near a city.
So, I'm finally getting to my point. I now garden in order to save money on our food. Especially as we have children of our own. I haven't kept very detailed records, but in my estimation I probably only spend about $100 on the garden in a year. I know I get more than $100 worth of food from it. Especially when you start to consider things like the herbs I have. Even parsley that is an inexpensive thing to purchase fresh. I think it is about 80 cents for a bunch of fresh parsley. Now if I were to buy a jar of dried parsly from the spice aisle that price jumps to $4.00 or more. I think I bought my parsly plant for about $3.00 and I can get several fresh cuttings from that plant every year. Plus if I let it go to seed then I don't have to spend that $3.00 next year.
I'm doing the same sort of thing with our baby food this next round. Green beans from the store in a jar cost about 80 cents a jar. I have more green beans than we can eat right now so I'm steaming, pureeing, and freezing them for baby food. Besides reducing the cost I know what is in my baby food now. Sure my time should be figured in to the cost as well, but I'm preserving food anyway this time of year and it really doesn't take any more time to set aside an ice cube tray or two of baby veggies.
Well, now that I have run out of steam on this subject. I'm tired of sitting in front of the computer, it is a nice cool day, and I still have beans that need picked. I think I'll go play in the garden.
A little background: I grew up in what would be called a poverty stricken family if you looked at the finances. We didn't feel like we were in poverty and yet our income level was well below the standard poverty level. Now, I am not saying we were poor. We weren't. We never really wanted for anything, other than maybe some more money. We always had enough to eat and we had clothes to wear. We had a roof over our head and as kids we got to do plenty of extracurricular activities.
But...Here is where we did things differently from other people. I very seldom remember having new clothes until I was paying for them myself. Everything you wanted you had to save up for. There were lots of times I wanted to do something or buy something that just wasn't possible at that time. If we didn't have the cash in hand it wasn't possible. There were no credit cards, no home equity loans, and no car loans. We didn't drive new cars. Quite the opposite in fact.
In order to make ends meet there were things like the fact we didn't have insurance unless we were in school. Then we had the coverage through the school disctrict. It didn't amount to much but it did help. Mom and Dad made almost all of our food from scratch. We shopped for almost everything second hand. When something was purchased that was new lots of research went into it. It had to be something that was going to last. There was no t.v., no dishwasher, no microwave, and lights were used as little as possible. This meant our utility bill stayed low. Wood heat ensured the power bill didn't spike in the winter. It couldn't, there was no other option.
We had a small garden too. My poor mom though. We lived at 6200 feet so not much more than peas, potatoes, and carrots would grow. We did harvest lots of berries from the wild and we went hunting every fall. I know, not an option for most city dwellers but we weren't living anywhere near a city.
So, I'm finally getting to my point. I now garden in order to save money on our food. Especially as we have children of our own. I haven't kept very detailed records, but in my estimation I probably only spend about $100 on the garden in a year. I know I get more than $100 worth of food from it. Especially when you start to consider things like the herbs I have. Even parsley that is an inexpensive thing to purchase fresh. I think it is about 80 cents for a bunch of fresh parsley. Now if I were to buy a jar of dried parsly from the spice aisle that price jumps to $4.00 or more. I think I bought my parsly plant for about $3.00 and I can get several fresh cuttings from that plant every year. Plus if I let it go to seed then I don't have to spend that $3.00 next year.
I'm doing the same sort of thing with our baby food this next round. Green beans from the store in a jar cost about 80 cents a jar. I have more green beans than we can eat right now so I'm steaming, pureeing, and freezing them for baby food. Besides reducing the cost I know what is in my baby food now. Sure my time should be figured in to the cost as well, but I'm preserving food anyway this time of year and it really doesn't take any more time to set aside an ice cube tray or two of baby veggies.
Well, now that I have run out of steam on this subject. I'm tired of sitting in front of the computer, it is a nice cool day, and I still have beans that need picked. I think I'll go play in the garden.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
August 7th--Full blown summer
When did that happen. The peas, beets, carrots, and lettuce are done. The potatoes ended up with scab, and the green beans are going nuts. I have volunteer tomato plants again along with lots of squash that decided to grow. I'm finally starting to get a cucumber here and there and I harvested the first of the zuchinni today. Some of the roma tomatoes are starting to color too. Soon I will be extrememly busy in the garden.
The cherry butter ended up being frozen. That way of preserving isn't nearly as pretty as canning, but sure is faster. None of the pictures really warrented getting put up.
And one last thing...Onions are going crazy and corn is starting to tassle.
The cherry butter ended up being frozen. That way of preserving isn't nearly as pretty as canning, but sure is faster. None of the pictures really warrented getting put up.
And one last thing...Onions are going crazy and corn is starting to tassle.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
July 18th-- Cherry Butter
I got some cherries the other day. 3 lbs of them. Beautiful ripe Rainiers. Then I realized that we shouldn't eat 3 pounds just like that. There are consequences to eating that many cherries... At any rate I have never really liked preserved cherries in any form so I've been debating what to do with these. Most cherry recipes are for Bing or some other type of dark or tart cherry, not the sweet, white, Rainiers. I did finally find a couple of cherry jam recipes that sounded worth a try, but they call for pectin. I don't have any in the pantry and I'm not going to the store while Bear is napping.
So on to the decision to make butter. I've made apple and plum butter, but not cherry. The pectin was the final decision maker, but as I was slicing to pit the cherries I realized another benefit to butter. You don't have to be super careful with the fruit. Bruised imperfect cherries can go in, unlike all the other recipes for preserving cherries that call for perfect fruits. Whew. I'm not good at being that careful. Yet another benefit: I can use my crock pot to cook the cherries. A plus for sure when it is supposed to be in the 90s again today.
If everything goes well, I will post pictures and more of a step-by-step of canning the butter etc. We'll see if the taste is even worth putting up. Starting this next month is when I really wish I was a stay-at-home mom. The harvest of the garden starts to really get going and I sure could use the time at home. Maybe I'll be able to save some vacation next year and take a week in the fall to put up canned goods. Right now I just have weekends. One way to help this out is to freeze things until I can get to it on the weekend.
Speaking of freezing things...I'd better get going on the big batch of blueberries that I got with the cherries. And next month the huckleberries ought to be ready! Mmmm...I love the glut of summer fruits and berries.
So on to the decision to make butter. I've made apple and plum butter, but not cherry. The pectin was the final decision maker, but as I was slicing to pit the cherries I realized another benefit to butter. You don't have to be super careful with the fruit. Bruised imperfect cherries can go in, unlike all the other recipes for preserving cherries that call for perfect fruits. Whew. I'm not good at being that careful. Yet another benefit: I can use my crock pot to cook the cherries. A plus for sure when it is supposed to be in the 90s again today.
If everything goes well, I will post pictures and more of a step-by-step of canning the butter etc. We'll see if the taste is even worth putting up. Starting this next month is when I really wish I was a stay-at-home mom. The harvest of the garden starts to really get going and I sure could use the time at home. Maybe I'll be able to save some vacation next year and take a week in the fall to put up canned goods. Right now I just have weekends. One way to help this out is to freeze things until I can get to it on the weekend.
Speaking of freezing things...I'd better get going on the big batch of blueberries that I got with the cherries. And next month the huckleberries ought to be ready! Mmmm...I love the glut of summer fruits and berries.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
July 17th Carrots and Beets
They are out, washed, and sitting in the sink. Now I have to decide what to do with them. Do I turn them into baby food? Maybe pickle the beets? Stew the carrots? Hmmm... This is the bad part of the garden. Deciding which is going to be the best way to enjoy the bounty. Fresh carrots are a completely different animal from those at the store. Beets I like, but in small amounts, and no one else in the family likes them. I put them in the garden because they are easy to grow.
The peas are getting past their prime. That is an easy decision. Shell them and put 'em in the freezer. That is if I can get them past a little boy. For as much as he doesn't like the carrots or beets he LOVES peas from the garden. In the pod or out, but generally not cooked. Come to think of it though I haven't tried cooking the ones from the garden. They never made it that far.
I've pulled most of my lettuce and did pull all the spinach. So my first bed is almost done. A few carrots left along with the peas and green onions. Once the peas and bachelor buttons are done that bed is going to get cleaned up and I'm thinking I'll mulch over it with my compost pile. This bed has a lot of clay to it. Originally I was thinking of planting something else, but I just don't think it is going to happen this year. I'm not all that ambitous.
Besides, I'm going to soon have onions, beans, tomatoes, and corn to deal with. I'm not sure what is going on with my red potatoes. I think some sort of bug has gotten to them. They never flowered and they are yellowing and wilting. Either that or a disease.
My main bug of blame this year (and last) has been slugs! I have a veritable slug farm. Anyone need slugs? Maybe someone wants to rent a garden area to feed their ducks or chickens? I could keep some birds pretty darn happy for quite some time.
Well, I think I'm off to try to put some dinner together and make a decision about my beets and carrots. Maybe.
The peas are getting past their prime. That is an easy decision. Shell them and put 'em in the freezer. That is if I can get them past a little boy. For as much as he doesn't like the carrots or beets he LOVES peas from the garden. In the pod or out, but generally not cooked. Come to think of it though I haven't tried cooking the ones from the garden. They never made it that far.
I've pulled most of my lettuce and did pull all the spinach. So my first bed is almost done. A few carrots left along with the peas and green onions. Once the peas and bachelor buttons are done that bed is going to get cleaned up and I'm thinking I'll mulch over it with my compost pile. This bed has a lot of clay to it. Originally I was thinking of planting something else, but I just don't think it is going to happen this year. I'm not all that ambitous.
Besides, I'm going to soon have onions, beans, tomatoes, and corn to deal with. I'm not sure what is going on with my red potatoes. I think some sort of bug has gotten to them. They never flowered and they are yellowing and wilting. Either that or a disease.
My main bug of blame this year (and last) has been slugs! I have a veritable slug farm. Anyone need slugs? Maybe someone wants to rent a garden area to feed their ducks or chickens? I could keep some birds pretty darn happy for quite some time.
Well, I think I'm off to try to put some dinner together and make a decision about my beets and carrots. Maybe.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
July 10th beginning to harvest
Peas, and beets. I just got done freezing a batch of peas. I have one jar of pickled beets in the fridge (they haven't been processed), and I've got some strawberries and currants in the freezer as well. I want to do jams etc with the strawberries and currants, but haven't gotten enough at one time. So I'm freezing them and then I'll go back and make jams, jellies, syrups etc later. Maybe even this winter.
I have some rogue pumpkins growing and I have an insane number of slugs. I need a duck or something to get rid of them. The slugs that is. At least I'm getting a harvest. It won't be long and I'll need to do some major garden clean up. Spinach and lettuce are pretty well done. The beets should be coming out soon too. Even the carrots are right there on the cusp of ready.
I need to figure out some baby food recipes using these things. Then they will be put to good use.
I have some rogue pumpkins growing and I have an insane number of slugs. I need a duck or something to get rid of them. The slugs that is. At least I'm getting a harvest. It won't be long and I'll need to do some major garden clean up. Spinach and lettuce are pretty well done. The beets should be coming out soon too. Even the carrots are right there on the cusp of ready.
I need to figure out some baby food recipes using these things. Then they will be put to good use.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
June 26th Photos Finally
Peas
Tomatoes
Petunias
Whole veggie garden...Almost 2 months since the last of it got put in.Saturday, June 19, 2010
June 19th
A little over a month since I got everything in. At this point we can't keep up with the lettuce or spinach. The peas are blooming, the potatoes will bloom any minute, the carrots are getting big as are the beets, the corn and beans are up, and the cucumbers and zuchini are doing battle with the slugs. (The cucumber is fairing worse than the zuchini but still making it). My tomatoes are getting short and stout. They don't seem to be doing much growing up. That and (I haven't done my research yet) they seem to have something going on with the leaves. Maybe a disease with all the moisture we've had? I've never had to deal with that as I've always had disease resistant hybrids and this year I'm doing heirlooms. I guess there is something to be said for the hybrids. I just hope everyone performs well this year.
We've gotten one strawberry so far. More will follow soon if we get some sunshine. The currant bush is loaded this year and it looks like the apples and italian prunes are too. I know I'm missing some here. Cabbage and brussels sprouts are up and doing well. They were an experiment. Started by direct seeding them even though everything talks about starting with transplants started much earlier inside. I have lots of random lettuce in places. Along with some random bachelor button flowers and what I assume is either a cabbage or brussels sprout since it is around where I had those last year. Again I have some random squash too. Maybe pumpkin? I composted the Halloween pumpkins last fall and the seeds didn't get broken down over the winter. Maybe we'll get a pumpkin or two this year?
As far as herbs go... I bought some local dill last year for something and ended up drying it. This spring I just shook the seeds out in a couple of places before composting the rest of the plant. They seem to have taken off just fine. The seeds I planted out of a packet last year didn't do anything. I have lemon balm coming up voluntarily. I put out cilantro and parsley plants. I planted lots of other seeds in a new raised bed but they sure are slow to come up and I didn't keep track of what went in. Besides, Bear and dogs haven't helped any. They like to tromp through the raised beds. Oh well, we'll see.
A bit more...The garlic and onions are doing well. The spearmint is up along the north foundation. Tom's flower bed is sprouting pretty well, and this year's lavender seems to like the new location. Maybe I can get it to winter over. Oh, I found comfrey in the yard too.
Well, I hear Bear starting to wiggle. I'll try to get a current picture of the garden on here sometime this weekend as well. It is supposed to be sunny enough to try it.
We've gotten one strawberry so far. More will follow soon if we get some sunshine. The currant bush is loaded this year and it looks like the apples and italian prunes are too. I know I'm missing some here. Cabbage and brussels sprouts are up and doing well. They were an experiment. Started by direct seeding them even though everything talks about starting with transplants started much earlier inside. I have lots of random lettuce in places. Along with some random bachelor button flowers and what I assume is either a cabbage or brussels sprout since it is around where I had those last year. Again I have some random squash too. Maybe pumpkin? I composted the Halloween pumpkins last fall and the seeds didn't get broken down over the winter. Maybe we'll get a pumpkin or two this year?
As far as herbs go... I bought some local dill last year for something and ended up drying it. This spring I just shook the seeds out in a couple of places before composting the rest of the plant. They seem to have taken off just fine. The seeds I planted out of a packet last year didn't do anything. I have lemon balm coming up voluntarily. I put out cilantro and parsley plants. I planted lots of other seeds in a new raised bed but they sure are slow to come up and I didn't keep track of what went in. Besides, Bear and dogs haven't helped any. They like to tromp through the raised beds. Oh well, we'll see.
A bit more...The garlic and onions are doing well. The spearmint is up along the north foundation. Tom's flower bed is sprouting pretty well, and this year's lavender seems to like the new location. Maybe I can get it to winter over. Oh, I found comfrey in the yard too.
Well, I hear Bear starting to wiggle. I'll try to get a current picture of the garden on here sometime this weekend as well. It is supposed to be sunny enough to try it.
Friday, May 28, 2010
May 28th
Rain, rain, rain... It has been raining all week and looks to rain all next week too. This has its benefits as I haven't had to water my garden for about a week and a half. The drawback is that everything is soggy and it isn't much fun to play outside in all the wet. My clay soil really doesn't help draining the water away. Ahh well.
We did get some more plants today. Mostly flowers. We are trying to perk up the side of the house toward the road. People drive past it all the time and it has been very dull. Speaking of that side of the house... The currant bush I put in last year is going great guns this year. I'm going to have a small bumper crop of currants. My raspberries on the other side of the house are doing well too. The blueberries, not so much. I'm not sure what the problem there is. Maybe they don't like the drainage or something. Who knows?
Oh, we whacked our rose bush this year. It won't be pretty this year at all, but will hopefully come back nice and strong next year.
Off to hang out with my husband for the evening...
We did get some more plants today. Mostly flowers. We are trying to perk up the side of the house toward the road. People drive past it all the time and it has been very dull. Speaking of that side of the house... The currant bush I put in last year is going great guns this year. I'm going to have a small bumper crop of currants. My raspberries on the other side of the house are doing well too. The blueberries, not so much. I'm not sure what the problem there is. Maybe they don't like the drainage or something. Who knows?
Oh, we whacked our rose bush this year. It won't be pretty this year at all, but will hopefully come back nice and strong next year.
Off to hang out with my husband for the evening...
Saturday, May 15, 2010
May 15th
And we are officially all planted. We have been working like crazy on the garden and yard. There is a new flower bed on the south side of the house, I have a couple of new bushes in, and the veggie garden is complete. Now if I can just keep the weeds down.
I guess the veggies aren't quite complete. I still need to finish caging tomatoes and trellising cucumbers. Otherwise they are done though. We have added some raised beds that a friend gave me a kit for. Now I have pretty flowers along my fence and we are adding a seating area to the back yard. I do need to get going on the front yard. I've kinda neglected it. At least the lilacs are up there and are about to bloom. I love spring!
Sunday, May 2, 2010
May 2nd
Rain... We've had a lot of rain here lately. In fact the new rain barrel I got last week is about half full and I don't even have gutters to pipe the water into it.
Peas, lettuce, and beets are up. I'm hoping to see the potatoes, cabbage, and brussels sprouts soon. The daffodils are pretty much done and the tulips aren't far behind them. Lilacs are about half leafed out and the blossoms are starting to form. The lawn needs mowed again. 2nd or 3rd time already.
Peas, lettuce, and beets are up. I'm hoping to see the potatoes, cabbage, and brussels sprouts soon. The daffodils are pretty much done and the tulips aren't far behind them. Lilacs are about half leafed out and the blossoms are starting to form. The lawn needs mowed again. 2nd or 3rd time already.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
April 18th
Last of the onions are in. My Walla Walla Sweets from seeds were the last to go in. One of these days I'll get the tomatoes in. I can't get in too big a hurry though or else I'll kill them.
Garage got cleaned up enough to actually store some of these garden tools. Slowly working on plans for landscaping the rest of the yard...
Garage got cleaned up enough to actually store some of these garden tools. Slowly working on plans for landscaping the rest of the yard...
Saturday, April 17, 2010
April 17th
I did more planting yesterday...
Red Pontiac Potatoes
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage
I'm trying to start the cabbage and brussels sprouts from seed in the garden. I have no idea how they will fair. The tomatoes in the green house are doing well. No black frozen spots at this point. My tomatillos are starting to bloom. Oops. I guess they got started too early. Oh well.
I also planted some yellow iris yesterday. My neighbor was dividing hers up. They also brought over a Snow in the Valley. That might not be the right name. At any rate it is supposed to spread and only get about a foot tall. I'm going to try to get that planted this weekend too. We are going to try to get it to hide the foundation along the road side of the house.
Been rainy and cold, but this weekend is supposed to be warm with a few showers. Mid-60s yesterday. Not bad.
Red Pontiac Potatoes
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage
I'm trying to start the cabbage and brussels sprouts from seed in the garden. I have no idea how they will fair. The tomatoes in the green house are doing well. No black frozen spots at this point. My tomatillos are starting to bloom. Oops. I guess they got started too early. Oh well.
I also planted some yellow iris yesterday. My neighbor was dividing hers up. They also brought over a Snow in the Valley. That might not be the right name. At any rate it is supposed to spread and only get about a foot tall. I'm going to try to get that planted this weekend too. We are going to try to get it to hide the foundation along the road side of the house.
Been rainy and cold, but this weekend is supposed to be warm with a few showers. Mid-60s yesterday. Not bad.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
April 10th
Planted another row of onions today. Just a basic yellow onion that should keep better than the Walla Wallas. Also, I spent nap time re-potting my tomatoes. Holy cow I have a bunch! I'm testing one flat of them in the greenhouse. It seems to be staying pretty warm (this is relative) at night in there. I keep forgetting to actually look at the thermometer. I have seeds germinating and leaves popping out on the lilacs that are in the greenhouse at any rate. It can't be too cold in there at night.
I'm just waiting on it to quit freezing so many nights before I continue planting the garden. I do wish I didn't have to work so much. I would get much more work on the garden done if I weren't working. Oh well. I will just have to enjoy my weekends.
I'm just waiting on it to quit freezing so many nights before I continue planting the garden. I do wish I didn't have to work so much. I would get much more work on the garden done if I weren't working. Oh well. I will just have to enjoy my weekends.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Weather update April 5th
Rain, snow, and freezing weather. I knew it would do it if I planted seeds. I have a few calendula seeds coming up in a box on the south side of the house, but the garden isn't poking up yet. I wouldn't if I were them. We've had some strange spring weather. But my mom was just saying the other day that instead of "April showers bring May flowers" it is "April snows bring May rose." Seems like it might be the way it is going this year anyway.
Other than that my tomatoes need re-potted and all the bushes have leaves budding. I guess spring really has sprung.
Other than that my tomatoes need re-potted and all the bushes have leaves budding. I guess spring really has sprung.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
It has officially started...
I did the last tilling this morning and I started the real planting this afternoon. We'll see how many things the frost kills.
My planted list:
Peas
Beets
Green Onions
Carrots
Spinach
Lettuce
I have a small bed of onions going and my garlic is up as well. I still have 3 beds to plant but they will be planted later. I'm going to have a tomato/tomatillo bed, and two with more mixes of things. I have potatoes that have sprouted but it is a little early yet. We are still getting some pretty hard frost at night.
I'm hoping to do a little better with the keeping the weeds down this year. It will help to have the compost as it finishes. I'm excited for the season to be started.
My planted list:
Peas
Beets
Green Onions
Carrots
Spinach
Lettuce
I have a small bed of onions going and my garlic is up as well. I still have 3 beds to plant but they will be planted later. I'm going to have a tomato/tomatillo bed, and two with more mixes of things. I have potatoes that have sprouted but it is a little early yet. We are still getting some pretty hard frost at night.
I'm hoping to do a little better with the keeping the weeds down this year. It will help to have the compost as it finishes. I'm excited for the season to be started.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
March 21
Well it is officially spring. Sure felt like it yesterday too. We were close to 60 degrees F. and wonderfully sunny. Bear and I spent the afternoon in the garden digging up sod and planting onion sets. I still have more to dig up and more sets to plant. Hopefully they did okay with the frost last night. I'm not too worried. I have onions coming up from last year and I still have seedlings inside that are too little to brave the frosty nights.
I'm seeing that my tomato seedlings are getting root bound in their little soil pods. I'm going to have to re-pot. I'm not sure I have that many pots. I've ended up with a flat of 72 tomatos. I don't know if I'm going to have room for everyone. It really is only 12 plants of each variety. I'm hoping I'll get some visitors this spring that I can send some tomatos home with. That way I don't have to kill the poor little seedlings. I kill so many plants anyway that I don't like to kill any that are surviving their tenure with me.
I'm hoping in spite of the grey skies today it is warm enough to go out and finish up a bunch of my digging. Even though my hands have blisters and my shoulders are protesting. It all feels kinda good in a strange sort of way. I like the feeling after I put in a good days work.
I'm seeing that my tomato seedlings are getting root bound in their little soil pods. I'm going to have to re-pot. I'm not sure I have that many pots. I've ended up with a flat of 72 tomatos. I don't know if I'm going to have room for everyone. It really is only 12 plants of each variety. I'm hoping I'll get some visitors this spring that I can send some tomatos home with. That way I don't have to kill the poor little seedlings. I kill so many plants anyway that I don't like to kill any that are surviving their tenure with me.
I'm hoping in spite of the grey skies today it is warm enough to go out and finish up a bunch of my digging. Even though my hands have blisters and my shoulders are protesting. It all feels kinda good in a strange sort of way. I like the feeling after I put in a good days work.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
March 12th
And the garden has the first tilling. We will borrow the neighbors big roto-tiller to break more sod. I'm expanding the garden this year. Not by a lot but I composted a corner last year that is going to be great soil. The sod is gone there but I'm expanding beyond that 3x3 corner. The tomatos and onions are doing well. Plus we got some more onion sets from the hardware store. Mostly the garden is going to be onions and tomatoes. I'll have a few other things but not loads.
Speaking of my tomatos I'd better go thin them while Bear is asleep. I don't want him getting the idea that it is a good idea to pull up my seedlings.
Speaking of my tomatos I'd better go thin them while Bear is asleep. I don't want him getting the idea that it is a good idea to pull up my seedlings.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
March
Already March. Wow. We never even got winter and it is almost spring. We've had temps in the 60s and the garden will probably get tilled this week(end). I can't believe we don't still have snow. The tomatoes and onions are up in their flats. I checked around the yard the other day and I found all sorts of plants poking up. Some sort of flower that someone other than us planted (Bulbs that come up first thing. Even before my crocus.), horseradish is starting to peek up, the irises are a couple inches tall, and the garlic has an inch or so. Also the chervil, strawberries, and chives are starting, but just.
I'll be amazed if we don't have a wicked fire season this year. I hope not for our area, but I do hope so at the same time. Last year there weren't many fires and business was awfully slow.
I'll be amazed if we don't have a wicked fire season this year. I hope not for our area, but I do hope so at the same time. Last year there weren't many fires and business was awfully slow.
Friday, February 12, 2010
False Spring
I know it isn't really spring being the 12th of February but we hit 55 degree F today. Our snow is gone (has never really showed up) and we had spurts of great sunshine. Oh it was nice to have sun. It has been very gloomy lately and I've missed the sunshine.
I went out and cleaned up the garden from last fall. I never really cleaned up before winter. Our ground isn't even close to being frozen. A little too wet to till, but it won't be long if we keep having days like today. I will be happy to get out working in the garden again. Sure makes me a happy camper.
On to actual garden updates: Seeds are purchased. I didn't get a ton, but I bought more than I had originally planned. They are so hard to resist. The soil pods are soaking as we speak and I'll be starting my tomatos today.
My varieties this year: Black Krim, Cherokee Purple, Brandywine, a couple of paste tomatos (I don't remember which variety I bought this morning), and a tomatillos for my salsa. On a side note. I need more tomato cages. Good thing we have wire left over from the fence. I'll build 'em as needed.
I think I'll be starting everything else outside this year. Other than maybe one or two herbs. Haven't really decided there yet. We'll see how it goes with Bear getting into things. He really wants to play with the soil pods.
I went out and cleaned up the garden from last fall. I never really cleaned up before winter. Our ground isn't even close to being frozen. A little too wet to till, but it won't be long if we keep having days like today. I will be happy to get out working in the garden again. Sure makes me a happy camper.
On to actual garden updates: Seeds are purchased. I didn't get a ton, but I bought more than I had originally planned. They are so hard to resist. The soil pods are soaking as we speak and I'll be starting my tomatos today.
My varieties this year: Black Krim, Cherokee Purple, Brandywine, a couple of paste tomatos (I don't remember which variety I bought this morning), and a tomatillos for my salsa. On a side note. I need more tomato cages. Good thing we have wire left over from the fence. I'll build 'em as needed.
I think I'll be starting everything else outside this year. Other than maybe one or two herbs. Haven't really decided there yet. We'll see how it goes with Bear getting into things. He really wants to play with the soil pods.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Weather
We haven't had much of a winter. Lots of rain this year. There are days like yesterday where the precipitation comes down as snow but it is warm enough not to stick. Bum deal. We really don't have any snow to speak of. The weather-man has been talking about numbers of 50-75% below normal snow pack. Kinda scary.
I wish we'd get some of the snow that is dumping back East. They are getting 18 inches plus at a time. Apparently this isn't normal for them. Schools are closing and stores are running out of food. I am fasinated by this. I don't understand not being prepared for winter weather. I know we aren't as prepared as we could be, but we would be okay for awhile. Little things like having powdered milk and flour on hand. Having a heat source other than electricity. Even if it is just candles or a camping stove. Those things make sense to me, but the running around in a panic like the articles talk about doesn't make sense. I assume most people aren't really doing this and it is just the media hype. They like to make a big deal out of a small deal.
Several years back there was a small washout of our road out by the highway from the high spring runoff. The "flood" encompassed all of about 3-4 feet worth of road and a couple of inches of water. This wasn't the case if you watched the evening news. Boy, the whole Valley was flooding and it was a big issue according to them. Funny, it never slowed us down.
At any rate, I'm hoping we get some decent snow between now and spring. The ground sure could use it. We'd rather not have lots of fires around next summer.
I wish we'd get some of the snow that is dumping back East. They are getting 18 inches plus at a time. Apparently this isn't normal for them. Schools are closing and stores are running out of food. I am fasinated by this. I don't understand not being prepared for winter weather. I know we aren't as prepared as we could be, but we would be okay for awhile. Little things like having powdered milk and flour on hand. Having a heat source other than electricity. Even if it is just candles or a camping stove. Those things make sense to me, but the running around in a panic like the articles talk about doesn't make sense. I assume most people aren't really doing this and it is just the media hype. They like to make a big deal out of a small deal.
Several years back there was a small washout of our road out by the highway from the high spring runoff. The "flood" encompassed all of about 3-4 feet worth of road and a couple of inches of water. This wasn't the case if you watched the evening news. Boy, the whole Valley was flooding and it was a big issue according to them. Funny, it never slowed us down.
At any rate, I'm hoping we get some decent snow between now and spring. The ground sure could use it. We'd rather not have lots of fires around next summer.
Friday, January 29, 2010
It has begun.
I've done it. I started my first seeds this evening. Walla Walla Sweet onions from seed. We tried a few last year and loved them so I'm doing a flat of them this year. Also, I'm trying out a soil pod/greenhouse set up. We shall see how it works. So far I like the lack of mess it makes. I'm still not sure how I'm going to do this with a toddler in the house. Might get interesting.
I'm thinking I'm going to only start a few things from seed early this year. I'm going to try direct seeding a lot of what I grow. I don't know if we have a long enough growing season but I'm going to find out.
I'm thinking I'm going to only start a few things from seed early this year. I'm going to try direct seeding a lot of what I grow. I don't know if we have a long enough growing season but I'm going to find out.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Welcome 2010!
New year, new garden, fresh starts. Nice to have a clean slate. I'm planning away on the garden. I'm going to rotate the directions my rows go. Last year they ran East to West. Everything did all right but I think I may get more stuff in my garden if I do a North/South row that is shorter. I'm still planning on running my beans and peas along the fence that runs East/West though. Just on my North fence so they don't block the sun.
So here's my basic list of what I think I want in the garden this year:
Tomatoes: Brandywine, Cherokee Purple, Black Krim, and maybe an Amish Paste?
Tomatillos
Carrots: Chantenay and Danvers Half Long
Potatoes: Haven't picked varieties yet, but at least one fingerling type
Zuchinni: Green, Yellow didn't do so hot last year
Pumpkin: I have a sweet pie pumpkin seed but also I've composted several pumpkins that may or may not sprout on their own. I had a small decorative pumpkin come up last year this way. Obviously my compost doesn't get very hot.
Peppers: Haven't decided here yet either, but will do plants instead of from seed
Cucumber: Have Straight Eight and National Pickling
Lettuce: I like the mix of leaf lettuces
Onions: WallaWallas and red (I planted the reds last fall. We'll see what we get)
Beans: Kentucky Blues and Bush Blue Lakes
Peas: Mix of sugar and snow peas along with some regular shelling
Beets: Detroit Red
Turnips: Purple Top
I'm debating radishes with my carrots. I just don't know how many we'll eat. I also have lots of herbs I want to put in. I just haven't decided if they will go in my veggie garden or elsewhere around the property. In addition to the herbs Tom would like me to put in some hops. This way he may start brewing beer. That would be kinda fun. We have the cellar for it, and I can put the hops around the garage or along our fence. I haven't decided which yet. Also, I'm debating brussels sprouts and cabbage. Both take up lots of room and we don't eat that many of them. Plus my brussels sprouts didn't mature until almost Dec. Maybe a corner of the garden where they can just be ignored for the summer. They were delicious, but didn't yield much.
Anyone have any luck with copper to deter slugs? Beer traps work well, but I always forget to refresh the beer so they get really gross and the slugs quit going in.
So here's my basic list of what I think I want in the garden this year:
Tomatoes: Brandywine, Cherokee Purple, Black Krim, and maybe an Amish Paste?
Tomatillos
Carrots: Chantenay and Danvers Half Long
Potatoes: Haven't picked varieties yet, but at least one fingerling type
Zuchinni: Green, Yellow didn't do so hot last year
Pumpkin: I have a sweet pie pumpkin seed but also I've composted several pumpkins that may or may not sprout on their own. I had a small decorative pumpkin come up last year this way. Obviously my compost doesn't get very hot.
Peppers: Haven't decided here yet either, but will do plants instead of from seed
Cucumber: Have Straight Eight and National Pickling
Lettuce: I like the mix of leaf lettuces
Onions: WallaWallas and red (I planted the reds last fall. We'll see what we get)
Beans: Kentucky Blues and Bush Blue Lakes
Peas: Mix of sugar and snow peas along with some regular shelling
Beets: Detroit Red
Turnips: Purple Top
I'm debating radishes with my carrots. I just don't know how many we'll eat. I also have lots of herbs I want to put in. I just haven't decided if they will go in my veggie garden or elsewhere around the property. In addition to the herbs Tom would like me to put in some hops. This way he may start brewing beer. That would be kinda fun. We have the cellar for it, and I can put the hops around the garage or along our fence. I haven't decided which yet. Also, I'm debating brussels sprouts and cabbage. Both take up lots of room and we don't eat that many of them. Plus my brussels sprouts didn't mature until almost Dec. Maybe a corner of the garden where they can just be ignored for the summer. They were delicious, but didn't yield much.
Anyone have any luck with copper to deter slugs? Beer traps work well, but I always forget to refresh the beer so they get really gross and the slugs quit going in.
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