Starting Again

I have decided to be a little more serious about my seedlings this year and I am trying some new techniques.

Some (mainly cabbages and peppers) in peat pots from Jiffy, herbs and some alliums in proper start pots, and tomatoes and lemon grass in flower pots.

I got a seedling heat mat and set them all on a glass table top with the mat on it so it would warm them all some.  It really seems to be working well.  I am a little concerned with peat pots drying out too much and some of the peppers (seems like the hotter varieties, like Scotch Bonnet) are slower to germinate, but all in all its a success so far.

Here we have a rare (but increasingly common) Garden Monkey enjoying a popsicle as we check our seedlings in the morning.  He helped plant them and we enjoy checking them together.

2012 Garden Update

Some friends asked how the garden was doing and I realized how long it had been since I posted. This has been a busy year. I added a rain collection system.

I got the barrel from a local food distributor for twenty dollars, got some base and block from the local hardware spot, and the rain barrel installation kit from Rain Brothers. The kit had a great video on Youtube and after some investigation I decided it was the way to go. My wife knew I wanted to upgrade from my compost pile, so for my birthday I got a:

Already used a batch of it as mulch for my potatoes. It seems to really be working great. I love the fact that the heat kills the seeds. Some other pictures to entertain:

How Its Going So Far in 2011

The garden is looking pretty well. I was able to get some more cages so I actually have 54 inch cages for all sixteen tomatoes, and the continuing attempt to go vertical will include some added trellises

The garden has had a few rough days on the last few with some strong storms coming through but we managed to avoid the hail.

I will add more picture of the other beds and hopefully the trellises tomorrow night.

Seedlings Going Strong

The seedlings are doing well with a few exceptions, but nothing too harsh.

I think I have to many tomatoes. Actually, is that possible?

Tomato List for 2011

I got my seedlings started this last weekend. I will have to throw up pics of the setup I am using this year. Here are the tomatoes I have started (or ordered from seedsavers.org, marked with a *) so far:

Tomatoes
Brandywine (Sudduth)*
Roma (Martino)
Aunt Rubys' German Green
Black from Tula
Blondekompfchen
Cherokee Purple*
Dr Wyche's Yellow
Razzleberry
Super Sweet 100
Brown Cherry
Costoluto Genovese
Beam's Yellow Pear
Gold Medal*
Stupice*
Green Zebra

Yummy!

The 2010 Crop List

So, between time and timing I had to trim back on the variety a little this year. As always, I am focused on variety versus quantity. I have wondered why I do this and I think its pretty fun to plan and eat (although I am not sure you could say I did a lot of "planning"this year).

I also spent very little this year. Some savvy shopping, some saved and shared seed, and a few extra drives for compost and I have spent under $60 this year. Not bad.

So without further adieu, the 2010 list:

Herbs

French Tarragon

Rosemary

Sage

Michael's Basil

Sweet Basil

Greek Oregano

Thyme

Cilantro

Parsley

Greens

Bright Lights Chard

Iceberg

Mixed Greens (six types)

Pak Choi

Copenhagen Market Cabbage

Fruit

Raspberries

Blackberries

Granny Smith Apples

Concord Grapes

Red Seedless Grapes

Quinnalt Strawberries

Ground Cherries

Charantais Melons

Sugar Baby Watermelons

Rouge vif de Etempes Pumpkins

Squash

Acorn

Zuchinni

Dutch Crookneck

Vert et Blanc

Pattison Panache

Tomatos

Black From Tula

Super Sweet 100 Cherry

Big Boy

Beefsteak

Green Zebra

Root Veggies

Purple Onions

Shallots

Chantenay Carrots

Danvers Carrots

Purple Globe Turnips

Icicle Radishes

French Breakfast Radishes

Yukon Gold Potatoes

Parsnips

Other Veggies

Tasty Green Cucumbers

Parisian Pickling Cucumbers

Mary Washington Asparagus

Mammoth Sunflowers

Blue Lake Beans

For a total of 53 varieties. Guess I should find 4 more. :)

Late Garden Still Going!

Its been a while since an update. Sorry for the delay, but life has been demanding, some things needed to slide a little, and this has been one of those things.

Here is a pretty typical day these days. These are actually the last of the summer potatoes, a good sized carrot or two, some peppers (marconi, cayenne, and poblano here), some tomatoes (Brandywine, Costoluto Genovese, and a little Cherokee Purple), an onion or two, and a special addition today - a little Charantais!

We harvested the first two ripe ones today and have 14 more to go. Let me tell you, we must have the exact right soil or something because these things taste AWESOME!

Here we have one of our BIG Rouge Vif de Etempes pumpkins. He have eight of them, but these two, next to each other on the same vine, have gotten a lot bigger than the others. Anybody got an idea on average size of these normally? Also, as is my plan each year, I just let them sprawl into the yard.

A number of the little cabbages that I thought would just die in the August heat came around strongly in the streak of cool weather we have had of late. The advantage of this in particular seems to be a total lack of cabbage loopers. I had loopers on me early cabbages (and I spent a lot of time picking them off by hand, yucky!), but these seem totally uneffected.

And here we have HOT HOT HOT Thai peppers grown from seed from my dad. These things are tasty, but a couple of them will drop you to your knees.

Will try to make it a lot sooner to the next post!

Lost Days

Hello,

Sorry its been a while since I posted. Had some dental issues and painkillers and blogging just don't match up to well in my book.

As for the food and garden front, I have really been working the bread and making some recipes from my Jamie Oliver cookbook my daughters got me. That guy really knows how to put a good recipe on paper! The garden keeps producing, but had a rough patch over the last week or so.

A lot of rain combined with really cool temps combined with inattentiveness on my part because of the bad tooth and you get a rough time in the garden. A lot of tomatoes split and some bugs got in, but the melons, pumpkins, squash, and peppers sure seem to love this weather. The beans have given up and the onions are still coming in strong.

The herbs have been the kings of the show lately. I cut the basil and oregano back couple of weeks ago and they bounced back strong. The other herbs are doing well, except the tarragon. It was doing really well for a while when it was hot and dry, but the cool and rain seem to have it down.

I need a good tarragon recipe. Got any favorites?

Dazzling Color, Great Taste

The tomatoes keep coming! Here we have some Dr Wyche's Yellow and some Cherokee Purple. Tried the Dr Wyches tonite.

Cut into the tomato and BANG, there it was, my new favorite color. At first I did not like the flavor, but then I realized it was really just different. Then I realized it was a fruity flavor, less acid. What a joy to eat.

Oh JOY!!!!!

So this weekend we had some excitement in the garden. We decided to pull up the smallest potato plant and see if we actually had any potatoes. Here the girls give it the old heave ho and...

And we did indeed have potatoes! Had a couple of pounds, which considering, is a pretty good haul. We roasted them with some olive oil, salt, pepper, and they were magnificent. Seriously.

Not a bad haul. I am not sure we went far enough down to get all the potatoes, but it was so hot and the girls were anxious to get them in the stove, so I should go dig up the rest of the area.

Then, after waiting, and waiting, and waiting we finally got two days of heat and two warmish nights and the tomatoes start rolling in!

We have some Green Zebra, Roma, San Marzano, plenty of Costoluto Genovese (including a green one that I broke off in my frenzy to get the others, some Aunt Ruby's German Green, and the big guy is a Black From Tula. Tried the Green Zebra (tart and tasty), the Roma and San Marzano (tasty but a little mushy), the Costoluto Genovese (Tasty, Tender, softest skin I have ever seen on a tomato) and I ate the Black From Tula. The BFT was one, if not the best, tomatoes I have ever eaten. It literally raised the hair on my neck. It was that good.

JOY!

Strange Weather Creates Need To Pop

Wow, this unusually cool weather (50 degree lows at night in LATE JULY?) has built up a lot of pent up energy in the garden.

The Tomatoes won't ripen.

The Blackberries won't ripen.

The Zinnias won't bloom.

The Peppers won't grow.

Grapes that have stalled.

As soon as we get some sustained warm nights we will be up to our elbows in food. I was worried that I wouldn't have enough determinate tomato plants to generate enough tomatoes to make a worthy effort of canning, but I think Mother Nature has helped me out.

It makes me think of my favorite Squirrel Nut Zippers lyric "I feel like drivin but my car won't run, I feel like drivin but my mules won't come."

Hope to post some new pics tonite.

Tomato Update

Had a lack of bees, and was worried so I did some hand pollination. Then the bees showed up. Was worried about getting tomatoes. Until this weekend when I took some time, had an epic pruning session and discovered Much Tomato Joy.

My friend Suzy may be far ahead of me, but I will catch up with here soon enough. :)

Here are the San Marzanos, in seemingly perfect little six and eight packs of tomatoes.

Here we have the Romas on an improvised stake. Nice clusters of great little tomatoes.

Here we have the Black From Tulas. Already they have a more dark coloration. Anticipation...

These are supposed to be Green Zebras. But they currently look flat and really light in color. I am not convinced I haven't had a seed mix up (or a prank from the wife!).

Here we have what, so far, are the most beautiful tomato I am growing. Costoluto Genovese. They are growing in these surprisingly tight clusters and look just magnificent. ChristyACB says these make great canning tomatoes, but its going to take an unusual act of mental strength to not eat them. :)
Aunt Ruby's German Green. The tomato my wife is most looking forward to. Supposedly they make the absolute best fried green tomatoes. Around here, thats the official start of garden eatting season.
These Cherokee Purple seemingly jumped popped off the vine. Gorgeous.

The cherry tomatoes (Super Sweet 100) went from zero to mouthfuls in just a day or two.

Here we have some Dr Wyches Yellow. I am amazed at how flat the young tomatoes are!

And the cornerstone of my cornerstone, the most prized tomato of my tomatoes, the Brandywine. Not to many of them, but I knew they were not all that prolific. They look great.

So far, no disease, no splits, no pests, good garden hygiene. Keeping those fingers crossed!

Big Days Ahead

Today the wife and I took off to work in the garden/yard. Took the little on to daycare. Been hardening off the seedlings, have lots of things to plant! Literally tons of dirt to move. YAY

Two days ago the green market I go to had "heirloom" tomatoes on sale. 99 cents a pound sale. Just about FREAKED OUT, bought a couple of pounds. Got them home, prepped a salad with what were a cardinal red ribbed tomato and someting that looked like a flattened Cherokee Purple. Taste the tomato and .... might as well have put some styrofoam on the salad.

I SOOOO want to taste a real tomato.