Today I put some peas in the ground. Snap peas to eat whole, and shelling peas, well to shell. Peas are great because after a long winter of greens and root vegetables, peas are the first vegetable that reminds me of the succulent treats of summer. They're crunchy and juicy and so much fun to eat as you garden. The plants grow quickly, especially as the weather warms. The vines are vigorous and almost creature like as their tendrils reach out to climb onto anything in their paths. And the flowers are beautiful.
I soaked the pea seeds overnight to give them a little head start, and I coated them with inoculant, which helps the peas get nitrogen from the atmosphere. The inoculant contains a bacteria that aids this process. It comes in a powder and you can coat the moistened peas with it, or add it to the soil in which they will be planted.
You can also pre sprout the peas on a paper towel and once they have a root you can plant them in the ground or in a container. This method helps if your soil is still pretty cold.
Good companion plants for peas include Bush Beans, Pole Beans, Carrots, Corn Cucumber, Radish, Turnips. But keep them away from Onion, Garlic, Leeks. These are not good neighbors for peas.
They will definitely need something to support them as they grow; to keep the pea pods off the ground and so the peas can be harvested at a comfortable height. So building a trellis or teepee will be on my list of chores.
Showing posts with label garden urban vegetable organic gardening. Show all posts
Showing posts with label garden urban vegetable organic gardening. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
Here Kitty Kitty, No Not There...Here
For folks who tend food producing gardens, and who are also owned by cats, the following may be of intense interest.
People who garden without the assistance of felines may just want to look away at this point. This will also probably not be of any interest to people who are able to keep their cats indoors.
I have 2 cats, my neighbors on all 3 sides have a cat each and there are probably 3 or 4 cats from the neighborhood that visit regularly. So this means that my planted areas need to be protected from... ahem... unpleasantness. The reason is that feline feces may contain a parasitic disease called toxoplasmosis. It is transmitted by eating infected meat or by eating the feces of an infected animal. It can also be transmitted form mother to fetus, which is why pregnant women aren't supposed to clean cat litter boxes. Although it seems unlikely that one would ingest feces by scraping down the box, especially if you hold your breath, like I do.
Anyway, you can read lots more about toxoplasmosis if you like. For me, this is only 1 of the reasons I don't want cat feces in my garden.
Cats like to dig, and digging usually leads to, well, you know. I express my displeasure with this activity be shouting, clapping, scolding, cajoling, etc, all of which are only slightly and temporarily effective. I've been more successful with barriers.
Lots of chicken wire, which is great over bare dirt or seedlings. But once the plants start to grow through the wire you have to make a decision; either let the plants grow through it or remove it and find another barrier. Sometimes it's possible to place smaller pieces of wire around established plants.
Floating row cover works too, unless the animals find a way inside and then they just think you have made a tent for them to play camping in.
Since cats seldom respond to expressions of what you don't want them to do with anything other than more of the unwanted activity and defiant stares, I like to try to sell them something else. Enter the genius idea from my friend Martina, whom I consider a genius in many things besides feline lavatorial deterrence. Her idea is simple, ingeniously simple; provide a more inviting out door cat litter box than your garden. Et Voila.
It took a while before I got my first customer, but now I get at least 1 deposit per day, and that's 1 less poop in some other part of the garden. I have plans to make it even more inviting by filling it with sand and occasionally sprinkling catnip in it. Wish me luck.
People who garden without the assistance of felines may just want to look away at this point. This will also probably not be of any interest to people who are able to keep their cats indoors.
I have 2 cats, my neighbors on all 3 sides have a cat each and there are probably 3 or 4 cats from the neighborhood that visit regularly. So this means that my planted areas need to be protected from... ahem... unpleasantness. The reason is that feline feces may contain a parasitic disease called toxoplasmosis. It is transmitted by eating infected meat or by eating the feces of an infected animal. It can also be transmitted form mother to fetus, which is why pregnant women aren't supposed to clean cat litter boxes. Although it seems unlikely that one would ingest feces by scraping down the box, especially if you hold your breath, like I do.
Anyway, you can read lots more about toxoplasmosis if you like. For me, this is only 1 of the reasons I don't want cat feces in my garden.
Cats like to dig, and digging usually leads to, well, you know. I express my displeasure with this activity be shouting, clapping, scolding, cajoling, etc, all of which are only slightly and temporarily effective. I've been more successful with barriers.
Lots of chicken wire, which is great over bare dirt or seedlings. But once the plants start to grow through the wire you have to make a decision; either let the plants grow through it or remove it and find another barrier. Sometimes it's possible to place smaller pieces of wire around established plants.
Floating row cover works too, unless the animals find a way inside and then they just think you have made a tent for them to play camping in.
Since cats seldom respond to expressions of what you don't want them to do with anything other than more of the unwanted activity and defiant stares, I like to try to sell them something else. Enter the genius idea from my friend Martina, whom I consider a genius in many things besides feline lavatorial deterrence. Her idea is simple, ingeniously simple; provide a more inviting out door cat litter box than your garden. Et Voila.
It took a while before I got my first customer, but now I get at least 1 deposit per day, and that's 1 less poop in some other part of the garden. I have plans to make it even more inviting by filling it with sand and occasionally sprinkling catnip in it. Wish me luck.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Winter Roses
Well, it's not really a rose, or even a flower. But something this beautiful in the garden is such a treat during the cold, damp, dark days of Oregon winter. These are Raddichio, planted last spring. These plants actually benefit from the colder temps. It enhances their color and makes them a little sweeter, not so bitter.
Cabbages also seem to be doing fine. I may need to bait for slugs pretty soon and I'm sure all the plants would benefit from a little fertilizer treat.
The Celery has made a valiant comeback since the freeze, and should be great into the spring and summer. Current edibles include Beets, Turnips, Kale, some of the hardier Lettuce, I think it is Miner's Lettuce, chives, which have just started to sprout, and Oregano, as always.
Although I have friends who are sure that spring is just around the corner because they saw a robin or because they took down their Christmas tree, I am not ready to get out the shorts and flip flops yet. I haven't seen any daffodils.
We still have most of January, all of February, March and April, the cruelest month, according to T.S. Eliot . “April is the cruelest month, breeding lilacs out of the dead land, mixing memory and desire, stirring dull roots with spring rain.”
Which reminds me, we aren't that far away from the arrival of lilac, with it's gorgeous fragrance.
Winter Jasmine and Forsythia are sporting their tiny yellow flowers. Columbine has started to send up exploratory shoots, and the tulips and Narcissus I planted last fall have sprouted. So even though I'm not ready to set myself up for the disappointment of yearning for spring in the middle of winter, I have begun to see signs that it may arrive eventually.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
And Now the Days Are Getting Longer
...or so they say. I know it's true, but it doesn't feel that way yet. One of the ways I like to drive my long suffering husband crazy is to constantly remark about the length of daylight compared to night. I say things like, "I've never seen so many sunrises in my life until we moved to Oregon, and it's not because I get up early". In no time I'll be complaining that it's 10pm and the sun is still shining.
The birds are making the most of the feeders lately, and now that the bird bath is thawed they can wash it all down with rainwater. Aaahh.
I haven't done much in the garden since the big freeze, except clean up some of the casualties. We had lots of rain after the thaw and some plants have begun to rebound, like mustard greens, turnips, parsley and a few of the lettuces look like they'll pull through. I used turnips in a braised short rib stew last night.
And inside, the Pimiento de Padron pepper is hamming it up like a hothouse flower. Still blooming and producing little cocktail peppers. Don't know why I never did this before, but this plant will have a huge head start when I bring it back outside once it warms up.
Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year.
The birds are making the most of the feeders lately, and now that the bird bath is thawed they can wash it all down with rainwater. Aaahh.
I haven't done much in the garden since the big freeze, except clean up some of the casualties. We had lots of rain after the thaw and some plants have begun to rebound, like mustard greens, turnips, parsley and a few of the lettuces look like they'll pull through. I used turnips in a braised short rib stew last night.
And inside, the Pimiento de Padron pepper is hamming it up like a hothouse flower. Still blooming and producing little cocktail peppers. Don't know why I never did this before, but this plant will have a huge head start when I bring it back outside once it warms up.
Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Winter Chill
Well up until just a few days ago there was still plenty to eat coming from the garden. Mustard greens, turnips, lettuces, kale, pea sprouts, beets, rapini, Chinese broccoli, chard, celery, oregano, and parsley. I know, I know, it all sounds little too healthy.
But a few days ago it turned cold, really cold, well really cold for Oregon. I can hear mid-westerners and east coasters chuckling. Really cold, really dry and really windy. Get out the chapstick. Last night it got down below 20 degrees and the water for the chickens was frozen, as was the birdbath, and hummingbird feeder.
Most all of the plants are slumped over, not looking very happy. And this just after I've been bragging about my "cold tolerant peppers". Well they don't look like they're cold tolerant enough. Luckily I brought some of them inside, where they seem to be quite comfortable.
I've put a heat lamp in the coop, just to knock a little of the chill off, especially since two of the birds have been molting. They are almost re-feathered, but I don't want their semi-naked butts to be too cold. The trouble is that they awake at about 5am and start to squawk, so I get up and turn off the light and go back to bed. And so do they, until dawn when I let them out to peck at the frozen ground.
Oh, and there were lot of these things in the garden too. Luckily I harvested before the freeze.
Jerusalem artichoke, or Sunchokes
We ate some in salads, and stir fry, and the rest of them became pickles, along with some cauliflower and onions. Sweet, sour, and very crisp.
But a few days ago it turned cold, really cold, well really cold for Oregon. I can hear mid-westerners and east coasters chuckling. Really cold, really dry and really windy. Get out the chapstick. Last night it got down below 20 degrees and the water for the chickens was frozen, as was the birdbath, and hummingbird feeder.
Most all of the plants are slumped over, not looking very happy. And this just after I've been bragging about my "cold tolerant peppers". Well they don't look like they're cold tolerant enough. Luckily I brought some of them inside, where they seem to be quite comfortable.
I've put a heat lamp in the coop, just to knock a little of the chill off, especially since two of the birds have been molting. They are almost re-feathered, but I don't want their semi-naked butts to be too cold. The trouble is that they awake at about 5am and start to squawk, so I get up and turn off the light and go back to bed. And so do they, until dawn when I let them out to peck at the frozen ground.
Oh, and there were lot of these things in the garden too. Luckily I harvested before the freeze.
Jerusalem artichoke, or Sunchokes
We ate some in salads, and stir fry, and the rest of them became pickles, along with some cauliflower and onions. Sweet, sour, and very crisp.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Transition Time
Time to clean up some of the summer plants, harvest before the cold, and move into a fall mode.
Here is the driveway plot where the tomatoes used to be. I brought them all inside to finish ripening in anticipation of precipitation and cooler temperatures. I planted Austrian Field Peas here as a cover crop. You can see an earlier planting of the same peas on the left side of this picture.
And here's the genius part, Naomi at Concentrates reminded me that cover crops can also be used for grazing. Grazing for animals and for people too. Pea shoots are tender, sweet, and delicious. I've been snipping the tender tops of these peas and putting them in salads and sandwiches.
And when I brought the hens to the front yard for a little field trip they headed straight for the peas.
Below are just a few of the Manzano pepper, related to the Rocotto, a cold tolerant pepper from Peru. I grew 3 plants this year and 2 of them did really well. Super prolific. I've gotten at least 25-30 peppers so far, all the size of a golf ball. They are wonderfully sweet, like a bell pepper, but have some heat. And they dry really well. I'm going to try to keep the plants alive outside for the winter. We'll see how cold tolerant they are.
Another fall project that has kept me from writing; it's time to make pesto, and lots of it. This bundle is from one location in the yard where I had basil growing. Although this year was not great for tomatoes and squash, it was terrific for basil.
My homage to Thomas Kinkaid. A late afternoon shot in the front yard. Who says you can't shoot into the sun. Sometimes being a mediocre photographer really pays off.
Here is the driveway plot where the tomatoes used to be. I brought them all inside to finish ripening in anticipation of precipitation and cooler temperatures. I planted Austrian Field Peas here as a cover crop. You can see an earlier planting of the same peas on the left side of this picture.
And here's the genius part, Naomi at Concentrates reminded me that cover crops can also be used for grazing. Grazing for animals and for people too. Pea shoots are tender, sweet, and delicious. I've been snipping the tender tops of these peas and putting them in salads and sandwiches.
And when I brought the hens to the front yard for a little field trip they headed straight for the peas.
Below are just a few of the Manzano pepper, related to the Rocotto, a cold tolerant pepper from Peru. I grew 3 plants this year and 2 of them did really well. Super prolific. I've gotten at least 25-30 peppers so far, all the size of a golf ball. They are wonderfully sweet, like a bell pepper, but have some heat. And they dry really well. I'm going to try to keep the plants alive outside for the winter. We'll see how cold tolerant they are.
Another fall project that has kept me from writing; it's time to make pesto, and lots of it. This bundle is from one location in the yard where I had basil growing. Although this year was not great for tomatoes and squash, it was terrific for basil.
My homage to Thomas Kinkaid. A late afternoon shot in the front yard. Who says you can't shoot into the sun. Sometimes being a mediocre photographer really pays off.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Making Room For Flowers
In past seasons I haven't made much room for flowers, I was much more interested in growing things to eat. But this year I made sure to include flowers in the mix and I'm so glad I did. Not only have they provided added interest and visual pleasure, they have attracted loads of bees and hummingbirds.
Artificial looking zinnia.
Texas Hummingbird Sage. This is a lovely plant and really does attract hummingbirds. It reseeds itself pretty aggressively, so once you plant it you will most likely enjoy it in subsequent years.
Fall blooming crocus. I remember planting these, but they appeared last fall and have returned this year. Delicate and beautiful.
More zinnias. I love the punch of bold color, and they last forever.
This is the path through our front yard, lined with cosmos on the left and zinnias on the right.
Cosmos provide gorgeous color and movement in the garden. They sway in the breeze as if dancing.
Artificial looking zinnia.
Texas Hummingbird Sage. This is a lovely plant and really does attract hummingbirds. It reseeds itself pretty aggressively, so once you plant it you will most likely enjoy it in subsequent years.
Fall blooming crocus. I remember planting these, but they appeared last fall and have returned this year. Delicate and beautiful.
More zinnias. I love the punch of bold color, and they last forever.
This is the path through our front yard, lined with cosmos on the left and zinnias on the right.
Cosmos provide gorgeous color and movement in the garden. They sway in the breeze as if dancing.
Monday, August 24, 2009
I Feel Fall
Today will be spent doing a little clean up and rearranging on the farm. Fall is beginning to make it's presence known. Not everyday, just now and then little signs appear. A few leaves are starting to fall, the days are getting noticeably shorter. There's an intangible sense of the changing seasons in the air. Although the days are still plenty warm, it does feel as if fall is waiting in the wings.
The greens I planted a few weeks ago are doing fine and some of the summer plants will be removed to give them some more room and more sun. Plants to remove include sunflowers, which are fading, a redundant zucchini, and some underperforming peppers, and of course many weeds.
In sad news, my farm cat, Mel has been missing since Friday. I've put up fliers around the neighborhood and spoken to all my neighbors, posted a description and photo on craigslist, and walked all over the neighborhood calling kittykittykitty. We even visited the Humane Society to see if she had been turned in, even though I think it's too early for that. So keep your fingers crossed that she will wander back home.
Several people have told me stories of their own cats that came home in good health after a week or 2 or even a month, so I remain hopeful. Here's what she looks like, let me know if you see her.
And here is a shot of Mel performing vital work on the Backyard Farm.
The greens I planted a few weeks ago are doing fine and some of the summer plants will be removed to give them some more room and more sun. Plants to remove include sunflowers, which are fading, a redundant zucchini, and some underperforming peppers, and of course many weeds.
In sad news, my farm cat, Mel has been missing since Friday. I've put up fliers around the neighborhood and spoken to all my neighbors, posted a description and photo on craigslist, and walked all over the neighborhood calling kittykittykitty. We even visited the Humane Society to see if she had been turned in, even though I think it's too early for that. So keep your fingers crossed that she will wander back home.
Several people have told me stories of their own cats that came home in good health after a week or 2 or even a month, so I remain hopeful. Here's what she looks like, let me know if you see her.
And here is a shot of Mel performing vital work on the Backyard Farm.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Roller Coaster Temps
Following the rope-a-dope weather we have had lately, the plants seem to be recovering. At the end of July we had a hot spell, with temperatures over a hundred degrees for several days in a row. Portlanders were wilting and whining, and the plants faired a little better. But the intense heat stunned them.
The beans have blossoms again, after a short period of no beans and no flowers. We're back to normal with temperatures in the high 70s and cool nights. Perfect Oregon summer.
Tomatoes continue to ripen, even though there aren't very many, as I have mention previously. And cucumbers are back in full production. Strangely the zucchinis, which we are usually up to our necks in by now, have not grown much and have not produced many squashes. The plants have not sprawled across other plants the way they usually do, engulfing all in their path. Having a zucchini shortage is downright WEIRD. Like Bizarro World.
But it's great time for planting seeds. The seeds for greens, lettuces, beets, etc. that I planted last Thursday have begun to sprout, with almost no duds. Warmer weather makes all the difference. Sprouting seeds at this time of year deludes me into thinking I have some control over nature. Powerful and terrifying.
The seeds lurk under the thin covering of soil for what seems like only minutes before they spring up, enthusiastically.
In the cold, wet, dark days of spring, trying to get a head start by sprouting seeds indoors is much harder work. I find myself peering at the cells of the seed starting try, imagining that I see the tiny crooked necked sprouts struggling to pierce the surface of the soil and strain towards the dim light coming in the window for maybe 6 hours a day.
I'm happy to have the first batch of plants started for fall and winter grazing.
The beans have blossoms again, after a short period of no beans and no flowers. We're back to normal with temperatures in the high 70s and cool nights. Perfect Oregon summer.
Tomatoes continue to ripen, even though there aren't very many, as I have mention previously. And cucumbers are back in full production. Strangely the zucchinis, which we are usually up to our necks in by now, have not grown much and have not produced many squashes. The plants have not sprawled across other plants the way they usually do, engulfing all in their path. Having a zucchini shortage is downright WEIRD. Like Bizarro World.
But it's great time for planting seeds. The seeds for greens, lettuces, beets, etc. that I planted last Thursday have begun to sprout, with almost no duds. Warmer weather makes all the difference. Sprouting seeds at this time of year deludes me into thinking I have some control over nature. Powerful and terrifying.
The seeds lurk under the thin covering of soil for what seems like only minutes before they spring up, enthusiastically.
In the cold, wet, dark days of spring, trying to get a head start by sprouting seeds indoors is much harder work. I find myself peering at the cells of the seed starting try, imagining that I see the tiny crooked necked sprouts struggling to pierce the surface of the soil and strain towards the dim light coming in the window for maybe 6 hours a day.
I'm happy to have the first batch of plants started for fall and winter grazing.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Summer Bounty and Fall / Winter Planning and Planting
Lots and lots of cucumbers lately, including the adorable Mexican Sour Gherkins. They look like tiny watermelons and have a snappy crunch and a little citrus tang. The vines are delicate, with lots of those curly climbing springs.
And many many beans, green, yellow, and purple. I have put the word out and neighbors have come to my aid to bail me out.
But even though I am kind of drowning in vegetables recently, I started some seeds for fall and winter harvesting. I usually wait to late to do this, but I hope it is early enough for these plants to get a good head start before the weather turns cool. Considering our recent string of hundred degree plus days, it is taxing my imagination to invision the weather cooling. But we know it will. It always does.
Kale, Cabbage, Lettuces, Beets, Rapini, Gai Lan, Onions, Chard
I planted all of the above in a seed starting tray and after only 3 or 4 days some of the sprouts are emerging. I'll direct seed some more carrots, peas, onions, and lots of lettuce. Whatever we can't keep up with will be enjoyed by the hens.
Now it's time to start planning ways to protect these plants so they can stretch out into the fall and winter. I expect some of them will make it to next spring.
I've tried cold frames and hoop houses with varying degrees of success. The hoop house creates a look perfectly complimented by a car up on blocks, an above ground pool and a trampoline. This was my husbands least favorite solution. Someday I'd like to have a real greenhouse.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Yes, but...
Organic food is no healthier, study finds
This story appears on Reuters, and sounds kind of stunning at first, except that it fails to address the real reason some people favor organic produce. Conventionally grown produce may have pesticide and herbicide residues. Maybe some folks think organic is more nutritionally rich too, but the main reason is to avoid nasty substances.Locally grown produce that goes quickly from field to table is more nutritious than food that has spent long periods of time traveling many miles. It's fresher, and fresher produce has more vitamins and minerals. Besides, produce that is embarking on a long trip may need to be picked before it is ripe and exposed to extreme temperatures or preservative gases.
So, while "organic" produce from wherever in the world may not be more nutritious, there are still good reasons to give it preference, particularly if it is locally grown.
Oh, and the school that published the study has a funny name.
The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Evildoers or Opportunists?
While I was out of town on vacation the chickens executed a jailbreak. They got into the part of the back yard that I have banned them from this year. By the time the escape was discovered they had uprooted a couple of yellow squash plants and some small onions and they had strewn a lot of dirt and mulch over the paths. This is their particular speciality, they are adept at spreading everything in their immediate environment into one even layer. This way they can pick and peck through everything very thoroughly.But now that I think about it, I wonder if they deliberately chose the squash.
Like many gardeners I usually end up with an over abundance of squash and zucchini. And like most gardeners with this problem I run out of victims on whom to pawn it off long before I run out of squash. So I end up giving lots of it to the hens. They seem to like it, especially the seeds. But maybe they are more like us than we imagine. Maybe it is part of their dastardly plan to eradicate zucchini when they have the opportunity so they won't have to do the heavy lifting of disposing of the excess squash.
Monday, July 27, 2009
It's Gonna Be A Scorcher
We're about to have 2 or 3 days over 100 degrees. Wow. Yesterday I watered all the plants thoroughly, so they should be alright, but some may need a little refreshment.
And I'll have to do a few things to keep the hens cool. Their beach umbrella is up and the water is full. I may need to water down the run and the hedge, where they like to hide in the shade. The coop needs cleaning and a change of bedding too. That ought to be fun in the stifling heat.
Time to get outside before it gets any hotter, but first a trip to the feed store for cedar shavings, which is what I use for bedding and for mulch around the garden. Also some 5 grain scratch as a treat for the girls. Concentrates is my favorite for this stuff. Extremely helpful and friendly people there and it's close to home.
And there will be some catch up posts to make up for the dearth while I was out of town on vacation. Stay cool.
And I'll have to do a few things to keep the hens cool. Their beach umbrella is up and the water is full. I may need to water down the run and the hedge, where they like to hide in the shade. The coop needs cleaning and a change of bedding too. That ought to be fun in the stifling heat.
Time to get outside before it gets any hotter, but first a trip to the feed store for cedar shavings, which is what I use for bedding and for mulch around the garden. Also some 5 grain scratch as a treat for the girls. Concentrates is my favorite for this stuff. Extremely helpful and friendly people there and it's close to home.
And there will be some catch up posts to make up for the dearth while I was out of town on vacation. Stay cool.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Garlic Harvest
Today I harvested the garlic, about 45 heads from a 3 x 3 foot spot in one of the raised beds. Only one head looked a little past it's prime, so I think I caught them at just the right moment. Here are some photos of my lovelies.
Harvesting root vegetables is so much more exciting that plucking something off a vine or shrub, something you have watched form and grow. Although that certainly has its charms.
But harvesting something that has been growing underground, shrouded in mystery until that moment you coax it from it's hiding place into the sunlight, has a special thrill. I don't know, it just feels like a magic trick, like pulling a rabbit out of a hat. But then, most every aspect of gardening feels like magic or conjuring.
Forgive my obsession with the garlic photos, but the colors just strike me as something so beautiful. I am sure I have drooled over skeins of yarn with these same color ways, greens, ecru, pinks and lavenders.
And now I have some more room for fall/winter crops. I don't have nearly enough onions in the ground, so that will be on my list.
Harvesting root vegetables is so much more exciting that plucking something off a vine or shrub, something you have watched form and grow. Although that certainly has its charms.
But harvesting something that has been growing underground, shrouded in mystery until that moment you coax it from it's hiding place into the sunlight, has a special thrill. I don't know, it just feels like a magic trick, like pulling a rabbit out of a hat. But then, most every aspect of gardening feels like magic or conjuring.
Forgive my obsession with the garlic photos, but the colors just strike me as something so beautiful. I am sure I have drooled over skeins of yarn with these same color ways, greens, ecru, pinks and lavenders.
And now I have some more room for fall/winter crops. I don't have nearly enough onions in the ground, so that will be on my list.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Planning For A Rotating Feast
One of my goals is to have something to eat out of the garden all year round. And while I have been able to do this most years it usually consists of some hardy arugula that keeps reseeding itself, or some parsley or the stray overlooked onion. This year I'd to do a much better job of planting a variety of things that will carry us into fall and hopefully overwinter for an early start next spring. Kale, Gai Lan, more Onions, Beets, Carrots, Turnips, etc.
This is Gai Lan, one of my favorite new vegetables, also known as Chinese Broccoli. It's earthy and hearty and pungent. I love it the same way I love Kale and Broccoli Rabe.
While it's counterintuitive to start thinking about what to pull out just as most of the garden really seems to be picking up some serious momentum, now is probably none too early to decide what can be phased out, in favor of the next crop. Indeed if I was a better planner, this would already be in place.
I like to think of the garden as a conveyor belt passing along, offering different food at different times of the year, but always something on offer. Maybe a lazy Susan is a better analogy.
I'm currently reading Four-Season Harvest: Organic Vegetables from Your Home Garden All Year Long, by Eliot Coleman, featured in my book recommendations. The author describes foraging in a French garden in winter, and being amazed at what he is able to find and how little value the owner of the garden puts on the winter "produce".
I do love foraging and coming upon surprise patches of plants I wasn't expecting. I also love his vision of the garden and a constant source of fresh produce, even though he lives in Maine. If he can do it in Maine, I should certainly be able to do it in Oregon.
So the things that I will be looking to phase out will be plants I have too much of, like the volunteer Fennel, and maybe some of the Comfrey and Borage, Feverfew. I love these plants because they are some of the first encouraging things to come up in the cold, damp spring. But after they have bloomed and entertained the bees, they start to fade and take up space better utilized in other ways. They can go to amuse the chickens first and then into the compost. Double utility, because the hens will enjoy them and remove some of the seeds.
Other candidates to be displaced include foods that can be preserved, like some of the herbs, beets, and carrots, peas. So in the next few days I will be taking a critical look at some of the plants that have brought me such pleasure. This is no time for sentimentality.
This is Gai Lan, one of my favorite new vegetables, also known as Chinese Broccoli. It's earthy and hearty and pungent. I love it the same way I love Kale and Broccoli Rabe.
While it's counterintuitive to start thinking about what to pull out just as most of the garden really seems to be picking up some serious momentum, now is probably none too early to decide what can be phased out, in favor of the next crop. Indeed if I was a better planner, this would already be in place.
I like to think of the garden as a conveyor belt passing along, offering different food at different times of the year, but always something on offer. Maybe a lazy Susan is a better analogy.
I'm currently reading Four-Season Harvest: Organic Vegetables from Your Home Garden All Year Long, by Eliot Coleman, featured in my book recommendations. The author describes foraging in a French garden in winter, and being amazed at what he is able to find and how little value the owner of the garden puts on the winter "produce".
I do love foraging and coming upon surprise patches of plants I wasn't expecting. I also love his vision of the garden and a constant source of fresh produce, even though he lives in Maine. If he can do it in Maine, I should certainly be able to do it in Oregon.
So the things that I will be looking to phase out will be plants I have too much of, like the volunteer Fennel, and maybe some of the Comfrey and Borage, Feverfew. I love these plants because they are some of the first encouraging things to come up in the cold, damp spring. But after they have bloomed and entertained the bees, they start to fade and take up space better utilized in other ways. They can go to amuse the chickens first and then into the compost. Double utility, because the hens will enjoy them and remove some of the seeds.
Other candidates to be displaced include foods that can be preserved, like some of the herbs, beets, and carrots, peas. So in the next few days I will be taking a critical look at some of the plants that have brought me such pleasure. This is no time for sentimentality.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
The Driveway, Before and After
About a year ago we decided we didn't need quite so much non-permeable surface in front of our garage. But we definitely needed more dirt. So we hired this poor guy from craigslist who turned up not with a jackhammer, but with a 15 pound sledge hammer and proceeded to break up one half of the driveway, and shorten his life by several years I'm sure.
I loosened up the hardpan a little and planted cover crop of clover and buckwheat. This season it's planted with beans, tomatoes, peppers, radicchio and some lemongrass.
The plants seem to be loving the location, which gets a lot of sun. I know it's popular to bad mouth our heavy, clay soil here in Oregon, but clay contains lots of minerals and nutrients and it retains water, which makes it boggy in the winter and spring, but not so bad in the intense heat of our long summer days. Mulch around your plants to keep the clay from caking over and to help the soil retain moisture.
This patch of soil, under cement since the house was built in 1982, will certainly benefit from amendments, and hopefully will continue to improve. Towards the end of the summer I'll plant more cover crop, to protect the soil and add some nitrogen and organic matter.
Another great thing about having approximately 135 more square feet of sunny growing area is that it allows me to rotate crops. It's a good idea not to plant the same plant in the same spot year after year. More on that another time.
I loosened up the hardpan a little and planted cover crop of clover and buckwheat. This season it's planted with beans, tomatoes, peppers, radicchio and some lemongrass.
The plants seem to be loving the location, which gets a lot of sun. I know it's popular to bad mouth our heavy, clay soil here in Oregon, but clay contains lots of minerals and nutrients and it retains water, which makes it boggy in the winter and spring, but not so bad in the intense heat of our long summer days. Mulch around your plants to keep the clay from caking over and to help the soil retain moisture.
This patch of soil, under cement since the house was built in 1982, will certainly benefit from amendments, and hopefully will continue to improve. Towards the end of the summer I'll plant more cover crop, to protect the soil and add some nitrogen and organic matter.
Another great thing about having approximately 135 more square feet of sunny growing area is that it allows me to rotate crops. It's a good idea not to plant the same plant in the same spot year after year. More on that another time.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Is This An Apple?
Or the beginnings of an apple.
It might be, and if it is, it will be the first apple I have grown.
I grafted this little tree 2 years ago and of course I wish I had paid more attention the the folks at the Home Orchard Society when they advised putting some kind of tag on the tree that would not become weathered beyond readability or at least to make a note somewhere as to what kind of apples it will produce.
I am almost certain it is Northern Spy.
I'll keep you posted if it continues to become more apple-like.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Spring Garden Fair Part 2
Some More Carts and a Note on Vendors
A few more carts for your viewing enjoyment.
New Fangled,
Old Fangled
Just Plain Fangled
Part of what I love about the Spring Garden Fair is seeing the same vendors every year. We always go to the same tomato lady for most of our plants. She has a good selection of varieties, some of the old reliables we grow every year, like Sungold, Early Girl, Oregon Star. She also has new types every year, to keep things interesting. She isn't chatty and doesn't smile, which makes her a peculiar salesperson.
She had her daughter making change for customers this year. But the kid could have benefited from a quick arithmetic review the previous night. I paid with a $20 for $14 worth of tomato plants. She had some trouble making change, and her mother just looked at me and said, "I guess it's going to be a long weekend". She didn't smile, but I think I saw a twinkle in her eye.
There is a regular basil guy, from whom we bought lemongrass plants one year. My half of the plant has turned into 4 plants in 3 years. And on the opposite side of the fair is the pepper and herb lady we buy from every year.
Among the non-plant related offerings is the rusty tool and junk stall, where I bought an old, handmade looking rusty trowel. A few years ago I bought one of my favorite tools there. It is a heart shaped hoe head. I use it for weeding, planting, and busting up dirt clods.
Then there is the novelty category, including the folks who sell the Amazing Stacking Pot thingy. It's a stick they poke through the bottom or ordinary clay pots. The pots rest against each other at an angle, one on top of the other. Et Voila! They pimp it like it is an astounding invention, a la K-tel. That's NOT an invention, it's a piece of re-bar for God's sake with clay pots threaded onto it.
SOS, our favorite category. Stuff (substitute your own word here, but it should begin with an "s") on a Stick. As long as it's on the end of a stick people will put anything in their yards. Here's the proof. Besides the obligatory glass balls and teacups there were these.
Not sure who might buy this, except people who are planning ahead for their office Christmas party gift exchange.
A few more carts for your viewing enjoyment.
New Fangled,
Old Fangled
Just Plain Fangled
Part of what I love about the Spring Garden Fair is seeing the same vendors every year. We always go to the same tomato lady for most of our plants. She has a good selection of varieties, some of the old reliables we grow every year, like Sungold, Early Girl, Oregon Star. She also has new types every year, to keep things interesting. She isn't chatty and doesn't smile, which makes her a peculiar salesperson.
She had her daughter making change for customers this year. But the kid could have benefited from a quick arithmetic review the previous night. I paid with a $20 for $14 worth of tomato plants. She had some trouble making change, and her mother just looked at me and said, "I guess it's going to be a long weekend". She didn't smile, but I think I saw a twinkle in her eye.
There is a regular basil guy, from whom we bought lemongrass plants one year. My half of the plant has turned into 4 plants in 3 years. And on the opposite side of the fair is the pepper and herb lady we buy from every year.
Among the non-plant related offerings is the rusty tool and junk stall, where I bought an old, handmade looking rusty trowel. A few years ago I bought one of my favorite tools there. It is a heart shaped hoe head. I use it for weeding, planting, and busting up dirt clods.
Then there is the novelty category, including the folks who sell the Amazing Stacking Pot thingy. It's a stick they poke through the bottom or ordinary clay pots. The pots rest against each other at an angle, one on top of the other. Et Voila! They pimp it like it is an astounding invention, a la K-tel. That's NOT an invention, it's a piece of re-bar for God's sake with clay pots threaded onto it.
SOS, our favorite category. Stuff (substitute your own word here, but it should begin with an "s") on a Stick. As long as it's on the end of a stick people will put anything in their yards. Here's the proof. Besides the obligatory glass balls and teacups there were these.
Not sure who might buy this, except people who are planning ahead for their office Christmas party gift exchange.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Gardener Exchange
Last Saturday my sister in law hosted an exchange for all her gardening friends. What a great idea. People brought plants, seeds, books, magazines, pots, snacks and lots of enthusiasm for growing stuff.She invited lots of gardening friends to bring things to trade with other gardening nuts.
Everybody brought something different. Some of it was funny, some of it was scary. Like the lemonbalm someone brought. I have been battling lemonbalm in my garden for 3 years.
The plants were loosely grouped alphabetically by common name.
And for the adventurously minded there was a section of Mystery Plants
All in all it was a huge success and all who attended agreed it would be great to do this every year.
And there were seeds, lots and lots of seeds.
I came away happy, having scored some hops, crocosmia, thyme, large pots, books. But the best part was meeting new gardening friends and sharing our enthusiasm and excitement about the summer gardening season just around the corner. And mercifully it didn't rain.
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