Spinach, lettuce, dill and laying mash

     In Missouri planted Burpee Black seeded Simpson lettuce in the south 3 feet, what was left of last years FM black seeded Simpson in the SE 1 foot of row.  Next 6 feet FM Bloomsdale long standing Spinach from last year's seed,  Next 5 feet Dill seed saved in 2010.  4 feet at the end of the bed not planted yet.
     Started feeding chickens the new 18% protien3-4% calcium, 0,7% phosphorus laying mash.  Cost $12.50 per 50 pounds.  The old mash cost $11.00/50 lbs and was 16% protein, 3.7-3.9% calcium and 0.45% phosphorus.  Don't see how we can improve on the 7 eggs most days with 8 hens, but we'll see.

Broccoli and cabbage started

     3rd day after the new moon.  Last night temps in the 20's, highs today in the 30's.  Wind 10-15 from the north.  Planted Burpee Waltham 29 broccoli in orange flats and Amer Seed early golden acre cabbage in white and black flats inside.
     2pm, still only in the mid 30's, still a cold breeze from the north.  The chives, strawberries and irises are showing some growth, but no other perennials.  2nd year carrots and garlic planted last fall haven't shown yet either.  I was going to plant lettuce and spinach outside, but I think I'll wait a few days.  At least the chickens seem happy.  It was a 7 egg day today.

4 eggs and 3 beds tilled

     Fourth day of the fourth quarter.  Partly cloudy today with light winds 10-15mph from the south.  High of 70 degrees with lows at night in the 50's.  From 4 to 5 pm, I tilled up Missouri for lettuce and spinach, (click on "Garden map and  US geography" above for locations) Montana for peas, and Iowa for carrots and potatoes.  Greens will be planted first quarter, peas the second quarter, carrots and potatoes the third.
     No chickens jumped my new 7 foot fence into the garden, and we got 4 eggs today!  I guess I can put my ax away.

Pigeon poop and poultry escapes

     Happy St Pat's day.  3rd day of the 4th quarter, Temps in the 70's and overcast.  Today was manure spreading day.  I worked from about noon to 5pm, but took lots of breaks.  Manure hauling is heavy work.  I got pigeon manure from our hayloft, and spread it on the asparagus, herbs, strawberries, garlic and the beds where I'll be planting the lettuce, spinach, peas and some of the carrots and potatoes.  I also raised the height of the fence between the garden and the chicken yard from about 5 feet to 7 feet.  If this doesn't keep the chickens out of the garden, I'll have to stand guard with a chicken hook and an ax.  (Don't tell the chickens I'm not serious about it, even though we only got one egg today..)

Garden Review 2011

     This was my garden in 2011.  Although there are still some problems with my drawing, I hope it's easier to read than the previous one.  From east to west, (top to bottom), it's about 90 feet.  From north to south,(left to right) it's about 40 feet.  The paths between beds are about 30 inches, and the beds, with some variation, are about 30 inches wide.  Although it may seem like a waste of space, it makes for easy access for weeding and planting, and is more pleasing to my eyes.  I usually have a table and a chair or two sitting on the northeast corner of the garden shed, where I can sip on my gin and tonic, and talk or sing to my plants.  The chickens are right behind me, so they often get in on the conversation.
   
     The U shaped bed in the NW corner had Russet Potatoes planted under straw.  Didn't work out that well.
     The 3 beds next to that were corn, acorn squash and string beans.  We got 2 meals of sweet corn, and the  squash did all right, but the beans were a bust.  The east end of the southern bed was carrot seed.  Did fine.
     The 2 beds east of that on the north edge of the garden were sunflowers, corn and dill, plus some volunteer kennebec potatoes from the year before.  The potatoes, sunflowers and dill did very well, and the corn was part of our 2 meals of sweet corn.
     The 6 beds just south of that, starting from the furthest east; bed 1 was corn, acorn squash and beans.  The beans did just fine, except for the ones with the corn and squash.  The squash also did OK.
     Bed 2 was California Wonder green peppers and Rutgers tomatoes.  We got a few nice green peppers, but I've never had good luck with green peppers.  I keep trying.  The tomatoes were OK, but nothing to write home about.
     Bed 3 is my perennial bed of asparagus, chives and thyme.  Never get that much asparagus, but the chives and thyme were fine.  Nothing planted in the south end of that bed.
     Bed 4 was peas.  Had 2 or 3 meals and froze 3 quarts.
     Bed 5 was carrots and onions.  Carrots always do well for me, Onions, so-so.
     Bed 6 was red potatoes.  So-so, but not as good as other years.
     The bed south of that was better boy tomatoes and cucumbers.  Cucumbers and tomatoes both did fine.  We ate many tomatoes through the summer, and with the rutgers tomatoes, we canned 8 or 10 quarts.
     The June bearing strawberry bed just east of that was in its second year.  Only got about 2 quarts, maybe better next year.
     The bed in the NW corner was carrot seed, (last years carrots) and green cabbage.  Got plenty of carrot seed for this year.  The cabbage was ok, but had some cabbage moth problems.  I'll do a better job of spraying with my garlic, red pepper, soap spray this year.
     In the 4 beds just south of that, the first 2 were russet potatoes.  Remind me not to plant russet potatoes again.  Extremely poor yield, compared to my kennebecs and yukon gold of the year before.
     Bed 3 was spinach, black seeded simpson lettuce, and peas.  Early crop was fine, but the later crops didn't do so well.
     Bed 4 was broccoli and spinach.  so-so.  Someday I'll raise a good crop of broccoli.
     We had radishes interplanted with something, but I don't remember where.  Radishes always do well, and I especially love the French breakfast radishes.  Saved some seed.
     A review of last year is necessary for this year's planning.  Wish me luck for 2012.

Spring preparation

     Happy St Urho's day!  2nd day of the 4th quarter.  Sunny, and the temerature has been in the 60's during the day, and the 30's at night.  The only snow left is on the north side of buildings and trees.  3 eggs from the hens today.  6 total since they strted laying this spring.
     From 6 to 7 pm I cleaned the mulch off the strawberries, carrot seed patch, the perennials, and the garlic I planted last fall.  In the next couple of days I'll clean up more and get prepared for planting lettuce and spinach in the first quarter, peas in the 2nd quarter, and potatoes, onions and carrots in the 3rd quarter.  Gardening by moon phases seems to work for me.  At least it keeps me on schedule.

Onions and eggs

     3rd day of the 3rd quarter.  Sunny, breeze of 5-10 mph, Low temp this morning about 28F.  at 3 pm it's 55.  Started a pot of onions from seeds saved from last years onions.
     My 8 hens got the winter off from laying, but yesterday I cleaned out their nests and put in new straw.  I also extended their day by turning the light on in the coop in late afternoon, and leave it on til 8 or 9 pm.  I'll run out of corn tomorrow, but have some of last year's laying mash which I'll start.  My efforts were rewarded by a blue egg this afternoon!  I don't expect more than 2 or 3 eggs a day, 'cause they're all in their 3rd to 5th year.  They also seem to enjoy being outside, even though their yard is covered by a foot of snow.

Tomatoes and peppers started

     I'm a little late, today is the first day of the full moon, and I should have started during the second quarter, but I've started 18 pots of FM Rutgers tomatoes in orange pots, 18 Burpees Super beefsteak in black, 8 pots of Burpee Calif wonder green peppers, 6 pots of last year's NK California Wonder seeds.
     It's 25 F degrees at 4pm, and a 10-15 mph wind. It snowed a little less than 1/2 inch today.  Overall snow cover is about 12 inches.
     I began this blog because my past garden records are sketchy.  I'm disorganized and tend to lose my notes.  Sometimes I lose my whole notebook.  It's worth a try to keep it on the www..