"Only two things that money can't buy and that's true love and home grown tomatoes" Guy Clark
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Oh, the woes of gardening
"The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men gang aft agley." ...Robert Burns
My tomatoes all died of wilt, as did the cabbage and broccoli I transplanted to Indiana. Though the carrots I planted in Iowa are doing well, the ones in Texas have not sprouted. Even the radishes are coming up spotty. Worst start I've had in gardening in years. Being this is the first time I've blogged on the net about my garden, could it be a computer virus?
OK, so the potatoes and peas are starting off nicely, we've had one meal of asparagus, and the strawberries are blooming. We gathered some spinach and lettuce for a salad, and the hens laid 9 eggs today. So nothing's ever perfect in gardening and in life. I've changed my plans many times in the past, and can do so again. Now that I'm done ranting, here's what I did today:
I planted more spinach, Burpee Bloomsdale long standing, in Washington and Oregon, and American Seed Grand Rapids lettuce in the south 6 feet of Idaho(old seed packaged for 2010). I planted more Golden Bantam sweet corn in the south 8 feet of Indiana and Ohio, I'll buy tomato plants to put in my new Puerto Rico section, and other as yet unspecified plants, (pumpkins? zucchini? peppers?) to go elsewhere. And more carrot seed for the north end of Idaho.
If you're curious about the locations, Iowa, Texas, Indiana, Puerto Rico and so on, click on the "Garden Map and geography" tab above. To pass on your condolences for the tomatoes, or any other comments or suggestions, click on "comments" below.
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Tomato wilt
I've been keeping this to myself, a little depressed maybe, but my magnificent tomatoes have evidence of wilt. On Saturday I tried cutting it away on some of the healthier plants, and threw away a lot of them. When I repotted, I used some garden soil, not steralized. That may have been the source. Worst case scenario, .I'll have to buy all new plants. There, I feel better now that I've confronted it.
More pleasant news, On Friday I harvested some asparagus, and the peas look really good. On Saturday, I weeded and mulched the peas and garlic. The asparagus and strawberries also need a weeding, and I'll get to that in the next day or two.
More pleasant news, On Friday I harvested some asparagus, and the peas look really good. On Saturday, I weeded and mulched the peas and garlic. The asparagus and strawberries also need a weeding, and I'll get to that in the next day or two.
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Poultry report, Old Red is dead
When I walked into the chicken coop yesterday morning, our old red rooster was laying dead right below his roost. I figured he must have died peacefully in his sleep, and just fell off. I buried him beside the barn in the shade of the big black spruce trees, next to the little red hen, who died last fall. He was 4 years old, which is not real old for a chicken, but old enough that he didn't fly over the fence to go exploring like some of the others do. We still have one rooster, so for the most part the eggs will still be fertilized.
In other news, the red potatoes are beginning to make their appearances in Iowa and Colorado along with a few Yukon gold in Kansas. The carrots have popped through in Iowa and New York, and are making a good showing in Texas. Kennebec haven't popped up yet, but they're a late potato.
Old Red is the one on the left (I think) |
Last year when Old Red had two mates |
In other news, the red potatoes are beginning to make their appearances in Iowa and Colorado along with a few Yukon gold in Kansas. The carrots have popped through in Iowa and New York, and are making a good showing in Texas. Kennebec haven't popped up yet, but they're a late potato.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
New Garden area tilled and planted
On Thursday, the 26th, I tilled up a new area in the old chicken yard, just south of the old chicken house. The old chicken house is on the SE corner of the main garden. (click on garden map, US geography above) The total area is about 14 feet by 30 feet. On Friday I put on a load of pigeon manure and on Saturday I planted the southern half, which I call Martinique, in NK golden cross bantam sweet corn, with a very small section in the SW corner in American Seed early golden bantam. The northern half, which I call Puerto Rico, is planned for tomatoes to be planted later. I also planted a row on the north edge of Texas in sunflowers, seed I had saved from last year's crop.
On Monday, May first, I planted green beans, contender, in north Kansas, SMR 58 cucumbers in North Colorado, and 6 hills of Table Queen acorn squash in between the corn rows in Martinique. On Thursday the 3rd, I manured and tilled up everything else, Washington, Oregon, California Minnesota and Ohio. I planted Romano green beans, a pole type, in Minnesota. The seed packet says its an Italian broad bean, "buttery tender with a distintive hardy flavor." "Harvest in 60 days."
I noticed today that the asparagus is starting to show itself. The peas, lettuce, spinach and radishes have been up for a while. No blossoms on the strawberries yet, but they are looking good. The plum trees are in full blossom, while the crabapples are just starting to blossom. The irises and the wild rose canes are greening up. Of course no buds yet. The oak tree doesn't have any leaves yet, but it's always the last one to green up. I know I'm supposed to wait until the oak leaves are as big as squirrel's ears before planting the corn, but we'll see if I get sweetcorn by the end of July. Life is one big experiment.
On Monday, May first, I planted green beans, contender, in north Kansas, SMR 58 cucumbers in North Colorado, and 6 hills of Table Queen acorn squash in between the corn rows in Martinique. On Thursday the 3rd, I manured and tilled up everything else, Washington, Oregon, California Minnesota and Ohio. I planted Romano green beans, a pole type, in Minnesota. The seed packet says its an Italian broad bean, "buttery tender with a distintive hardy flavor." "Harvest in 60 days."
I noticed today that the asparagus is starting to show itself. The peas, lettuce, spinach and radishes have been up for a while. No blossoms on the strawberries yet, but they are looking good. The plum trees are in full blossom, while the crabapples are just starting to blossom. The irises and the wild rose canes are greening up. Of course no buds yet. The oak tree doesn't have any leaves yet, but it's always the last one to green up. I know I'm supposed to wait until the oak leaves are as big as squirrel's ears before planting the corn, but we'll see if I get sweetcorn by the end of July. Life is one big experiment.
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