Finally! I have asparagus! The bed is now three years old and we'll be able to cut some asparagus to eat. I also added 24 more asparagus crowns to the bed. Next year will be a bumper year for wonderful, tasty asparagus.
I also have three kinds of lettuce, spinach, and several herbs that I can harvest now. The shade of weed block I put over the lettuce, spinach, cabbage, peas, and broccoli is doing it's job. They get rain water, but not the direct sunlight that they do not need. I was able to barter a big bag of lettuces, some green onions, rosemary, thyme (2 kinds) and oregano for 18 fresh eggs this week.
Monday, the Hutterite Soup Beans went in the ground along with the pea/bean booster that contains nitrogen fixing bacteria. I wanted to plant green beans too, but how in the world did I not purchase those??? I bought some last night and they will be planted sometime Monday since we are getting lots of rain. The soil will be too wet to plant.
Friday, April 19, 2013
Monday, March 25, 2013
It's Cold! What Can I Plant?
What can you plant in the cold? Here it is in the 30s and blowing snow even though it's spring! I have 3 kinds of lettuce, spinach, broccoli, cabbage, 3 kinds of onions and garlic all doing well. These can also be planted in the shade when it warms or you can use a makeshift shade to keep direct sun off them. I also have sugar snap peas planted and they have sprouted, but not taking off as much as I'd like to see.
My raised beds are built like mini-hoop houses. I use black weed block to drape over the top part of the hoops only so a little tunnel is created. The plants get indirect sunlight and plenty of air and rain that way. This was the only way I successfully planted broccoli last year after many previous years of planting, but having it bolt due to heat. The problem where I live is that it might be 30 degrees and blowing snow today, but by the weekend, it will be in the 70s and then may get cold again!
My raised beds are built like mini-hoop houses. I use black weed block to drape over the top part of the hoops only so a little tunnel is created. The plants get indirect sunlight and plenty of air and rain that way. This was the only way I successfully planted broccoli last year after many previous years of planting, but having it bolt due to heat. The problem where I live is that it might be 30 degrees and blowing snow today, but by the weekend, it will be in the 70s and then may get cold again!
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Bartering For Eggs
We live on less than an acre in a subdivision. Yes, we have home owners covenants. Those are good and bad. I have a garden, but I cannot have chickens. We have 4 children and they have lots of friends within shouting distance. If you shout, the whole neighborhood knows all of your business; heck, even if you don't shout everyone knows your business!
The blessing is that I can produce LOTS of vegetables in a small space. Last year, I was able to can and freeze enough pasta sauce, salsa, pickles, okra, grean beans, squash, strawberries, peppers, etc that I haven't had to purchase any of these things for the entire year. This has really helped keep the grocery bill in check.
I have a great friend who has lots of these pretty babies, but no sun and therefore, no garden.
She has offered to barter this year. Eggs for veggies. One dozen fresh eggs for a basket of veggies each week.
I garden in raised beds and in a fenced area straight in the ground. I may devote an entire raised bed to her family and grow what she likes. This way I know that I will have veggies for her each week. Almost everything I plant will be grown from seed so I will have very little in the cost of growing veggies for someone else. The eggs will be almost free!
Pepper Update: Those peppers that I thought I was going to need to buy?! I won't. Over the last 2 days, I have had several sweet peppers to sprout!
The blessing is that I can produce LOTS of vegetables in a small space. Last year, I was able to can and freeze enough pasta sauce, salsa, pickles, okra, grean beans, squash, strawberries, peppers, etc that I haven't had to purchase any of these things for the entire year. This has really helped keep the grocery bill in check.
I have a great friend who has lots of these pretty babies, but no sun and therefore, no garden.
I garden in raised beds and in a fenced area straight in the ground. I may devote an entire raised bed to her family and grow what she likes. This way I know that I will have veggies for her each week. Almost everything I plant will be grown from seed so I will have very little in the cost of growing veggies for someone else. The eggs will be almost free!
Pepper Update: Those peppers that I thought I was going to need to buy?! I won't. Over the last 2 days, I have had several sweet peppers to sprout!
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Seed Starting 2013
I had always been intimidated by starting seeds because my house is not typically very warm and it seems that wherever I have lived, I don't have the proper facing window. Last year I took the plunge. I asked for seed heating mats for birthday and Christmas and then purchased 1 more. I have 3 small ones and a double sized mat. You can find them at most seed supply companies, but here is what I purchased.
The lighting suggestions that you find regarding seed starting seems expensive. I use a light from walmart that I can bend over the trays.
Last year, I planted Federele, Amish Paste, Gold Medal, and Tommy Toe Tomatoes in addition to the sweet peppers. Here's what I discovered:
The Tommy Toes are huge producers and, only needing 1 plant for salads, take too much effort to start from seed. I can purchase 1 plant.
The Federele tomatoes did well too, but I found that the Amish Paste served the purposes I need and were larger producers.
The Gold Medals did fairly well in the garden and produced what we needed.
Here's what 2013 holds:
1. I have a nice tray of 72 Amish Paste sprouts. Almost all of them sprouted too!
2. Another tray holds Gold Medals and Burpee's new Super Sauce. The Gold Medal are doing well, but I'm disappointed with the percentage of sprout for the Super Sauce. You only get about 25 seeds in the pack and only 16 of mine sprouted. For the price, next year I may choose something different, but I will wait until the end of the season to see how productive the plants are before making that determination.
3. I saved pepper seeds from last year and did everything "right" but nothing is happening with them so far. They were so worth it too. We eat several peppers a week. With their price at the store, I saved lots of money by growing and freezing my peppers. If I have to purchase plants, it will still be worth it to grow my own. I froze enough last year to last the whole year.
These are the Amish Paste. They were good to slice, make sauce, and some, I even used for salsa.
These are Gold Medals. Yum is all I need to say!
I also started these Star of Veld flowers too. I just planted them today. I'll have to see how they do. They are to be drought tolerant and love poor soil.
Happy Gardening!
The lighting suggestions that you find regarding seed starting seems expensive. I use a light from walmart that I can bend over the trays.
Last year, I planted Federele, Amish Paste, Gold Medal, and Tommy Toe Tomatoes in addition to the sweet peppers. Here's what I discovered:
The Tommy Toes are huge producers and, only needing 1 plant for salads, take too much effort to start from seed. I can purchase 1 plant.
The Federele tomatoes did well too, but I found that the Amish Paste served the purposes I need and were larger producers.
The Gold Medals did fairly well in the garden and produced what we needed.
Here's what 2013 holds:
1. I have a nice tray of 72 Amish Paste sprouts. Almost all of them sprouted too!
2. Another tray holds Gold Medals and Burpee's new Super Sauce. The Gold Medal are doing well, but I'm disappointed with the percentage of sprout for the Super Sauce. You only get about 25 seeds in the pack and only 16 of mine sprouted. For the price, next year I may choose something different, but I will wait until the end of the season to see how productive the plants are before making that determination.
3. I saved pepper seeds from last year and did everything "right" but nothing is happening with them so far. They were so worth it too. We eat several peppers a week. With their price at the store, I saved lots of money by growing and freezing my peppers. If I have to purchase plants, it will still be worth it to grow my own. I froze enough last year to last the whole year.
These are the Amish Paste. They were good to slice, make sauce, and some, I even used for salsa. These are Gold Medals. Yum is all I need to say! I also started these Star of Veld flowers too. I just planted them today. I'll have to see how they do. They are to be drought tolerant and love poor soil. Happy Gardening!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)