This is February?!

Today would have been a perfect beach like day IF it was July.  However, it’s February in Bakersfield.  I need some cold weather to kill the bugs, rain in the garden to settle the dust and clear the air, and snow in the mountains to use when it is July.

Can you believe ladybugs are already working in the garden?Here’s what’s growing on in the garden today:

The cauliflower has been bothered by aphids in this warm weather.  I was considering taking the plants out and getting the bed ready for summer crops; but there are 16 head that seem to be doing alright.  I’ll wait.Broccoli has also had aphid troubles.I’ve blasted the plants with a power stream of water from the garden hose and relocated some of the early ladybugs so they can help control this problem.Probably every seed of lettuce germinated successfully in the garden this season.  There is lettuce growing in a salad bed and lettuce growing in the holes of the cinder blocks that form the beds.  Another reason the hope for cooler weather is to extend my lettuce enjoyment.The discovery of Root Knot Nematodes* has led to a search for knowledge on the topic and a successful safe way to control the wee beasties.  At least I have beets and carrots successfully growing in beds that don’t seem to effected by nematodes.The carrots are coming along nicely and have been used in roast beef and pasta salad.  Of course, they have been snacks while out in the garden along with peas.  I can never seem to get peas past the garden gate because I eat them while enjoying the garden.By about 10:30 this morning the temperature was just under 70°F with clear skies and a light breeze.  By nightfall, the lights were visible out in Elk Hills, on the Grapevine, and Breckenridge where there is no snow.

*  If anyone has information to share about ridding my garden of damaging nematodes, I would appreciate it.

Here Comes Fall!!!

Well, here comes fall planting.  It’s still hot enough for swamp pants.  It’ll be that way through October.  The seeds need to get in now that the first 3 Sisters bed has been pulled.  There’s a few beans that remain on the west end of this east end bed.

The photo is oriented north and each drip line has something planted (or soon will have planted) on either side.  It looks pretty pitiful now but so would you if you spent an endless summer under blistering sun.    Here’s what’s planted from west to east.  (That’s from left to right).  I’ve noted the dates the seeds were planted and the days to maturity.

• Lettuce – Merlot (8/15/11, 50-60 days) – loose leaf, dark burgundy.  It grew well last winter.
• Onions – White Lisbon (8/15/11, 60 days)– bunching.  These grow fast and will give immediate gratification.
• Beets – Early Wonder (8/15/11, 50 days)– dark, round, and delicious pickled.  It’s the seeds I had on hand.  I ran out on this row and need to grab more seeds.
• Cabbage – Copenhagen Market –  Planting is pending acquisition of seeds.  This variety has grown well in the garden a couple of years ago.
• Beets – Early Wonder (8/15/11, 50 days) – Do I like beets?
• Cauliflower – Early Snowball (8/13/11 & 8/15/11, 65 days)- tight and white.  Does great in this garden.
• Beets – Early Wonder (8/15/11, 50 days) – What the heck?  I plan on canning pickled beets.  Sue me.
• Broccoli – Waltham 29 (8/13/11, 80 days) – A proven variety in this garden.  Tender, tight, easy to grow.

At the top of each irrigation line are planted Buttercup squash(8/13/11, 95 days).  It’s a winter squash I’ve never tried; but Floyd’s had the seeds and I was game.  Sparkler radishes (8/13/11, 25 days) are sprinkled throughout.

This bed is about one month ahead of planting last year.  My goal is to harvest by Thanksgiving.  It’s nice to have goals.  Another goal is to survive swamp pants season and enjoy a cool – cold and wet winter.  Come on October!

The garden was pumping along nicely at Thanksgiving 2010.  Come on October!

Cabbage Patch

The raised bed at the east side of the garden has been planted with all types of brassicaceae.  Just like last fall, I believe every seed that hit the dirt has germinated.  The thinned plants are transplanted into the hole of the cinder block that form the beds.  So far, most all germinated plants have survived leaving me with hopes of a winter bounty of hearty vegetables.

The cabbage patch consists of

• Early Jersey Cabbage
• Yellow of Parma Onions
• Mammoth Red Rock Cabbage
• Early Wonder Beets
• Purple of Sicily Cauliflower
• Flat of Italy Onions
• Early Wonder Beets (I like beets.)
• Waltham 29 Broccoli

 

Waltham 29?!  What kind of a name is that?  I can only determine that the broccoli was bred at University of Massachusetts, Waltham Field Station, Waltham, MA around 1950. Were the names 1 through 28 already taken?  I don’t know why this name was chosen and would appreciate some background.  In the meantime, I’ll continue the research.  If anyone knows OR has a creative made up story, I would be interested in reading your ideas.

Red

There is red in the garden.

Hummingbird / Bee Feeder

 

Merlot Lettuce

 

Strawberries

 

Cimmaron Romaine Lettuce

 

Borlotto Solista Beans

 

Brune d’Hiver Lettuce

 

Early Wonder Beets

 

Broken bit of summer scare tape among the fall leaves.

 

 

Perhaps there will also be a lot more red throughout American gardens tomorrow.

Please vote.