Garden Update

Red Flame Grapes

This past Saturday (10/26/13), Farmer MacGregor and I took on some much needed garden chores.  He did the bulk of the work because I can't (Surgeon's instructions not to bend, lift or twist - dang.) and I was still decompressing from the Vince Gill "Bakersfield" concert the night before. 

Thornless Boysenberries

The boysenberries had grown into a jungle this summer.  There are 6 plants.  The gravel walkway in the picture above was hidden with the growth.  This variety certainly thrives in this environment. This area was previously planted with azaleas and camellias.   That was very unsuccessful. The canes that bore berries this year were cut down to the ground and removed from the support.  5 new canes were chosen to be attached to the support for berry production in 2014.  The rest of the canes were cut to the ground and removed.  There were plenty of volunteers that were removed.  These certainly can get away from you if you don't tend to them.  Speaking of volunteers...note the grape tomatoes overflowing from one of the raised beds.  I cannot shake those Gold Current tomatoes so I just let them keep producing.

One of the raised beds was prepared for some winter vegetables.  Nothing was planted in rows.  I can't get down there to sow a Jeffersonian garden.  Seeds were scattered for a "natural" look.  On the east side of the bed, lettuce varieties were sown.

Outrageous (left) may be the reddest lettuce variety known! It can be harvested as a leaf lettuce or allowed to grow until the loose, Romaine-type heads develop.  The catalogue uses the name Outredeous but the seed package is Outrageous.  Little Gem (right) germinates in 50 days. It is a very small, green, romaine-type. One of the very best-tasting lettuces. A superb heat-tolerant variety.

The west side of the bed was planted with bunching onions.  These should grow well with the existing garlic chives.  No drip lines were laid out.  The seeds will get moistened by hand until they are established.  Hopefully, the rain will come (it did yesterday!).

Ishikura Onions

 (Allium fistulosum) A popular and traditional Japanese variety for sukiyaki, soup and salads. It reaches enormous proportions (to 2½ feet tall, one inch across) while remaining tender and scallion-like.  It never forms a bulb. Earth-up as for leeks to produce long white shanks. As they sprout, they will be pulled and used as green onions.

All the espalier fruit trees have been pruned and will not be pruned until just before blossom and only if needed.  My hope is that the Warren Pear will bloom - finally.

Garden Update

A quick post for a garden update using pictures (mostly) with few words:

Sweet Peas

Sweet Peas continue to bloom but seed production is increasing.  I've been taking bouquets to work for sometime now.  Sweet Pea bouquets will soon be replaced with Lavender bouquets.


Crookneck Squash

Crookneck Squash is trying produce despite some chewing varmint.  I'll need to make a midnight investigation to determine the culprit.


Black Beauty Zucchini

Zucchini was planted on April 29 along with radishes and parsley. Seeds germinated a couple of days later.  I must now start my search for some unsuspecting neighbor or work associate to flood with gifts of abundant squash.

Thornless Boysenberry

Boysenberries are starting to ripen.  Bird netting has been installed to shoo away pesky birds that mistake the garden as their own personal fly-in diner.  Scare tape works on most birds but hungry birds and those building nests laugh at the fluttering tape.  Perhaps scare tape works like a neon sign to those birds saying, "Let's Eat" or "Vacancy".  There are 3 known Mourning Dove nests directly adjacent to scare tape.  Phooey.

Beets

Sadly, the beets are about finished.  I have no idea what variety I've grown.  Whenever there was a bare spot, I would find a pack of seeds and plant.  There's a complete mix growing; but they are starting to bolt.  Supplies and the local Farmers' Market have dwindled too.  Thankfully, I have a nice big jar of pickled beets in the refrigerator to carry me through until I find a source for the summer.

Carrots

Some spent carrots were removed over Cinco de Mayo weekend and replaced with hills of green beans and marigolds.  There are still carrots producing well in the former "Salad Bed".  Once they have finished, they may be replaced with more onions.  You can never have too many onions.

White Lisbon Onions

White Lisbon and Spanish Utah onions were planted on April 16.  White Lisbons are used as bunching onions and the Spanish Utah will be used for storage.  However, all onion varieties are used as green onions as they are thinned.

Granny Smith Apple

Most all the fruit trees have fruit - plum, peach, apple, apricot, grapefruit, orange, mandarin, lemon.  They are all fertilized regularly and get pruned as needed.  Those growing espalier require more attention than the citrus.

Strawberries

I've lost track of the varieties of strawberries in the garden.   Sweet Pinky was one variety and I can't find the name of the other.  Nonetheless, the strawberries are popping and the birds know it.

Note:  I still cannot post using Live Writer and am relying on Blogger (mostly).

Hands in the Earth

"Cultivators of the earth are the most valuable citizens. They are the most vigorous, the most independent, the most virtuous, and they are tied to their country and wedded to its liberty and interests by the most lasting bonds. As long, therefore, as they can find employment in this line, I would not convert them into mariners, artisans, or anything else." --Thomas Jefferson

In the past few days, the San Joaquin Valley has had wonderful, steady rain.  At times it came down hard.  Sometimes it turned to hail.  Mostly, it was simply steady and sweet.  The earth is soft and rich and easy to work.  Weeds slip out without a fight.  Root crops slide out without breaking.  This is the best time in the garden.  Everything from puttering (my favorite) to hard labor is a bit more enjoyable after this latest wash.

Some baby onions were pulled for the kitchen and some worn out heads of lettuce were removed to the composter in anticipation of sowing onion seeds.  Green onions are easy to grow but whenever green onions are needed in the kitchen, I grab any variety of onion seed that has sprouted and needs a little thinning.  Bunching, red, yellow, or brown onions all work well.  I don't even remember what variety is pictured above because I did such a poor job of labeling the rows this past fall.

Same with the labelling for the carrots.  Don't know the variety of these twisted carrots; but they will be cooked up tomorrow with many more of the same along with some peas and onions for Sunday dinner.

The heat is on the way; but until then I'll enjoy the cool of the snow up in the surrounding mountains and the soft, sweet soil to work for the hardy summer garden.

Onions, Garlic, & Birthday Wishes

Technorati Tags: onions,garlic,Licorice

The water is off the onions and garlic.  Now it’s time to wait for the greens to dry a bit before they get pulled out of the soil and put on the drying racks to cure a bit.  The garlic will be braided and the onions stored to use as needed.  Garlic will be planted in October for another harvest the following May.  More onions will be planted to enjoy as green onions throughout the summer and brown or purple onions when they mature.  All the onions are started from seed in place.  They are some of the easiest plants to grow.  I encourage anyone starting a vegetable garden to start with radish seeds and onion seeds.  Everything germinates (sprouts) quickly.  Results are quick.  Harvest can begin in just a few weeks with tender radishes and green onions.  By harvesting early and often, you’re providing room for the remaining vegetables to mature.  Extra bonus:  a package of seeds is so inexpensive that it’s worth a try.  All that is needed is some loose soil, full sun, and some occasional water.  A sack of garden soil from a garden center is a simple way to start a small experimental garden.  Make sure to puncture the bag to allow for drainage. 

Mother Earth News – Spring 2011

 

Special birthday wishes to the Empress of the Garden, Licorice.  She was born in the garden 20 years ago.  Congratulations old girl!

 

Note:  Windows Live Writer has been updated and I’m just getting acquainted with the updates.