Mustard Seeds

I took advantage of some very rare cloud cover this morning to take on some fall garden tasks. (Fall in spirit only because the temp today should be just under the 100 mark.). More experimentation regarding root knot nematode control by planting a cover crop of mustard got under way by cleaning and raking the soil. Two beds are being set aside for this green manure application. Once the mustard blooms, it needs to be cut down and turned under before seed is set.  The chemical formed is repulsive to root knot nematodes plus nutrients are added back into the soil.

One of the two beds was solarized for over 8 weeks this summer.  The other bed grew peppers and tomatoes without any signs of the pest. Tomato roots show now galls formed.  These tomatoes were not nematode resistant; so I'm feeling better that the pest is being eradicated. 

No rows were formed. I purchased the seed by weight to insure the bed will produce a full cover crop. As the temperatures cool, an application of beneficial nematodes will be introduced to all the beds. The beneficials will attack the bad bugs - including grubs. Earthworms are supposed to be safe from their attack.

 The current predator in the garden are the mourning doves feasting on my mustard seeds.  If they don't munch on my onion seeds, it's the mustard seeds.  Pinwheels from the 4th of July have been re-purposed as scarecrows.  So far so good.  But it's only been a few hours.  I'm a bit concerned if this mustard program goes biblical.

"He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”"  Matthew 13:31-32

Garden hopes are are high that a cover crop of mustard will be great green manure making the soil fertile for seeds to come.

Garden side note:

This morning, a bloom finally developed on a morning glory vine. For some reason, these plants have not been vigorous and will soon be replaced by peas. Flying Saucer morning glories were planted on June 19 and just now had a pitiful bloom.  Early Call morning glories were planted two days earlier on June 17. Only one vine germinated. Slug? Snails? I don't know. The 1st bloom on this puny vine occurred this morning. I would have to seriously consider ever planting morning glories again. Pitiful.

Wando Peas were planted this evening on the north side of the west bed where this morning glory remains

Solar Power Part II

Ajax Approved

Bed #2 was prepared for solarization today.  A deep soaking and 2 sacks of chicken fertilizer mixed into the soil before being covered.  The manure is supposed to release volatile compounds in the soil that kill pests and help stimulate the growth of beneficial soil organisms.  Note:  I believe the volatile compounds are released as soon as the bag is opened.  Pee EWE!  The 4ml plastic sheeting will be removed around September 6.  Bed #1 will be planted in lettuce for the winter.  Bed #2 will be the cabbage patch with broccoli and cauliflower.

Flying Saucer Morning Glories have been planted at the head of Bed #2.  Thyme and oregano frame the rest of the bed.  The morning glories should grow up to 15' and flower through the fall.  Pollinators should enjoy these purple and white flowers.  The plants enjoy dry heat.  Congratulations.  This is the place.

Ajax - December 2010

Bed #2 was last a successful cabbage patch in 2010.  Fingers crossed.  Let's hope for a healthy bed to be planted at the end of summer.  The soil solarization study by the University of California at Davis is fairly interesting and helpful if your garden is haunted with root knot nematodes.

Spring is Popping

A few edibles have bolted.  The mustard and broccoli are certainly attracting the bees in the neighborhood.  Those items will remain in place because all the bees in the San Joaquin Valley are welcome in this garden. They will get pulled as the weather warms and the beds are prepared to be solarized.

Mustard planted to repel Root Knot Nematodes.

After the sweet rain/snow earlier this week, the warm sun is encouraging most everything in the garden to pop.  The first to break bud was the Santa Rosa plum.  It's always first and this year it looks like there will be 5 million plums. The deciduous trees were selected for reliability to grow successfully in this area (Bakersfield, California - zone 8-9).  The next characteristic to help narrow the choices was taste.  Very important.  Then, the time of ripeness.  This timing helps to keep fresh fruit from June to October.

Blenheim Apricot

The second tree to welcome spring is the Blenheim apricot.  Even though a lateral limb of this espalier had to be shortened to remove a damaged portion, it looks like 2013 will be another banner year for this fruit.

Lilac (variety unknown) looks ready to explode very soon.

The edible garden does have a few non-edibles (as far as I know) that help to lure pollinators to come on in and enjoy themselves.  More blooms expected all the way through to fall.

Tomatoes in Winter

A cold, overcast Sunday is a great time to make spaghetti sauce. It's also a great time to clean out the freezer a bit by using up some of the frozen tomatoes from last summer. Farmer MacGregor makes great sauce. Not typical Italian sauce. No. This recipe comes from his Hungarian grandmama. And it's my favorite. I have never found an Italian sauce that I like better than this.

The sauce cooked for a few hours then I lit the BBQ mesquite to cook some steaks and garlic bread. Delicious with a green salad. Farmer MacGregor cheated and bought lettuce at the grocery store rather than pick from the garden. It was good just the same.

I'm glad I discovered freezing tomatoes. I simply wash and dry ripe tomatoes and place them in a freezer bag. When you're ready to use them, fill the bag with warm water to defrost a little. With a sharp knife, remove the core and skin. Voilà! Use the summer beauties as you would canned tomatoes.

There is a secondary use for frozen tomatoes. Should you need, these would knock someone out if you beaned them with a sack of frozen 'maters. They are like cue balls.

This summer, I will only be growing tomatoes in containers as I am trying to eradicate the raised beds of nematodes.

Tree Trimming

O'Henry Peach

Some of the fruit trees have finally lost their leaves. I understand that waiting to prune after all the leaves have dropped allows the leaves to provide nourishment to the tree.  Am I right?  Today, I wondered out to do a little clean up pruning on the peach tree. This tree did surprisingly well this year.  The trunk had suffered sun scald and I thought it might need to be replaced.  Wrapping the trunk this summer helped to protect the exposed trunk and some branches allowing more growth to flourish and help shade those wrapped parts.  I only removed branches/twigs that were crossing, dead wood, and branches that might cause a problem. 

Debris needs to be removed from around the trunk; but other than that, it's ready for an application of dormant oil.

Only one other tree has dropped its leaves.  The new, replacement Fantasia Nectarine.  It's still a squirt and needs no pruning.  Just a little rake around the base and this little lady is ready for a shower.

Fantasia Nectarine

Garden Update:
Farmer MacGregor tackled the removal of Gold Currant Tomatoes yesterday.  These volunteers grew in a bed dedicated to the eradication of  Root Knot Nematodes.  Earlier in the summer, French Marigolds were planted. I read that this variety of marigold repelled these pests.  JUNK!  The knots on the roots of the tomatoes were gross.  We have decided this summer will be the summer to cover all the vegetable beds with black plastic and bake those buggers.  I have one pot reserved for a tomato plant and that's it.

I had also read that nematodes don't like mustard; so I planted 4 varieties this fall.  The mustard bed is thriving.  Asparagus is growing in this bed as well.  Don't know what to do with the asparagus when the black plastic is draped over this bed.  Suggestions?


Southern Giant Curled Mustard

All About Asparagus

Winter begins.

Asparagus Aethiopicus - AKA Asparagus Fern

We have many asparagus ferns brought in from Farmer MacGregor's grandmother's garden years and years ago. They produce berries that turn red this time each year; but please don't eat the berries.  They are poisonous to dogs and cats and will make your stomach upset.  This plant isn't really a fern.  It's a member of the lily family and is regarded as a weed in many areas because of the ability of the tuberous roots to spread quickly.  It might be ideal if you have a spot in the garden where nothing will grow.  They also have spines; so it's best to use gloves when handling.

This year, asparagus was planted in the garden for Farmer MacGregor to enjoy in the years to come. I've never grown it before.  I understand that it takes two years of growth before you can harvest the spears.  One great side benefit of growing asparagus is that the plants help to repel Root Knot Nematodes.  Bonus.  Three plants are thriving in a bed of mustards, marigolds, and basil.  The basil was shocked with the recent freeze and will be returning to the earth soon.

If you grow asparagus, let me know any growing tips please.

Asparagus trivia:  Did you know that eating asparagus can make your pee stink?  You're welcome.

Problem Solved?

Root Knot Nematode damage was discovered in the fall of 2011.  French Marigolds are supposed to repel the boogers and starve them out.With that, seeds and seedlings were planted throughout the vegetable patch.  One bed in particular was going to be dedicated exclusively to the marigolds letting them reseed themselves then turn the spent plants under in the fall.  Sometimes plans just don't work out.

Volunteer Gold Currant Tomatoes have gone bonkers and are competing with the marigolds for turf.  The tomato plants are so loaded with the grape sized tomatoes that they constantly need to be restaked. This variety of tomato has been sprouting all over the garden this summer.  Why fight it?  If something good wants to grow with little to no work, I'm all for it.

Marigolds (Only the French variety are supposed to repel nematodes.) were also planted in the planned tomato patch.  The tomatoes (Celebrity) are nematode resistant.  So far so good.  Asparagus was also planted to end the pest problem.  Again, so far so good.  Basil seeds were sown throughout this patch along with oregano.  Bingo.  Everything seems to be working fine.  If Root Knot Nematodes still exist in the beds, they are not causing any problems.  With crop rotation and continued use of my new French friends, this problem should only be a memory.

Now I need to research what to plant in the fall to continue this success.

Fighting Tomatoes

Celebrity Tomatoes

Just came in from the garden at 8:35pm.  Temperature:  95°.  Carumba! The tomatoes have gone buzzerk and needed to be cleaned up, strung up, and harvested.  There is precisely 5 gajillion tomatoes remaining on the vines.  Mama Mia.  Most will go in the freezer to be used in spaghetti sauce and salsa later.  Others will be used fresh.  I have no plans to can this summer.  Too hot and freezing is so much easier.

Not much fertilizer was used on these Celebrities.  They are resistant to verticillium wilt, fusarium, and nematodes (VFN).  That's the reason they were planted in this bed with signs of Root Knot Nematodes.  Joining these tomatoes in their fight for a nematode free world is basil, asparagus, and French Marigolds.  There are a few vines that don't look so great though.  They may be in an area where the nematodes are the worst.  Those will be pulled and replaced with more French Marigolds.

Susy at Chiot's Run posts information about growing yellow mustard to fight against nematodes.  I may consider planting yellow mustard in the fall to grow through the winter.  Peas were intended for this bed during the cool season.  I wasn't sure if mustard would grow with peas but the Canadians ran a test and the results indicate that mustard is a good companion.  I'm looking into this combination to improve the soil and produce a good crop of peas.

Lazy Daddy

Busy in the garden before the heat wave rolls in this weekend.  Looks like garden time will be reserved for very early morning and late evening as temperatures scream into the 100s.

Farmer MacGregor really got busy.

• Leveled the garden fence that was sagging in spots.  It happens to all of us.
• Painted the garden fence and gate.  No surprise here.  Farmer paints religiously.
• Washed the entire outside of the house - windows included.  Everything sparkles.
• Edged and mowed the yards.  Better to do before the heat hits hard.
• Gets up extra early on the weekdays to make sure all the irrigation is done before 7am.  Excellent.
• Rigged a gizmo up so one of the spider plants can hang in the shade of the Chinese Elm tree.  Just don't bash your head into it when you mow.  Ouch!
• Got all the grocery shopping done so I can BBQ on Fathers' Day.  Thanks?
• Installed new rollers on the sliding glass door.  An oversite on my part omitted this stupendous task.  Old man MacGregor pointed out this flaw.
• Removed the double pane for cleaning.  Now I can open the clean door with just a push of my pinky finger.
• MacGregor, if you're reading this, prepare to go shooting early on Fathers' Day.  The ammunition has been purchased.  BBQ when you return.  Happy Fathers' Day even though you're not MY father.  It's better than an Hawaiian shirt right?

Good to get it done and enjoy the most wonderful invention ever...air conditioning.

Garden Update:

• Tomatoes are ripening.  Harvesting Celebrity and Gold Current.  The Gold Currents are all volunteers that grow vigorously in zone 8-9.  They grow so well that I need to dig some out because they are growing too big.
• Boysenberries are done.  Bird netting was removed.  Next - tie up new canes and prune out the old.
• Netting moved to the apricot tree.  It really burns me up when a bird pecks at one piece of fruit then moves on to another.  Can't they at least finish the piece of fruit they started with before moving on?  Honestly.
• Carrots are booming and need to be pulled.  Carrot cakes?
• French Marigolds are thriving with the heat.  During the evening garden inspection, seed heads are pulled and the seeds are scattered wherever the ground is bare.  Take THAT nematodes.
• Zucchini is the king of the garden now.  Black Beauty is a bush variety and grows well here.  The plants stay neat and dark green.  Squash are harvested when they are small to enjoy tender, tasty babies.
• Kentucky Wonder Green Beans are kinda puny.  Very disappointed that they have not gone wild with the heat.  Even used a soil inoculant with hopes of a bountiful crop.  I'm unimpressed.
• Nasturtiums (Dwarf Cherry Rose) were planted on May 28 and have not germinated yet OR if they have something ate them down to the nub.  Puzzling.
• Sadly, another fruit on the Split Leaf Philodendron has aborted.  Only one fruit remains on the plant.

Stay in from the heat and avoid swamp pants.  Time to do indoor housework.

Tenderoni



Asparagus Sprout

Planted on March 11, 2012, the Jersey Giant Asparagus crowns purchased at Floyd's Hardware Store sprouted this week.  One is growing so quickly that I can't keep up with back filling the planting trench.  I've never grown asparagus before, but it seems to be very resilient.  I'm not a fan of the "grass"; but Farmer MacGregor loves it.  The garden labor must be treated well so I reserved a spot in the eastern most bed. 

This bed was having a problem with Root Knot Nematodes.  To ease the problem, I've planted French Marigolds, Celebrity Tomatoes, Basil, and asparagus.  The boogers don't like any of that stuff and may starve because of their finicy ways.  All the plantings are companions to each other; so by the end of summer I may hear choruses of Kumbaya floating in the hot, heavy air.

Three asparagus crowns for $3.98 seemed a bit pricey to me initially. Since the plants will multiply and the price of the spears is even more pricey, this seems like a pretty good deal.  My garden laborer has a treat and the nematodes are no longer a problem.  These plants are supposed to produce for many more years. 

Here's a video that I used as a guide to planting.  I used some steer manure I had available rather than chicken doo.  Hope the plants won't rebel.

Bloomin' Fabulous

There's more blooming in the garden besides all the fruit trees.

Volunteer Sweet Peas

The Sweet Peas are germinated from 2011 seeds.  They are pretty much growing wherever the pod exploded so they are scattered around the garden but some were planted intentionally under a trellis.  Once the trellised vines are finished, green beans will use the support.


Nasturtium

The Nasturtiums are growing along with the Sweet Peas under a trellis.  Some are growing under a support where zucchini will soon be planted.

Strawberries - Duh!

Strawberries are blooming well but the berries aren't making it into the kitchen.  They are falling prey to the gardener (me) who cannot resist eating raw peas either.

Marigolds

The Marigolds (French) are doing so-so in the tomato bed.  I believe I'll plant more soon to replace any the feable plants.  They were stung with a recent cold spell.  These plants are in place to team with Basil and Celebrity Tomatoes to discourage nematoads.

I'm looking for companion plants for the boysenberries; but I don't believe there is any recommendations.  Only if aphids are a problem are marigold companions recommended.

Tagetes Patula Nana

The French Marigold seeds were sowed today in a bed where tomatoes grew last summer all the way through the new year.  However, when the heirloom plants were finally pulled, the roots were so swollen and distorted that Knot Root Nematodes  seemed to be the culprit.

UC Davis recommends planting the marigolds in rows 7” apart with plants/seeds spaced every 7”.  Fine.  That worked alright for the 1st row.  During the 2nd row planting, I realized that my back could not hold out; so I opened both of the 2g packages and scattered the seeds over the bed.  The well composted soil was gently raked over the seeds followed by a nice shower of water.  Good.  The seeds should germinate in about 5 days; but I suspect it could be sooner with all the warm sun we’ve been experiencing.

This bed will remain in marigolds for the summer with hopes of starving those nematodes.

All the tools, clogs, and gloves were sprayed with a bleach water solution then dried in the sun to prevent the spread of these extremely wee beasties.

Compact, bushy plants loaded with bright yellow, gold, orange and bicolor crested blooms. Great for patio containers, mass plantings or mixed with other summer flowering annuals. Fast growing, easy-to-grow plants are relatively maintenance-free and bloom quickly from seed.

For best results plant in full sun. Sow directly in the garden where plants are to grow after danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed. Seed may be started indoors 4 weeks before planting outdoors. Transplant carefully so as not to disturb the roots.

Au revoir, Nematodes.  *kiss kiss*