Big Dummy

Ever have a "brilliant" idea only to show just how human (read: dumb) you really are? It's humbling. I post this not to further degrade myself but to warn myself next time I get a brilliant idea to think it through rather than act during mid-thought.

This morning I thought I would take several packets of Sweet Alyssum seeds and make my own mix. Brilliant. I dumped the contents of the Royal Carpet packet into a Ziplock bag only to be reintroduced to static. EVERY seed was clinging to the side of a bag like a room full of kids with balloons practicing the fascinating wonders of static. What a mess.

Note: in the future, simply mix seeds in a seed packet.

Going to Seed

A work associate has a wife interested in gardening.  The only problem is - she wants immediate gratification.  She buys full grown plants rather than trying seeds.  But she's young and learning.  A package of seeds costs so much less than a full grown plant and produces so much more.  Plus, the plants are probably healthier when started properly by seed.  I start seeds in place outside most all year round.  The right seed in the right hole works most every time.

Nasturtiums and peppers planted May 28, 2012.

Being contrary to the last statement, I was searching for some bell pepper plants to add to the garden this weekend.  The available specimens were either pitiful or outrageously overpriced ($2.98/seedling!).  I had to revert to my original mantra and grow from seed.

Not only is it the most economical way to garden, but it's convenient too.  Whenever possible and practical, seeds are collected to use the following season.  If the variety works well in the garden, why mess with success?  Collect the successful varieties for later use or trade and share.  Don't forget to label the container.  That's a trick I'm still learning.

Sweet Peas collected in an old peanut butter tub for drying.

Radishes, herbs, beans, and squash can bring fairly fast results.  Sunflowers, sweet peas, and morning glories may grow so fast and furious that they may gain "weed" status in the garden.  What a danged shame more gardeners don't use seeds.

Sadly, Ferry Morse Seed Company is closing down it's operations around the USA.  Hope this is simply a reorganization and not an indicator of the preference of gardeners. 

Try picking up a packet of seeds and see how much more satisfying gardening can be from seed to seed.

Winter Garden Planting

Planting is in full swing in the fall garden. 

Winter garden fall 2010

Already planted in August are:

• Beets – Early Wonder
• Broccoli – Waltham 29
• Cabbage – Copenhagen Market
• Cauliflower – Early Snowball
• Radishes – Sparkler

Planted the 1st weekend of October:

• Carrots – Scarlet Nantes
• Carrots – Tendersweet
• Garlic
• Oregano
• Peas – Wando
• Sage – Broad Leaf
• Thyme – Common

To be planted 2nd weekend of October:

• Beets – Early Wonder
• Carrots – Royal Chantenay
• Lettuce – Marvielle of Four Seasons
• Lettuce – Parris Island Romaine
• Onion – White Lisbon

The summer sweet peppers and Golden Currant tomatoes are still producing.  Once those have given up, more onions will be planted.

That should be pretty good to live on through the winter.  Soups – Basque, minestrone, broccoli cheese, cauliflower, garlic , squash – are all within reach of the garden.  Salads should be plentiful too.  Of course, peas and carrots go great with all that winter comfort food.

I just hope that I can beat down the bad bugs and get some great production.  The squash bugs that were disturbed when the pumpkins came out tried to lock onto the Butter Bush squash vines.  I’m picking them off as I see them plus the cooler weather might discourage them from doing much damage.  Along with the cool weather came rain.  It was great!  It was fantastic!  The garden is happy and so am I.

National Heirloom Exposition–Santa Rosa, CA

Anyone going to the National Heirloom (seed) Exposition in Santa Rosa this Tuesday through Thursday?  I would love to go; but it’s too far to drive for this infant gathering.  At $4/gallon, I would like to be sure this would be worth my money and time.  Once I get reviews of the 1st exposition, I may consider heading up that way next year.

If you go, please let me know what you think.

Hometown Seed Give Away!

Blenheim Apricot

The Blenheim Apricot broke out into full springtime mode on February 27, Sunday, late in the afternoon after it had its 3rd application of dormant spray (no copper this time, only pyrethrum).  Today, after a couple days of light rain followed by some warm sunshine, the tree is busting with blossoms.  Spring is in full swing with bees buzzing and twitterpated birds all over the neighborhood from owls and hawks to hummingbirds. 

Santa Rosa Plum

In honor of the arrival of spring, or at least thoughts of spring, I have some seeds to share.  Hometown Seeds is providing a kitchen herb value pack worth $16.99.  Dang!  Herbs are some of the easiest seeds to start so these are an excellent choice for beginning gardeners.  If you’re a seasoned gardener, you might be interested in these herbs as companion plants in your summer garden.  And if you’re anywhere in between you might want to give it a shot and let me know what you think of the seeds.  It’s always nice to learn of a good seed source.  I would be interested to know what you think about Hometown Seeds.  The California Poppy seeds would be great to plant behind my garden wall.  25 pounds would make a splash!  If I could only be certain that the County maintenance workers would leave them alone, I would consider dumping a large amount of seeds there in the fall.

Here’s what’s in the value pack:

• Basil – Purple Ruffles
• Basil – Sweet Dani
• Chives
• Cilantro – Slow Bolt
• Dill – Mammoth Long Island
• Oregano – Italian
• Parsley – Italian Flat-Leaf
• Rosemary
• Sage – Broad Leaf
• Thyme

All you have to do is leave a comment.  Please make sure to use a name.  “Anonymous” simply doesn’t cut it; so make sure to at least click the Name/URL button on the comment page and give yourself a name.  I’ll pick a winner 9pm Pacific Time, Sunday night, March 6.

60 °F

Not to dwell on the weather, but it’s currently 60 °F.  After lunch, me and Ajax headed out to the garden.  I had some seed catalogs to review and he had some very important business to tend to.

The Nap Fairy has hit us both hard with a big bag of sand; so we’re headed in for a nap.

I think my thermometer goes bonkers when the sun hits it and reports 31 °F higher than the actual temperature.  This may need to be replaced since it only goes up to 120 °F.  That won’t work in a month or two.

Seeds 2011 – The Year of Corn (Korn)

 

Some of the seeds for spring/summer were started today while other seeds were ordered last night.

Started:

Lettuce:  A couple of varieties will be started indoors.  When they are transplanted, I’ll sow additional lettuce in place.  Those seeds have been ordered.

Brune d’Hiver, Baker Creek

Iceberg, Baker Creek   (I thought Iceberg might have a better chance if I start in indoors first.

 

Tomatoes:  Last year the tomatoes were started on March 1.  My planting of fall crops was delayed because the tomatoes were still producing.  My hope is that this early start will translate into a better start for fall crops.

Tomato Cour di Bue, Baker Creek

Beefsteak, Baker Creek

Ordered:

Carrots:  I have some carrots seeds left over from the last planting and wanting to add a different variety.

Red Cored Chatenay, Terrior Seeds

Corn:  2011 is the Year of Corn in Maybelline’s Garden.  2010 was the Year of the Tomato.  I hope to have a successful year and stock my freezers with sweet, yellow corn along with enjoying cobs during the summer.

Golden Bantam, Terrior Seeds

Lettuce:  A few varieties look like they may work in the salad bed until I plant squash and sweet potatoes (pondering this one).

Merlot, Terrior Seeds

St. Anne’s, Terrior Seeds

Tom Thumb, Terrior Seeds

Pumpkins:  I’ve grown Cinderella in the past and liked the shape and color; but I never ate any of them.  This year I’m trying a blue skinned pumkin.

Jarrahdale, Terrior Seeds

Since this is the Year of Corn here at Maybelline’s Garden in Bakersfield, California (Oildale specifically), I would like to offer a homegrown remedy to rid your garden of varmints.  Below I have embedded a little ditty from our hometown fellas, Korn.  Take a laptop out to wherever varmints are a nuisance and turn the volume up as loud as the law allows.  This should rid you of those pests.

 

See.  We have more than Buck and Merle.  I enjoy all of them.  You are welcome.

 

Special celebrity note:  Granny has helped Jonathan Davis, the lead singer of Korn, a few times with his purchases of strollers and other baby items.  Imagine,  Jonathan is a daddy (3 times!).  Granny can connect with Jonathan since he is a Highland High Scotsman and played the bagpipes.  Granny is very hip that way.

Do You Know What is Sprouting?

This final blast of heat was good for something.  All the fall seeds are up.  The broccoli pictured here came up in about 2 days.  BAM!  Not only did the seeds that were lovingly planted in straight rows successfully germinate; but clumps of seeds punched through the damp soil into the hot fall air.  An example is that stand of seedlings behind the dirt clod above.  Do you know what is sprouting?

Two of the vegetable beds have these seedlings coming up in random clumps.  Do you know what is sprouting?

You can submit your guess here on the comments or shoot an email.  Oh, there isn’t any prize except the fact that you know you’re right.  And sometimes knowing you’re right feels pretty good.

Harvest Moon / Planting Moon

Fall planting is almost complete.  I’m a bit late but I hope to see some results.  As expected, the radishes are up.  The radishes pictured above are Jaune D’Or Ovales.  These were planted on September 16 and the photo was taken this evening (September 22).  These radishes are planted in the lettuce bed that was most recently the Lemon Squash bed.

I use stakes and old tomato cages to keep garden kitties (any kitties) out.  Redwood stakes are used to mark the rows.  Even though I write down what I planted on the seed packet and on my garden plan, the stakes are a handy reference.

This evening, I planted as long as I could thinking that the light of the harvest moon would help me complete my planting.  No way.  I’m almost done though.

Here’s what’s in the ground now:

Bed 1	Bed 2	Bed 3	Bed 4
Peas – Tall Telephone	Lettuce - Merlot		Cabbage – Early Jersey Wakefield
blank	Radishes - Watermelon		Onions – Yellow of Parma
Peas – Tall Telephone	Lettuce - Cimmaron		Cabbage – Mammoth Red Rock
Peas – Tall Telephone	Beets - Crapaudine		Beets – Early Wonder
Carrots – to be determined	Radishes – Juane D’Or Ovale		Cauliflower – Purple of Sicily
Carrots – Atomic Red	Onions – He-Shi-Ko		Onions – Flat of Italy
Carrots – to be determined	Lettuce – Brune d’Hiver		Broccoli – to be determined
Carrots – Cosmic Purple	Lettuce - Iceberg		WILD CARD
	Stevia		Lavender
	Strawberries - established		Orange Thyme
	Basil - established

The beds are listed from west to east.  The crops are listed from west to east with framing crops at the bottom of each list.  Grey italic means the seeds still need to be planted.

The hot peppers in bed 3 (Serranos and Black Hungarians) are producing like mad and I’m going with the flow.  This bed may be reserved for early tomato planting in about six months.  I don’t know.

Busy, Busy, Busy

I’ve been busy getting the garden ready for fall planting.  Growing a successful crop of tomatoes has delayed planting broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, cabbage, lettuce, onions, radishes, beets, & peas.  The garlic can go in as well IF the seed company ever ships my order from August.  I’ll reveal more about them if they make good on my order OR if they continue to ignore my inquiries.  I’ve never ordered from this seed company out of Missouri. 

I placed a backup order with Baker Creek for carrots, cauliflower, lettuces, beets, and onions. 

A good source for organic potatoes is what I’m looking for now.  The last time I tried growing them, they were planted in February so I have some time still.

Windows. Clean, Clean Windows.

Check it out.  Farmer MacGregor (on the patio with a red shirt) went around the entire house and touched up the paint around all the windows.  Then, he washed them!  I love clean windows.

I’ve been away and kind of uninspired to post anything.  This weekend looks like a return to Hades; so I’ll find shelter inside.  This will give me an opportunity to sort through photos, can salsa, and look through seeds for the fall.

Fall seeds are being shipped from Terroir Seeds.  I’m getting inspired.  All I need is some cool weather.

72 Seedlings?!

Insanity struck me yesterday.  I started 72 seedlings of mostly heirloom tomatoes and peppers.  All the seeds are mail ordered through Baker Creek except for the Serranos I picked up at Floyd’s (Where else?).  I’ve grown tomatoes from seed before with great heartbreak.  I’ve plucked up enough courage to give it another go.  Here’s the list:

Tomatoes (all heirloom):

 Carbon (purple)– Winner of the 2005 “Heirloom Garden Show” best-tasting tomato award. Henderson’s Pink Ponderosa – Huge size, some over 2 lbs.; a meaty pin-red beefsteak introduced by Peter Henderson & Co. in 1891.  Mule Team (red) – Medium sized plants produce perfect 8 0z. red globes that have very little cracking, making this a good choice for market growers.  The fruit have a sweet but acid flavor; a good all-around standard red variety.  Good resistance to heat and disease. Arkansas Traveler (pink) - A medium sized pink tomato that is smooth and a beautiful rose color.  Tolerant to heat and humidity, crack and disease resistant.  Good flavor, an excellent hillbilly favorite.Al Kuffa (red) – Early tomato produces 3-4 oz fruit on compact, dwarf vines that yield till frost.  Mild tasting from Iraq.

Peppers:

Black Hungarian – Heirloom, unique, black colored fruit that are the shape of jalapeños.  Mildly hot with delicious flavor.  Tall plants with purple flowers.  Rare & colorful.

Serrano – Hot peppers grown successfully in 2009.  Lake Valley seed purchased at Floyd’s.

I don’t have room for all of the plants IF the seeds successfully sprout.  I’ll be giving away healthy seedlings to relatives and neighbors.  Chives seeds will be sewn among the tomatoes when they are planted out in the garden to prevent pests and harvest as needed.  Nasturtiums will be planted at the base of the fruit trees to repel borers. These are some ides I want to try from a book I purchased at Baker Creek along with my seeds – Carrots Love Tomatoes.

In case anyone reading  this doesn’t know, Floyd’s is a local hardware store.  It’s great.  You can buy gardening stuff (seeds and seed starting kits), plumbing junk, canning supplies, crickets, and ammunition.  They have everything.  I wish they would consider bridal registries.  Very practical.

Note:  Pictures of the vegetables were lifted from the Baker Creek website.  Their service was great and quick; so go there and order something OR move next door and reap the benefits.