February 4, 2012 -
Last fall, before cooler temperatures arrived, I got two types of tulip bulbs on sale. Jocelyn's favorite flower is the tulip. So we purchased some red and white tulips and allowed them to take over one of the beds. This might have been poor planning on my part but it will be worth it when they sprout up here soon.
When I noticed our garlic bulbs poking their heads up a couple of weeks ago, I also noticed that the bulbs I had planted in the fall had also awakened. With the unseasonably warm weather we have had all winter, it is no wonder that they have poked their little green thumbs out the ground. When I counted all of the bulbs that Abby and I planted last year were up and out.
They are just small compact shoots now, but hopefully they will harken in spring when it gets with a burst of color. They also will hopefully mark a spot for honey bees to come back to several times this summer.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Cauliflower
February 4, 2012 -
Along with some of my other spring vegetables, I have also started some cauliflower. Early Snowball is the name and it is from a packet of seeds I had from last year. I planted 6 "rolls" of these and they have all sprouted up. I planted the week of January 22nd. All appear to be healthy. Looking forward to the next few leaf sprouts to poke out soon.
I plan on putting these out the same time as the cabbage and broccoli. With luck we will have a some early spring harvest of vegetables.
Check back for more updates.
Along with some of my other spring vegetables, I have also started some cauliflower. Early Snowball is the name and it is from a packet of seeds I had from last year. I planted 6 "rolls" of these and they have all sprouted up. I planted the week of January 22nd. All appear to be healthy. Looking forward to the next few leaf sprouts to poke out soon.
I plan on putting these out the same time as the cabbage and broccoli. With luck we will have a some early spring harvest of vegetables.
Check back for more updates.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Cabbage
January 28, 2012 -
I started my spring vegetables already and have included two types of cabbage. I am planting Copenhagen Early Market and Ferry's Round Dutch. I do not have much of a history on these yet, but when I get it I will include it here.
I started these guys about 12 weeks before my average last frost utilizing some re-purposed toilet paper rolls. So far, these have worked great. All the seeds have sprouted except one of the Ferry's Round Dutch (I accidentally knocked this one over and had to replant). The kids are really liking this one and hopefully it will give us some good cabbage heads to prepare. I have 6 of each type going. Because I can space it out, I will probably do a second planting of these for the spring as well. Hopefully I will have some pictures to attach tomorrow.
I started my spring vegetables already and have included two types of cabbage. I am planting Copenhagen Early Market and Ferry's Round Dutch. I do not have much of a history on these yet, but when I get it I will include it here.
I started these guys about 12 weeks before my average last frost utilizing some re-purposed toilet paper rolls. So far, these have worked great. All the seeds have sprouted except one of the Ferry's Round Dutch (I accidentally knocked this one over and had to replant). The kids are really liking this one and hopefully it will give us some good cabbage heads to prepare. I have 6 of each type going. Because I can space it out, I will probably do a second planting of these for the spring as well. Hopefully I will have some pictures to attach tomorrow.
Broccoli - Green Goliath
January 28, 2012 -
Earlier this month, I started my spring vegetables. Among these were Green Goliath Broccoli. Last year, Abby really enjoyed the Packman Broccoli we planted from Bonnie Plants. This year I plan on expanding. I had some seeds of this variety from 2007 and some from 2011 that I did not plant. I started both of these lots this year using my re-purposed toilet paper rolls. (More pictures on that to follow.)
I planted these a little over a week ago. To my amazement, I have sprouts from the all the 2007 seeds. Only 1 so far of the 2011 lot has sprouted. The average last frost in my area is the first week of April. I started these guys indoors 12 weeks before this date. The kids are very excited about the little seedlings popping up. With luck I can put these guys out the first week of March and enjoy some tasty broccoli.
I am also planning on trying some De Cicco Broccoli also this year. I will start those seeds next week.
Keep posting.
Earlier this month, I started my spring vegetables. Among these were Green Goliath Broccoli. Last year, Abby really enjoyed the Packman Broccoli we planted from Bonnie Plants. This year I plan on expanding. I had some seeds of this variety from 2007 and some from 2011 that I did not plant. I started both of these lots this year using my re-purposed toilet paper rolls. (More pictures on that to follow.)
I planted these a little over a week ago. To my amazement, I have sprouts from the all the 2007 seeds. Only 1 so far of the 2011 lot has sprouted. The average last frost in my area is the first week of April. I started these guys indoors 12 weeks before this date. The kids are very excited about the little seedlings popping up. With luck I can put these guys out the first week of March and enjoy some tasty broccoli.
I am also planning on trying some De Cicco Broccoli also this year. I will start those seeds next week.
Keep posting.
January 28, 2012 - Garlic Update
January 28, 2012 -
This morning I noticed that the garlic that we planted early this month is sprouting up. If these do well, we will have 18 garlic bulbs by fall. I am shocked that these came up so fast, but there they were this morning with little green shoots poking through the ground.
It appeared that most of the 12 gloves we planted were all popping up but I will have to check tomorrow. I plan on putting pictures up of the garlic we I check them tomorrow.
It is kind of amazing though to see the price of garlic in the stores. It was $3 a bulb last I checked. I caught some bulbs on sale for $0.99 and planted them, now I will have approximately $54 worth of garlic.
This morning I noticed that the garlic that we planted early this month is sprouting up. If these do well, we will have 18 garlic bulbs by fall. I am shocked that these came up so fast, but there they were this morning with little green shoots poking through the ground.
It appeared that most of the 12 gloves we planted were all popping up but I will have to check tomorrow. I plan on putting pictures up of the garlic we I check them tomorrow.
It is kind of amazing though to see the price of garlic in the stores. It was $3 a bulb last I checked. I caught some bulbs on sale for $0.99 and planted them, now I will have approximately $54 worth of garlic.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
2012 is here! Time to start planning
Just a small update. There will be more garlic for the Delks this coming year. I planted 12 more garlic cloves on Sunday (1/8/2012). This was in addition to the 6 that are still happily growing despite the winter weather. These add ons are supposed to pop up in the spring, so we will see what happens. It is neat though that this grew from store bought garlic.
I will be doing another post soon on my spring early vegetables I plan on putting out. Stay posted. 2012 looks like a bigger year.
Joe
I will be doing another post soon on my spring early vegetables I plan on putting out. Stay posted. 2012 looks like a bigger year.
Joe
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
A New Pest in the Tomatoes
Hello everyone out there. I have been very negligent in posting on this blog. The garden is still doing OK. A little bit dry right now because of the lack of rain, but still going somewhat strong.
I wanted to post about a garden pest I though I had luckily avoided, but however, I was wrong. I noticed that some of my Better Boy Tomatoes have been feeling the heat the past few days. I have kept a close eye on them and tried to water them when I could (i.e. if the kids would let me). Last night as I was doing my inspection, I noticed that one of the plants had lost several leaves. This was not too uncommon, with the dry conditions, but this was different. The leaves were missing, not wilted. I knew something was attacking my tomatoes.
Enter the Tomato Hornworm, Manduca Quinquemaculata.
I noticed this guy when I was looking over my plants. Because I am trying to grow all my plants without any chemical aids, the best way to control these guys is to remove them and squish them. That is where Abby came in. She loved it when she got to squish the "green snake." She ran back inside and think scared Jocelyn because she was loudly proclaiming that she killed a green snake.
Either way, if you notice several leaves gone in one day, quickly inspect your tomatoes and pluck these guys. They are voracious eaters and can destroy a plant in a day.
Joe
I wanted to post about a garden pest I though I had luckily avoided, but however, I was wrong. I noticed that some of my Better Boy Tomatoes have been feeling the heat the past few days. I have kept a close eye on them and tried to water them when I could (i.e. if the kids would let me). Last night as I was doing my inspection, I noticed that one of the plants had lost several leaves. This was not too uncommon, with the dry conditions, but this was different. The leaves were missing, not wilted. I knew something was attacking my tomatoes.
Enter the Tomato Hornworm, Manduca Quinquemaculata.
I noticed this guy when I was looking over my plants. Because I am trying to grow all my plants without any chemical aids, the best way to control these guys is to remove them and squish them. That is where Abby came in. She loved it when she got to squish the "green snake." She ran back inside and think scared Jocelyn because she was loudly proclaiming that she killed a green snake.
Either way, if you notice several leaves gone in one day, quickly inspect your tomatoes and pluck these guys. They are voracious eaters and can destroy a plant in a day.
Joe
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