tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86773778784537411272024-02-18T23:31:28.120-08:00Greenhorn GardenersWe are awkward, naive, and inexperienced with gardening. Join us on our journey.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00633712081197318104noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677377878453741127.post-67030380896269873602013-06-16T18:04:00.000-07:002013-06-16T18:04:00.052-07:00NettingThis year...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFANKI-1Qqo1Bm7Zv4zZfhVy8mteM-l6CAHEMr6Ss2_feE4p7gSZcLynz1lBiJmOercQ_aZsO5jdcTqxpTIGc9aSMQHoldllYJZ9fSq0k8WqFBtmJZfXrTobjT_9tZizfboVdQDFUCbZhM/s1600/IMG_2255.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFANKI-1Qqo1Bm7Zv4zZfhVy8mteM-l6CAHEMr6Ss2_feE4p7gSZcLynz1lBiJmOercQ_aZsO5jdcTqxpTIGc9aSMQHoldllYJZ9fSq0k8WqFBtmJZfXrTobjT_9tZizfboVdQDFUCbZhM/s320/IMG_2255.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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...the critters don't get to win! We added netting to the blueberries too. Take that, squirrels, chipmunks, birds, and beagles.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00633712081197318104noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677377878453741127.post-65570494717211118482012-07-22T16:33:00.002-07:002012-07-22T16:33:47.364-07:00Eating from the Garden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA9BSXwOT1ltcZQpwuK9lVbbIAoR2k5cxdlPivyJun8EbWzenGNb7MztZWJdBc_yGPBx7BaybU2mfFtzJskhUSlczPdIuBMApyxbeNxvZC7rm3ZJUbdrK5VLHTjzYzub67YnIQ_dLYP9v3/s1600/photo(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA9BSXwOT1ltcZQpwuK9lVbbIAoR2k5cxdlPivyJun8EbWzenGNb7MztZWJdBc_yGPBx7BaybU2mfFtzJskhUSlczPdIuBMApyxbeNxvZC7rm3ZJUbdrK5VLHTjzYzub67YnIQ_dLYP9v3/s400/photo(1).JPG" width="400" /> </a></div>
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We are flush with potatoes, tiny tomatoes, and soybean pods. Today I snagged a bowl full of soybeans and cooked them up. You might know them as edamame.</div>
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Planting for fall will happen soon, and I'm hoping to put most of the spring things that we missed planting into the ground! </div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00633712081197318104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677377878453741127.post-79350205697626795812012-05-31T15:46:00.002-07:002012-05-31T15:46:22.219-07:00End of May Garden UpdateThis is best shown. We were gone half of May but came home to a flourishing garden.<br />
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Even the soy beans are starting to come in, although because the soil wasn't quite warmed through, they took their time in budding. (This is something I learned from a co-worker, that soil temperature determines when things blossom and ripen.)<br />
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We have a lot still to do. We planted a few more things that we got at the Farmer's Market this past weekend - a replacement jalapeno pepper, another tomato, and some basil; but the herb garden is overrun with mint and pineapple mint, and I need to harvest and leave room for other things.</div>
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00633712081197318104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677377878453741127.post-9730986038688450422012-04-29T18:59:00.000-07:002012-04-29T18:59:05.304-07:00Garden Update 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well hello there. We still have a garden. Nathaniel even put in some red bricks between the raised beds that I should really post pictures of sometime soon. The garden was neglected for spring, so we're holding off on greens and peas until the fall. Some plants decided to grow again anyway - this is Red Giant Mustard Greens planted last fall. We should probably snack on this soon.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Q_DeshSFTvGzyE-p4T3rPrLAiOC1hMulGXMFBpELy1LF8l4fVddND-2kS12BYsCE7wYPRhd4jsEpWWzXCQ3ii6UfFwwABRtX6M0RFv-TrxJgV7ewzMGiAU6iFZCVCxl7xMXa40FW04kw/s1600/PICT0017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Q_DeshSFTvGzyE-p4T3rPrLAiOC1hMulGXMFBpELy1LF8l4fVddND-2kS12BYsCE7wYPRhd4jsEpWWzXCQ3ii6UfFwwABRtX6M0RFv-TrxJgV7ewzMGiAU6iFZCVCxl7xMXa40FW04kw/s320/PICT0017.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div>
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Our freckles lettuce also came back. I didn't have the heart to tell it that we never liked it in the first place - look! It is so cute and freckly! (And bitter, unfortunately). Other than the plants that came back on their own, we planted a few pepper plants, a tomato, soy beans, beets, carrots, and still need to go find new basil. </div>
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I was happy, however, to see chive blossoms again. So far I've added them to egg salad, besan puda (savory chickpea flour pancakes), and today added them to some tofu with black bean sauce, along with some chives. They have such a lovely, light onion flavor, something we never would have had a chance to experiment with had we never grown chives in the first place. Does anyone know if you need to replace chives or if they are okay to just keep reusing? They seem tasty and productive.</div>
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And since I can't help but share it, here is the tofu dish:</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00633712081197318104noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677377878453741127.post-83705934559403591272011-07-17T19:44:00.000-07:002011-07-17T19:49:04.915-07:00Kale kale kale<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/iLBCji02mvLmTadW1oLSKQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuNKhCXbdKSUaVtK5pW2cp50hfpeWzaKqXFfGd7DXWlAol0vKSJ8tRHPoTtAMo4WNafw3AEl60NEJsmg7dc1KBdRldxrYa6Y64gZ_Fs7mJabxHTDnOWiXoPis0jRCpiMzrgiiGcfIc0P4v/s400/4918829_cf7153611041b749be24a49deac76fe0.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/jenny.colvin/Gardening?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">Gardening</a></td></tr></table><br />There is nothing like having a recipe you want to try, and being able to wander out to the garden to get what you need for it. I had a recipe for <a href="http://jennyalsocooks.blogspot.com/2011/07/salad-duo.html">shredded kale salad</a> that a friend had posted about in Facebook, so I picked a variety of kales (purples and greens!) and a few leaves of radish greens that were still around and headed back inside.<br /><br />We haven't done as good of a job keeping on top of harvesting things this year, but it is still nice that the garden is out there, growing away, even when we aren't being as attentive.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00633712081197318104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677377878453741127.post-90617176340882821672011-07-04T20:13:00.000-07:002011-07-04T20:20:11.785-07:00July Gardening Update<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/6oBAAyZauB1YKJKykXA_rw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLQOzfubv_3KaeSW6TCVaoz0BhXDXBaqbjL1XHmQKgNPrNFI2neaSvqk3xuBBX2Lz7l16zPv_wt4K6eF_UaEemW_VrW3zRZITfDKuJxTnYktdEKetur57sieVVqs23EGps3DuJECzPRN-q/s400/DSCN1952.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/jenny.colvin/Gardening?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">Gardening</a></td></tr></table><br />We're still playing with sprinkler and timer setup, but after a period of daily afternoon thunderstorms, look who finally joined the party? I was beginning to think some of the kale we planted just wasn't going to grow. You can see that some kind of bugs, maybe snails, are also a fan, but it doesn't matter. We will chop it down and put it to good use soon. I've seen a few Japanese beatles flying around today but nothing like last year.<br /><br />Knock.<br /><br />On. <br /><br />Wood.<br /><br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/QQmup5Mjllc81I3LshiXaA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt2L50_Lcoo3UMq9GtqtK0-KCezUhcyeeWwbF7KnDwEr03zLfVyC2cTR4Rw56VkwB_6SV-XgeFB5IiSrAa28HoLDbN7Z85X50zWKwGAnXQI-QL1o4ZLw6KdHeQAykfr_ANpSyetNf2IILj/s400/DSCN1953.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/jenny.colvin/Gardening?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">Gardening</a></td></tr></table><br />We do still have some lovely ruffly lettuces growing. The freckles lettuce got tired of waiting for us to harvest it and has shot some seeds up into the air. Really, it doesn't matter, it was too bitter and we didn't enjoy it. But this little bright green lettuce, Black Seeded Simpson Lettuce, has grown very nicely in its limited space. We should try more of it next year. It has a mellow flavor that is great in sandwiches.<br /><br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/CuHDBemM4dzGxGEhN0MSEg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizClXa6ITArSCd4BMCduQIEMM4eHe0cf1FowJ4QI-WMGw3RC1PoSRTB9cS_UEzFsbErusH8ixvT3ql-xDDxc3yqIojyy6t1z5bqfFQ57mxMajmhxlRa1gVLP6i8ULI4SXyqB9fjmpZahsG/s400/DSCN1950.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/jenny.colvin/Gardening?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">Gardening</a></td></tr></table><br />The strawberries are still growing, and the blueberries have started ripening finally. The birds have been hanging out around this plant quite a bit, but there were still some berries left for us. We planted two new plants this year, but they are in their teenage years and are not being very productive. Hopefully by next summer, we will have three producing blueberry plants! The first blueberries of the season were put to good use, as you can see over here in the <a href="http://jennybakes.blogspot.com/2011/07/happy-red-white-and-blue-day.html">baking blog</a>.<br /><br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Z9Qsxnqv84wQD43Hznty7A?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQisKk3UMskS18gv7ACiOiny8NMrlhT18eB1W2d_uZajLntknmuA_VHE8o4UfaniCZaSfZpFDRj6BumTHZFyQJKSUjV9JK3kDncRN8AneWcwSPd_0YKmoNSpjBtO_nB3iGQMILCcGeY9XN/s400/DSCN1954.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/jenny.colvin/Gardening?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">Gardening</a></td></tr></table><br />We have two watermelons coming up in the watermelon patch that we did not plant. So that's exciting! We welcome plants that *want* to grow without any assistance. Except you, weeds, who seem to have found their way into our raised beds this year. Blame the birds again, I imagine. <br /><br />We finally planted some more herbs and tomatoes a weekend or so ago, but it might have been too late and too hot. We'll see if they make it!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00633712081197318104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677377878453741127.post-50905534740227420692011-06-19T15:13:00.000-07:002011-06-19T15:17:03.220-07:00Harvesting Garlic<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/LIaEOGwNXywu6ww4wqzpRA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia_axQcFdJK03m3Vm_r7M_3JiBMB9GV4DEHtq2Hp856KjbLTvozPUZR4E8hYIKZRBJmCD6PD1-oZuyYMQOA5KjMAKRybI3vnmElJzWblw22l8cpMOSaqjWjMYd8mCZ1cv4sMzZtCb_vx_a/s400/DSCN1855.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/jenny.colvin/Gardening?feat=embedwebsite">Gardening</a></td></tr></table><br />We tried to harvest the garlic a couple weeks back, but it didn't seem quite ready yet. Today was clearly the day, before the daily thunderstorm. You can tell it needs it by how the leaves are browning and the stalks of the softneck variety (on the right) is falling over.<br /><br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/I5DbX_t6nH80VuIS9wVcGQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAvwuylpcqv9W5Evgf-ed3JR_3BG6mXz4xjFbwK-CIVphCHYs5Pd9XzA5KPQhg1rweHXaBb9Nmr0MrNmixNOoEBB7W7LKa-FfA-Z3yRFNPLApCw7gE7lwTqCWDN6qfCWN2vmcBc9Jz0biN/s400/DSCN1862.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/jenny.colvin/Gardening?feat=embedwebsite">Gardening</a></td></tr></table><br />This is a first for me. I also didn't grow up with my family growing garlic. So I read a few books and websites, and gathered that you gently shake off the loose dirt, tie the hardneck heads together in small groups, braid the softneck varieties together, and let them cure in a warm place for 2 weeks or so. I don't really have the right scenario; it is the garage or nothing, which won't be very breezy, but will have to do. I grouped heads of garlic in clumps, braided some, and strung them up around the garage. <br /><br />In two weeks we will gently brush the (then dried) dirt off, and cut the stalks off the hardneck ones, and prepare them for storage. I'm nervous that they got too wet and that they will mold rather than cure. So we'll see!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00633712081197318104noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677377878453741127.post-53015103950714490532011-06-05T07:51:00.000-07:002011-06-05T07:52:59.784-07:00Watermelon Radishes<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/G0dtryyXx9Mjiw-5CIFZFw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZOyis9ufeWYrOuSUym8S37cPJisnk81BTfqnUD6b2Ebf2sW5PwAkqDrwKSbANyG_CnnViHp7fDBVl6MQxU0fIOxFjFq0Sj6Otdpny4adm9qUQiWRECU9uFrKZPoA8PuF83h8DmU7OokUO/s400/DSCN1804_2.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/jenny.colvin/Gardening?feat=embedwebsite">Gardening</a></td></tr></table><br />Growing radishes is a puzzle. While I'm happy to eat radish greens, I have no idea what makes one seed turn into a lovely radish with small greens and the one right next to it never really develop a radish but shoot seedy greens three feet into the air.<br /><br />I picked almost everything this morning because they had clearly gone to seed, and I don't know if there is anything I can do to prevent it at that point, and we ended up with about 4-5 decent radishes. <br /><br />Oh well, to be fair, we don't actually like radishes all that much, but they are certainly beautiful.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00633712081197318104noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677377878453741127.post-45322975382942808912011-05-22T16:46:00.000-07:002011-05-22T16:54:26.267-07:00Garlic Scapes<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/q2W0Un6aqEV4mQ5MNawhNg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglavoTHtsI8maPrRKFLZ7SamgT9vLxllKzI7Y3YrogKlPO-BGuOr4SlDG0nqZJPL9jBj-LMSQ3Xgn8oAGCBEvXGEaFJMjqlBZjOxE37t0gtsfO_sf14BgL44IqGrHKHbfMIs6SavR_Evv5/s400/DSCN1522.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/jenny.colvin/Gardening?feat=embedwebsite">Gardening</a></td></tr></table><br />This is our first year growing garlic! We ordered two varieties from <a href="http://www.sowtrueseed.com">Sow True Seeds</a> in Asheville, and they got planted shortly before Thanksgiving last year. They are just about ready to be harvested, probably once June hits. It was amazing to see it come up so quickly after a long, cold winter, but I'm a fan of plants that grow with little effort.<br /><br />A month or so before the garlic needs to be harvested, there is a unique culinary opportunity that only people growing their own garlic will usually have access to, unless you have a very thorough farmers market (I have never seen scapes at any around here). <a href="http://greenhorngardeners.blogspot.com/2011/05/chive-blossoms.html">Chive blossoms</a> were our first revelation of the growing season, but we can add garlic scapes to the list! These thick curly tendrils are really unblossomed flowers, and when harvested before blooming, can be consumed in a variety of ways. Check out the <a href="http://jennyalsocooks.blogspot.com/2011/05/garlic-scape-pesto.html">cooking blog</a> to see what we did with them.<br /><br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/uS8W1qm9Ycts-S6bzyD_rA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAk5K2V88sMNRswMSYMux2H9SWFKppkJ4uLSt-x0HwbOJpiMw7m8KokrUrJIJ1Q85GYyvL2ai75HTbz8VGxMl8Xq-scF-9RgrhSTKFeahEbWYfzkTH9RCToc9Y6P7abaJNMLpTvcQxpuVh/s400/DSCN1525.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/jenny.colvin/Gardening?feat=embedwebsite">Gardening</a></td></tr></table><br />To harvest garlic scapes, you simply cut them at the base that the loopy shoot came off of. It is actually helpful for the garlic to do this, because it allows it to put more energy back into the bulb in its last few weeks, rather than in flowers you don't need. Everything I read said the best time of day to do this was afternoon, since the sap would more likely dry out and harm the plant less if it was already hot outside. It felt wrong to cut them off, because these were the sturdiest parts of the plants!<br /><br />I had originally planned to harvest the garlic today, but everything I've read said it is best to wait at least two more weeks. Since it is going to have to dry for a few weeks anyway, we will just continue to be patient.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00633712081197318104noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677377878453741127.post-51268922905506351022011-05-19T07:12:00.000-07:002011-05-19T07:12:44.995-07:00A Discerning Palate<iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/VZjqQ7tUqtM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />Yesterday I made the mistake of giving my dog a fresh pea right from the vine, and now he knows where they come from. We have to chase him away from munching on them. This morning I discovered that he only picks them when they're ready.....Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00633712081197318104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677377878453741127.post-80987654485471080592011-05-13T10:48:00.000-07:002011-05-13T10:51:34.134-07:00Garden Update<table style="width:auto;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/aWnTPuIAPxl8qanN8a0JIQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ugc0CskboZFldf6Kch_O_Uwi_2sGI_ja3YPScEmcGTgxId1xRvOCpNRJx0kS2rGIeEykLCjiVE1cetsH48vT2YbtbjL-Lt5D-t6HdLfRH_Vizz0TlcPE_7b8Kfj2H1XJDmLT0aGTUM7-/s400/DSCN1501.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/jenny.colvin/Gardening?feat=embedwebsite">Gardening</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />The green things in the garden are growing strong. In our first raised bed, the potatoes (up front) have taken off, the peas (in the back) are starting to produce, the garlic (on the left) is just about ready to be harvested and tied up for drying, and the radishes (behind the potatoes) have been farmed a bit for greens already, and are probably close to being ready for first harvest. The freckles lettuce is just about there, and will probably grow strong once we take the garlic out of its sun!<br /><br /><table style="width:auto;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/9-z4umf7ZEFixEI2EbMhJA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_IsZ_yl0RLKJwbrWTwqLxMq-L7ah7qvp0pyJPUNDwM33DWPD4SqmYMJyjLav9ilSI_2vwqCpujui64ZsUqAP1x-kdt6ub-b0nnlhDVn5IL_cThlHHBMtGhPhrH5U1_Obc5UsK_wJf2ejB/s400/DSCN1503.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/jenny.colvin/Gardening?feat=embedwebsite">Gardening</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Over on the side of the yard where we removed the dead palmetto tree and filled it in with dirt we took out when digging up the grass to plant fruit trees, we found a volunteer watermelon plant. If it wants to grow, we are not going to stop it!<br /><br />There are a bunch of blossoms on the raspberries and blueberries, and strawberries are already ripening. We are on our way!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00633712081197318104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677377878453741127.post-24385541122494297532011-05-01T13:37:00.000-07:002011-05-01T13:38:44.217-07:00Chive Blossoms<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/hSnckVbh5LPwjM3zBouMRA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT_tse7hyphenhyphenaojqwWl2mWeLzmnyolkvnxC-dZq3oMzaM9U3g6w563GVpQ-WxjDj8lM5Hl73V78I5O6dA-kAi3ZwNn9Zv40cJwrksuL1_d_i5ydEiqfujy7xN9RaQuy6LxS9xYUM3Dtn5itRw/s400/DSCN1444.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/jenny.colvin/Gardening?feat=embedwebsite">Gardening</a></td></tr></table><br />Head on over to the cooking blog to find out about <a href="http://jennyalsocooks.blogspot.com/2011/05/chive-blossoms.html">delicious dishes made with chive blossoms</a>. If you grew chives last year and let them stay through the winter, you have something in your garden that you need to eat!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00633712081197318104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677377878453741127.post-68338044305764348082011-05-01T10:29:00.000-07:002011-05-01T10:33:06.422-07:00<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/8G7BT34egOffuuLDDLOE5w?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb5wV2jv6lLFos1ugNvVFO2ib0eb9gDG3UlCJckALCcOO75u6CXvvTwjNCieFnSeGpV3Zraml9lt6f2k0hJ4Bpox4s3XSnV9NCY4OrabYFDFXP4Uuz8x3zIQrmGxpD33YLDvtx0BbW2dQA/s400/DSCN1442.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/jenny.colvin/Gardening?feat=embedwebsite">Gardening</a></td></tr></table><br />First strawberry of the year, almost ripe! <br /><br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/w703aIDEf2h1hyAv-goJOw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHVYtahGWbfcw3AzPTSTDsLuqDjSNixtxOYb34xvwxf1QCOpXe3qAeC6nmIVQflv45jLYAQs8V2ioyz3j9f-Agjbq3t3YmfyYRkNhRzgH9K2cXFOA_fFWVt00ZfGss1jLj7_YaUEo8KGXP/s400/DSCN1440.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/jenny.colvin/Gardening?feat=embedwebsite">Gardening</a></td></tr></table><br />A new lettuce for us - freckles lettuce from <a href="http://sowtrueseed.com/lettuce/lettuce-freckles/">Sow True Seed</a>.<br /><br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/T76LEzQOzsTwtIlDM8In0g?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1NZpyl_Cl4-TjNd6QVwpWLvNtHGGAUdbtTV22ckIQEoAOoXeGv2hK3IZ-d9D4O9eZpooIqwiW74h-OjVccup8x1-jkfwYSRje-rdkB_nOAf0QuRm89XhhrHuCi9o83ppPumKB7eXFu5Dq/s400/DSCN1446.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/jenny.colvin/Gardening?feat=embedwebsite">Gardening</a></td></tr></table><br />Irises from our friend Kathryn - not sure if this was the right time of year to plant them, so we'll see if they make it!<br /><br />Other things are growing too! Potatoes have sprouted through, peas are almost ready to produce, garlic is almost ready to pull out, greens are going (slowly!), and the radishes are starting to grow the huge leaves we love to eat! We still need to plant more herbs, ladypeas, and maybe some more tomatoes.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00633712081197318104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677377878453741127.post-82816552622983260022011-04-17T20:21:00.001-07:002011-04-17T20:26:15.537-07:00Works in Progress<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/NWNgUUBEWId8HAbZqnxozw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBnW7jAVfl-edaEXNpg5ZDjjYWgsYmt2x80Stx20Yw3ssydrhwmOTU6t_KhZKvWcv-E1Ny3ha1E-X_5ddAzRw4b564rH8AGb-NYKiSf14i_OJ-xmKcJLhGfnLkrqwi00R9mxwSSbsSAkb8/s400/IMG_0069.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/jenny.colvin/Gardening?feat=embedwebsite">Gardening</a></td></tr></table><br />Today we planted the apple tree, moved the raspberry, and put weed matting down in our newly designated "fruit tree area." Nathaniel had taken out the grape and dying blueberry and put two more blueberries in a few weeks ago. We're going to end up with mulch covering that area with a nice border, but don't have all the parts yet.<br /><br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/4BQ6f-NemEOT1zS01oFRAA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfixDun_qHO7ZdibzOYmAgTzSSELays5B-J8wBHuumvo4Y38FHVqXm7QKitoOH6_KTPwvXAjBL2t_SyzjXpwQBncOSm8cu39Ao6uA84Vmb_P65Q6_gGkGRk5dr5i-LWRmpyhZPGRq6F63i/s400/IMG_0060.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/jenny.colvin/Gardening?feat=embedwebsite">Gardening</a></td></tr></table><br />Forgive the photos, we were covered in dirt and the only camera downstairs was the old iPhone. The garlic is going strong, the peas are growing fast, and the lettuce and greens are starting to show up. I planted an additional lettuce and some potatoes today as well. I'm still waiting on May 1 to plant tomatoes and the southern peas we have, but could put in new herbs any time.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00633712081197318104noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677377878453741127.post-59875863812080647312011-03-30T05:59:00.001-07:002011-03-30T06:00:49.606-07:00A rainy spring<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/IpkOHQik3H0YWZx5mmDQcQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy-UlOT2afPd-9YxmvfJyNZe66t1PUP8FVWQvzZq3PaTMKBPYmeeBF4z-vGCMtxMYEdq9Xgzq1lb4bN_k0oRlrqHtT_C-7jCcmVsTcIrGGCFIbCR-NLhHAqlGEZDTXek0LRjraAq6nv5RJ/s400/DSCN1309.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/jenny.colvin/Gardening?feat=embedwebsite">Gardening</a></td></tr></table><br />We haven't had a lot of time to get outside on the weekends yet this year, but the garlic I planted last November is going strong.<br /><br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/WaujZ_-P_glBigcw4qHL-A?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs64V7qqi9HgakzaVeTw_GaQLzZOZHh9jmCRphkoE9g5bNJmCcV51w9gjfrRDQWAWYcjBKrFWnRtefdzwYtG4ZIgloG-DEb1F41-YKKCJwHgXlQtehsb2m7On4IFc2VajHEFS6SGNLgySM/s400/DSCN1310.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/jenny.colvin/Gardening?feat=embedwebsite">Gardening</a></td></tr></table><br />This year we are planting more squares of less things, so a few weeks ago we planted peas, watermelon radishes, and three kinds of greens. Things are sprouting and the rain keeps falling.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00633712081197318104noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677377878453741127.post-89173040690026667612011-02-16T07:21:00.000-08:002011-02-16T07:22:05.216-08:00A new pest to watch out for<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/D0foMKAxCww?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />This is serious business, and I'll need to make sure I have taken care of these pests before starting my spring planting....Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00633712081197318104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677377878453741127.post-29392186390547181882011-01-02T10:18:00.000-08:002011-01-02T10:28:23.292-08:00Gardening Resolutions 2011This will be our second year gardening, and we don't want to bite off too much. Here are a few goals we hope to accomplish in 2011.<br /><br />1. Order seeds from seed catalog<br />This is supposed to be one of the fun parts, and adds diversity you can't get at the grocery store. The biggest challenge in this will be not to diversify too much! Last year we tried a little bit of everything, and we want to grow more of what worked this year. So the seed catalogs will be to select diverse varieties of what we know we can grow well (greens, tomatoes, etc) and to pick out a few really random items.<br /><br />2. Defeat the kraken<br />We didn't do everything we needed to to prevent the return of the Japanese beetles this year, so we know they're coming. Thankfully we finally found a resource for pesticide free diatanacous earth, so that should help once they come out, and it might also help with squash beetles. We've also discussed putting in some bird netting for the strawberries.<br /><br />3. Play with worms<br />Really this is about composting. My parents bought us a gift certificate to a local worm company, and while it completely grosses me out, I'm intrigued by the idea of creating our own rich composting soil. (Is that what they do? Haha, guess we'll be learning).<br /><br />4. Find a new tree to replace palmetto<br />We should have done this in November but things got a little crazy with family visiting and our normal jobs. We had a beautiful palmetto tree that didn't really survive the winters in the upstate, so Nathaniel took it down. We are thinking of what tree to replace it with, and hopefully will put it in before the summer comes.<br /><br />5. Put down stones between raised beds<br />We have always thought of our garden as something that would happen gradually, built on year after year. Last year was busy with building raised beds, planning out the space, planning out the planting, and starting this blog. This year we at least want to get bricks or stones down in between the beds. We'll need to kill the grass and put down sand to make everything even, but the worst part will be transporting the stones from the store to home, ouch. :)<br /><br />What exciting plans do you have for your garden for 2011?<br /><br />Jenny has also made <a href="http://jennyalsocooks.blogspot.com">cooking resolutions</a> and <a href="http://jennybakes.blogspot.com">baking resolutions</a> for 2011.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00633712081197318104noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677377878453741127.post-1976017512786880852010-11-25T19:00:00.001-08:002010-11-25T19:03:27.255-08:00Last Post of the Year - Garlic!I don't have a good picture of the garlic I just planted, but the weather has gone back to being rather pleasant, so I went ahead and planted it.<br /><br />Two varieties - each clove should grow into a new bulb by early summer. Garlic should be exponential (except we'll probably eat a lot of it!). Both varieties come from <a href="http://sowtrue.com/">Sow True</a> up in Asheville, NC, a company I'd highly recommend getting a catalog from as you plan your garden for next year!<br /><br />The two varieties I planted are <a href="http://sowtrue.com/shop/garlic-hardneck-fireball/?s=garlic&st=shopp&searchsubmit=Search">Fireball</a> and <a href="http://sowtrue.com/shop/garlic-softneck-susanville/?s=garlic&st=shopp&searchsubmit=Search">Susanville</a>. See you all in the spring, or maybe early in the year when I start getting antsy and making lists!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00633712081197318104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677377878453741127.post-51331923804372784872010-11-07T11:17:00.000-08:002010-11-07T11:18:13.435-08:00First Frost<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/iEZUJDYs0pNLJ4syCqXT8g?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi00nVevmzJj8tstc377X3abv7Rb6jKml48ZOUhrkvQuIWE7Im1CuKGfJXL88vxRt1C9jQLtr1kcVpA1b6mOw1nhqfaWAbfOICzYwhVKFji847XmmxiiaiT-zmoZfTZmit3DkfxligRzuum/s400/PICT0017.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jenny.colvin/Gardening?feat=embedwebsite">Gardening</a></td></tr></table><br />I never cared about the first frost before, but it means all sorts of things when you garden.<br /><br />So... is it too late to plant my garlic? Did I wait too long? Haha!<br /><br />We're still eating greens, and should probably pick the radishes.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00633712081197318104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677377878453741127.post-56468703389373005282010-10-29T14:17:00.000-07:002010-10-29T14:20:29.967-07:00The Garden Keeps Giving<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/WE3iW-BiSYT1-KP2hdDF6Q?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDy5MhjL7l5LVIhQamPI3oSdZ4VUr4v8G1ScocFiVZwdiWJ7vQT-8UCyCyd-t9egct2uqVJC7oq8YNNCT1WMGtAWgVK0V_RzxsEedHobx8ILAkr69b6ri25Tnpw2YcjWnDn1R8n5sbAUii/s400/DSCN1034.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jenny.colvin/Gardening?feat=embedwebsite">Gardening</a></td></tr></table><br />A few weeks ago, we finally picked one of the watermelons that had been hanging out and growing outside. It was okay, not very sweet, but I'd neglected to water them much and we had not seen rain in what felt like weeks at that point. I know the secret to sweetness is generous watering.<br /><br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/vm404haXG6qN_wV7loPtYA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5CMfgfEzrHB2plvy20EocqfksWtQOLAVTYgKG_5BYxPPbqB6iCB7NJ6LKSNN_k7AvwSQ2MKzF9VH1OV1H1GoMM1mX3Mh9NS9K4-mBSnPpXD72ahVsP8hBTIRVHLQkcD0JzTsNAaT5DB2e/s400/DSCN1039.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jenny.colvin/Gardening?feat=embedwebsite">Gardening</a></td></tr></table><br />Our crops of greens are also doing fairly well, although those in the bed closest to the house aren't getting as much sun now that it has shifted, and might not grow well enough. We have mustard greens, kale, radishes, watercress, and collards growing. Yum!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00633712081197318104noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677377878453741127.post-57551408873327214712010-09-19T09:22:00.000-07:002010-09-19T09:27:58.969-07:00Surprise Harvest<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/xZy9oXw8JULsiKmUp9TdqQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZAZQNLVPivFP4Z8cLuXmwuZq0O-lezo15qtER6PD6KadER-QLT8eFQQ_EarP8oH7qu7DwltuMi3IdWA5ja8l6AOERb1EcujhQdWZSOwDgn2-lBnGP5bSjdZCUx7RvUDwo_Gc7qFqOpSUS/s400/DSCN0870.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jenny.colvin/Gardening?feat=embedwebsite">Gardening</a></td></tr></table><br />We went out to do the work in the garden, pulling out things that were done, trimming back the tomatoes and marigolds again, and planting more greens for fall. And look what we found!<br /><br />I had dismissed the sweet potatoes, thought I'd planted them too early, but then I put my hand deeper in the soil, haha! Now I'm following the <a href="http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/plants/vegetables/crops/hgic1322.html">recommendations on the Clemson Extension Website</a> about curing them, and they are laying out in the garage where I'm certain it will stay quite warm for the next 14 days!<br /><br />Today we pulled out the basil, and in the bed by the house we planted giant mustard greens from <a href="http://sowtrue.com/">Sow True</a> and more kale. Radishes were planted where the sweet potatoes came out of, after adding mushroom compost to everything. We are already altering the soil as we go! <br /><br />As we trimmed back the marigolds I found some renegate carrots that look short, stubby, but healthy. We also are still finding strawberries to eat, go figure.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00633712081197318104noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677377878453741127.post-60035603452770279052010-09-18T17:27:00.000-07:002010-09-18T17:29:33.611-07:00The Fall Garden<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/uUmECv-cm0TUXwTec39VRg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDgovlLSsoc5b_lHZA4dhuharAH2JkukSDhRfGU8Ao7aRqCO-WskR0FPTeZF1w0qpjxBV5dcg1_jD3cWC6QF0j57M9mc4vXjtV3jp-SLgckn7qxvwxbDZk_urW3XVqClwSL3R2hUmr0Xgb/s400/DSCN0859.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jenny.colvin/Gardening?feat=embedwebsite">Gardening</a></td></tr></table><br />It has been so hot that some of my fall/winter greens are NOT happy. They are also not happy because they are being munched on by ants and caterpillars. I caught a few in the act and took their picture before throwing them over the fence.<br /><br />My pumpkins are spindly little plants that probably won't make it, I still don't know when to pick my watermelons, and I waited too long to harvest the basil. I've been drying lemon grass for tea, and my marigolds are going strong!<br /><br />I might rip out more things in the morning and plant another hopeful crop of winter greens. Is it too late? I guess we'll see.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00633712081197318104noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677377878453741127.post-59800968029648622412010-08-15T17:58:00.000-07:002010-08-15T18:00:03.052-07:00Timing is Everything<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/TNxoXH8MCsLFDRiQo1Ks8g?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_IuJ4ZzYbVjI/TGiM7lQYACI/AAAAAAAAKf8/sbEIjFZIi-w/s400/DSCN0752.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jenny.colvin/Gardening?feat=embedwebsite">Gardening</a></td></tr></table><br />We're kind of in a lull season in the garden - picking and eating a lot of tomatoes, planting a bunch of green things for fall, and waiting for pumpkins and melons to ripen. If timing is everything, it is the one thing we lack in our first year of gardening. I picked one watermelon way too soon, and we had to throw it out because it wasn't ripe enough to eat. If I wait until it seems right, the bugs get there first. Is there a magic formula? There are others starting to grow as the vines slowly take over the entire west side of the lawn. It would be nice to actually get to eat one of them!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00633712081197318104noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677377878453741127.post-78923052554212894272010-07-29T20:25:00.000-07:002010-07-29T20:31:24.660-07:00The Heirloom Tomato Mystery<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/eIhZ_wUKzLLnk3_48oJtOg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrDXCduShzFVYuQG4jP4KNi-WUQzFgoj84nW67-hJZU2ftlQSMrs2poWsr8k_Wt6fUm3NgPkCchsPsO0G2qJHNLaNwlh29XJw3vXPIa1D5t7ueGENOWd3jCV9lyUDJ2ZBzjQS1ed6KzjF-/s400/DSCN0632.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jenny.colvin/Gardening?feat=embedwebsite">Gardening</a></td></tr></table><br />Ahh, well, last time I posted I ranted without photos. I had hopes that the heirlooms I grew from seed wouldn't suffer the same fate as my transplants, but this was what I discovered when I looked more closely at the Amish paste tomatoes. I guess the other tomatoes I grew from seed from the same company were organic but not heirloom, and are doing so well that I made tomato salad for dinner. Next year - no heirlooms. I'm kind of in mourning about it. After reading <a href="http://www.animalvegetablemiracle.com/">Animal, Vegetable, Miracle</a> I had it in my head that eventually I would grow <i>only</i> heirloom plants in my garden, so we could have unique varieties of plants that we couldn't just buy at store. Good for genetic variety, good for feeling like the time and cost is justified. <br /><br />Admittedly, the heirloom greens grew without problem. Maybe it is just tomatoes that aren't meant to be. I find ripping the plants out by their roots incredibly therapeutic, and I'll quit pouting soon.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00633712081197318104noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677377878453741127.post-540861212764082192010-07-25T18:00:00.000-07:002010-07-25T18:07:47.660-07:00Ripping out the heirloom tomatoes<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ZZUm_yOHujWFvFQa8YnX9g?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIGMNpT1OiaXWIc9QqvAE5E4ePjg79BaudFM76izSUxIXoxOg__FkFRbfFDLVVAkQx6eVXAY87aVhXAca0ozMiZl0yOlbSTo1Nvzo5U3FB-XYLUr6Ta9NqZNmODkTP8xADPkZ7QL23qo1v/s400/DSCN0379.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jenny.colvin/Gardening?feat=embedwebsite">Gardening</a></td></tr></table><br />This happened last year and this year isn't any better - my heirloom tomatoes look good until they ripen and they turn black and/or mushy, or look beautiful but when you touch them you realize there is no firmness, just pitiful mushy tomatoes, no good for eating. <br /><br />I'm ripping them out! I follow the Clemson Extension <a href="http://www.facebook.com/UpstateHort?ref=search">Upstate Horticulture</a> in Facebook, and they announced that fall planting (greens, cabbages, broccoli) should happen this week or next week, and I can use all that space for those plants. I don't see the point in watering or caring for plants that refuse to grow properly. <br /><br />I'm excited to have greens again, and I have a bunch of heirloom varieties from the Asheville company, <a href="http://sowtrue.com/">Sow True</a>, the place we got our original Appalachian greens seeds from that have out produced anything else in the garden. Is there anything I should keep under consideration when planting in such hot weather? I'm hoping it dips below 90 this week; I'd feel better about that.<br /><br />I'll let the hybrid cherry and sweet 100 tomatoes live, as well as everything I grew from seed. Now I really don't understand why, but the heirlooms I grew from seed aren't having the same problems as the ones I bought as seedlings and transplanted. Any ideas? We've been getting great yellow pear tomatoes from one. <br /><br />I didn't take any pictures today, but last weekend I planted pumpkin seeds, some in the raised bed and some in a random pile of dirt near the raspberries. The random dirt seeds have sprouted, and we may have pumpkins this fall!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00633712081197318104noreply@blogger.com1