Seed Starting

Posted on March 1, 2016 by onedogrunning

I think I can say that this is the first time in my life I’ve started my seeds on time, and properly. I now have a seedling heat mat, and was happy to find small greenhouse flats at the dollar store for a buck each. I made free plant markers out of plastic yogurt lids, and the seaweed snack trays I’ve been saving fit perfectly six to a flat. Let’s go!

First to sprout was the curly endive and broccoli in less that 24 hours, followed by the marigolds, okra and thyme at about 48 hours. I have my tomato and pepper seeds going, as well as some herbs that I’d like more of. I go through thyme so quickly and it grows so slowly!

The tomatoes I have started are Aunt Ruby’s German Green, Prudens Purple, Black Sea Man and Green Grape. A couple of the seed varieties are older so I may have to start more. The Prudens Purple are from 2008!

For peppers right now I have Jalapeno, Poblano, Sweet Banana (thought it was hot), and New Mexico 6 Chili. Planning to also do Habaneros.

I went seed shopping today and got a bunch of fun stuff. Seedy Sunday is next weekend but I just couldn’t help myself.

Starting from top left we have mixed Iceland poppies, mixed violas, variegated nasturtium, tarragon, edamame, rhubarb, borage (I know it’s a weed!), rainbow carrots, daikon radish, collard greens, castor bean, shallots, scallopini squash (pattypans), golden beets, crystal apple cucumber, lemon cucumber, brussels sprouts, celery and bergamot. Phew! Did you know that some people hide seeds behind other seeds at the seed store? They do!

I also picked up a flat of Winterbor kale since there were no seeds available and it’s a variety I wanted to try. It’s the curly green kind most often found at the store.

Last I grabbed some elephant garlic and a canna since I’ve never grown one and I find them lovely. It will need to be lifted in the fall and stored in a frost free area for the winter, but I canna see that being much of a problem!

February 29th Garden

Posted on March 1, 2016 by onedogrunning

Peonies coming up

March has not yet hit, but the garden is already back in full force. Some things like the kale, calendula, and chamomile have been going strong all winter long.

Cavolo Nero (aka black kale/Lacinato kale) getting ready to flower

Self-seeded and transplanted red Russian kale from last year is starting to take off, this is a 5 gallon pot!

I wandered around today with Parsley the cat as my companion and took some pictures to share with you. I think we’re going to have a prolific year!

“I have decided to supervise this activity.”

Digitalis or foxglove, started last year from seed. Should flower this year!

Blue and pink delphiniums started super early

Looks like I may get a few artichokes this year! Check out the self-seeded kale all around it…

Princess Parsley surveying the raised beds

Cheerful mini daffodils surrounded by sweet woodruff

Some potted up Egyptian walking onions and self-seeded miner’s lettuce

Potted up prickly pear cactus

I love how thickly last year’s lupines are coming in

And of course the arugula, one of my favorites. It’s already trying to bolt!

Good thing I have all this baby arugula started. I could eat arugula all day.

Young red mustard greens

One of the little bee balms from last year now trying to engulf its pot. I think this is the red flowering one

Moroccan tea mint doing excellently, as expected

Hops are popping up

This is a Persian cornflower I got late last year on sale. Can’t wait to see the blooms!

My big pink tea rose in the front yard is looking good even after being blown down and staked back up last year

The little hyssop under the nest box made it though too. This herb is too strong-tasting for me straight up but a few leaves chiffonaded into a salad are delicious

The calendula plants that made it through the winter are pretty scraggly, but new babies are coming up all over the place now

The wallflower is bravely bursting forth

Valerian at the foot of the coop off to a good start

Satisfied ruler of all she can see

June Garden with Dogs

Posted on June 12, 2015 by onedogrunning

Red Hot Poker – I’ve always wanted one of these in my garden

We are technically in a drought right now but my gardens have been doing great with minimal watering. I owe it to the very thick layer of mulch that I try to maintain. My morning ritual once I’ve fed the kitties and let the dogs out is to check for eggs and do any watering that needs doing, mostly in the container garden. Today I decided to walk around with my camera and capture some shots of what’s been growing and blooming.

Scabiosa – These flowers were part of my sister’s wedding bouquet so I wanted to get a specimen

Mammoth Russian Sunflower

There are flowers on my European Olive tree. Does that mean I get olives?

Hydrangea

The beginnings of peaches

Hoku wants to play

Prickly Pear cactus – the pads and fruit are edible

Morrocan Tea Mint

E.T. helps me water

Lovely Comfrey blooms

Baby Mouse Melons and my Salad Burnet

The blueberries are almost ready

Volunteer California Poppies

Tiny, Green Fingers Okra

The Liatris getting ready to bloom

My salad patch, arugula and mustard greens

Conadria fig tree is finally in the ground

The leeks are looking good

Hoku waits for broken quail eggs

I love dill!

Tomatoes are in – now what to do with all the extras?!

Containers are taking over

Purple and yellow cauliflower starts are in

The yacon is doing great, can’t wait to try it

The calendulas are finally beginning to bloom

Backyard and Container Garden Progress + Cats

Posted on June 6, 2015 by onedogrunning

Parsley (the cat) in the container garden

I was a little on edge using the pure organic fish compost I had purchased, unamended in my giant container garden, but so far tests have been positive! You can distinguish it as the very black stuff in the photo above as compared to the lighter material which is my homemade compost. I think potting soil is a bit of a ripoff so I’m looking forward to the results of this experiment.

I was initially worried about drainage, so I added a 4-6 inch layer of homemade compost to the bottom of each pot, since it’s really light and chunky. It’s pretty much a mixture of kitchen and garden waste mixed with wood chips and rabbit and chicken/quail manure aged for about a year. I have two piles going and I alternate between piles; one gets emptied while the other gets filled. I don’t mind using compost that is a little unfinished, or chunky; but sometimes that isn’t ideal for seed starting.

So far I haven’t noticed any problems with compaction or burning or anything with the fish compost and it’s been a week or two since things were planted. I’ll be interested to see how the growth compares to my homegrown compost pots. Those pots have some fresh chicken pen floor as their bottom layer. Pure folly? We shall see.

My tomato garden

A few tomatoes are in. These are my first attempt at cold sown tomatoes, so I have big expectations of them. Ideally, they should be as vigorous as any volunteer tomato in the compost pile. I will have a few in the ground and a few in pots. Maybe a total of about 15 plants. It’s a good thing I restricted myself this year because inevitably I found another tomato plant I wanted at the farmer’s market. It is a Striped German and is reported to taste like candy. I also picked up some Moroccan Tea Mint, Chamomile and a Mouse Melon plant. Not to mention a giant Black Bamboo and Sunset Glow Bamboo which will be used for privacy hedges.

I recently got out my shiny, beautiful, All American Pressure Canner to can some rabbit meat and I’m raring to go on the tomatoes, once they arrive. Tomatoes are one of my favorite things to can, they taste so good. There are a few flowers already, so here’s hoping for a bountiful harvest this year. I plan to try to keep suckers pruned and keep things tidy.

My arugula, started from seeds I collected last year, is growing like crazy. It’s ready for harvest after just a week or two. I’m glad these were the seeds I brought to the swap this year, I love imagining other beautiful plots of arugula all over the island. My red and yellow onions are getting big and my leeks no longer look like invisible blades of grass. Beets and carrots are coming in, although some creature (slug) has been helping themselves to part of the rows. Volunteer potatoes are huge already and calendulas are threatening to bloom. The yacon is bursting out of its pot and there are jalapenos and eggplants sprouting. It’s going to be a busy month!