Holly-days

Got a little crafty today. Made this swag out of Christmas tree branches, boxwood, nandina and holly from around the yard.
How I did it:
• 7 longer cuttings from the tree pointing downward and 5 shorter cuttings pointing upward, over lapping about 3-4 inches
• Tie together tightly with wire
• After that, slip in shorter cuttings of evergreen plants, including some with red berries. Besides these, you could also use ivy, mahonia-which mine are flowering right now, pine, cypress or yew.
• Finally, tie on a shiny bow (check Youtube for great bow-tying videos) and hang on a door or garden gate.

And Now We Sleep

It is the day before Thanksgiving and it is apparent that these acres have had some freezing temps. At home, I have plants that are still green and flowering. Even the tomatoes have fruit on them. So, I've come to say goodbye to my little plot until I see it again in March. Sleep well, my new Friend, I look forward to our adventures next year.

It is Done

Actually the work has been done for a while now. Mostly when I go out to Shelby Farms now I just piddle around pulling up the dead stuff and planning for next year. Today I took out 3 bags of leaves and dumped them with hopes that they will composte over the winter and add nutrients to the soil in the spring when they come out to plow.

I did not walk away empty handed. The butter bean plants still had some pods that I salvaged before throwing the plants on the heap of crap by the road. The green beans are challenged by the cooler weather, but are producing some tiny pods. I got all I could today. Those plus the butter beans probably together will equal 5 mouthful of food--enough for a half serving for a regular person or for all 3 of my boys on any given day. I started picking jalepeno peppers, but quickly ran out of room in my hands. So out came the plant, still covered in dozens of little peppers. I left it on the patio and will try to figure out what to do with them tomorrow. The rest of the haul were: one reg. sized and three tiny beets; two small purple onions; a half dozen of regular looking scallions; and one six inch carrot. So, an odd assortment of food in very small quantities for me to figure out what to do with them. (An incomplete sentence, I know.)

Last produce

The peppers were the last to start producing, but are still flowering out at the garden. I doubt there will be many more harvests out there. Here are banana peppers, jalepenos, and bell peppers.

What worked

Lady peas
Purple hull peas
Corn
Banana peppers
Cucumbers-but next year we'll plant salad cukes
Roma tomatoes--but not so many plants
Arkansas traveler tomatoes--I'd have more of them
Radishes
Carrots--at the right time
Bell peppers--but start them early indoors; they grow do slow.
Tomatillos--a pleasant surprise.

Peas, Out

They are finally done. No more lady peas. Picked about 2dz pods today. It was a good run.

The zinnia seeds I planted a month ago are gorgeous! Should see a bunch of blooms next week. Beets are up, so are a few onions and fewer carrots, but they're always pokey. Basil is going to flower.

Green Beans: Take 2

I'm trying again. I planted bush green beans last week, around Aug. 31. Just a 3x3 ft patch. I'm counting on a mild fall to help me out.

Finishing up Summer

Went by the garden today. I hadn't been in a week. Luckily, the rain we got yesterday made it out there too. There are about 6 tomato plants putting out new growth and blooms. The peppers still look healthy and the butter beans are blooming again. Lordy, the lady peas are still producing--I picked a big bucketful today. Sweet potatoes may be ready for digging up--I took out a couple last week and they looked pretty good.

The onions, beets and carrots were sprouting. And, I think I may see some zinnia blooms next week.

Winner and Champion 2012 garden product is.....

LADY PEAS!

The garden has been a great experience and I've learned so much. Hopefully writing it down in this blog will help me remember better next spring what I should and shouldn't do. One of the 'shoulds' will be planting peas. I have had tremendous success as Steve had predicted I would. They have been producing since early July and it looks like we'll still be picking at the end of August.

Today I picked about a gallon of lady peas and 1/2 gallon of purple hulls (which were shelled and fixed for dinner.) I also dug up my first 2 sweet potatoes. I'm not sure when the right time to harvest them is. I was just anxious to see if there were any tubers underground. When I dug around one plant, they just popped up. One is fist sized, the other smaller. I also worked the ground around the Hhappy Place sign and planted red onion,  2 kinds of carrots and beet seeds. I'm not sure what happened to my green onions. A few sprouted, but so many dill volunteers had also sprouted--those suckers were everywhere! After awhile, I just gave up trying to separate the 2 and proclaimed the green onions a lost cause. I'll try replanting them if I can ever find my packet of seeds.

It's more like the "I've been HHappier place"

I was at the garden for four hours: watering, hoeing that stinking field grass, and trying to salvage the tomatoes. I trimmed the withered up dead stuff off the vines last week. Today I pulled grass and fertilized. They are showing new growth which is encouraging. Found a new tiny honeydew. The lady peas remain the star producers. Really really need to get a tiller.

Bringing in the Peas

The corn may have been wimpy. The squash and zucchini have succumbed to the bugs and heat. The tomatoes have been productive, but it's been a battle.
Then there are the peas. Apparently, that's where I'll really succeed this year. Gallons of of pods--all needing to be shelled. The results are very satisfying. There should be plenty of dry pods for seed for next year.

How do you know someone has a garden?

Look at their kitchen window.

Like a Good Neighbor...

I'm enjoying this gardening experience. I've learned a lot, though I'm not sure how much I'll remember for next year. One thing I'll remember is to FERTILIZE THE CORN! I picked the last puny ears today. The deer had gotten into it last week, but now even they are avoiding at my sickly stalks. My biggest haul today came from my neighbor, Wilson. He had a truck bed full of corn and told me to take all I wanted. I shamelessly took about 12. Then he offered me some white potatoes, green beans and an eggplant. He and Willanda are so nice and generous. I'd love to offer them something, but my produce is pretty meager compared to theirs (sigh).

Pea-pickin' Good Day

It's been a week since I stepped into the garden and all I can say is, "thank goodness for Caroline and Greg!" they made sure plants were picked and watered while Steve, Garrett and I were at Greers Ferry Lake. Even with them and Mom picking there were still bunches of produce to pick today.

It's been >100 degrees all week, so I was nervous the garden would all be shriveled up. Other than the deer getting into the corn, things look pretty good. I brought home about a gallon of lady peas and 3 gallons of purple hull peas to shell. There's 10 ears of corn for Sunday dinner and little onions, banana peppers, tomatillos, and lots of tomatoes for salsa.

Tomatoes nearly ready!

Today was all about water, weeds and fertilizer. Caroline spent the afternoon with me at the HHappy Place. It took about 4 hours to give everything a good soaking. I followed behind with multiple cans full of Miracle-Gro to douse every plant. The never ending job of keeping the weeds and grass at bay continues.

Out went the worm infested cauliflower and in went cherry tomato seedlings. The count on the corn is now up to 70 ears. The pea plants are growing like crazy and the first pods are showing. We'll be picking the first cantaloupe next week and honeydew right after that. And the tomatoes.... Caroline took a couple of small romas today, but next week we'll need baskets to hold our harvest!

Growing

It's amazing to watch the melons grow. And the peas and beans. The corn continues to tassel, but it still looks pretty wimpy compared to the other gardeners' plots. I counted 23 ears on about 90 stalks. Today I picked cucumbers, zucchini, carrots and some lettuce. Planted tarragon, parsley, and a few more beets and bell pepper seeds.

Just another day

I still have worries about blossom-end rot and the grasshoppers are still around, but otherwise the HHappy Place is looking pretty good! Today I'll get the last of the broccoli out. Probably won't try that again-too many cabbage moth caterpillars. There are a couple of cukes to pick and squash too. The beets are starting to sprout; butter beans are flowering; corn is starting to tassel; there are 4 sizable cantaloupe. Today I'll be tying tomatoes for the second time. There are lots of romas and the jet stars are starting to set fruit. Still not many heritage, but I'll be patient. It is a lovely day sunny, breezy and 80 degrees.

Can't elope

I always spell cantaloupe wrong. I hate being dependent on spell-check, but if I didn't have it I would have spelled wrong again. Here's a picture of one growing in the HHappy Place. It was a little discouraging when I went out there today. I found at least a dozen Romas with blossom-end rot. I hope the fertilizer Mom gave me will help.

Here's what's growing....

Roma tomatoes
Big Red heritage tomatoes
Jet Star tomatoes
Arkansas traveler
Tomatillos
Radishes
Leaf lettuce
Dill
Red,onions
Bell peppers
Banana peppers
Carrots
Jalepeno peppers
Butter beans
Eggplant
Zucchini
Cucumbers
Straightneck yellow squash
Honeydew melon
Cantaloupe
Purplehull peas
Lady peas
Green beans
Corn
Pumpkins
Beets
Watermelon
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Parsley

Dawn Detergent & Hot Sauce

So I found some recipes for a non-toxic to humans insecticide/repellent for the garden and made up a batch. In an old clean spray bottle  I filled it with water and added about a teaspoon of Dawn and a teaspoon of Louisiana hot sauce. Monday sprayed some on the pea plants  that had little black aphids. Should know tomorrow if I killed them or just made them happy..

Bugs are Here

I need to make up an organic, natural insecticide for the peas and squash.

Lesson Learned: Part 1

Keep the doors closed on the vehicle. Not because you are worried about thievery. It's because of the ants. They were out in force today and I had them all over the inside of the drivers door. Won't make that mistake again. Caroline came out to help with the hoeing and tying tomatoes. It was great having her help. She worked up a little stretch for some pumpkins. I love that she enjoys it. She also left with the first yellow squash and a handful of radishes.

Hoe, Hoe, Hoe

Yesterday I hoed for almost 3 hours. Hoed the corn and pea rows then replanted the 2nd row of lady peas and one row of purple hull peas. How'd around the melons and squash.
Met a retiree named Wilson up by Mr. Gates spot. He's late planting this year but will probably out a lot from now on.

Repeat peas

Lesson learned: When the package says the soil needs to be warm before planting, be patient and wait. I was wondering why only 3 of the hundreds of lady peas I planted had sprouted. After 3 weeks I figured either I had a  bunch of duds or I didn't plant them right. I started digging around and could find only one pea and it was liquid in the middle. So, now I know. Next time we wait until May to put in peas. Tomorrow the ground should be dry enough to rework those three rows and get in the lady peas and purple hull peas.

Name the Garden

I'm thinking I'm going to call my garden spot "The HHappy Place." As in, "I'm going to my happy place," with the HH in reference to our plot location. I like it.

Audrey II

I think the model for Audrey II in Little Shop of Horrors was probably a butter bean sprout.

Butter Beans and Marigolds

Yesterday I went to check on the garden and ended up staying out there four hours! I can not believe how fast time flies when I am alone with my thoughts and dirt.
I worked up 2 three foot rows and planted some butter bean seeds. Not a big fan of the hard fat ones, but they're not too bad when they're small. Mostly I planted them for Mom and Caroline. HD had marigold 6-packs for $1.25 so I picked up three to plant among the tomatoes to repel some kind of pest. Also got nasturtium, cosmos, and portulaca seeds in the triangle patch. There is still about 10 ft. of one row left to plant.
Charlie told me that when the okra was producing that I could help myself to the row next to my tomatoes. Might have to at least try some.

Lady Peas Are In

Today is the last day of my vacation so I was feeling the pressure to get the rest of the garden planted. It took 5 hours, but I got 3 rows prepped and planted 2 rows of lady peas and one row of purple hull peas. I transplanted 4 broccoli plants and 5 cauliflower seedlings. And, just for fun I put in some cantaloupe and honeydew.

The lady pea package did not come with specific planting instructions. It was "plant seeds when danger of frost has passed." No planting depth. No spacing. No number of days until harvest. A web search had skimpy info at best. So this is turning into an interesting experience. I ended up using the same instructions that were on the purple hull package. Will post growing details here as I discover what works.

Melons

I'm thinking about putting out a cantaloupe and honeydew plant. I think there's room for them to run. Got to get the peas in first. That will be one row of purple hull and two rows of lady peas.

Here's a "God" picture from Friday;

Met the Neighbors

Met Mr. Bill at the top of the hill in DD and Charlie next door in GG. There are a lot more men than women out here. Everyone has been really helpful. You can tell they look out after each other.

Since tilling Wednesday morning, I've planted 16 Roma, 8 Better Boy, and 4 heritage Big Red tomato plants; 2 tomatillos; 2 jalepenos; 2 bell pepper plants and 8 sets of seeds/seedlings; 4 straight-neck squash, but one is already kind of shriveled; 6 cucumbers- 2 sets of 3 each with a cage around each set to encourage climbing plus 2 more hills with seeds planted. I worked a 3x3 foot area and planted some of my spring seeds. There is a row of radishes, leaf lettuce, dill-includes 2 seedlings; carrots, and a row of onion seeds and one of seedlings that I started in February. I planted 1/3 of the Peaches and Cream corn and will plant 1/3 in about 2 weeks and the rest 2 weeks after that. I also scattered wild flower seeds in the triangle of dirt next to the road entrance. All that's left is to plant the lady peas and purple hull peas.

Bamboo-zled

Tomorrow is tilling day. The plot has been plowed, but it needs to have some manure tilled in and the big chunks of earth broken down.

So yesterday I went out to buy tomato stakes, but the sticker shock was pretty high when I multiplied 24 x $2 + tax. "There has to be a better (i.e. cheaper) option," I whined to myself. Then my eyes were opened to the jungle of bamboo growing next to the carport. It didn't look like much, but at the end of the day I had plenty of stalks trimmed into 3-4ft. stakes. Win. I am determined to keep this project from becoming a money-pit. Anytime I can reuse or repurpose something, that is the direction I will head.

Muddy Mess

Plowing is done and plots are marked. Except HH. It's not on the maps and the spot next to GG does not have markers set. Ms. Griffin will take care of that tomorrow. It really doesn't matter at this point because all the rain over the last two days has created sucking muck!

Lots of Brown Dirt

The gardens have been plowed! They still need to be staked out, but very soon I can start planting. I AM SO EXCITED!

Too wet to plow

Drove out to "the farm" today. There were still spots with standing water so nothing has been plowed. I got a better look at the map and saw plots AA-GG, but no HH! An experienced gardener came over to help me search and there looks like an unmarked plot right next to the road that will probably be ours. It's not quite as far down  as I had thought which may be good because it may be closer to a water source.

Too much rain

So far the ground has been too muddy to plow. So, while I patiently wait, I am trying to get things tidied up around the yard. Today I started 2 milk jug greenhouses: one for dill and one for Better Boy tomatoes. Everything has now sprouted in the other milk jugs. I went ahead and planted the cauliflower sprouts in the back bed with the broccoli and lettuce. The green leaf lettuce sprouts got planted between the snow peas.

 Speaking of snow peas those have really started to grow! My first attempt at a trellis did not work out well. Now I'm trying plan B. Tomorrow I'll get a picture and explain what I did so next year I won't have to spend too much time pondering "how did I do that before...?" That's the whole reason I started this blog is to help me remember stuff. Like at left. That is a list of the seeds that I planted on 2/20-President's Day along with their estimated maturity date. I am impatient and will start picking at things too early to see if they're ready yet. I can refer to this and slap my wrist to keep me in check.

Plot HH

I went out to Shelby Farms to meet with the nice lady that organizes plot assignments. We'll have one of the smaller plots. 25x50. I think that will do nicely considering what I have now is about 3x8 at it's widest and only gets about 4-5 hours of sun. She showed me on the map where it is. If I'm right it's at the very end of the blacktop road that serves as the garden boundary. I am SO excited! The plot number is HH and I think that should stand for something. Happy Hollow? Hungry Heifers? Happy Hoes? Still thinking on that one.

I got the call

While I was at work I got a call from the volunteer garden coordinator for the Shelby Farms community gardens. We are in! I go Wednesday for our plot assignment. Hooray!

More about Lady Peas

Let me just say, once again, that I knew I was way over ordering when a bought the 1/4lb of seeds instead of the smaller option. But, what a deal--way more for the money and the same shipping cost! My compulsive side got the best of me today and (I probably shouldn't admit this) I counted my supply of Lady Pea seeds.  I measured out one 1oz. scoop and counted those then multiplied by the total number of scoops in the bag. And the final number? 1,339 give or take a dozen. And I weighed the bag on a food scale. It was just as ordered--4oz. I'm saying this to confirm that I got a quality product from Vegetable Seed Warehouse and I will order from them again when I need a seed I can't find locally. Now what am I going to do with all these extra seeds? I easily have 1,299 more than I need.

Lots of Lady Peas

I can't believe my lady pea order is here already. I could plow up the whole backyard, plant them and still have enough for a second crop. What was I thinking? A 1/4 lb. of seeds is a bunch! I really hope I get that site at SF. Maybe Memaw and Gramps would like to grow lady peas in their garden...

Lady Peas

Tonight I ordered some lady pea seeds. Those suckers are hard to find. I hope they are the same kind we get at the farmer's market. I hope I'll have a place to grow them.

I spend too much time hoping.

Ready to dig in the dirt

In January I called the volunteer coordinator that assigns garden plots at Shelby Farms. She told me that the county would be sending out letters to last year's gardeners and once they responded back as to whether or not they would be using a plot, the people on the waiting list would be notified of available spots. I am on the list. The lady was very nice, but she did not know when letters would go out or how long it might be before the wait-listed would be notified. I don't know how long the list is or how far down I may be. But, at least I'm on the list. Hopefully I'll get a call in March or April with some good news.

But a restless gardener can not wait! I'm ready to get my hands dirty NOW! Earlier this week I planted some cool weather seeds in a couple of flower beds around the house. That's all well and good for now, but that's not going to work come summer when my sunny beds become shady ones. In positive anticipation of getting that call saying I'm "in" at Shelby Farms, I have started some milk jug green houses. Today I could not help myself and bought another seed packet--radishes--I don't even like radishes that much, but they will grow now, so out in the beds they go.