I'll continue to post off and on as my health allows.

May 28, 2008

Well, I can't believe it, but I have 100 varieties of tomatoes in the ground. We'll see who makes it to the finish line!! The weather has been horrible for tomatoes and plants, but they have been sturdy fellas. Last week we had a full inch of hail while tornadoes hit close to home, and I only lost 2 tomatoes from several hundred that were planted. I was stunned.  From the first plants that I put in, they are growing well now that they have had a week in the soil, even with unusual amounts of rain and little sun. In a week or two things should be looking much better and really be coming into growth with the sun and warmth expected.  This year to save money, as a friend showed me, we took the drill and drilled the end of very inexpensive spoons and knives and used these as labels. Perfect for the tomatillos, peppers, tomatoes, and such that will need cages, as the hole allows them to be tied up to the cage and not lost or stolen. Yes, robins and other critters (including children) will take the labels and they'll be found scattered. Tied on really helps. Additionally, I map the garden beds and also will scan into the computer so it can be printed out and not lost. Priceless when seed saving and trying to compare varieties.  I have growing multiple tomatoes that are earlier varieties. I am most anxious to see the end result on these for flavor, disease, growth, etc. I really would like a collection of GOOD early tomatoes.  The cucumbers are also in and just one variety of winter squash that I am really trying to seed save (SS). I don't want to even slightly risk cross pollination. It is important to also check what the neighbors are growing when you do this.

 Well, overall, I feel blessed that the storms did miss us with the worst of their attack and grateful for the beauty of the plant "babies" starting to look so pretty in the garden. Amazing to think many will be 6 to even 10 feet in not too long. I hope your gardens are germinating and growing well.

June 17, 2008

It has been wonderfully fun to go out and check for ground cherries each day! They are able to be held for a while until there are enough to cook with, so I am just watching the piles enlarge.  A Chimayo that I hand pollinated indoors is fully ripe and those seeds are drying now. It is a hot pepper, but less heat than a Jalapeno. Fewer flea beetles finally, so that is a relief. I hate those things. The weather has finally warmed up, as we had a very chilly spell for several weeks. I can tell it is warmer as the plants have suddenly taken off. I just have 3 varieties that seem to  be stubborn, but otherwise they are all growing and putting on a lot of new growth. It is exciting to see them really start growing fast enough that I'm daily tucking the leaves back into the cages. I'm tapping each flower to encourage pollination. I have very few potato leaf varieties this year I realized last week. Carefully going over the plants to evaluate how much damage has been done has made it evident.  So far, fingers are crossed that the garden will continue to do well. Most plants are caged already with the growth going on. Exciting!!

September 22, 2008

It has been very busy here with seed saving for the company and canning up produce. I love seeing lots on my shelves that I know is organic and fresh. Production of  many varieties has been much higher than expected. Trying new flavors has also been fun. Gardening is like having Christmas everyday -- new and exciting things to taste and try. As always, I learn so much from the growth patterns and weather and plants. It has been a really successful year. I soon will be putting up many new pictures and more information and new varieties!  The varieties that I tried will be a pleasure to bring to you. I hope your summer season has been successful and I'm sure many people are heading into fall crops in the South and beginning to think of their winter crops -- while we in the North start dreaming about next years' garden :-).

Melanee