Well, I haven't blogged in awhile, but the garden is BOOMING. I would like to credit it to my recent unemployment, but honestly at this point it is weeding and watering to keep everything going (That and the 4 yards of mushroom compost I dumped on everything this spring).I need to get some carrots and beets in before the middle of the month for our winter garden. Somehow, I didn't plant enough of either of these this spring, especially beets. I also didn't start them early enough.
We dug our first baby potatoes last week, although it was quite early and they had really just started blooming, they were beautiful little fingerlings.
We also have a lot of green tomatoes! I started them in mid February and planted about 14. 4 of those are the mini Silver Fern variety., but it's probably still too many tomatoes. I'm banking on our ability to preserve as many as possible...
Next year: instead of the 6 cell, start seeds in the dixie cups or 4 inch, then move straight into 1 gallons.
I tried new cages this year-we will see. I of course put them on too late and 2 of the larger tomatoes broke their necks in the wind. I left them in though, and they still seem to be putting up fruit faithfully despite the very fragile base.
The peppers are booming! I planted 3 varieties; Fish, Ancho giant, and Joe's Long Cayenne. I was worried that I started them too late to get a good size plant, but they totally made it. I started them mid February as well, and built a heat/light table for the basement. One major learning experience this year was the container in which I planted. I started in and 80 cell tray(super small), then transferred to dixie cups, then to the larger size yogurt container or a 1 gal. pot.
Although I think they needed to reach the sides of the containers to push out growth, this was too much transplanting, and the dixie cups had an unexpected consequence. The lip on the bottom of the cup raised the soil off my heat lamp, keeping the plants too cool. Next year: Start the seeds in a 6 cell, the move to the yogurt container from there. Also,I think pinching them to branch might be crucial for fruit set. I pinched about half, and they do look better.
The basil is...small. i started it in March, mostly direct outside with one 8 cell inside. I should have planted more inside, and earlier! I suppose I could try to start some in February with the tomatoes and peppers...
The Artichokes are looking great, and putting on nice fruit. We have already eaten about 6.
The peas are just finishing up. I planted 3 bays of the sugar snaps, and i hate to admit this because I H-E-A-R-T peas, but maybe I planted too many. I could probably due with one bay of super solid Sugar Snaps, and a bay of shelling peas would be nice. It would be good to leave the third bay free for something else for a change....even with a baby on the way we can't eat that many peas!
I planted a few Cucumbers this year, but perhaps not enough have made it through. I have about 12 started in the basement, and then read that they didn't like to be started inside. I freaked out and stuck them outside, and judging the the health of the different plants, my advice to self for next year is as follows; go ahead and start them inside. In fact, start them earlier. Like....March? It would help if I wrote down a date for these guys.
