GardeningInLewisburg

Highlights of our garden notes

2012-02-11T20:39:00.001-08:00

What I learned about tomatoes in Oregon
Require 6.5 ph soil
water from underneath (If you don't want to water for 2 weeks, take a 5 gallon bucket drill lots of holes in the bottom, bury the bucket in the ground leaving an 1" above ground. Plant a tomato plant on either side of the bucket. Fill the bucket up with water and don't water again for 5 weeks.

To protect tomatoes from rain cut the bottom out of a water cooler container and use it as a cloche for the tomato, left the top open.
To warm the soil around the tomato take two 1 gallon containers preferably painted black and put on either side of the cloche. Fill with water put the lid on and place on either side of the cloche. The sun will warm the water and at night the warm water will warm the soil around the plant.

Every year add 6" of compost to your garden beds, or add agricultural lime in the fall.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What I learned about the insects world
There are over 300,000,00 insects
Bugs can be beneficial and harmful what's important is the balance of them.
That is why chemical control is not a good idea it kills both the good and bad bugs and throws the cycle out of balance.
Kill aphids by popping them like bubble wrap. This sets off a pheromone that will attract lady bugs to finish them off. It also warns other aphids and says don't come here we are dying. Teach your kids to pinch aphids.

Spiders are good. Did you know they make a web and eat it everyday for protein in their diet.

Know what insect eggs look like lady bugs eggs are golden and rice shaped.
A fly that attacks veggie crops look like white rice shapes that are poked into the leave of a plant.
You want to get on top of these guys or they will destroy your crop. Pinching them is the best method, taking off the leaf and putting it in a plastic bag, it may come down to destroying that plant.

Caterpillars turn to moths or butterflies. Yes we like the butterflies but the caterpillars are destructive to food crops so you want to get rid of them.

Insects brains identify with one color. Some are drawn to blue or white or red. So if you plant to your flowers in one color grouping it's easier to draw certain bugs in and control others.

Don't spray with sprays that take care of many bugs because they will hurt beneficial bugs. If you have to use sprays use sprays that kill only one thing.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Greenhouses
Glass is best, polycarbonate is next
Steel frames are best, but wood painted white would be Ok
You need vents in the roof and on the floor for good air flow
Lean to greenhouses are the most economical greenhouses
Concrete foundations are great and dark gravel would be next
Watering from underneath not over head
heating with a fan if needed but you have to have the right size heater for the size of green house you have
aluminized shade cloth is the best for growing
LED lights are the best but are too expensive, so florescent T5 bulb with another florescent red spectrum bulb are great for growing vegetables and flowering plants.
Use yellow sticky insect papers to catch the flying bugs
You have to know what your growing to know what kind of green house you need.
Are you growing for vegetable starts
or are you growing tropicals
This makes a huge difference because of the requirements.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eric learned from his tool class that spraying your tools after pruning with lysol is more effective than bleach or alcohol in killing bacteria and diseases. You want to do this every you go to a new plant to not spread diseases.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In his tree class he learned not to put anything plantings under the tree. This robs the moisture the tree needs. You all so need to keep mulches 5" away from tree trunks to keep varmints from girdling.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In his soil class he look NPK (N is above, P is below and K is all around)
Worms, chicken manure, bat manure, are great.
Mulching mow
Kelp meal or seaweed are great

Organizing garden seed

2012-02-08T19:27:00.001-08:00

Make a list of what you have

Then make a list of what you like *

Beans

Black valentine bush

Top crop bush

Three color blend snap 2 packages

Straight n narrow bush

Hutterite bush beans

Italian rose bush beans

Beets

Taunus hybrid

Early wonder

Broccoli

Early green broccoli

*veronica broccoli

*sorrento broccoli arab

Cabbage

Ruby perfection hybrid

*parle cabbage

*tender hear chinese cabbage

Carrots

Touchon carrot 2 packages

Nantes coreless carrots

Kaleidoscope mix carrot mix

*Yaya carrots

*Sugar snax 54 carrots

Cauliflower

*green mist

*Sunset cauliflower

Corn

Baby corn bonus

Cucumber

Home made pickles

Straight eight cucumber

Cc cucumber

Climbing cucumber

Mediterranean cucumber garden oasis

*summer dance cucumber

Flowers

Hand collected marigold seeds

Sweet pea incense peach shades

Garlic

Garlic bulbs

*turkish giant garlic

Greens for the salad garden

Bistro corn salad or mache

Pac choi me qing choi hybrid

Mesclun

Alfresco mix multi pellet mixed greens

Lettuce

Kale white russian

Kale lacinato cabbage family

Selvetica Arugula or roquette

Organic gourmet arugula

Arugula

Indian summer hybrid spinach

Tyee f1 spinach

Charlotte chard

*montecito lettuce

*Ching chiang

Gourds

Luffa

Herbs

Fenugreek

Slow bolt cilantro

Cilantro coriander

Thyme

Sweet genovese basil 2 packages

Fineleaf dwaf bush basil

Pistou basil

Tarragon russian

Dill

Spearmint

Cumin

*finissimo verde a palla

*lemon mint

Melons

Charente's

Watermelon georgia rattlesnake

Watermelon diamond

Watermelon sugar baby

Okra

*okra star of david

Onion family

Chives

Tokyo long bunching

Blue solaise leek

White onions bulbs

yellow onions bulbs

red onions bulbs

Peas

Lincoln shelling peas

Oregon giant edible pod peas

Home collected seas

Peppers

Golden treasure

Rainbow bell mix

California wonder

Jalapeno pepper

Potatoes

Red pontiac

Yukon gold

Pumpkins

Casper

Rouge vif decamps

Radish

Custom radish mix

French breakfast petit dejeuner

French breaksfast Rabat

Squashes

Ronde de nice summer squash

Tomatoes

Culinary mixture tomato

Gourmet heirloom blend indeterminate yellow, orange, red, pink, green, purple, bicolor

Black sea man tomato

Campbell’s #33 VFA

Heinz 1370 VFA

Rainbow cherry blend

Seeds collected don’t know what they are

Notes for Back to Eden

2012-02-06T08:24:00.001-08:00

Back To Eden Paul Gautschi

Compost work it in

Cover Garden with wood chips of various sizes every year to keep moisture in about an 1”

Genesis 1:17-19

17 God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, 18 to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day.

The Covering is a protection

Ground is a living organism

Top soil 100 years to build 1”

John 15

1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

Prune trees to produce fruit, God wants us to give like he does

Sustainable

Conserving an ecological balance by avoiding depletion of natural resources

Permaculture

the development of agricultural system or method intended to be sustainable self sufficient

Galatians 5

1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Matthew 11:28-30

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Wood chips of various sizes on the ground soil provide Nitrogen so the air and water can get to the plant

When you do this you don’t have to rotate crops

Romans 1:20

20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

Philippians 4:19

19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

Fertilizer

Is Nitrogen Phosphorus potash

Nitrogen is for:

Phosphorus is for:

Potash is for:

Lamentations 3:27

27 It is good for a man to bear the yoke

while he is young.

Zechariah 4:10

10 “Who dares despise the day of small things, since the seven eyes of the LORD that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see the chosen capstone[a] in the hand of Zerubbabel?”

Footnotes:

Zechariah 4:10 Or the plumb line

Horse/ chicken manure has to sit 6 to months to a year before using

Compost in winter

Chickens eat yard waste and the benefit is you get compost and eggs

Worm bins eat waste and also make compost

Irrigation

Is no longer needed because the woodchips keeps the moisture in

Genesis 4:6

6 Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast?

We sinned and need to be reconciled to God and be back under his covering

Psalm 1:3

3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,

which yields its fruit in season

and whose leaf does not wither—

whatever they do prospers.

Romans 8:19

19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.

1 John 3:2-3

2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears,[a] we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

Footnotes:

1 John 3:2 Or when it is made known

Matthew 11:28-30

Matthew 6:26

26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

Matthew 6:33

33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Genesis 1:29

29 Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.

Psalm 19:1-3

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
   the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
   night after night they reveal knowledge.
3 They have no speech, they use no words;
   no sound is heard from them.

Genesis 1:26

26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

Jeremiah 33:3

3 ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’

Proverbs 3:5-6

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.[a]

Footnotes:

Proverbs 3:6 Or will direct your paths

Hebrews 1:3

3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

Peas

2012-02-05T21:28:00.001-08:00

Peas

We all love to eat fresh picked peas. They are a cool season crop that grow and mature quickly. This vegetable is easy to grow and a joy to eat. There are two types: shelling and edible pods. The shelling variety is where you open the pod and eat the green peas from inside. A snow variety have flat edible pods and are used in salads and stir fry recipes. The snap variety fills out like a shelling variety however unlike the shelling variety the pod is edible.

Botanical Family - Papilionaceae/Pea & Bean Family

Location - Enjoys moderate temperatures and will thrive in partial shade.

Soil - Light, rich, sandy with pH 6. Will tolerate moderate amount of acidity, but the soil should not be over rich in nitrogen.

Soil Preparation - Dig 3 inches of compost or aged manure before planting.

Seed Info -

Seed Spacing - 2 inches apart 1-2 inches deep
Germinate in soil temperature of 5 – 23 C
Days to Maturity - 100-120 days

Planting Times - Direct seed early in spring as soon as soil is worked. Try planting between July and mid August for a fall crop.

Planting Instruction - Dig a row with the end of your hoe or shovel and drop the peas in. Cover them with soil and pat down the soil.

Companion Planting

Positive affect: carrot, corn, cucumber, eggplant, lettuce, radish, spinach
Negative affect: tomato, turnip

Watering - This vegetable suffers most from heat and drought. They require regular watering.

Weeding - Keep weeded while plants are young.

Disease & Insects - Use crop rotation.

Harvest - Shelling: pick full pods every second day to keep plants producing. Snow: pick when flat pods are 3 inch long. Snap: pick when pods are full.

Storage - Can be stored in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Radishes

2012-02-05T21:27:00.001-08:00

Radishes

Radishes are the fastest growing vegetable in the garden. They are direct seeded and germinate very quickly. You will need to thin so plants are 1 inch apart. They mature in approximately 30 days and do not last long once they mature so harvest them quickly. Succession planting every few weeks lets you harvest all season. This plant will do well in a container, just make sure they are watered well, do not let them dry out.

Botanical Family - Brassicaeae/Mustard Family

Companion Planting
Positive: bean cabbage, cauliflower, cucumber, lettuce, pea
Negative: squash, tomato

Location - Temperate, fairly open.

Soil - Light, sandy loam, one that drains rapidly. Will do well in any reasonable garden soil.

Soil Preparation - Rake in about 1” of compost or aged manure before planting.

Seed Info
Seed Spacing - 2” apart 3/4” deep
Germinate in cool soil
Days to Maturity - 25-60 days

Planting Times - Direct seed starting late April. Succession plant every week until early summer.

Planting Instruction - Form a shallow trench with a hoe; drop in seeds (2 seeds every 2”) then cover and firm soil down. Water well. Thin to every 2 inches. Need to grow quickly; need lots of water.

Watering - This vegetable needs a great quantity of water. They will become bitter or hot tasting if they do not get enough water.

Weeding - Keep weeded.

Disease & Insects - Root maggots – caused by unhealthy soil that has the wrong fertilizer.

Harvest - Pull the whole plant when they are ½” or more in diameter.

Storage - Store in refrigerator for up to a week.

Spinach

2012-02-05T21:21:00.001-08:00

Spinach

Spinach is a fairly easy vegetable to grow, however you need a rich soil that contains a lot of organic matter. This vegetable grows better is cool weather, so if you plan to grow during the summer months plant it between taller growing vegetables so it will get some shade.

Botanical Family - Chenopodiaceac/Goose foot

Companion Planting
Positive: cabbage, celery, eggplant, onion, pea, strawberry
Negative: none

Location - Northern exposure and low temperatures.

Soil - Need soil with an abundance of nitrogen with pH 6.2-6.9.

Soil Preparation - Dig in 3” to 6” of compost or aged manure.

Seed Info -
Seed Spacing - 6 “ apart
Germinate in soil temperature of 5 – 20 C
Days to Maturity - 40 – 60 days

Planting Times - Sow indoors early April to mid July; transplant at 4 weeks. Succession plant every 2 weeks. Can direct seed but will need to be thinned to every 6”.

Planting Instruction - Provide some shade during the summer months. Remay will work well.

Watering - Regular watering by thoroughly soaking plants late in the day; water more often during the hottest part of summer.

Weeding - Keep weeded.

Disease & Insects -

Harvest - Harvest outer leaves before sun hits them or spray them before cutting. Cut individual leaves with a scissors or sharp knife. If the center of the plant is left the plant will grow back and can be cut again. Cut the whole plant at the 2nd or 3rd cutting if the weather is warm. Plant goes to seed if the weather is hot.

Storage - Place moist leaves in plastic bags then place in refrigerator and they will keep up to a week.

Kale

2012-02-05T21:19:00.000-08:00

Kale

Kale is a cool season crop that will overwinter well, in fact the flavor will improve after a frost. It can also be planted in early spring to be harvested in the summer. If you have a shady area (4 hours of sun) in your garden, this plant will do well, especially in the summer months. This vegetable matures quickly, is full of nutrients and can be eaten raw or cooked. It can be harvested as a whole plant or by cutting off lower leaves as you need them.

Botanical Family - Brassicaeae/Mustard Family

Location - Sunny, well drained.

Soil - Rich, fertile loam with neutral pH (6.5-6.8).

Soil Preparation - Grows well after a green manure crop. Dig in 3 inches of compost orr aged manure and lime before planting.

Seed Info -

Seed Spacing - 12 inches apart
Germinate in soil temperature of 10 - 30C
Days to Maturity - 50-72 days

Planting times - Sow late May; transplant at 4 weeks. Sow mid June to mid July for fall planting.

Planting Instruction - Like cool temperatures. Can be direct seeded or started as transplants. If direct seeding, plants will need to be thinned.

Companion Planting

Positive affect: bean, dill, nasturtium, onion, potato, oregano, sage
Negative affect: lettuce, tomato

Watering - Water regularly at the base of the plants; when sprinkling, the large leaves impede water from getting to the soil.

Weeding - Keep weeded while plants are small.

Disease & Insects - Club root – to prevent use rotation.

Harvest - Cut outer leaves when they are 6 inches or more in length. Once the plant starts producing smaller leaves cut the whole plant. Must be cooled quickly.

Storage - Is best stored in a sealed plastic bag or container in the refrigerator. It is best to use kale within a few days as it has a short shelf life.

Lettuce

2012-02-05T21:15:00.000-08:00

Lettuce and Salad Greens

Lettuce and salad greens are very popular in home gardens. They are fast and easy to grow in garden beds or containers. Lettuce is divided into two types, the head and leaf varieties.

Heading types take longer to mature and therefore need a longer cooler growing season. They also do better in full sun. This variety does best as transplants. They get a good growth before the weather warms up.

The leaf varieties are more popular, grow quicker and will tolerate some shade. If you scatter the seeds of leaf varieties they do not need thinning as you can start cutting them once they reach about 3 inches. There are many types of salad mixes available which are great as you get a variety of different seeds in one package.

I also love to grow other greens such as mizuna, arugula, mustards, cress, endive and chicory for using in my salads.
Botanical Family - Asteraceae/Daisy Family

Location - These are cool weather crops and will thrive in partial shade.

Soil - Loose, rich loam with pH 6.0-6.8.

Soil Preparation - These vegetables are very shallow rooted. Rake in 1 inch of compost or aged manure before planting. Add more compost or compost tea every 2 weeks around the base of the vegetable plant.

Seed Info

Seed Spacing - 12 inches apart to grow to maturity or can be broadcast for early cutting
Germinate in soil temperature of 10 – 27 C
Days to Maturity - Lettuce - 50-75 days; Salad Greens - 21-30 days

Planting Times - For transplants sow indoors early March to mid July; transplant at 4–6 weeks. I you are going to seed directly, do it as soon as you can till your soil. Sow every 2 weeks for succession planting.

Planting Instruction - Provide some shade during the summer months. Remay will work well.

Companion Planting

Positive affect: beet, cabbage, pea, clover, radish, strawberry
Negative affect: none

Watering - Regular watering; water more often during the hottest part of summer.

Weeding - Keep weeded.

Disease & Insects - Use crop rotation.

Slugs – clean up hiding places like garden debris, wood anything they can get under during the daytime.
Flea beetle like the oriental greens so keep covered with remay making sure it is tight to the ground or grow in plastic tunnels.

Harvest - Harvest plants before sun hits them or spray them before cutting. Cut the plant just above the base with a sharp knife. The plant will grow back and then it can be cut for salad greens.

Storage - Likes high humidity and cool temperatures. Wash leaves, drying them in a salad spinner and then storing them in a tightly sealed plastic container with a cloth at the bottom to soak up moisture. They will store this way up to a week.

Gardening Links

2012-02-05T21:07:00.000-08:00

http://vimeo.com/album/1524980

OSU Garden videos

http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/details.php?sortnum=0624&name=Vegetables&cat=Gardening

OSU Garden online publication

http://www.your-vegetable-gardening-helper.com/vegetables.html

Individual vegetable growing charts

After examining the planting chart....

2012-02-05T20:13:00.000-08:00

These are the things I should plant this week if I can....

January 1^st

Onions 100 to 120 days through March 15^th

Potatoes irish 70 to 90 days through March 1^st

January 15^th

Asparagus 2^nd season through March 15^th

Cabbage 65 to 80 days through March 15^th

Carrots 70 80 days through March 20^th

Garden Peas 60 to 80 days through February 15^th

Lettuce 60 to 80 days through March 1^st

Mustard 40 to 50 days through April 1^st

Radishes 25 to 30 days through April 1^st

Spinach 40 to 45 days through March 15^th

Turnips 45 to 65 days through April 1^st

February 1^st

Collard 55 to 70 days through March 20^th

Kale 50 to 70 days through March 10^th

The Corvallis Planting Chart

2012-02-05T20:11:00.000-08:00

Planting Chart for Corvallis Oregon zone 7B - 8

January 1^st

Onions 100 to 120 days through March 15^th

Potatoes irish 70 to 90 days through March 1^st

January 15^th

Asparagus 2^nd season through March 15^th

Cabbage 65 to 80 days through March 15^th

Carrots 70 80 days through March 20^th

Garden Peas 60 to 80 days through February 15^th

Lettuce 60 to 80 days through March 1^st

Mustard 40 to 50 days through April 1^st

Radishes 25 to 30 days through April 1^st

Spinach 40 to 45 days through March 15^th

Turnips 45 to 65 days through April 1^st

February 1^st

Collard 55 to 70 days through March 20^th

Kale 50 to 70 days through March 10^th

February 15^th

Beets 55 to 65 days through April 1st

Broccoli 60 to 80 days through March 15^th

March 1^st

Cauliflower 55 to 60 days through April 1^st

Lettuce 60 to 80 days

March 10^th

Kale 50 to 70 days

March 15^th

Asparagus 2^nd season

Broccoli 60 to 80 days

Cabbage 65 to 80 days

Corn 80 to 100 days through June 1st

Cucumber

Eggplant

Spinach 40 to 45 days

Onion 100 to 120 days

March 20^th

Carrots 70 to 80 days

Collards 55 to 70 days

Watermelon 80 to 90 days through May 1^st Do not plant

March 25^th

Cantaloupe 80 to 95 days through April 20^th not recommended

Tomato 70 to 85 days through May 1^st

April 1

Beets 55 to 65 days

Bush Beans 50 to 60 days through May 1^st

Bush Squash 50 to 55 days though May 15^th

Cucumber 60 to 65 days through June 1^st

Eggplant 75 to 90 days through May 15^th

Lima beans 65 to 75 days through June 1^st

Mustard 40 to 50 days

Okra 55 to 60 days through June 1^st

Peppers 650 to 80 days through June 1^st

Pole Beans 60 to 75 days through May 1^st

Radishes 25 to 30 days

Southern Peas 60 to 70 days through August 1^st

Turnip 45 to 65 days

Winter Squash 85 to 90 days through August 1^st

April 15^th

Sweet Potatoes 90 to 150 days through June 15^th

Turnip 45 to 65 days

April 20th

Cantaloupe 80 to 90 days recommended

May 1

Bush beans 50 to 60 days

Tomato 70 to 85 days

Pole beans 65 to 75 days

Watermelon 80 to 90 days Do not plant

May 15^th

Eggplant 75 to 90 days

June 1^st

Corn 80 to 100 days

Cucumbers 60 to 65 days

Lima beans 65 to 75 days

Okra 55 to 60 days

Peppers 65 to 80 days

Tomatoes 70 to 85 days through August 10^th

June 15^th

Okra 55 to 60 days through July 1^st

Sweet Potatoes 90 to 150 days

July 1^st

Corn 60 to 65 days through July 20^th

Lima beans 65 to 75 days through August 1^st

Okra 55 to 60 days

July 10^th

Eggplant 75 to 90 days through July 15^th

July 15^th

Bush beans 50 to 60 days through August 20^th

Pole beans 65 to 75 days through August 10^th

July 20^th

Corn 80 to 100 days

September 1^st

Lettuce 60 to 80 days through October 1st

Radishes 20 to 25 days

Spinach 40 to 45 days through October 15^th

August 1^st

Beets 65 to 75 days through September 20th

Broccoli 60 to 80 days through September 1st

Cabbage 65 to 80 days

Cauliflower 55 to 60 days through September 1^st

Collard 55 to 70 days through October 1^st

Irish Potatoes 70 to 90 days through August 15^th

Lima beans 65 to 75 days

August 10^th

Bush beans 50 to 60 days

Kale 50 to 70 days through August 30^th

Pole Beans 65 to 75 days

Tomatoes 70 to 85 days

Turnips 45 to 65 days through September 15^th

August 15^th

Cabbage 65 to 80 days through October 1^st

Iris Potatoes 70 to 90 days

August 20^th

Carrots 70 to 80 days through September 15^th

Cucumber 60 to 65 days through September 1st

Mustard 40 to 50 days through October 1^st

September 1

Broccoli 60 to 80 days

Cucumber 60 to 65 days

Onions 100 to 120 days through December 31^st

Radishes 25 to 30 days through October 15^th

September 15^th

Carrots 70 to 90 days

Turnips 45 to 60 days

September 20^th

Beets 55 to 65 days

October 1^st

Cabbage 65 to 80 days

Collards 55 to 70 days

Mustard 40 to 50 days

October 15^th

Radishes 25 to 30 days

November

Asparagus 2^nd season

December

Asparagus 2^nd season

Planting in Corvallis 7B or some say 8

2012-02-05T18:19:00.001-08:00

WHEN TO PLANT VEGETABLES FOR ZONES 7-8

A Garden Planting Chart
Crop	Days to Maturity	Spring Planting Dates	Fall Planting Dates	Seed/Plants 100 ft.	Distance Between Rows	Distance Between Plants	Depth to Plant
Asparagus	2^nd season	Jan. 15-Mar. 15	Nov. & Dec.	50 roots	3 to 5 ft.	1½ to 2 ft.	6 in.
Bean, bush	50-60	Apr. 1 - May 1	July 15-Aug. 20	½ lb.	3 ft.	2 to 4 in.	1-1½ in.
Bean, pole	65-75	Apr. 1-May 1	July 15-Aug. 10	½ lb.	3 ft.	6 to 12 in.	1-1½ in.
Bean, lima	65-75	Apr. 1 - June 1	July 1-Aug. 1	1 lb.	2 to 2½ ft.	3 to 4 in.	1-1½ in.
Beet	55-65	Feb. 15-Apr. 1	Aug. 1-Sept. 20	1 oz.	2 to 2½ ft.	2 in.	1 in.
Broccoli	60-80	Feb. 15-Mar. 15	Aug. 1-Sept. 1	100 plants	2½ ft.	14 to 18 in.	-
Cabbage	65-80	Jan. 15-Mar. 15	Aug. 15-Oct. 1	100 plants	2½ ft.	12 in.	-
Cantaloupe	80-90	Mar. 25-Apr. 20	Not recommended	1 oz.	4 to 6 ft.	3½ to 4 ft.	1½ in.
Carrot	70-80	Jan. 15-Mar. 20	Aug. 20-Sept. 15	½ oz.	2 ft.	2 to 3 in.	½ in.
Cauliflower	55-60	Mar. 1-Apr. 1	Aug. 1-Sept. 1	100 plants	3 ft.	12 to 18 in.	-
Collard	55-70	Feb. 1-Mar. 20	Aug. 1-Oct. 1	½ oz.	2½ ft.	8 to 16 in.	½ in.
Corn	80-100	Mar. 15-June 1	June 1-July 20	¼ lb.	3 to 3½ ft.	12 to 18 in.	2 in.
Cucumber	60-65	Apr. 1-May 15	Aug. 20-Sept. 1	1 oz.	3½ to 5 ft.	3 to 4 ft.	1½ in.
Eggplant	75-90	Apr. 1-May 15	July 10-15	50 plants	3 ft.	2½ to 3 ft.	-
Kale	50-70	Feb. 1-Mar. 10	Aug. 10-30	½ oz.	3 ft.	10 in.	½ in.
Lettuce	60-85	Jan. 15-Mar. 1	Sept. 1-Oct. 1	½ oz.	2 to 2½ ft.	10 to 12 in.	½ in.
Mustard	40-50	Jan. 15-Apr. 1	Aug. 20-Oct. 1	½ oz.	2 ft.	1 in.	½ in.
Okra	55-60	Apr. 1-June 1	June 15-July 1	1 oz.	3 to 3½ ft.	6 in.	1 in.
Onion (mature)	100-120	Jan. 1-Mar. 15	Sept. 1-Dec. 31	300 plants or ½ gal. sets	1 to 2 ft.	3 to 4 in.	¾ in.
Peas, garden	60-80	Jan. 15-Feb. 15	Not recommended	1 lb.	2½ ft.	1 in.	1½-2 in.
Peas, southern	60-70	Apr. 1-Aug. 1	-	½ lb.	3 ft.	4 to 6 in.	1½-2 in.
Pepper	65-80	Apr. 1-June 1	-	50 plants	2½ ft.	1½ to 2 ft.	-
Potato, Irish	70-90	Jan. 15-Mar. 1	Aug. 1-Aug. 15	1 peck	2½ to 3 ft.	10 to 14 in.	5 in.
Potato, sweet	90-150	Apr. 15-June 15	-	100 plants	3½ ft.	12 in.	-
Radish	25-30	Jan. 15-Apr. 1	Sept. 1-Oct. 15	1 oz.	1½ ft.	1 in.	½ in.
Spinach	40-45	Jan. 15-Mar. 15	Sept. 1-Oct. 15	1 oz.	1½ to 2 ft.	1 to 2 in.	¾ in.
Squash, bush	50-55	Apr. 1-May 15	Aug. 1-20	1 oz.	3 to 4 ft.	2 ft.	1½-2 in.
squash, winter	85-90	Apr. 1-Aug. 1	-	½ oz.	5 ft.	3 ft.	1½-2 in.
Tomato	70-85	Mar. 25-May 1	June 1-Aug. 10	50 plants	3 to 4 ft.	2½ to 3 ft.	-
Turnip	45-65	Jan. 15-Apr. 1	Aug. 10-Sept. 15	½ oz.	1 to 2 ft.	1 to 2 in.	½ in.
Watermelon	80-90	Mar. 20-May 1	Do not plant	1 oz.	10 ft.	8 to 10 ft.	1½ in.

Just a little bit of work

2012-02-05T14:39:00.002-08:00

I moved humus underneath the bed by the driveway around the fig tree.
Planted a lot of strawberry starts in pots, that are in flow trays in the green house.

Back to Eden

2012-02-04T21:14:00.000-08:00

/backtoedenfilm.com/

This is one of the best garden video's I've ever seen

All in a days work

2012-02-04T16:43:00.000-08:00

I started to dig up the day lilies, if you want some let me know, they need dividing

Eric sprayed all the fruit and nut trees today

I'm dumping the day lilies over here till I can divide them

Eric is my hero, he cut down major branches today so I can get more light to the raised beds

I think he had fun using his pole saw

I had a bucket of iris to plant so I planted them down the center of this large bed just to get them in the ground

I dug up the strawberry bed and hand tilled the soil,
It needs compost and maybe sand added to this bed and re- till again before replanting it

I also cleaned up these strawberry pots

Eric cut down this sad pear tree

He also cut down this nice pear tree because it was in the way of the garden shed.
No worries our neighbor grows the best apples and pears

We also cut down this apple tree for the stump, we will put a mail box on this stump for the new little Forbes. Again no worries our neighbor grows the best apples and pears

Last weekend we pruned these trees

By cutting down major branches I think we achieved our goal of getting more light to the raised beds

Eric bent his saw, sad...A branch came flying down and hit the adjustable shaft. We are wondering what thats going to cost to fix.
The saw still works but it smells like burnt rubber.

I pruned the seed heads off the honeysuckles

Well as you can see we have a lot of branches to drag to our burn pile

A lot of branches, it's not going to happen this weekend or next

I pruned the 24 rose bushes for Nate and Lissa

These are the branches we cut down last weekend

I transplanted the holly and some tulips, should look good when the tulips bloom

These are the strawberries after cleaning them up, I have them in a bucket of water till I can replant them. Hopefully soon

This is what the strawberry bed looked like before I dug it up.
We still have one more strawberry bed to dig up.

Well it's time to call it a day and get cleaned up. Eric is taking us to dinner.

Our cleaning and sterilizing container system

2012-01-31T15:51:00.000-08:00

MARSHALLTOWN The Premier Line 742G Bucket Water Heater

These cost around $40 at Wilco I bought one last year because I didn't want to wash containers in freezing cold water.
They are designed to keep animals water from freezing. They are design for 15 gallons.
I have 103 gallons so you you have to start the heating process the day before and put a piece of plywood on top to keep the heat from escaping.

We had to buy a large bike hook to screw in one of the tanks to hold the probe up in the tank and not cover the yellow heating element. Those are around $5 at home depot

2'x2'x 4' a 103 gallon tank

You can pick these tanks up at most farm stores it will cost you around $80

That's why I bought one last year and waited to buy a second one this year.

It takes 16 concrete blocks to support two of these tanks above ground at waist level. I don't remember the exact cost but I'm guessing $4 each
Underneath the bricks we dug out the dirt leveled it and put landscape cloth then filled with gravel for leveling the tanks and for draining the tanks.

This has been a two year project in the works.
Over time this project cost $270
I still have one more thing I would like to do to complete this project.
That is make lids for these two tanks.
One lid to keep the heat in for the cleaning tank.
One lid to keep anything getting into the sterilization tank.

Why did we go to all this trouble?
Because Eric didn't like me washing containers in the back bathtub on my knees.
He felt it wasn't good on the plumbing or my knees and he was right.

Last year I tried to have the sterilization tank be a plastic garbage can it busted open.
It was hard retrieving the containers out of a garbage can.

It takes 4 gallons of bleach for the sterilization tank. You soak the containers for 10 minutes.

This system works and will for many years to come.
For almost $300 it would almost be cheaper to get new containers every year.
But it's not environmentally being a good stewart.

I use any container I get and use it over and over and over again till it falls apart.

I go threw a lot of containers every year for starting our garden plants.
Eric and Nate built me a container corral to store most of our containers.

It was built with 4 ceder 4' fence sections, four 2x4' corner posts, two large galvanize hinges, and a latch to keep the gate closed.
We also dug the ground leveled it, landscape cloth, gravel and set the container corral on top. This year I may paint it with left over house paint.

Getting organized and working out systems for your situation could be expensive. So it's good to look at the whole picture and count the costs to see if there are lest expensive ideas out there. Or if you really need to do this.

We have an acre,
Our goal is to have a self sustaining garden for most of our produce needs and the extra for family and friends.

We've been here 7 1/2 years it's been a work in progress.
Getting systems in place takes a lot of planning, time and money.

We've grown a lot of stuff over the years. Canned a lot of stuff.
Each year seems to get better and better as we get these systems in place.

Today I'm cleaning garden pots

2012-01-31T12:42:00.000-08:00

http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/hortnews/1994/3-16-1994/clean.html

This is a good link on how and why you clean your garden containers.

Now that the greenhouse is clean it's time to clean the garden containers.

Clean your garden pots in hot soapy water with a scrub brush getting all the old dirt, salt sediments and green gunk off.
Then soak your clean pots in this solution for 10 minutes.

A good solution is 9 parts water and 1 part bleach.

While the weather is yet not ready for planting it's a great time for getting things ready.
Cleaning the green house inside and out with hot soapy water and wipe with a bleach solution then rinse.
Clean the shelving the plants will start on.
Clean your raised beds from last years garden season if you haven't already

Look into ordering your garden seed after making a plan of what and where you are planting
Put compost on your raised beds and turn it a little 2 weeks prior to planting

Time to clean the greenhouse

2012-01-26T16:45:00.001-08:00

I started to empty the greenhouse.
Then took hot bleach water and a scrubber and scrubbed the walls inside and out on half the greenhouse. Then rinsed with cold water.
I scrubbed the shelves and rinsed.

I'll work on the other half of the greenhouse another day.

garden link

2012-01-12T03:39:00.000-08:00

http://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/teresas-backyard-garden

new link

2012-01-11T15:07:00.000-08:00

http://www.homefarming.com/

I discovered this link today it came with my seed packages.

Lincoln shelling Peas

2012-01-11T14:38:00.000-08:00

A high-yielding variety with sweet, tender flavor.

Appropriately enough, these peas were introduced in peacetime, just after World War II. 'Lincoln' quickly became a favorite with American gardeners, thanks to its high yields and sweet, tender flavor. Suited for eating fresh, freezing or canning, the 4-5" pods are loaded with 6-9 sweet, tender peas. Heat- and wilt-tolerant, the 18-30" plants require staking with a small pea fence for proper support. Harvest peas in about 65-70 days.

Sun: Full Sun

Spread: 8 inches

Height: 24-30 inches

Thinning: 8 inches

Days to Maturity: 62 days

Sowing Method: Direct Sow

Rainbow Bell Mix sweet Peppers

2012-01-11T14:32:00.000-08:00

Pepper - Rainbow Bell Mix - Capsicum annuum

Tender annual Watch the rainbow of sweet peppers change color through the season! Cal Wonder (green to red), Diamond (green to white to pale yellow), Golden Cal Wonder (green to yellow), Orange Sun (green to orange), Purple Beauty (green to purple), and Sweet Chocolate (green to dark brown).

Soil & Water: Peppers require deeply worked, well-drained soil with plenty of added organic matter and a pH of 6.0-6.8. Water deeply, but don't over water.

Planting & Growing: Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before the last frost. (May 11 is the safe last frost date for Corvallis) Stake to keep fruit off the ground and mulch for disease and weed control. Start seed March 2nd or 16th

Harvesting & Storage: Harvest the first fruits early to encourage continued production through the season. Cut (don't pull) the fruit from the stems. Most bell peppers are harvestable from the green stage through the color changes.

Did You Know? Sweet peppers are loaded with vitamins C and A.

Soil Temperature: 75-80F
Planting Depth: 1/4"
Germination: 6-15 Days
Height At Maturity: 20"-30"
Days To Maturity: 65-90 Days
Sun/Shade: Full Sun
Spacing After Thinning: 12"

Frost dates for Corvallis Oregon

2012-01-11T14:18:00.000-08:00

April 22nd is the earliest time, but the safe date is May 11th for setting plants out.

I just got my first order of garden seed from The Cooks garden.

Most of the seed I ordered are direct seeding.

There are a few packages that you start early.
Like peas.

Most of the time people start directly outdoors. But I discovered we have 1000's of birds of various kinds and they will eat my pea seeds. So to have success in our yard I start them in flats, out doors with a hoop covering on a raised bed that way they have a chance to make it before the birds get to them. I transplant them when they are around 2" tall.

I soak the seed over night, drain the water, cover the seed with a powder inoculate before planting them.

I'm not a fan of The Cooks garden's direction for planting seeds. So I'll have to google the names and find directions for our area.

Something I learn from reading The Cook's garden directions of the spinach is to plant your spinach next to your peas. This protects your spinach from too much sun. It could be that this is a good companion pair as well.

Seeds I need to start in flats in the green house:
rainbow bell mix sweet peppers
culinary mixture tomato
Sweet genovese basil
Blue solaise leek
indian summer hybrid spinach

Now to do the research when these seeding take place for our area.

a garden show link

2012-01-07T10:33:00.001-08:00

http://www.thegardengurus.tv/

Gardening

2012-01-02T15:57:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6hkHXdk5IU

This was a link sent to me on some garden video's

I'm so looking forward to this years garden season.
The garden catalogs are coming in.

I haven't had a chance to look at them yet, still putting away Christmas.

When my work is done then I can look at the garden catalogues.

Insight for Gardening Classes for 2012

2011-12-31T09:54:00.000-08:00

http://extension.oregonstate.edu/benton/sites/default/files/documents/iig_2012.8x11.pdf

The link above is for the registration of classes.
This event takes place Feb, 11, 2012 it goes from 9 to 3 and cost $30 to attend the classes. It cost $35 if you wait the day of and you may not get the classes you want. So pre registration is encouraged.
There will be displays in the lobby.

Eric and I have gone for years to this event and immediately drive from the parking lot on our way to the Tulare farm show which we display at. After the second session.

There was a time where this event happened the week after the farm show but over the years it was moved and has made it difficult for us to attend the full days events. It's always frustrating to pay for the full day and not take the full day's classes.

It's been a long time sense I've worked in the garden

2011-10-17T15:48:00.000-07:00

It felt good to get my hands dirty

I made business cards for our guest suite rental

Working on the landscape for the guest suite rental entrance, yellow tree rose, and some herbs, later I'll plant purple iris bulbs

3 yards of gravel to move in the new path by the garage

Cleaned out 3 raised beds today

Kale anyone?

The first raised bed is clean

The second raised bed, I transplanted lavender and ginger into

Lots of green tomatoes

The third raised bed cleaned/ sad two large boxwood died

Step by step

2011-09-21T08:07:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I dug up the squash plants, and put in the yard debris pile

Today I dug up the sage plants and put in the window boxes

Tomorrow I'll weed this bed

Today I transplanted the sage plants into the window boxes and watered

Today I'll find some fall flowers to add to the window boxes

On Friday Eric will load up all the yard debris I've been adding to the pile into the trailer.

cleaning up for fall

2011-09-20T14:14:00.000-07:00

The 5 window boxes needed a bit of work.

Each having 3 geraniums each that had been cut down and are growing back.

All the other plants in the boxes died during the window replacement project.

I transplanted the geraniums into other pots that will be put in the green house during the winter. We will see if I can overwinter them.

mean while I have 5 empty window boxes that will be hung back on the house today or tomorrow. Depends on how the evening goes.

The window guy is coming back tomorrow to show us the indoor window options. Then schedule that part of the job. Maybe I will have contractors back sooner than I thought.

Picked cucumbers in the garden.

Watering desperate neglected plants.

It's been awhile since I've posted here

2011-08-30T14:32:00.000-07:00

Life has different seasons requiring different demands on your life. So sometimes the passion of ones life gets put on hold for a short while. My passion is eatable gardens.

With a break from construction and life in general and gorgeous weather I couldn't resist planting lettuce seeds, carrots and some other fine veggies.

So today I planted broccoli calabrese

North pole lettuce butter head

early golden acre cabbage

cabbage wong bok

little gem romaine lettuce

forellenschluss romaine

butter crunch butter head lettuce

foru seasons organic butterhead lettuce

winter density romaine lettuce

arugula roquette

scarlet nantes carrots

nantes carrots

We will see what comes of it

Garden journal for June

2011-06-30T09:04:00.000-07:00

MONDAY 6.20.2011

watered window boxes

dead headed flowers

weeded under window boxes

trimmed mint

watered containers

power washed sidewalk

watered garden beds

picked peas in back garden

picked strawberries, lettuce, spinach, and some leeks, rhubarb

weeded in the front yard and raked leaves

planted tomato in hanging container

planted cantaloupe

planted bell peppers

planted cucumbers

made rhubarb sauce, strawberry short cake, potato leek soup

TUESDAY 6.21.2011

went to Newberg had breaks on car fixed, worked on work catalogues

Eric moved some debris

had a garden salad for dinner

WEDNESDAY 6.22.2011

trimmed bottom of kiwi

trimmed heather

raked up debris in front and hauled by trash trailer

made the decision to sell trash trailer, branch grinder to get a dumping trailer

picked peas in front yard

watered plants along driveway fence

watered plants in bed by box windows

watered rose in container by front door and containers between box window

watered Isaac’s garden and moss area under doug fir

watered ferns and hostas

had potato leek soup for dinner

windows were measured today, will be ordered this week

THURSDAY 6.23.2011

picked peas

picked lettuce

water garden

clean green house

clean garden pots

move rocks

Friday 6.24.2011

worked on cleaning up rototiller, getting it ready to rototil

put sand box in place, landscape cloth, filled with sand

pruned kiwi, hauled debris to burm

mixed perlite, peat moss, and sand together

rototilled front by fence area 2 hours

pruned tree limbs by grapes, hauled branches to pump house

fill dump trailer

Saturday 6.25.2011

Go to dump and unload, go to dump and unload

go get compost and unload, go get compost and unload

mow lawn

cleaning garden shed

mix soil

plant bulbs in gallon containers

water

beer in small bowls for slugs

rototil by isaac tree

prune tree branches

Sunday 6.26.2011

picked peas

watched Charlotte

Monday 6.27.2011

spray paint sand box lid

spray paint containers

clean up container area

plant bulbs

mix soil

dump trash cans

picked strawberries

made 14 jars of jam

Tuesday 6.28.2011

newberg

picked berries and freeze

Wednesday 6.29.2011

pick garlic

pick peas

pick strawberries

made raspberry jam

made mixed berry jam

made strawberries, raspberry and basalmic vinegar

pruned roses

Thursday 6.30.2011

move branches into trailer

put apple maggot traps out

put humming bird food out

weeded behind office window

cleaned up artichokes

watered garden

clean up Charlottes outdoor furniture

Humming bird food

2011-06-30T05:04:00.000-07:00

A friend shared this on Facebook and I thought it was worthy to try out.

Thanks for sharing it Kathi.

The recipe for hummingbird food: boil water, measure a 4 water to 1 sugar ratio. Allow to cool. Pour into clean hummingbird feeder for just pennies. Enjoy ♥ ♥ ♥

I found this template on line about garden journals

2011-06-22T16:44:00.001-07:00

Rooster's Rendezvous Gardening Journal

Plot number/location:

Gardener's Name:

Date Garden Planted:

Type:

My Garden Profile

1. What's growing here now?

2. What's my exposure?

3. What's my soil like?

4. What's my moisture and drainage?

5. Soil test results:

Garden Map-insert sketch of garden map here.

Garden Photo-insert photos here

=====================================

Journal

For each week of the year record the following information
by appending a copy of this section on to the end of this article:

==================================
Week of the year _ of 52
Month:
Date of this entry:

How's the weather?
How's the soil?
What's blooming?
What am I planting?
What am I harvesting?
How am I feeling?

What's going on with the:

Flower gardens?
Vegetables & fruits?
Herbs?
Trees & shrubs?
Lawn?
Wildlife in the garden?

Other notes

==================================

Record this for each plant your growing in your garden:

Just copy and paste this section on to the end of the
article for each plant in your garden.

==================================

Planting Records

Plant number:

Common name:

Botanical Name:

Cultivator or variety:

Type(annual, perennial,vegitable,flower,etc.):

Form

Seeds

Plants

Bare-Root

Container

Other

Source

Date purchased or received

Cost

Condition

Date planted

First germination

Transplanted

Location planted

Projected mature size: height spread

Blooming/Fruiting period

Color/Form/Foliage Notes

Yealds (Fruits/vegetables/herbs)

How did this plant perform?

==================================

In summery each year fill out this

What worked

Flowers

Vegetables

Herbs

Shrubs

Trees

Fruiting plants

Wildlife

Other

What did not work?

Flowers

Vegitables

herbs

Shrubs

trees

Fruiting plants

Wildlife

Other

What would you do differently next year?

Flowers

Vegetables

Herbs

Shrubs

Trees

Fruiting plants

Wildlife

Other

General notes on the year

french breakfast radish

2011-05-10T06:20:00.000-07:00

Planted March 22nd, and now it's May 10th.

Our first harvest of the season 49 days later.

Typically they take 25 to 30 days to be ready, but we've had a lot a rain and not enough sunshine.

None the less they are very good.

worm composter

2011-05-09T08:18:00.000-07:00

The worm factory really works, today I was checking on it and I had two bins full of beautiful compost.

I first heard of vermiculture in high school in the 70's. A fellow in one of my classes was really into it and told me how he was going to make his fortune raising worms. I wonder if he ever did it.

I love the compost these red wigglers make it smells good, feels good, (It's black gold, for the earth) All made from kitchen scraps, and shredded paper from the paper shredder.

The worm factory I've looked at for several years and finally took the plunge to try it out. So in December I ordered one, and put it together following the simple direction.

Pretty much forgetting about it and adding kitchen scraps to it. Eric and I have a lot of kitchen scraps of fruits, vegetables, and egg shells.

It's amazing to me the work these little guys do turning what we consider garbage turns into wonderful compost for the garden.

The worm factory doesn't take up much room and doesn't smell. After 4 months 2 bins of compost. Very cool.

Now I need to figure out a sifter so I don't loose the worms.

Make your own soil mix

2011-04-07T21:12:00.001-07:00

Basic Container Mix

1 bucket (2-1/2 gallons) peat moss
1 bucket(2-1/2 gallons) vermiculite or perlite
A half bucket (1-1/4 gallons) screened compost or composted cow manure
2 cups fine sand
2 cups pelleted time-release fertilizer
1/2 cup lime (to counter the acid of peat and keep the pH level near neutral)

Mix thoroughly. Makes enough to fill two 14-inch tubs or five 12-inch hanging baskets. Double or triple recipe for bigger containers.

How Much Mix Do You Need

Potting mix is sold by volume (measured in quarts), and most pots are measured by their diameter. To translate quarts of mix into various pot sizes, use this quick reference.

Container Size & Amount Needed

Pots & Tubs
8-inch 3 quarts
10-inch 6 quarts
12-inch 8 quarts
14-inch 12 quarts
16-inch 20 quarts
20-inch 24 quarts
24-inch 28 quarts
30-inch 72 quarts
36-inch 96 quarts

Hanging Baskets
12-inch 6 quarts
16-inch 10 quarts

Window Boxes
24-inches by 6-inches 12 quarts
36-inches by 6-inches 20 quarts

Today in the garden

2011-03-26T14:08:00.000-07:00

Eric cut down an old apple tree that was too close to a Doug fir.

We left a stump to put a mail box on top for Charlotte.

We finished putting the last post to a fence we've been working on for awhile.

It's good to be almost finished with that project.

I transplanted seedling into 3 flats Nasturtiums, cauliflower, and squash.

Then made soil mix and put in sterilized containers. I filled several strawberry pots and put them next to the strawberry bed.

Later I will plant all these pots with strawberries.

We are calling it a day in the garden because it's wet outside.

no gardening today

2011-03-18T17:31:00.001-07:00

I would have loved it.

Tomorrow I'll be out there.

I think tomorrow I will the bed under the exercise room and guest room. There is a lot of wild garlic and other random weeds. Then I need to take out the day lilies and move else where or just give them away or pot them for know.

Once the bed is weeded and clean we can fill in compost.

I'm thinking this bed by the parking area surrounded by concrete is a concrete bed of sorts. It would be a good place to plant the various mints we have and it would be contained.

Also the dear wouldn't bother it.

I like mint, in tea and as garnishes.

It wouldn't take long for the mint to cover that area if I plan it right.

We plan on painting our home in mid July. I could just prepare the area and not plant anything till the house is painted then transplant the mint at that time.

The other thing about mint that I like you can forget to water it and it's ok.

I love gardening

2011-03-17T19:46:00.000-07:00

These were harvested in February

It's fun to plant a seed and see it sprout. It's fun to plant that seedling and see it grow. It's fun to see that plant fruit. It's fun to see that fruit grow. It's fun to see that fruit turn to seed.

The cycle of life.

I bought one chocolate mint plant and planted it in the ground. Mistake, a very invasive plant.

I love mint I need to plant it where it doesn't matter if it takes over. I do love mint tea.

Or plant it in a container to contain it.

After digging it up today and dividing it into several pieces. I planted 3 flats of starts, and still have a bucket full of starts I haven't planted yet.

I think I will be selling chocolate mint plants at my roadside stand.

This makes me think of:

If you have faith the size of a mustard seed you can move mountains.

It doesn't take much to move mountains a little faith will do it.

Nature is healing, fresh air, exercise, and the nourishment it gives us. All that God intended for us the natural way.

I feel better when I garden, the fresh air and exercise.

I feel better when I eat fresh grown.

I sleep better because I've worked so hard.

I'm encouraged that spring is on it's way.

The pansies I planted today brighten the path, the colors make me smile.

Playing in the dirt is fun. You get dirty and it's OK no formality involved there.

I know the ground is happy when I see large worms when I dig.

Today I put handfuls of hair in each hole or chili pepper flakes before planting the pansies. We have moles and I'm hoping these natural remedies will take care of these unwelcome guests.

Eric had his hair cut yesterday and he asked the barber for a bag full of hair.

We heard that moles don't like the scent of hair. Hair is full of protein too. I also heard that moles don't like hot stuff. If they take a bite in the hot pepper flakes I think they will think twice before eating my flowers.

In the green house I planted many heirloom tomato seeds. This means they will stay true to what they are. They are non gmo seeds. Gmo stands for genetically modified. Well that's code for a Frankenstein seed that can mutate and has lost it's nutritional value. You want to stay away from GMO seeds they can cross pollinate with your other plants causing all sorts of problems. We like organic gardening here. I don't want to spend all this time and energy only to end up eating something that isn't good for us.

Hybrid seeds are not worth saving because they are unpredictable as to what they will be when you save the seeds. They will probably not grow or they will revert back to one of the parents used to make it a hybrid in the first place. So if you want a hybrid vegetable, you will have to buy the seed every year.

I'm trying to stay with heirloom seeds.

I will also try to save seeds.

I saved pea seeds last year that I'm planting this year. So exciting I won't have to buy that variety of seed again if I keep saving the seed. Peas seeds usually last 3 years.

I also saved tomato seeds, and some squash seeds.

Things like radishes, carrots, lettuces, beets I don't save the seed. We don't have a long enough growing season to do that. These seeds usually last only one season and are not that expensive.

We have two beds of strawberries right now I don't need that many so I will be potting some of them up.

I feel like a little kid at Christmas I can't wait to go outside every day and see the treasures the garden holds.

chocolate mint

2011-03-17T16:55:00.000-07:00

Chocolate mint , I found this picture on line

This is the plant that is taking over an area in our front bed.

I dug it up today, and divided the cuttings, and replanted in containers.

It's an aggressive plant.

Chocolate Mint

This is a very strong mint used for teas.

Has a smell like a peppermint patty.

Add fresh leaves to strawberries for a special treat!

Great dried and added to black tea or used by itself.

Easy to grow, spreads rapidly.

Grow in containers to contain it.

Plant Chocolate Mint in the spring after the last frost, or in the fall 2 to 3 weeks before your first frost and have beautiful well-established, rapidly growing plants come up in the spring!

Water regularly until well established (you will be able to see new top growth and may notice that the plant has begun to lay over and put down roots wherever it touches the ground) and provide about a half day of sunshine. When first frost approaches mulch to protect from the winter weather. The leaves of the Chocolate Mint plant do die back in the winter, but you will see new shoots come up near where it was planted early the next spring.

A lovely day in the garden

2011-03-17T15:29:00.001-07:00

I planted 108 pansies, then a bunch of heirloom tomato seeds of various kind. Then dug up a lot of mint that has taken over the front bed.

Mint is invasive.... That's why putting it in a container is a good idea.

Trouble with power

2011-03-15T19:42:00.000-07:00

The power in the greenhouse is not working and Eric can't figure it out.

We are going to have to call an electrician.

Meanwhile the lights and heat mat are not working and haven't for 3 days.

So I hope my seeding hasn't gone to waist.

This problem make take some time and money to resolve.

We are also having trouble with our bathroom fan.

Planting more seeds

2011-03-14T17:00:00.000-07:00

black beauty zucchini

scallop bush squash

spaghetti squash

micro greens

and long island cheese squash

more seed in the mail

2011-03-14T15:13:00.000-07:00

I ordered some heirloom seeds from

Amishland Heirloom seeds

www.amishlandseeds.com

They were on back order because the demand for their seeds were high.

I almost forgot.

I received:

Dinosaur kale

purple Italian Marconi bean

capucijners blue pod heirloom peas

coyote tomato- a gift for being Patience

The peas are soaking in water, I'll put inoculant on them tomorrow and plan

I'll try to plant everything else today or tomorrow.

heirloom tomatoes

2011-03-14T14:49:00.001-07:00

Prudens purple

German Johnson

Aunt Ruby's german green

Big rainbow

Box car willie

Brandywine

These are some tomatoes I can plant soon.

Also radish french breakfast

Radicchio

ching chaing oriental vegetable

Moving blueberries

2011-03-14T13:52:00.000-07:00

Eric bought for Christmas in 2009 four blueberry bushes, they were planted by Isaac's tree and the large dedora ceders. It was too shady there and the soil didn't drain well.

Two of the berries still had their tags the other two didn't.

#1 Earliblue

#2 Blue Ray

#3 Duke

#4 Blue Crop

They pretty much haven't grown at all in that location. So I moved them today to the front yard in the front bed near the house by Lissa's bedroom.

We had taken out 3 birches there. So there is lots of light now. I think they will do better in this location, of sun and good drainage.

I put fertilizer in the hole before planting and pruned the dead branches off and did some additional pruning.

I read they like pine needles and don't like to be planted deep.

So I'll now put pine needles on them.

Today in the garden

2011-03-14T09:35:00.000-07:00

I planted spicy globe, Genovese, italian genovese, mrs. Burns lemon basil seeds in the greenhouse.

Then I planted eggplant black beauty seed in the greenhouse.

In the front bed I planted three color blend snap beans and bush provider bush snap beans.

I noticed in the green house the spinach seeds are sprouting

eggplant

2011-03-13T14:26:00.000-07:00

Eggplant Black Beauty

is a warm weather plant that thrives in the hot summer.

Tasty fresh from the garden or prepared in a baked dish.

Fried eggplant slices are popular, too.

Harvest the fruit when it reaches full size and is still glossy.

It doesn't require support in the garden.

Garden Tip Black beauty is one of the largest eggplant varieties to grow in the garden

Annual planting depth 1/4" , thin to 12 to 18" , sun, maturity 80 days, days to germination 10-12 days, direct sow after frost,inside start 6-8 weeks before last frost.

looking at the weather

2011-03-13T13:24:00.001-07:00

It's raining all week.....

Monday sunny and raining. . .

I'm planting beans tomorrow rain or shine.

and I may start some egg plant for my sister in law Tina in the green house. She brought me some seeds to start.

It's not raining today, but it's Sunday and we need the day of rest.

It's been a long week.

Sitting by the fire and drinking tea is a great idea.

I hope your resting today

The beans I'm planting This year

2011-03-12T20:36:00.000-08:00

Bean, Three Color Blend
Sweet, colorful, easy-to-harvest bush beans.
Can't-miss tricolor combination lights up the garden and the dinner table. Our selection of sweet, colorful, easy-to-harvest bush beans yields masses of vivid purple (Royal Burgundy), yellow (Mellow Yellow) and green (Bush Blue Lake 274) pods.
Growth Habit Bush
Days to Maturity 50-60 days
Sun Full Sun
Height 15-20 inches
Spread 10 inches
Thinning 6 inches
Sowing Method Direct Sow
Fruit Size 4-6 inches
(Phaseolus vulgaris)
Provider can be planted earlier than other beans because it germinates well in cool soils. Compact

Why do I garden

2011-03-12T07:28:00.000-08:00

I do it because I like to, it brings me great joy.

I also love fresh produce and know where our food is coming from.

I was reading homestead revival a blog I follow and they were speaking on their thoughts of the sad situation in Japan.

The had posted these verses from proverbs:

6 Go to the ant, O sluggard,

Observe her ways and be wise,
⁷Which, having no chief,
Officer or ruler,
⁸Prepares her food in the summer
And gathers her provision in the harvest.
⁹How long will you lie down, O sluggard?
When will you arise from your sleep?
¹⁰"A little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to rest"--
¹¹Your poverty will come in like a vagabond
And your need like an armed man.

~Proverbs 6:6-11

25 The ants are not a strong people,

But they prepare their food in the summer;

~ Proverbs 30:25

and went on to say:
There are really only two options...

Either you will be the one needing help or you will be the one helping others.

This is another reason to garden.

Last summer I had a garden but it didn't do as well as I had hoped because we had an emergency situation happen in our families lives. So I left to help our daughter out. Fortunately for our family my husbands sisters garden did so well she shared her harvest with us and we were blessed. I was even able to make baby food for our new granddaughter.

Garden's bless others.

There are so many reasons to do it.

I hope you do something in your yards that will bless others.

Today in the garden

2011-03-11T11:45:00.000-08:00

Put the window boxes up, with coco liners and soil moisture mats.

Planted a raised bed with strawberries

Planted merlot loose leaf , italienischer loose leaf, italian saladini blend lettuces, bouquet dill, parel hybrid cabbage, bulbing fennel trieste, superschmelz kohlrabi, arugula roquette seeds

dump a wheel barrow of debri by garbage trailer

prune grapes

I would keep going but we have a thing to go to and I need to clean up

Pushing through

2011-03-10T11:43:00.000-08:00

Some days you just rather stay in bed.

Especially when your chore list is 5 pages long.

But it's only going to grow if you don't get to it, rain or shine.

Pressing through the "stuff" one chore at a time.

Today I fixed a trellis and planted more peas starts and onion starts.

Move the soil flats into the greenhouse

Then planted a different varieties of peas in trays as well as chervil, celery, and roma tomato seeds.

Put fertilizer on the house plants.

trays are filled

2011-03-09T11:36:00.000-08:00

The trays I seed in are filled sitting in the driveway waiting for rain to water them.

After moving several wheelbarrows of debris:

I ended up planting more peas, and onions. Boy did I look like a mud ball when I finished.

It's already 11:30 am and I have not even started on the strawberry bed.

I was hoping today, yet I think not. It's a big job and you really get dirty doing it.

Instead I came inside and started a crock pot for dinner.

And cleaned up from planting peas and onions.

Lord help me get motivated

2011-03-09T08:58:00.001-08:00

I went outside and grateful for what we have gotten done, yet looking at what needs to be done.

Overwhelming is the word

It won't get done if I don't do it.

And the only way it gets done is one step at a time.

I put up one row cover on one bed, it took awhile to find where we put the rebar to hold the PVC pipes in place.

I can see we need more rebar to finish putting the PVC pipes on the other beds.

While I was crawling on all 4's looking for the rebar under the garden shed I found all the trellis, bean tower, and pepper and tomato supports. So I pulled those out and put then on various raised beds for now so they are available when I plant the plants.

Cut the "rain mats" for the seedling trays. It absorbs a lot of water and is designed for hanging baskets and pots. Making water available to the roots when needed.

I haven't tried this product out yet, it claims to hold a lot of water so you only have to water once a week. We will see.

I have trays to fill with potting soil, and then I will get the pots soil wet before seeding.

It's overcast today so I may not get to moving the strawberries we will see.

Today I will clean the strawberry bed

2011-03-09T07:25:00.000-08:00

Our strawberry bed needs attending to.

So I'm going to move them to a new bed and thin them out.

The extra strawberries I will plant in strawberry pots and put in the greenhouse till they get of some size.

When the old strawberry bed is cleaned out Eric will put compost in that bed.

It looks like it will be a nice day to work.

I also have more peas to plants and seeds to start.

I'll plant several types of lettuces.

Last night I soaked some peas seeds I collected from last years crop. I will put inoculant on them after draining them. Then start them in the greenhouse. These peas are the tall peas that you can eat the pod and all.

The peas I'm planting today are the bush type that you eat the peas only.

There are also more onions to plant.

Traveling gardener

2011-03-08T07:53:00.000-08:00

Today I'm heading to Newburg to see our daughter and granddaughter.

With a flat of peas, a couple of strawberry pots and a bucket of soil.

They have a long planting area along the side of their garage where they have grown strawberries and peas.

This bed needs to be weeded, and replanted.

So we thought we would work on this today.

Sometime's I feel like Johnny Apple seed, except I'm the traveling gardener planting onions, strawberries and peas.

Seeding in the Greenhouse today

2011-03-07T15:03:00.000-08:00

Seeds planted today in the greenhouse:

black heirloom tomato

Mortgage lifter tomato

Kellogg's breakfast tomatoes

Purple calabash heirloom tomatoes

nasturtiums tip top Alaska

Cauliflower cheddar hybrid

Marshmallow herb

lavender elegance purple

hyssop herb

Strawberry starts transplanted into strawberry pots in greenhouse

Seedlings planted outside:

spencer wave sweet peas

sprint bush peas

onion starts

Repairing the back fence:

Because Eric was gone Saturday in California on a business trip he took today off to work on repairing the back fence.

To our discovery he could only fix two outer broken posts, once those are set in concrete and repaired then he can work on the broken middle post another day.

He also move compost into some raised beds.

Another days work @ another time:

to move debris and work up a bed for planting more peas, and onions

dig up all the strawberries, clean them up and divide, and move into another raised bed with compost.

Then fill the raised bed that the strawberries were in.

Garlands March events

2011-03-06T08:35:00.000-08:00

March 12th

Little Sprouts fairy and Leprechaun Gardens

11:00 am

$5 pre child

registration required 541-753-6601

Landscape Design 101

at 1:00 am

March 19th

Get your edible Garden started

11:00 am

Notes from martha stewart spring garden

2011-03-05T20:05:00.000-08:00

http://www.marthastewart.com/article/martha-on-dvd-spring-gardening

Click on this link for notes:

Garlands anyone?

2011-03-04T15:48:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow Garlands is having a fountain sale, I thought I would check it out.

All so at 1:00 pm is a landscape talk. I think I'll show up for the class any way.

Oops ! it's next week