Friday, May 31, 2013
Fava beans
Apparently fava beans are magnets for aphids, often in the newest growth at the tips. I was showing off the fava beans to a friend on Wednesday when we noticed the buggers. It wasn't a horrible case, but concerning none-the-less. We found one ladybird beetle, but I was worried they wouldn't keep ahead of what looked like a serious, though nascent, issue.
I planted a row of celeriac and celery alongside the favas tonight, purchased at Brush Valley greenhouse today.
I used insecticidal soap on four plants and let the rest be, just to see the full suite of effects before dousing them all.
I'm happy to report that as of tonight the infestation seems to have lessened and I saw another ladybug tonight. The plants are looking good. I made sure to water them well through this hot spell.
The flowers are gorgeous. Black and white. Super cool.
I planted a row of celeriac and celery alongside the favas tonight, purchased at Brush Valley greenhouse today.
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Surprisingly palatable raw kale salad
1 bunch of kale, chopped small
Photosynthetic energy at its finest.
Small amount of diced red onion
Whisk together:
Juice from one lemon
Similar amount of olive oil
Dash of salt, pepper, and honey
Pour over kale and toss/massage until kale begins to wilt.
Photosynthetic energy at its finest.
Broccoli
Well, based on snooping around my neighbor's yard, we could be harvesting broccoli right now. Good to know!
File that under notes for next year!
File that under notes for next year!
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Water at the garden
I should have posted this follow-up after posting the pictures of us digging up the yard. Sweet success!
Status report (May 9th)
Finally the rains came! A week and a half of no rain and then 2 inches over two days. It's a great time to pull deep weeds even if its not a good time to turn the soil. Unfortunately, it's also a great time for weed seed germination. (See asparagus photo below.)
Roots: Beets are up with their first true leaves, but the germination wasn't uniform, I wasn't the best about watering them. Planted on April 13, they are now nearly one month in the ground. There are about 30 there, a satisfying amount for a first planting, but I better put the replanting on the to-do list.
Peas and beans: sugar snaps are doing better than shell peas, but both are growing. Sugar snaps have even begun climbing. Both were planted on April 8th.
Fava beans are so beautiful! It's my first time growing them. They need an early start (mine were presoaked and went in the ground April 10th), and they seem to be making the most of it. Nearly 100% germination on those.
A Fedco mix of plants that attract beneficial insects has been planted in two spots, totaling about 16 square feet, and it'll go in yet another spot when the soil drains enough to work it. Beans, brussels, okra, and more greens all have spots reserved for them.
And that's where we stand on May 9th.
Herbs: chives led the way, oregano, marjoram, thyme, and tarragon are all ready for picking. Sage and rosemary are greening up. My parsley roots rot and have bugs every spring, so despite the classification of 'biennial', I need to plant that new. Basil is started but its a long time out.
Perennials: sorrel is overproducing, asparagus is giving us a small handful each day, enough for salad adornments, horseradish is bolting, and rhubarb is too. The rhubarb leaves have short stalks - I'm told to top dress with cow manure. Dill has come up in carpets under both. I was hoping for that!
Roots: Beets are up with their first true leaves, but the germination wasn't uniform, I wasn't the best about watering them. Planted on April 13, they are now nearly one month in the ground. There are about 30 there, a satisfying amount for a first planting, but I better put the replanting on the to-do list.
Stuttgarter yellow onion sets are in and a couple inches high, having been planted on April 23rd, 2 1/2 weeks ago. There are about 120 of those.
Parsnips are in, but not up, same for first and second planting of carrots - red, purple, and orange! (Parsnips were planted April 13th (one month ago), 1st planting of carrots went in April 25th, 2nd went in May 6th.) Daikon radish is in (April 25th) and up, barely, and my leek starts are in (April 24th) and growing gangbusters! There are about 30 of them.
Garlic is always the stunning crop of spring. About 100 heads.
Peas and beans: sugar snaps are doing better than shell peas, but both are growing. Sugar snaps have even begun climbing. Both were planted on April 8th.
Fava beans are so beautiful! It's my first time growing them. They need an early start (mine were presoaked and went in the ground April 10th), and they seem to be making the most of it. Nearly 100% germination on those.
A Fedco mix of plants that attract beneficial insects has been planted in two spots, totaling about 16 square feet, and it'll go in yet another spot when the soil drains enough to work it. Beans, brussels, okra, and more greens all have spots reserved for them.
Last, but definitely not least, the cold frame gives us salad greens every night, lettuce, arugula, spinach, Swiss chard, and soon cilantro! The arugula is already starting to bolt however...
And that's where we stand on May 9th.
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