Yesterday, central Ohio got its first frost. I woke up to 31-degrees F. "F" stands for the expletive that escaped my mouth when I got out of bed. Fortunately I rigged up a pretty ghetto system of towels, wood scraps, and an old glass picture frame to protect my lettuce and spinach seedlings. The butternut squash was killed. The basil started to turn purplish by the end of the day. Not sure if or how the tomatoes will respond, or if the young swiss chard will be affected.
I ripped out one tomato plant that was bent over and nearly horizontal. I think the other three will come out this weekend.
My hope is to build an appropriate cold frame around the area where I plan to keep lettuces growing to see how far into the year I can be producing food... More to come...
What needs to happen before too long is I need to mix up the compost pile and increase the aeration in the bottom of it by laying down sticks and twigs.
Also, I need to consider putting down a "winter crop"--perhaps a legume like hairy vetch to add nitrogen into the soil--before winter is officially here.
Showing posts with label swiss chard. Show all posts
Showing posts with label swiss chard. Show all posts
October 2, 2009
August 18, 2009
Thieves in the garden
Something ate all my swiss chard. WTF?!
I think it's rabbits, but can't be sure. I'm so bummed
I think it's rabbits, but can't be sure. I'm so bummed
July 26, 2009
Summer Planting: Kale, Chard, Spinach; Mint
One thing I need to get better about is the realization that planting in a vegetable garden doesn't happen just once, in the spring. It can and should be a season-long activity, just like weeding, but better.
Today, in the place of the previous sugar snap pea stand, I "directly sowed" in four kale "pits" ~2 ft apart in a zig-zag formating. In the spaces between, I planted 2 rows of spinach and 2 rows of swiss chard. I confirmed that at least one other Midwest gardener plants kale in July--the reason being that kale likes to be alive in Spring and Fall, it can survive temperatures down to 10-below (supposedly), and frost makes the leaves taste sweeter. Sounds pretty perfect for Ohio. My friend Allison also lovingly describes kale as the "toothbrush of the colon." What can be better?
--
Also, I've been regretting not planting any mint early this year. It's got a ba-jillion uses. Long story short, I was at the grocery store and found a small mint plant in soil in a 4" tall plastic container. The grocery store sells a few select planted herbs (basil, cilantro, parsley, mint). They are pretty small plants with up to maybe a dozen leaves. I'm not sure if the intention is to provide fresh herbs for a single meal, such that the container and stem are disposed after the single use; or if the plants are to be kept in a kitchen window to grow and be used as many times as possible... Anyways, I bought the plant for $2.99 and planted it in a bigger container using soil, potting soil, and a little bit of "plant-food" fertilizer pellets. I pinched a couple of the stems just above pairs of leaves, hoping to spur new growth in both the shoots (stems) and roots. Hopefully I'll be able to use mint in the next few weeks.
--
I'm considering adding a few elements to the garden to extend our growing season. I've been reading about people using "hoops" (think metal hula-hoop halves placed in the garden) over which they can put shade cloth to keep things like lettuce cool in the summer, or clear plastic to keep things warm in the cold and frosty months. Another useful resource might be a cold frame, basically a box made of wood and glass which similarly protects plants from frost in cold months. I've got a couple months to consider these things...
Today, in the place of the previous sugar snap pea stand, I "directly sowed" in four kale "pits" ~2 ft apart in a zig-zag formating. In the spaces between, I planted 2 rows of spinach and 2 rows of swiss chard. I confirmed that at least one other Midwest gardener plants kale in July--the reason being that kale likes to be alive in Spring and Fall, it can survive temperatures down to 10-below (supposedly), and frost makes the leaves taste sweeter. Sounds pretty perfect for Ohio. My friend Allison also lovingly describes kale as the "toothbrush of the colon." What can be better?
--
Also, I've been regretting not planting any mint early this year. It's got a ba-jillion uses. Long story short, I was at the grocery store and found a small mint plant in soil in a 4" tall plastic container. The grocery store sells a few select planted herbs (basil, cilantro, parsley, mint). They are pretty small plants with up to maybe a dozen leaves. I'm not sure if the intention is to provide fresh herbs for a single meal, such that the container and stem are disposed after the single use; or if the plants are to be kept in a kitchen window to grow and be used as many times as possible... Anyways, I bought the plant for $2.99 and planted it in a bigger container using soil, potting soil, and a little bit of "plant-food" fertilizer pellets. I pinched a couple of the stems just above pairs of leaves, hoping to spur new growth in both the shoots (stems) and roots. Hopefully I'll be able to use mint in the next few weeks.
--
I'm considering adding a few elements to the garden to extend our growing season. I've been reading about people using "hoops" (think metal hula-hoop halves placed in the garden) over which they can put shade cloth to keep things like lettuce cool in the summer, or clear plastic to keep things warm in the cold and frosty months. Another useful resource might be a cold frame, basically a box made of wood and glass which similarly protects plants from frost in cold months. I've got a couple months to consider these things...
July 22, 2009
Updates: Tomatoes, Chard, Squash, Peppers
Tomatoes:
As of yesterday (7/21), one tomato is starting to turn red. I suspect it will be another week or more before it will be ready for the plate. Looking back through my notes I see the seeds were started on March 30. So, roughly 4 months from seed to fruit for those.
--
Swiss Chard:
The seeds have sprouted and are poking out of the ground. 50 more days until we eat them...
--
Squash:
Yellow squash seems to be recovering from the Squash Vine Borer larvae. One fruit is growing steadily and might be ready to be picked in about a week. Two butternut squash plants are getting huge, but still seem to be a long way from the large, hard, and golden fruits we find at the grocery store.
--
Peppers:
My "mariachi hybrid" jalapeno peppers are getting big. I thought they would be a variety of colors. I'm wondering if I should have clipped the first fruit when it started to develop--I think this strategy helps promote stronger growth in all other fruits... I'll pick the oldest one to try very soon. (This seed was also started on March 30th)
As of yesterday (7/21), one tomato is starting to turn red. I suspect it will be another week or more before it will be ready for the plate. Looking back through my notes I see the seeds were started on March 30. So, roughly 4 months from seed to fruit for those.
--
Swiss Chard:
The seeds have sprouted and are poking out of the ground. 50 more days until we eat them...
--
Squash:
Yellow squash seems to be recovering from the Squash Vine Borer larvae. One fruit is growing steadily and might be ready to be picked in about a week. Two butternut squash plants are getting huge, but still seem to be a long way from the large, hard, and golden fruits we find at the grocery store.
--
Peppers:
My "mariachi hybrid" jalapeno peppers are getting big. I thought they would be a variety of colors. I'm wondering if I should have clipped the first fruit when it started to develop--I think this strategy helps promote stronger growth in all other fruits... I'll pick the oldest one to try very soon. (This seed was also started on March 30th)
July 16, 2009
New Life: Swiss Chard
Since my last post, I've pulled the dying zucchini plant from our garden (and discovered more Squash Vine Borer larvae within the stem), lamenting not only it's loss, but the new void in its mulched bed.
Pondering the Circle of Life, yesterday (7/15), I quickly realized my new opportunity to plant the Swiss Chard seeds that I have so far ignored this year. Seedlings are expected to emerge in no fewer than 10 days and the plants should be ready for harvest in about 60 (approx. mid-September).
--
The yellow squash seems to be hanging on and may very well be able to produce more fruit.
One positive note is that we did eat one small zucchini from the plant before it died. A packet of 25 seeds costs $3.75 (or $0.15/seed). I planted 4 seeds, hoping for 50% germination, and got one plant out of it after thinning--and, unfortunately, only one fruit from that one plant. Thus we paid $0.60 for that zucchini... Probably the same it would cost at the grocery store.
--
NOTE: Regarding economic stats, I don't factor in the time I spend (and the cost of my time for) preparing soil, planting seeds, and watering--as this turns out to be a pleasurable activity in my mind, not work...
Pondering the Circle of Life, yesterday (7/15), I quickly realized my new opportunity to plant the Swiss Chard seeds that I have so far ignored this year. Seedlings are expected to emerge in no fewer than 10 days and the plants should be ready for harvest in about 60 (approx. mid-September).
--
The yellow squash seems to be hanging on and may very well be able to produce more fruit.
One positive note is that we did eat one small zucchini from the plant before it died. A packet of 25 seeds costs $3.75 (or $0.15/seed). I planted 4 seeds, hoping for 50% germination, and got one plant out of it after thinning--and, unfortunately, only one fruit from that one plant. Thus we paid $0.60 for that zucchini... Probably the same it would cost at the grocery store.
--
NOTE: Regarding economic stats, I don't factor in the time I spend (and the cost of my time for) preparing soil, planting seeds, and watering--as this turns out to be a pleasurable activity in my mind, not work...
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