tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79531713904075216522024-03-13T13:14:43.631-05:00My Boston Mountains GardenI'm looking for garden plants that grow well on the thin, heavy, poor soils of the Boston Mountains using minimal fertilizer and no pesticides.woodsy_gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16332892201134992904noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7953171390407521652.post-80115350793020791282012-04-15T16:30:00.003-05:002012-04-15T17:05:35.031-05:00Landrace, Ho!I've moved to my cabin 2 flats up from my garden. What a year, so far. Everything is planted, tomato starts, melons, squash, Southern peas, 1 month earlier than usual. I can no longer say I have poor soil; 6 years of leaf mulching and nitrogen from legumes and urine has given me a brown, light, rich smelling soil. It has lots of earthworms, the guys that do the hard work around my garden.<br /><br />Now that I have my own seeds from varieties that grow well in my garden I'm going to increase the genetic diversity of these plants by allowing them to cross. I'll save seeds from the most productive plants and allow those plants to cross. With as few plants as I grow I can't really call the result a landrace but I can call them Ozark adapted, genetically diverse seeds.<br /><br />No Internet at my cabin so updates may be months away.woodsy_gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16332892201134992904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7953171390407521652.post-68075351283878867892011-10-14T21:57:00.006-05:002011-10-15T09:54:03.118-05:002011 WinnersWhat a trying year! A cold, wet Spring turned into a hot. dry Summer in a few days. These are the seeds that worked for me.<br /><br />Thanks to clear cutting and erosion a century ago the Boston Mountains region of the Ozark plateau has the poorest soil. Ozark neighbors: your climate is similar to mine and you have better soil than I do; if it grows for me it'll grow for you.<br /><br />BURMESE OKRA<br />(Abelmoschus esculentus) I got my seed from <a href="http://www.southernexposure.com/burmese-okra-5-g-p-131.html">Southern Exposure Seed Exchange</a>. One of the fantastic discoveries this year. Spineless, tender enough to eat raw, I see this becoming another garden snack. I've tried many okras and this is the keeper.<br /><br />HORNED MELON<br />(Cucumis metuliferus) Seed from <a href="http://www.southernexposure.com/burmese-okra-5-g-p-131.html">Baker Creek</a>. Late to produce but worth waiting for. Cut in half (be careful of the spines). Spoon out the tasty flesh and edible seeds. 4X the vitamen C of an orange. Rampant vines will climb 10 feet or more.<br /><br />RED GRUNER PURSLANE<br />(Portulaca oleracea sativa) Available from <a href="https://www.superseeds.com/products.php?cat=93">Pinetree Seeds</a>. A vegetable source of Omega-3. Both Red and Gold Purslane made it through the heat/drought with no problems. The red was much more productive than the Gold.<br /><br />TOOTH ACHE PLANT<br />(Spilanthes acmella) Available from <a href="http://rareseeds.com/herbs-s-z/toothache-plant/toothache-plant.html">Baker Creek</a>. Now setting many of those 'eyeball' flowers that numb your mouth if you chew them. The leaves are a very nutritious summer green.<br /><br />LIME BASIL<br />(Ocimum bacilicum) Available from <a href="http://rareseeds.com/herbs-a-l/basil/basil-lime.html">Baker Creek</a>. This year's plants are volunteers and are now flowering and setting seed. My favorite basil; it has a wonderful lime flavor, great for seasoning or tea.<br /><br />CALLALOO<br />(Amaranthus cruentus) Available from <a href="http://rareseeds.com/vegetablesa-c/amaranth/green-calaloo-amaranth.html">Baker Creek</a>. I've grown many amaranths and liked them all for their ease of growing, they grow like a weed. Callaloo is my favorite as it has both delicious leaves and blond 'grain' seeds.<br /><br />GOLDIE GROUND CHERRY<br />(Physalis pruinosa) Available from <a href="http://www.southernexposure.com/goldie-cherries-ground-006-g-p-588.html">Southern Exposure Seed Exchange</a>. Like all ground cherries, Goldie is delicious but it grows more upright and has slightly larger fruit.<br /><br />SHISHIGATANI SQUASH<br />(C. moschata) I got my seed in a trade but it is available from <a href="http://rareseeds.com/vegetables-p-z/squash/winter-squash/shishigatani-or-toonas-makino.html">Baker Creek</a>. Of the 17 varieties of squash I tried this year Shishigatani was the clear winner. Rampant vines, plant on the edge of your garden and let it roam. (10/14 - Actually a cross Shishigatani x Hercules Butternut) If you're new to growing winter squash I'd recommend Waltham Butternut<br /><br />CHINESE CHIVES<br />(Allium tuberosum) Available from <a href="http://rareseeds.com/herbs-a-l/chives/chinese-chives-mixed.html">Baker Creek</a> and many others, also called Garlic Chives. I stopped watering these in June and they slowly died back till the green was gone. They regrew after the August rain and are now flowering and setting seed. I never do anything with this plant except to harvest it; my most care-free plant.<br /><br />MATT'S WILD CHERRY TOMATO<br />(Lycopersicon esculentum) Available from <a href="http://www.southernexposure.com/matt%C3%82%E2%80%99s-wild-cherry-lycopersicon-esculentum-tomato-cherry-008-p-981.html">Southern Exposure Seed Exchange</a>. They may be small but they are delicious and they set fruit for me when all others fail.<br /><br />ANNA'S TAIWAN LONG GREEN BEAN<br />(Vigna unguiculata} I got my seed in a trade but I think <a href="http://rareseeds.com/vegetablesa-c/beans/long-beans/taiwan-black-long-bean.html">Baker Creek</a> has it listed here. I watered it twice during the drought. After the August rains it produced an avalanche of pods.<br /><br />MAYO COLIMA and BIG RED RIPPER COWPEAS<br />(Vigna unguiculata) same as above. MC (Available from <a href="http://www.nativeseeds.org/index.php/store/405/2/seeds/cowpeasblack-eyed-peas/P-mayo-colima">Native Seeds</a>} and BRR (Available from <a href="http://www.southernexposure.com/big-red-ripper-mandy-southern-pea-cowpea-28g-p-1272.html">SESE</a>) were both carefree and very productive after the August rains. They remained green and healthy while everything around them, including the weeds, died.<br /><br />HOPI RED WATERMELON<br />{Citrullus lanatus) Available from <a href="http://www.nativeseeds.org/index.php/store/532/2/seeds/watermelons/P-hopi-red-qkawayvatngaq">Native Seeds</a>. My best producing watermelon the last 2 years. The coons destroyed my patch this year but my neighbor Steve had it produce for him this year through the drought (he watered it) while all his other watermelons failed. I've tried growing over 2 dozen small watermelons on my soil and this is by far the best producer.<br /><br />STEVE'S OZARK ANAHEIM PEPPER<br />(Capsicum Annuum) My neighbor Steve has been growing this pepper for 7 years but any Anaheim pepper would probably do almost as well. It germinates rapidly at cool temperatures and grew carefree even through the heat and drought. It produces abundantly.<br /><br />TULIP PEPPER, aka BALLOON PEPPER<br />(Capsicum baccatum) I got my seeds in a trade but it is offered in a few places including <a href="http://www.totallytomato.com/dp.asp?pID=03007&c=36&p=Balloon+Pepper">Totally Tomatoes</a>. A lovely plant; when the peppers ripen it looks like a Christmas tree covered with red ornaments. Carefree except for a bit of water each day of the drought; very productive and will not cross with ordinary garden peppers.<br /><br />MARENGO ROMANO POLE BEANS<br />(Phaseolus vulgaris) Available from <a href="https://www.superseeds.com/details.php?id=W220">Pinetree Seeds</a>. The most productive snap bean I've ever grown. I was disappointed when it died back this summer (I didn't water it) but it regrew after the August rain and is now covered with pods. Not good for shell or soup beans.<br /><br />RATTLESNAKE BEANS<br />(Phaseolus vulgaris) Available from <a href="http://www.southernexposure.com/rattlesnake-bean-snap-pole-114-g-p-294.html">SESE</a>. I planted 6 pole beans but only Rattlesnake and Marengo made it through the drought and set a crop. Very productive and very tasty. Good for snap, shell, or soup.<br /><br />TOKYO LONG WHITE BUNCH ONION<br />(Allium fistulosum) Available from <a href="http://rareseeds.com/vegetables-d-o/onions/tokyo-long-white-bunching-onion.html">Baker Creek</a>. I was a failure at growing onions and garlic till I tried TLW. This is a perennial onion and I recommend you grow a permanent bed and harvest the seed in the summer for fall planting and Spring onions.<br /><br />RED RUSSIAN/RAGGED JACK KALE<br />(Brassica napus) Available from <a href="http://rareseeds.com/vegetables-d-o/kale/russian-red-or-ragged-jack.html">Baker Creek</a>. Very few Brassicas or other greens will grow in my garden. Ragged Jack not only grows, it thrives. It is super nutritious and is delicious 9 months of the year.<br /><br />MY LAND-RACE MUSTARD<br />(Brassica juncea)Not a lot of seed this year as I over-planted and failed to thin but I still have lots of seed from previous years. Not for sale anywhere but for now I'd recommend Southern Giant Mustard, widely available and it grows well in my garden.<br /><br />CLARY SAGE<br />(Salvia sclarea) I got my seed from a trade I put the seeds in poor soil and was astounded at how well they grew. It has broad leaves and a tall flower stalk that attracts many pollinators including hummingbirds. The leaves can be used like common sage and the essential oil has numerous medicinal uses. It reseeds freely. I like the fragrance of the flowers but some find it unpleasant.<br /><br />Some plants have done quite well for me this year.<br /><br />TRIBUTE STRAWBERRIES<br />I tried 8 varieties of everbearing strawberries and Tribute was clearly the best. I'll propagate it, the rest, sadly, will die from neglect.<br /><br />KIOWA BLACKBERRIES<br />The best growing of 8 Blackberry varieties by far.<br /><br />KADOTA FIGS<br />I got 2 from Lowe's and they grew without a problem, even gave me 5 figs.<br /><br />GREEK OREGANO<br />Also from Lowe's. My seed planted oregano hasn't done well but I was very satisfied with these.<br /><br />BOYSENBERRY<br />Vigorous growth. It grows back from the crown each year and reproduces by tip rooting.woodsy_gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16332892201134992904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7953171390407521652.post-24649371159350039352011-09-15T21:07:00.005-05:002011-10-14T22:51:45.693-05:00The rejuvenating power of rain.The garden got 5 inches of rain over 3 days, Aug. 10-12 following two and a half months of drought and heat. Plants with very slow growth suddenly resumed growing. Plants that appeared dead were reborn. I thought my 6 pole beans were dead but Marengo and Rattlesnake are now setting pods. The Garlic Chives appeared dead but have regrown to 18 inches and are covered with flowers. The delicious and very nutritious (Omega-3) Red Gruner Purslane has doubled in weight in one month. The three <span style="font-style:italic;">Vigna unguiculata</span> (Anna's Taiwan Green yardlong, Red Ripper, and Mayo Colima) that survived the coons and ground hogs grew rapidly in June and slowed as the drought hit but remained healthy. They had a burst of growth following the rain and now are setting pods furiously. <br /><br />It was wonderful to watch the garden recover. I've added these and other survivors to the list of Boston Mountain Recommended varieties below.<br /><br />A tough summer for perennials as well. I planted 9 varieties of Univ. of Arkansas blackberries. Several died; the rest except one were damaged and stunted. The one that was not bothered by the heat and drought was a thorny variety: Kiowa. That's the one I'll be propagating to make my blackberry patch. Two from Lowe's have done well. Kadota Fig, I bought 2 this Spring and have enjoyed 5 ripe figs this summer. There has been some insect leaf damage but they are healthy and had no problem with the heat/drought. Growing oregano from seed has been difficult for me so I bought 4 plants on sale for less than $10. They grew well last summer and this Spring but had most tall spikes dry up after they set seed. After the rain a mat of green growth appeared leaving me to harvest the spikes for seed and oregano seasoning. The Boysenberry I got from <a href="http://www.burntridgenursery.com/">Burnt Ridge</a> grew well and set many canes that should bear fruit next summer. The Lawtonberry from Burnt Ridge did not fare well--it died. The 4 tea plants (Camellia sinensis) from Burnt Ridge struggled during the drought and lost many leaves, one died. But with the coming of the rain they have taken off--lots of new branches and leaves. Hope they make it through the winter; I need the caffeine. The White Rosa rugosa and giant Serviceberry bushes also from Burnt Ridge lost all leaves but have new growth and look to recover. Not so for Jahn's Prairie Gooseberry from BR, It died. The Kiwi Gold Raspberry dried up but no loss. I've had it for years and never got more than a few berries.woodsy_gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16332892201134992904noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7953171390407521652.post-25944320566146516242011-08-13T09:28:00.002-05:002011-08-13T10:26:16.353-05:00Dr. Samuel Mudd's Tobacco<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RrsOw8hVUlI/TkaXirbZ5MI/AAAAAAAAAIs/RPeHFmhy9iM/s1600/P07-31-11_12-20%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RrsOw8hVUlI/TkaXirbZ5MI/AAAAAAAAAIs/RPeHFmhy9iM/s400/P07-31-11_12-20%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640362205357139138" /></a>
<br />Thanks to the heat and drought I have only enough seeds for replanting. I will have tobacco seeds for sale though. A friend is the great-great-granddaughter of Dr. Samuel Mudd and still grows tobacco from seeds that have been passed down from his father. She still uses the Sun drying technique that he learned from his father. She gave me seeds that I shared with Steve my tobacco chewing neighbor. He planted out the seeds along with a tobacco he has been growing for many year and liked Dr. Mudd's tobacco so much that he let his previous tobacco die from lack of water. No crossing of seed that way. He took a harvest and left many leaves on to mature the seeds. Above is a picture of his Dr. Mudd's tobacco after he took a harvest and the seeds are beginning to mature.
<br />
<br />Once the seeds are mature and dry here's the deal I'll be offering:
<br />200 Dr. Samuel Mudd's tobacco seeds.
<br />Steve's How to grow tobacco from seed.
<br />Luanna's history of Dr. Samuel Mudd's participation in the Lincoln assassination, a story that I found fascinating. Not only what he did but why.
<br />
<br />$5, postage paid.
<br />A pretty good bargain considering what others charge: $7 for 100 seeds plus $3 shipping.woodsy_gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16332892201134992904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7953171390407521652.post-60501285774207139902011-06-06T22:28:00.003-05:002011-06-07T00:03:33.825-05:00I'm all in with this year's garden.I planted the last of the melons Sunday, June 5 so the garden is all in but with this garden I'm also all in as poker players might say. I bought seeds and plants for this year as if I'd never be able to order by mail again. I put in 6 varieties of my favorite small fruit, blackberries. Also several blackberry (Rubus) relatives: Black,Red, and Yellow Raspberries, Loganberries, and Boysenberries; 6 varieties of Strawberries, 3 varieties of seedless Grapes, 4 varieties of Blueberries, plus Alba Rosa Rugosa, Giant Juneberries, Kadota Figs, and even northern adapted Tea plants. <br /><br />I hope most of those plants like my garden but it's really the seeds that I'm experimenting with. I've purchased or traded for a wide variety of open pollinated seeds to test in my garden. I've expanded a bit on the 150 varieties mentioned below and have only planted a few plants of each because of my small garden. Everything was direct seeded this year as part of my 'tough love' approach. The weather has done its share in testing the plants with a cold, very wet April-May suddenly shifting to a hot, dry June. The game is on. I'll be reporting winners and losers as they happen. Ozark gardeners be assured: if it grows well in My Boston Mountains Garden it will grow well for you. <br /><br />The first results are in. Tomatillos and Eggplants have never done well for me in this or previous gardens. This year is no exception. The few that germinated didn't grow. They are out; never again to waste my time. All nine peas got off to a good start. Alaska peas were the first to set pods by a few days but they also look to be the first to die, production was below average and so was taste. Favas are falling to black aphids. Both are out, 7 peas remain.woodsy_gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16332892201134992904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7953171390407521652.post-91998905840101345912011-05-21T13:54:00.000-05:002011-05-21T14:21:12.498-05:00Ragged Jack Kale<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WMTC1x2-56E/TdgMFpBm1pI/AAAAAAAAAIY/I1qIO0UO-a4/s1600/ragged_jack.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 307px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WMTC1x2-56E/TdgMFpBm1pI/AAAAAAAAAIY/I1qIO0UO-a4/s400/ragged_jack.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609246626941425298" border="0" /></a><br /><br />aka Red Russian Kale. If you read through my previous posts you'll find that most greens (<span style="font-style: italic;">Brassicas</span>) just don't grow very well in my garden. The outstanding exception is Ragged Jack kale. I transplanted this beauty to my garden in March 2010 and it provided greens from May to November. When I returned to my garden in March 2011 it was beginning new growth and now is covered with flowers and maturing seed pods.<br /><br />Thanks to Carol Deppe and Susan Ashworth I know Siberian kale is <span style="font-style: italic;">Brassica napus</span> and unlike most Brassicas it is an inbreeder like beans and tomatoes. In other words I can save seeds from just one outstanding plant. There are thousands of seeds forming and I'll offer some in trade or for a SASE at my favorite garden site, idigmygarden.com.<br /><br />I checked the nutritional profile and found it is loaded with vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, and proteins; one of the most nutritious of the very nutritious <span style="font-style: italic;">Brassicas.</span><br /><br />This is a beautiful plant and I enjoy sitting in my garden lounge chair and just looking at it.woodsy_gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16332892201134992904noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7953171390407521652.post-27462698311602098012010-12-17T19:33:00.000-06:002010-12-20T19:40:27.924-06:00This Spring: 150 Varieties.I had an accident Halloween and haven't been out to Stony End since then. I wonder if any of my winter garden is still growing. Between the varmints and temperatures in the teens I doubt if much is left. Oh, well; time to plan the Spring garden. I got my seeds in place and this looks to be the plan. Many of these seeds came from trades; the rest come from Baker Creek, Pinetree, Southern Exposure Seed Exchange, and Native Seed SEARCH.<br /><br />Proven varieties are marked with a *. All others are in testing.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">SOLANUM:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tomato:</span> *Huando, *Indian Stripe, *Matt's Wild Cherry.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pepper:</span> *Steve's Anaheim, *Tulip (aka Balloon Pepper).<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Eggplant:</span> Brazilian Oval Orange, Diamond, Early Black Egg,<br />Ma-Zu Purple.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tomatillo:</span> Chinese Lantern Gigantea, Everon-Large Green,<br />Mt. Pima, Purple, Tepehuan, Zuni.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Other:</span> *Land Race Ground Cherry, *Chichiquelite, *Litchi Tomato.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">MELONS:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Watermelon:</span> *Hopi Red, Jemeze, Jumanos, Katanya,<br />*Melitapolski, Northstar, Strawberry, Sweet Siberian.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cantaloupe:</span> Amber Nectar, Joseph's Early,<br />Joseph's Most Productive, Old North Carolina Heirloom,<br />*Old West Virginia Heirloom.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Other:</span> *Horned melon (aka Jelly Melon)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">SQUASH:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pepo:</span> Styrian Pumpkin, Lady Godiva.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Maxima:</span> Australian Butternut.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mixta:</span> *Silver Edge.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Moschata:</span> Kikuza, Mayo Kama, Seminole Pumpkin, Shishigatani,<br />Steve's Butternut, Sucrine du Berry, Tahitian Melon,<br />Thai Rai Kan Tok, Musquee du Berry, Chiriman, Black Futsu.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Edible Gourds:</span> Cucuzza, *Sicilian Serpent, Thai Bottle gourd.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Other:</span> Luffa.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">PEAS:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bush:</span> *Alaska, Desiree Dwarf, *Steve's Snow Pea.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pole:</span> Alderman, Golden Sweet, Lancashire Lad, Sugar Snap,<br />Super Sugar Snap,Wando.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Broadbean:</span> Imperial Green Long Pod.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">BEANS:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bush:</span> Dragon Tongue, Painted Pony, Kabarika, *Royal Burgundy.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pole:</span> Christmas Lima, *Hopi Red Lima, *Marengo Romano,<br />Mayflower, New Mexico Cave, Rattlesnake, Trail of Tears,<br />Turkey Craw.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">COWPEAS:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bush:</span> Big Boy, Mayo Calima, Mississippi Silver, Purple Hull,<br />Red Ripper.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Yard long, Pole:</span> Anna's Taiwan Long, Sitao.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">ALLIUM:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bunch Onions: </span>*Tokyo Long White, Crimson Forest, Deep Purple.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Other:</span> Chives, *Chinese Chives (aka Garlic Chives).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">GREENS:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lettuce:</span> Black Seeded Simpson, Lolla Rosa, Jerico Romaine.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mustard:</span> *Boston Mt. Land Race, *Thick Stem volunteer, Southern Giant.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kale:</span> *Ragged Jack (aka Red Russian)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Other:</span> *Blood Sorrel,Cilantro/Coriander, Creasy Greens, Culantro,<br />Florence Fennel, Kang Kong-Upland, Lovage, Edible Chrysanthemum,<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">GRAINS:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Amaranth:</span> *Callaloo.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Other:</span> Alfalfa, Blue Bonnet Rice, Dragon's Claw Millet, Pennuda Oats.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">MISC.:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Okra:</span> Burmese, Cajon Jewel, Charley's Fat Pod, Gold Coast, Lee,<br />Pitre's Short Bush Red Cowhorn.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Asparagus:</span> Mary Washington, Precoce D'Argenteuil.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Rhubarb:</span> Paragon, Victoria.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Chia:</span> Desert, Crown Jewels,<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tobacco: </span>Mennonite, Samuel Mudd's.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Other:</span> Flax, Sesame.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HERB and SPICES:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Echinacea:</span> *Puporea, Paradoxa, Augustafollia.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Basil:</span> *Lime.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Oregano:</span> *Greek<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dill: </span>*Bouquet, Thai<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Other recommended:</span> *Lemon Bee Balm, *Catnip, *Borage,<br />*Lemon Balm, *Lion's Tail, *Stevia, *Toothache Plant, *Yarrow,<br />*Rosemary.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Other:</span> Grandview Catmint, German Chamomile, Roman<br />Chamomile, Mexican Mint, Soapworth, Tarragon,<br />Vietnamese Mint.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">FLOWERS:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Asclepias:</span> Incarnata, Syriaca, Tuberosa.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Other: </span>*Heavenly Blue Morning Glories, Ball's Orange Calendula,<br />Petite Marigold, Dwarf Jewel Nasturtiums, Wild Plum, Dog Rose, Sugar Pear.woodsy_gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16332892201134992904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7953171390407521652.post-47198303034116589502010-06-27T15:16:00.000-05:002010-07-12T09:39:00.214-05:00My 2010 GardenI'm sorry I haven't kept updated posts on the garden this spring. Unlike the 2 previous cool, wet seasons this year has been a great year for gardening. Some newcomers to the garden that are doing great:<br /><br />Marengo Romano Pole beans. Fantastic! 42 days after putting the seeds in the ground the plants are over 9 feet tall and flowering profusely, even setting some tiny pods. Lush, healthy plants.<br /><br />Old West Virginia Heirloom melon. After bemoaning my inability to grow cantaloupes in my garden a West Virginia gardener on idigmygarden.com sent me seeds to this melon with the comment: "I bet these will grow for you." They do!<br /><br />Indian Stripe and Huando tomatoes. I had resigned myself to just growing Matt's Wild Cherry tomato as it was the only productive tomato of 20 or so that I've tried. Again 2 idigmygarden.com members suggested trying these. They are growing great and setting lots of fruit. Huando is a local variety from Huando, Peru. Indian Stripe is an heirloom grown by an Arkansas gardener.<br /><br />Horned melon, aka Jelly Melon. I started these indoors and transplanted them after about 8 weeks. They promptly acquired brown spots and wilted. I read in Susan Ashworth's book that they are very resentful of being transplanted so I wrote them off. After 1-2 weeks of looking about to die they suddenly started growing again. One plant is now over 7 feet tall and well branched, lots of flowers about to happen.<br /><br />Clary Sage. Another gift from an idigmygarden.com gardener. Planted last summer, it grew into a 2 foot tall plant with big leaves. It flowered this May and yesterday I harvested some ripe seeds; I'll harvest more in a few weeks.<br /><br />Everbearing Strawberries. I must mention that everbearing strawberries are doing great on my poor, heavy soil with leaf mulch. Ozark Beauty, Tribute, Pretty and Pink, and Sarian F1 (from seed) are all doing great with no care and a few berries to munch on every day. I sure am glad I bought one Pretty and Pink plant at Lowe's 2 years ago. Pretty pink flowers and a wonderful flavor. It seems to have been taken off the market; I don't know why.<br /><br />This is the 5th gardening year in my Boston Mountains garden and I can report discovering varieties that grow well for me in almost every category. In the 4 previous years I've lost many varieties to disease; these are tolerant/resistant to local diseases. I've also had many crops that simply refused to grow for me. Most greens and all cole crops just sit there. Until now cantaloupes would not grow for me. Sweet peppers don't grow well, though many hot peppers do quite well. All herbs and spices that I've planted have done well except for common thyme. Interestingly creeping thyme is doing well. It is a thick green carpet that creeps out a few inches each year.<br /><br />Baring a crop failure I'll have seeds for 2011 from:<br /><br />Allium ------------- Tokyo Long White bunch onions, Garlic Chives (aka Chinese Chives)<br /><br />Amaranth --------- Golden Giant<br /><br />Beans -------------- Marengo Romano, Red Noodle, Hopi Red Lima, Royal Burgundy, Razorback cowpea<br /><br />Greens ------------- Ragged Jack Kale, Mixed Mustard Greens, Edible Chrysanthemum, Blood Sorrel<br /><br />Herbs, Spices ----- Lime basil, Purple Coneflower (Echinacea), Clary Sage, Toothache Plant<br /><br />Melons, Squash -- Old West Virginia melon, Hopi Red Watermelon, Seminole pumpkin, Kikuza squash, Horned melon<br /><br />Misc. ---------------- Ground Cherries, Chichiquelite berries, Purple tomatillos, Goldenberry, Litchi Tomatoes<br /><br />Okra ---------------- Lee<br /><br />Peas ---------------- Alaska, Super Sugar Snap, Neighbor Steve's snowpeas<br /><br />Peppers ----------- Tulip (aka Bishop's Hat, Balloon pepper), Neighbor Steve's Anaheim, Long Thin Cayenne<br /><br />Tomatoes --------- Indian Stripe, Huando, Matt's Wild Cherrywoodsy_gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16332892201134992904noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7953171390407521652.post-55721982010136716682010-04-18T18:27:00.000-05:002010-06-27T13:40:56.349-05:00Deep Root: The Experiment.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_E9kB6tUixvE/S8uW2qZ6RrI/AAAAAAAAAHg/XwXNIK77n4I/s1600/starting.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_E9kB6tUixvE/S8uW2qZ6RrI/AAAAAAAAAHg/XwXNIK77n4I/s400/starting.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461624838956926642" border="0" /></a>Goldenberry (Physalis peruviana) cuttings I took last November have gone wild. I'm going to trim them and root the cuttings at the same time as I root some weeping willow cuttings. Both Willow and Goldenberry will have 10 inch stems in the water. Some chopped up willow stems are also in the water.<br /><br />Update: 6/27/10 Failure!<br />The willow rooted but mostly in the top 3-4 inches. No roots at all from the Goldenberry. Perhaps if I had shortened the underwater stems to 4 inches they both would have rooted.<br />Oh, well.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_E9kB6tUixvE/S8uYTPUK29I/AAAAAAAAAHo/-FjpK5TlcvM/s1600/trim.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_E9kB6tUixvE/S8uYTPUK29I/AAAAAAAAAHo/-FjpK5TlcvM/s400/trim.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461626429412924370" border="0" /></a>The Goldenberry trimmings and Willow in the jug.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_E9kB6tUixvE/S8uhlq-woUI/AAAAAAAAAH4/qK_UD6MnKt0/s1600/the+jug.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_E9kB6tUixvE/S8uhlq-woUI/AAAAAAAAAH4/qK_UD6MnKt0/s400/the+jug.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461636641681613122" border="0" /></a>The jug in the warm spot, water temps = 75 to 80 degrees. Misted several times a day. East facing window light supplemented with 2 23 watt compact florescent lights on 16 hours/day.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_E9kB6tUixvE/S8ubTRF02WI/AAAAAAAAAHw/ci7JfNnBSbo/s1600/after+trim.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_E9kB6tUixvE/S8ubTRF02WI/AAAAAAAAAHw/ci7JfNnBSbo/s400/after+trim.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461629728424515938" border="0" /></a>Much smaller Goldenberry plants!<br /><br />I'll update in a few days.woodsy_gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16332892201134992904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7953171390407521652.post-12195169067976026102010-04-07T10:57:00.000-05:002010-04-07T12:15:07.502-05:00The Promise of Spring.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_E9kB6tUixvE/S7ywC9W8_UI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/LF1f1E-aBAM/s1600/DCP00635.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_E9kB6tUixvE/S7ywC9W8_UI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/LF1f1E-aBAM/s400/DCP00635.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457430413343259970" border="0" /></a><br />Rebirth and renewal. Rejoice!<br /><br />Fall and winter were sad and depressing for me; I spent months in an amotivational hibernation. The cool, wet March kept me from my garden but now temps are rising to 70 degrees and the garden beckons. I just spent 5 days out there and the greening landscape and the garden work have brought an optimism that I've lacked since October. I find myself repeating a simple prayer: "Thank you God!"<br /><br />Among the returning garden plants were Garlic chives (aka Chinese chives). I planted the seed last Spring and now I have a perennial patch.<br /><br />Work in the Garden:<br />I put up a 41 foot, 8 foot high fence/trellis shaped like an I, two 8 foot cross pieces and a 25 foot center. Driving metal stakes into rocky, clay soil with a hammer is hard work! Ah, but so rewarding to look at when it's done.<br /><br />I used my long handle loppers to clear and expand my garden. Lots of thorny blackberries to clear. One wild blackberry got to live and maybe become part of my garden pending fruiting. It had round stems and few, small thorns like a dewberry, perhaps it's a cross.<br /><br />Planted outside the garden enclosed by the electric fence: potatoes and garlic, seeds of asst. flowers, Litchi tomato, Garlic chives, and Bunch onions.<br />Planted inside the garden: two Matt's Wild Cherry tomato plants and 12 marigolds from Lowes and seed of 3 carrot varieties, 3 Snow pea varieties, and Sugar Snap peas.<br /><br />The 4 varieties of ever bearing strawberries made it through the winter and have resumed growing. One Ozark Beauty strawberry has a flower on it.<br /><br />The Blood sorrel died back in the winter but has returned and is growing well. Pretty, nutritious, easy to grow perennial; I'll be planting a big patch this Spring.<br /><br />Oregano, Creeping thyme, and Lemon Balm, Rosemary, Echinacea, Kiwi Gold raspberries, Bunch onions, Jim and Jan primocane blackberries and Goji berries all green and looking good.<br /><br />Wild violets and Juneberries in flower.woodsy_gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16332892201134992904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7953171390407521652.post-87287898111864973042010-01-25T15:34:00.001-06:002010-01-25T15:59:55.998-06:00A Picture of Jerry Stoppel.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_E9kB6tUixvE/S14Tz5cHn4I/AAAAAAAAAHI/IgczGIsZqr0/s1600-h/jerry2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_E9kB6tUixvE/S14Tz5cHn4I/AAAAAAAAAHI/IgczGIsZqr0/s400/jerry2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430799982968414082" border="0" /></a><br />Holding Luffas behind giant Habanero bush.woodsy_gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16332892201134992904noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7953171390407521652.post-49698371914994784482010-01-01T02:06:00.000-06:002010-01-01T02:26:22.487-06:00Jerry StoppelI'm putting Jerry Stoppel up for Google to harvest.<br /><br />Jerry died Christmas of a broken heart. He spent 2 years drinking himself to death.<br /><br />There will be a wake at his house 1/3/10.<br /><br />Come by or email me.<br /><br />Jerry taught me how to grill a rare fillet. He told me of his grandfathers and father's trips to Kansas to harvest. He told me of corn squeezins, He told me of living off your garden. Thanks, Jerry.woodsy_gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16332892201134992904noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7953171390407521652.post-12131617845180327992009-09-23T20:05:00.000-05:002010-01-02T11:51:27.165-06:00Down 2 Weeks with the Flu.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_E9kB6tUixvE/SrrIWC8ovJI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/RUEauDGfx1c/s1600-h/Stevia.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_E9kB6tUixvE/SrrIWC8ovJI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/RUEauDGfx1c/s400/Stevia.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384836585548725394" border="0" /></a>Stevia flowering in poor, heavy soil. Planted last Summer. If I get viable seed I'm going to plant a huge patch next year. A few Stevia leaves and a few Lime basil leaves makes a wonderful tea. Ditto Chocolate Mint and Stevia.<br /><br />I was happy to find only minor damage. I was very worried that something might destroy the Golden Giant Amaranth but it was unharmed. It was laying on the ground from all the rain and wind. I shook the seed heads in a bag and then propped them back up.<br /><br />The Garlic chives that I planted and forgot about are flowering on good sized plants. Hopefully I'll be able to offer seeds later. I will have Tokyo Long White bunch onion seed to share. I saved the seeds and planted a few to test for germination. Not only did they germinate well, they are growing faster than any Allium I've grown.<br /><br />The Sarian F1 strawberry seeds I planted this Spring have grown nicely on poor, heavy soil and are flowering. The Sarians planted last year have given me lots of wonderful berries through the Summer. Carefree like all my favorite plants. I got my <a href="https://www.superseeds.com/details.php?id=388">Sarian seeds</a> from <a href="https://www.superseeds.com/">Pinetree Garden Seeds</a>.<br /><br />Blister Beetles, or as I used to call them--undertaker bugs, have eaten the leaves from my Chichiquelites and Wonderberies. I dispatched them with a long nose butane lighter. That same lighter works well on Colorado Potato Beetles.<br /><br />The Lion's tail (Wild Dagga) is 7 feet tall and flowering nicely. I should say 7 feet long as it was also blown over. Pretty orange flowers that hummingbirds love. Perhaps they find the flowers intoxicating. (hint: read about it in the Baker Creek seed catalog.)<br /><br />The Red Noodle long beans came back from the dead to put out another large crop. I planted 7 types of pole beans this trying garden year and it was the only one to set a usable crop. Likely my my only pole bean next year though I may try Fortex beans, recommended by many gardeners to me as thriving under tough conditions.<br /><br />My volunteer Toothache Plant was slow growing at first but it's putting out lots of 'eyeball' flowers now. A tea from Toothache Plant leaves and Oregano leaves makes a stimulating and antiseptic mouthwash. The plant grew carefree. I hope to get lots of seeds from this plant and put in a large patch.woodsy_gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16332892201134992904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7953171390407521652.post-46571678038163060092009-08-26T19:49:00.000-05:002009-09-01T01:50:07.091-05:00My #1 Survival Food from Seed.It's a tie: Golden Giant Amaranth and Matt's Wild Cherry Tomato.<br /><br />They:<br /><br />-Require little work.<br />-Are bug and disease resistant.<br />-Are highly productive.<br />-Are very nutritious.<br />-Have a better than a 95% chance of producing a crop.<br />-Grow well on poor soil.<br />-Are not as troubled by cool, wet Springs or hot, dry Summers as most garden plants.<br /><br />These are the 2 crops I'm going to plant the most of next year. I figure 2, 20 ft. rows of Matts Wild Cherry will give me 50lbs.+ of tomatoes over a long season. I figure 200 sq. ft. will give me 50 lbs.+ of grain at harvest as well as several lbs. of very nutritious leaves for soups, stews, and stir fries over a long season.<br /><br />After harvesting and drying the seed, I'll check for germination and offer a pack of each for $5, shipping included. I'll throw in a pack of Lemon Drop hot pepper seeds as a bonus. If you'd like to know when it's ready to ship email me at:<br /><br />bostonmountainsgarden@yahoo.com<br /><br />and I'll let you know when it's available.<br /><br />If you are a member of iDigMyGarden(I post as EdlinUser) or HomesteadingToday(I post as woodsy_gardener)and you don't have $5, PM me for my address and I'll be glad to send you the seeds for a SASE.woodsy_gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16332892201134992904noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7953171390407521652.post-19805080887319133172009-08-07T12:00:00.000-05:002009-08-07T13:28:47.257-05:00Golden Giant Amaranth<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_E9kB6tUixvE/SnxeEc6mW9I/AAAAAAAAAFk/W8LObaJMb5I/s1600-h/Amaranth.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_E9kB6tUixvE/SnxeEc6mW9I/AAAAAAAAAFk/W8LObaJMb5I/s400/Amaranth.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367268286493252562" border="0" /></a>A 2009 winner!<br />The plants in this patch are only about half the normal size but they were growing in my poorest soil with only limited Golden Fertilizer. Minimal insect damage and no disease damage. The leaves and seeds are very nutritious. Next year I plan to grow 100 to 200 Golden Giants and harvest 25 lbs.+ of seeds.<br /><br />My solar electric fence controller from Harbor Freight sits in the background. I tried everthing to keep the deer out: urine, soap, monofilament, hair, mobiles made from CDs. I found out deer will adapt to everything except electricity. This was one of the best $100 I ever invested ($50 for controller, $50 for wire, insulators, etc.). I've got enough aluminum wire and parts to put up another fence if I buy another controller. I think I may put a second fence just around the corn.<br /><br />Elsewhere in the garden I captured my third possum. They wiped out my two patches of Cherokee popcorn and started on my Matt's Wild Cherry tomatoes by climbing the trellis and tearing things up. I hope this stops the recent garden damage; the traps are still set though.<br /><br />Outside the garden and growing 'wild', Chocolate Peppermint, Greek Oregano, and Prime Jim and Prime Jan Blackberries; all doing very well.<br /><br />I planted some Hopi Red watermelon seed in an area of poor soil that previously had failed to grow out several varieties of melons. From the description at<a href="http://one-garden.org/"> Ozark Seed Bank</a> it sounds like a tough plant. It looks like they may set fruit! If they set fruit I'll save the seeds and plant them in more fertile soil next year.<br /><br />I gathered seed from Matt's WCT, Chichiquelites, Red Chinese Noodle beans and Razorback cowpeas. I'm not sure what to do with the bean seeds as ALL my peas and beans this year showed at least some disease damage. The Red CNBs set a huge crop and died. Are those seeds contaminated?<br /><br />I ate the first tomatillo I've ever grown. Three previous tries had yielded no fruit. A knowledgeble gardener at <a href="http://www.idigmygarden.com/forums/">I Dig My Garden</a> said the plants are stongly self-infertile and they must be planted in groups. Sure 'nuff.<br /><br />I ate my first TAM Mild jalapeno pepper, good flavor and not very hot. The plants are vigorous and productive. I've been unable to grow sweet peppers in my garden; I think I'll be using this as my 'sweet pepper'. My hot pepper is a Lemon Drop pepper, a different species that won't cross with TAMMJ.<br /><br />Jerusalem Artichokes are growing everywhere. I'm not fond of the flavor but it's nice to know I have several hundred pounds I can dig up and eat if I have to.woodsy_gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16332892201134992904noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7953171390407521652.post-38216012613106555772009-07-21T14:44:00.000-05:002009-07-21T16:03:17.725-05:00July 19<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_E9kB6tUixvE/SmYbBpFfgoI/AAAAAAAAAFc/zjwI6yRpVnk/s1600-h/hillcountryokra.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_E9kB6tUixvE/SmYbBpFfgoI/AAAAAAAAAFc/zjwI6yRpVnk/s400/hillcountryokra.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361002121453863554" border="0" /></a> Old Reliable: Texas Hill County Okra<br /><br />As I looked over my drought damaged garden I noticed this stand of THCO. This will be my 4th year of growing it. This is the most trouble free plant I grow. (If you don't call picking it every other day trouble.) Pests, disease, poor soil, drought--no problem.<br /><br />The Contender bush beans that I was so happy with were wiped out by a foliage disease. Luckily I planted the Contender seeds mixed with Razorback cowpeas. The Razorback cowpeas are untroubled by disease and are cranking out the pods. The pods are held above the plant and are easy to pick.<br /><br />The Chinese Red Noodle pole beans have put out a very heavy first picking, much heavier than regular pole beans like Kentucky Wonder.<br /><br />The Lion's Tail (Wild Dagga) Is growing like a weed. I'm looking forward to the flower harvest in a few weeks.<br /><br />Matt's Wild Cherry tomato is again the most productive tomato by far. Only my second year of growing it, I suspect in another couple of years I'll call it Old Reliable.<br /><br />The Litchi Tomato plants are at the edge of the garden, growing well in poor soil. Lots of fruit set. I'll have to make a harvesting tool to avoid the thorns.<br /><br />Tribute and Sarian strawberries have set fruit and are growing vigorously without care.<br /><br />The Pike cataloupes are growing better than any previous 'loupes and are flowering. Maybe, maybe.<br /><br />Cherokee popcorn wiped out again. Coons last year, possums this year.<br /><br />Happy Day! 1.5 inches of rain this morning (7/21)woodsy_gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16332892201134992904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7953171390407521652.post-49156935258369533102009-06-09T12:52:00.000-05:002009-06-09T13:34:01.583-05:00Contender Bush Beans<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_E9kB6tUixvE/Si6nPtPofPI/AAAAAAAAAFU/DC0GdMXC_EM/s1600-h/June6.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_E9kB6tUixvE/Si6nPtPofPI/AAAAAAAAAFU/DC0GdMXC_EM/s400/June6.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345393696020397298" border="0" /></a><br />Contender beans in front of a row of pole beans, a Matt's Wild Chery tomato, and a small patch of Cherokee Popcorn.<br /><br />I swore off bush beans but not for long. I planted a packet of Contender BB with my melons and squash as a companion plant, Most of the melons and squash didn't come up but the beans sure did. I was so impressed with their vigor that I bought 2 more packets to plant out and save the seed.<br /><br />Upper Ground Sweet Potato squash is the only squash to come up and it is very healthy looking; likely my only winter squash next year.<br /><br />Six varieties of everbearing strawberries stayed green thru the winter and are now putting out flowers and fruit. Tribute and Sarian are the most vigorous and I plan to propagate them. I've already had 3 large, red, juicy, tasty berries from the Tribute plant.<br /><br />Oregon Sugar Pod II is the only pea of 6 that I planted to set fruit. The other 5 either rotted in the very wet soil or grew stunted plants. Likely my only pea next year. Fava beans came up strong but got attacked by black ants and black aphids. Very little fruit set. I'll not plant Favas again.<br /><br />The Golden Giant amaranth is doing great. It has better seed for grain than Vitnamese Red that I grew for it's great leaves.<br /><br />I cut my Stevia plant to the ground after it died from a frost. Happily, it came back from the roots. I plan to root a bunch of cuttings and get several plants going. Stevia and Lime basil make my favorite tea. Stevia combines with lots of tea plants: Chocolate peppermint, Lemon Balm, Monarda,<br /><br />I transplanted dozens of new varieties last week and look forward to see how many adapt to my garden. Sure hope the Red Veined sorrel is one of them.woodsy_gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16332892201134992904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7953171390407521652.post-38203989504166971302009-04-26T21:57:00.000-05:002009-04-26T23:22:57.632-05:00April 26, 2009<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_E9kB6tUixvE/SfUsRGtdjEI/AAAAAAAAAFM/gIK_W7ErXPI/s1600-h/Bunch+Onions.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_E9kB6tUixvE/SfUsRGtdjEI/AAAAAAAAAFM/gIK_W7ErXPI/s400/Bunch+Onions.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329214406433541186" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" ><strong>The star of the winter garden: Japanese Long White bunch onions. (beer can for sizing)<br /><br />I planted a pack of bunch onions from the grocery store and was amazed at how well they grew on some very poor soil, 2 harvests in 2008 and now they're back and about to set seed. You bet I'm saving the seed. I planted many more packs from the store and you can see some of them in this picture. Not even half the size of the first planting. I thought it might be different varieties and Googled: Allium fistulosum. There are several varieties and JLW is the largest and looks like my plant. This is the first Allium to like my garden, I'm so happy.<br /></strong></span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><strong><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />I just got back from 3 days at the garden and I am sore. Got my main planting done and the rain is coming. I also planted Jim and Jan blackberries from the University of Arkansas. They are the first primo cane fruiting blackberries (they have a second crop in the fall). I planted my seed grown goji berry next to an earlier goji planting from a cutting. The Golden Seal came up! The New Zealand Spinach is coming back. This will be the third season since I planted the seed. My kind of plant: 'It grows like a weed.' Very nutritious; lots of Vitamin C. My Tribute and Pretty-n-Pink strawberries are setting fruit.The wild, lowbush blueberries that I let stay in my garden are rewarding me with a nice fruit set.<br /><br />Sleeping in my dome cabin is so much nicer than sleeping in a tent. So much work to be done in the garden and with the cabin but so nice being there, nice neighbors but none in sight, most of the noise is from birds, crickets, and frogs, the foxes and pileated woodpeckers accept me, the air is so clean. I'll return soon<br /></span><br /></strong></span>woodsy_gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16332892201134992904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7953171390407521652.post-76039006279058284262009-03-10T00:48:00.000-05:002009-03-10T01:52:31.827-05:00March 7, The First Planting.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_E9kB6tUixvE/SbYJBZCD0TI/AAAAAAAAAFE/G5TPijeDGMQ/s1600-h/march7.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_E9kB6tUixvE/SbYJBZCD0TI/AAAAAAAAAFE/G5TPijeDGMQ/s400/march7.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311442730034123058" border="0" /></a><br />My small dome cabin is at the top right.<br /><br />I planted a long row of peas (Witkiem Fava, Oregon Giant Snow, Monk, and Monmouth Melting Sugar along the path here. Also sprinkled in Mixed mustard greens. Along a 7 foot trellis I planted Super Sugar Snap, Golden Snow, and Maestro. I scattered 4 oz. of white clover seed all around the garden and into the woods.<br /><br />The green in the center-left is the planting of bunch onions I got from the grocery store. I took 2 harvests of green onions last fall and they are ready to be used again. I've been a failure at growing onions, garlic, and leeks till now. These perennial onions grow in poor soil without care and are available fresh, year round.<br /><br />The only other plant to remain a very healthy green through the winter was triple curled parsley (the flat died). I'm planning on a winter garden this year and will probably find more plants that remain green through the winter. Maybe it's just me but I think a winter time soup or stew is better with a few fresh items in it.woodsy_gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16332892201134992904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7953171390407521652.post-61408501377224760132009-01-04T18:31:00.000-06:002009-01-04T19:38:18.646-06:00RetrospectiveWhat a trying year. A late frost in April killed my first planting. Then a cold, very wet spring stunted the growth of most plants. Powdery mildew wiped out most of my peas and beans. In June and July the deer destroyed large parts of the garden. Raccoons destroyed my Cherokee popcorn. Only 1 of the 8 tomato varieties I was growing set fruit.<br /><br />There were many pleasant surprises though.<br /><br />Zucchino Rampicante (aka Tromboncino) squash.<br />Matt's Wild Cherry tomato.<br />Yard long beans.<br />Sarian strawberry from seed.<br />Litchi tomato.<br />Bunch onions purchased at the grocery store.<br />Cream of Saskatchewan, Melitopolski, White Sugar Lump, Gold Baby, Chat Chai, and Thai Rom Doa watermelons.<br />Toothache plant.<br />Cucuzzi edible gourd.<br />Kiwi Gold Raspberries.<br />Stevia.<br />Gogi berries.<br /><br />I used no pesticides or other chemicals, My only fertilizer was urine/water at a 1:15 ratio. This attempt at self-sufficiency worked so well I'll do it again.<br /><br />The mixed plantings in patches turned out to be a pain in upkeep. Back to planting one long row next to the garden pathways.<br /><br />Water the soil, not the leaves. Old advice that I won't ignore again.<br /><br />Growing peanuts in the corn patch results in very few peanuts at harvest.<br /><br />Still green in January: Mizuna, Tatsoi, collards, strawberries, turnips, green onions, and parsley.<br /><br />Everything likes strawberries. Next year I'll grow strawberries under a net or chicken wire.woodsy_gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16332892201134992904noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7953171390407521652.post-86785438526346002282008-10-26T11:22:00.000-05:002008-10-26T11:41:07.301-05:00October 21<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_E9kB6tUixvE/SQSZ4zopqDI/AAAAAAAAAEA/GO_N1EB3RV4/s1600-h/Tromboncino.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_E9kB6tUixvE/SQSZ4zopqDI/AAAAAAAAAEA/GO_N1EB3RV4/s400/Tromboncino.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261499465888016434" border="0" /></a><br />Giant Tromboncino (aka Zuchetta) squash.<br /><br />I paid no attention to the vine that went into the woods around my garden. Walking in the woods I found this 12 pound Tromboncino. Tromboncino is the most outstanding plant in this year's garden. I'll be offering seeds from this beauty in the <a href="http://idigmygarden.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=7">I Dig My Garden seed trading forum.</a><br /><br />I harvested seeds from: broom corn, Vietnamese Red amaranth, Chichiquelite, ground cherries, Lemon Drop hot peppers, Yard Long beans, Litchee tomato, and Popping sorghum.woodsy_gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16332892201134992904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7953171390407521652.post-50392747886594131022008-10-26T10:52:00.000-05:002008-10-26T11:21:36.821-05:00Ocober 13<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_E9kB6tUixvE/SQSUFPOJ4fI/AAAAAAAAAD4/54ELEYVcjKM/s1600-h/Naranjilla1013.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_E9kB6tUixvE/SQSUFPOJ4fI/AAAAAAAAAD4/54ELEYVcjKM/s400/Naranjilla1013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261493082381738482" border="0" /></a><br />Naranjilla with ripe fruit.<br /><br />I tasted the juice from one fruit--delicious. Unfortunately I can't spend 2 years to get 2-3 oz. of juice. It looks like an exotic tropical and would do well above zone 8 if treated like citrus and coffee trees.<br /><br />I harvested the Carwile's peanuts and didn't even get my seed back. They seem to have powdery mildew like many of my other legumes. I need to find a cure.<br /><br />Good eating. Matt's Wild Cherry tomato--mild, sweet, tomato flavor. Kiwi Gold raspberries--great flavor but too soft and crumbley to make a market berry. 3" Thai Rom Doa watermelon--few seeds, good flavor sort of like cotton candy flavor.<br /><br />Mixed parsley is growing well and carefree. I'll plant lots more next year.<br /><br />The Stevia (Sweet Leaf) plant I put in the garden is growing well; hope it makes it thru the winter (doubtful).woodsy_gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16332892201134992904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7953171390407521652.post-39798007406671895092008-09-10T20:54:00.000-05:002008-09-10T21:15:27.731-05:00Melitopolski Watermelon<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_E9kB6tUixvE/SMh6vgnPGkI/AAAAAAAAAC4/ezuzaD23k6E/s1600-h/Melitopolski.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_E9kB6tUixvE/SMh6vgnPGkI/AAAAAAAAAC4/ezuzaD23k6E/s400/Melitopolski.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244576722699885122" border="0" /></a><br />I tried growing watermelons on my poor, heavy soil for several years without success. This year I hit the jackpot--3 growing well. Cream of Saskatchewan and White Sugar Lump are growing quite well but the champ is the Melitopolski above. The main stem is 12 feet long and there are 4 side shoots 3-4 feet long. All 3 are just beginning to set fruit so it will be a while for the taste test.woodsy_gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16332892201134992904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7953171390407521652.post-36477033985167524292008-08-31T12:25:00.001-05:002008-08-31T12:55:11.447-05:00August 30<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_E9kB6tUixvE/SLrUMYIjDqI/AAAAAAAAACw/P65IO-1qbaI/s1600-h/GreenOnions.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_E9kB6tUixvE/SLrUMYIjDqI/AAAAAAAAACw/P65IO-1qbaI/s400/GreenOnions.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240734425500815010" border="0" /></a>Bunch onions from the grocery store. (aka Green onions, Scallions, and Welsh onions.)<br /><br />Until now I've had no luck growing onions, leeks, and garlic on my poor, heavy soil. I got a couple of bags of bunch onions and used the top 2/3 for tuna fish salad. I planted the bulbs in my garden. Those beauties survived all the troubles of this year's garden and grew carefree.<br /><br />These are perennial so I think I'll add a few more to my onion patch. The picture shows another package ready to plant and my all purpose planting tool, a long handle mattock. Also in the picture: some Anasazi beans with the onions and raspberries behind the onions.woodsy_gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16332892201134992904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7953171390407521652.post-54579596263011255532008-08-27T18:40:00.001-05:002008-08-27T19:01:10.079-05:00Garden Destruction.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_E9kB6tUixvE/SLXmI-6x8TI/AAAAAAAAACo/zY4NhsUuCF8/s1600-h/Destruction.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_E9kB6tUixvE/SLXmI-6x8TI/AAAAAAAAACo/zY4NhsUuCF8/s400/Destruction.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239346783518322994" border="0" /></a><br />Newly harvested Zucchetta amid destroyed corn patch.<br /><br />My big, beautiful Yamaha Zuma scooter was totaled by a jerk more interested in talking on a cell phone than watching traffic. It took over 2 weeks to get a settlement and buy a little scooter to take me to and from my woodland garden.<br /><br />The deer took advantage of my electric fence being discharged to browse the garden and to eat my biggest Naranjilla to a stub. The raccoons took advantage of my long absence to completely destroy 3 patches of Cherokee popcorn that were almost ready.<br /><br />There are still a few things growing and the Zuccetta (Italian Trombone) squash pictured above is this year's big winner for me. Young, it's better than zucchini mature like above it's a good winter squash, tho' in MHO not as good as Delicata or Butternut.woodsy_gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16332892201134992904noreply@blogger.com0