tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3396833972364552672024-11-01T03:34:54.100-07:00Southtowns GardenerSharing experiences of developing an urban, organic, home food<br> production system including both indoor and outdoor gardeningST Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12080047020761764046noreply@blogger.comBlogger346125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339683397236455267.post-78909793003855145812022-06-15T13:34:00.005-07:002023-01-27T08:04:22.866-08:002022 Solstice UpdateI haven't posted for a while due to a heavy work schedule, but I have continued to expand and refine my home garden over the past couple of years.Last year I started a hydroponic garden in the basement and then added an outdoor hydroponic setup for tomatoes. The experiment was a huge success and I plan to expand the hydroponics both indoor and out this year.I have observed that peppers like ST Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12080047020761764046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339683397236455267.post-22154818644267516632020-05-30T22:02:00.002-07:002021-01-03T12:00:39.111-08:00Late Spring UpdateThings are going well with the garden this year in terms of being on top of maintenance and harvesting but it is not without challenges.
Accomplishments:
- Built a tool shed on the back of the garage so that I have easy access to all of my garden and landscape tools.
- Built a frame to support the Dutch bucket system for growing fruits like tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash and ST Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12080047020761764046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339683397236455267.post-87223972864541777232019-04-16T11:03:00.003-07:002019-04-16T11:03:37.816-07:00First Tomato Sprout Appeared This MorningThe first tomato sprout appeared this morning, about five days after planting. I have the soil warmed to about 73 degrees F. ST Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12080047020761764046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339683397236455267.post-30041605650320760232019-04-11T10:59:00.000-07:002019-04-16T11:01:58.906-07:00Tomatoes, Peppers and Basil StartedStarted some seeds tonight. There will be plenty to share:
Tomatoes - (10) Striped German, (10) Sun Gold Cherry, (5) Cherokee Purple, (10) Supersweet 100 Cherry, (5) Brandywine;
Peppers - (5) Biscayne, (5) Cali Wonder, (5) Summer Sizzler;
Basil - (15) Sweet.ST Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12080047020761764046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339683397236455267.post-27883716662866640122019-04-06T20:58:00.002-07:002019-04-07T17:56:34.233-07:00Planting OutWe had a beautiful spring day today, I believe the first warm sunny day that we have seen this year. It was a perfect day to pull the covers off of the garden and plant out some seedlings (started March 16 (chard, choi) and March 22 (snap peas)). Some of the arugula seeds that I planted directly in the garden March 24 had their cotyledons, but the lettuce and tatsoi have not appeared. Perhaps it ST Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12080047020761764046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339683397236455267.post-38422645346582580332018-09-26T14:59:00.000-07:002018-09-28T13:13:27.016-07:00Early Autumn ReportOur temperatures have begun to range between about 50 and 70 degrees F and we have had a couple good soaking rains over the past two weeks. I finally got the seedlings in the basement all planted outside last night (they could have been planted out two weeks ago). Most of the things that I planted have a 30-40 day maturation, but that will be lengthened because the days are short and the nights ST Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12080047020761764046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339683397236455267.post-9594072414422479462018-09-03T11:30:00.000-07:002018-09-04T11:48:30.796-07:00First of September ReportI was surprised to find several snap peas already maturing this weekend (started 7/13), so I decided to get some more planted (~80). I managed to get the last packet of snap peas that were available at the Coop. They were already taken down from display and someone had to search for them in the back. I also planted some radishes directly in the garden and am planning to start some carrots inside,ST Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12080047020761764046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339683397236455267.post-18537483733789801082018-08-30T11:12:00.000-07:002018-09-04T11:13:12.381-07:00Harvest
Cucumber, green beans, yellow zucchini
Morning glory climbing the front stairs
ST Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12080047020761764046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339683397236455267.post-59980035976118541072018-08-27T11:00:00.000-07:002018-09-04T11:09:23.410-07:00Harvest and seeds started
Green beans, chard, kale, and pepper
Seeds started: lettuce (6 varieties), parsley, arugula, cilantro, kale, mizuna
ST Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12080047020761764046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339683397236455267.post-45350853228453750342018-08-22T10:53:00.000-07:002018-09-04T10:58:49.597-07:00Harvest and other things
Basil, green beans, zucchini and tomatoes
Perennial garden work in progress
Powdery mildew on zucchini leaves
Daylilies that refuse to stop blooming
ST Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12080047020761764046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339683397236455267.post-17688100842293417332018-08-19T13:47:00.000-07:002018-08-22T13:52:01.546-07:00Mid-August ReportAlas, I have not yet planted anything for the fall/winter except for about 200 snap peas and the kale and celery from this spring that appear that they will not mature until the fall. I must get some carrots, lettuce and other hardy greens planted soon or I will miss another opportunity to see how much gardening I can really do in the darkest depths of winter in Buffalo, NY.
We were away for ST Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12080047020761764046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339683397236455267.post-35894600820839527832018-08-14T13:52:00.000-07:002018-08-22T13:54:10.532-07:00Gadzukes and Cukes!ST Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12080047020761764046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339683397236455267.post-74244464979572877352018-07-31T12:34:00.001-07:002018-08-02T11:51:04.788-07:00End of July ReportI have been staying ahead of the tomato blight by pulling leaves as they turn yellow, but I also purchased some copper spray from Home Depot to see if that will help to slow it down. It looks like we will have a great tomato harvest this year if I can put up the fencing before the squirrels start to work on them.
I have been picking a handful of raspberries every day. We have picked three ST Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12080047020761764046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339683397236455267.post-2941728409033966192018-07-28T12:34:00.000-07:002018-07-31T12:35:57.761-07:00Saturday HarvestIt took half of the day to process all of these veggies. There is another large bowl not pictured.
ST Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12080047020761764046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339683397236455267.post-60299989887001804932018-07-27T12:36:00.000-07:002018-07-31T12:41:56.232-07:00Morning Glories Almost Blooming and our First Zucchini of the Year
The zucchini got away from me after a single day of not paying attention
ST Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12080047020761764046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339683397236455267.post-37185710642319242462018-07-24T09:41:00.000-07:002018-07-31T12:42:43.133-07:00Cutting Branches/Early BlightThis morning I finally got around to cutting branches that were shading the garden. However, I noted that the green beans in partial shade were growing more vigorously than those in full sun. Salad greens also do well in partial shade. I may have to suspend burlap shade cloth in the future in choice locations to make up for the lack of branches.
The new snap pea starts will be planted in the ST Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12080047020761764046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339683397236455267.post-61971275082366830972018-07-23T13:57:00.000-07:002018-07-24T13:58:15.549-07:00Second Basil HarvestI made five cups of pesto this evening from the second basil harvest.
Basil after harvesting (12 plants)
Near garden with cucumbers and green beans climbing
ST Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12080047020761764046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339683397236455267.post-27905313975214181752018-07-20T14:03:00.000-07:002018-07-25T12:09:30.092-07:00Harvest
Kale, Chard and Carrots
I also made a second harvest of mint this weekend. A few of the mint were beginning to flower.ST Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12080047020761764046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339683397236455267.post-36608247346537875152018-07-16T14:03:00.000-07:002018-07-24T14:04:56.595-07:00New frameI needed a new frame to move some things out of the tomato frame. It finally arrived.
ST Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12080047020761764046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339683397236455267.post-25117464416993600072018-07-13T15:08:00.002-07:002018-09-04T11:39:50.061-07:00Fall peas startedPeas soaked and planted for fall crop. I planted about 210 Cascadia peas in soil blocks in the basement today. The photo is from the future (7/25).
Pea seedlings two weeks later
ST Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12080047020761764046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339683397236455267.post-91676613329245351272018-07-11T15:35:00.003-07:002018-07-24T14:08:57.514-07:00And More Peas (And Other Things)The final big harvest of peas occurred yesterday (4 cups). I started soaking some Cascadian snap peas this morning for a fall harvest. Our first zucchini and pole beans will be ripening soon. It is definitely time to start more fall/winter crops.
This weekend I hope to finish building the two new garden frames and transplanting everything that needs to move. The next project will be setting up ST Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12080047020761764046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339683397236455267.post-63888518819824059232018-07-09T15:38:00.001-07:002018-07-10T15:06:16.160-07:00More peasOur third large harvest of peas happened this morning. I gathered 4 cups and there are probably another 4 cups ripening on the vines.
The squash and tomatoes are flowering. I went to the stone supplier this weekend and picked up some #2 granite so am ready to build more frames. I want two more frames within the envelope of my greenhouse, one to transplant my garlic and lettuce into (to give the ST Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12080047020761764046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339683397236455267.post-67850965768817677312018-07-04T13:44:00.000-07:002018-08-01T08:40:01.085-07:00Independence Day Update
I started a skeleton of a post a few days ago and will just flesh it out a little here.
I have been eating raspberries and peas here and there as they have ripened. This morning, I harvested about 1/2 C of raspberries and 1 1/2 C of snap peas. There is another large harvest of peas coming. I estimate that we will harvest about 24 C or 1.5 gallons of peas in total for the season (with about 20' ST Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12080047020761764046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339683397236455267.post-71081468092239330742018-07-01T15:48:00.000-07:002018-07-09T16:02:15.802-07:00Harvest
Not shown: parsley and basil
A final look at the lily, loosestrife and
clematis before they disappear
ST Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12080047020761764046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339683397236455267.post-12380828869739810502018-06-28T09:58:00.005-07:002018-08-01T08:41:12.332-07:00Spring crops ending and summer crops taking their place.I have been having a choi salad every day this week. By tomorrow it will be the end of the choi harvest. Here is the recipe for my salad:
- 1 or two heads of Joi Choi chopped bite sized
- 3-4 T of homemade carrot/radish/cabbage sauerkraut
- roasted sunflower seeds
- 1/2 avocado
- 1/2 C black beans
- Brianna's Honey Mustard dressing
I haven't really harvested any peas since June 21, but ST Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12080047020761764046noreply@blogger.com0