toil in the soil

Garden Vacay Over...time to get down'n'dirty in the garden, but first Vegetable Flowers

noreply@blogger.com (toil-in-the-soil) — Sun, 31 May 2009 17:31:00 +0000

I've finally recovered from the end of the semester and am ready to get down and dirty in the garden. Yesterday, we did a lot of preparing...laying down much needed weed control fabric and more mulch in the paths between the beds...and today is planting - a lot of planting...but that's a another post for later today! Right now I'm super excited about the vegetable flowers in the garden...for me there's something special about vegetable flowers...not only are they pretty but you know that it means the good stuff is soon to come!

Not a vegetable flower but, the plums are growing! We have three plum trees in the yard that have been there for generations. The tree closest to the house is a prolific producer. Last year we didn't thin the plums and ended up with hundreds of small plums...so we're going to make sure to get on top of it this year so they'll be easier to harvest!

I'm still perfecting my seed starting skills...so we had to buy a few plants from a local nursery. This is bell pepper plant that we selected specifically because it had a flower on it! Our hope is that we'll get some veg quicker...

The rhubarb that we transplanted last fall is doing well. It sent up a flower stalk which I have never seen before and don't know if it's a good thing or not, but it still seems to be doing well and still growing. I'm planning to make some rhubarb wine using an old German recipe that has ginger and cloves in it...can't wait!

When at the local nursery I couldn't resist buying this tomato plant as it is HUGE compared to my seedlings...so I was willing to pay a little to get good tomatoes sooner. It is an heirloom brandywine...something about those yellow flowers can almost make me salivate with anticipation of what's to come.

Some of the peas have flowers on them...oddly enough the sweet peas are shorter with quite a few flowers, but the sugar and snow peas are really tall, but no flowers yet. I'm sure they'll come. On a very odd and somewhat creep note, can you see the face in the picture (bottom-center)...are my peas possessed? Maybe we can say they are enchanted...seems less scary.

Not a vegetable flower, but I think these are really beautiful. I have no idea what kind it is...it came with the house :) To me it looks like a bleeding heart, but doesn't seem to have the heart shape...well anyway - not know what it is doesn't make it any less pretty, right? [I've since been informed that they are columbines.]

These are asparagus flowers....did you know asparagus have flowers? I sure didn't! I planted 2 year old crowns in the spring and now I have tall and spindly stalks with fennel like fronds and pretty yellow bell shaped flowers...they should be ready for harvest next spring!

"The greatest delight the fields and woods minister is the suggestion of an occult relation between man and the vegetable. 'I am not alone and unacknowledged.' They nod to me and I to them." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Potatoes: Hilling vs. Container Planting - Day 1

noreply@blogger.com (toil-in-the-soil) — Sat, 23 May 2009 15:51:00 +0000

Maybe I should have been a scientist of some sort because I love doing little test and experiments. However, as I'm not as precise as science requires (and am generally impatient) I probably wouldn't make a very good one! Oh well - I'll just keep doing my own little experiments at home. My first test (which is still going on) is hydroponics vs. soil. You can check out the progress here.

For my second test I decided to see which is a better method for growing potatoes - the traditional hilling method or growing them in containers. Included in the test are three kinds of
potatoes - yukon gold, red pontiac and rose finn. Since this is my first garden I did some research on the best method. Everybody seems to have their favorite, but nobody tells you why it's better. It seems to me that there are pros and cons to each...the container method makes it easier to force the plant up and get a bigger yield, but because the plants are down in a container they don't get as much "sun time" - the hilling method allows the plants to get full sun, but without the walls of a container you can only hill up so much dirt until gravity becomes a problem...so which is better? Well, we're going to find out.

To prepare the containers (this is combination of various recommendations), take a 20 gallon container and poke a few holes in the bottom for drainage. Next add some twigs to the bottom to aid in the drainage. Top the twigs with an inch or two of dried leaves or grass and top those with two to three inches of dirt. Now, you're ready to plant! I did 5 seed potatoes per 20 gallon container...you can nestle them down in the soil if you have enough or top them with another inch or two.

Here are all the containers that I planted before I covered them with dirt. The container in the upper left is one I planted a couple weeks ago using russian fingerling seed potatoes. I didn't get very many of them so they are not included in the test. The concept of the container method (similar to hilling) is that as the plants grow up you keep adding a little more dirt and a little more dirt until the container is completely filled to the top with dirt. When you're done the entire container has potatoes growing in it.

For the hilling method, I did a traditional trench and cover. Then as the plants grow up you slowly "hill up" dirt in mounds around the plants. There are the same amount of seed potatoes in the bed as there are on the containers. Now that everything is planted we wait - which I'm not good at, but there's nothing I can do to speed it up...oh well!

"My idea of heaven is a great big baked potato and someone to share it with." ~Oprah Winfrey

I Made Homemade Curd Cheese!!!

noreply@blogger.com (toil-in-the-soil) — Tue, 19 May 2009 03:00:00 +0000

I made Orange & Lemon Curd Cheese! It was super easy and fun to make. It's the same method used to make Indian paneer with addition of orange. All you need is a half gallon milk, some oranges and some lemons (enough for 1/2 cup of juice each - 1 cup total). I used whole milk from Cedar Summit, a local organic dairy....and let me tell you - you can taste difference when the cows are grass feed!

So, I thought it would enhance the citrus flavor if I mixed in some orange and lemon zest at the end, so I set aside the zest from one orange and one lemon before juicing.

Next, heat the milk to between 200 and 205 degrees Fahrenheit and then remove from the heat. Now you're ready to stir in the lemon and orange juice and let the mixture sit for 15 minutes

After the 15 minutes are up, you're ready to strain the curd. I used an unbleached organic muslin in a stainer/colander over a big bowl. I started by spooning the curd into the strainer with a slotted spoon, but that was taken forever, so I slowly poured the rest of the curds and whey into the strainer. Once the majority of the whey has drained from the curd, you tie the cloth up like a little pouch and hang it drain for an hour. Now for some unknown reason I think most people have this urge to squeeze the curd and get as much whey out as possible. I, too, fell pray to this issue and ended up having to add a 1/4 cup or so of the whey back in as it was quite dry without it. So, please resist any urge to squeeze and let the cheese drain under its own weight. Also, you can save the whey and use it to make bread...I'll be doing that tomorrow and will keep you posted.

After the hour is up, you're ready to add salt and other flavorings. I added the citrus zest that I saved (about 1/2 teaspoon each) along with 2 teaspoons of salt, 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes and 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper and mixed until combined. If you have fresh herbs - maybe some basil or thyme or oregano - I would add it here! My herb garden is not ready to be raided, but you can bet as soon as it is, I'll be adding them to my next batch!

It makes a somewhat loose citrus flavored curd cheese but is almost spreadable. I put it on top of some crostini, then drizzled them with a little olive oil and sprinkled them with a some more freshly ground pepper and red pepper flakes - delish!!!

"A cheese may disappoint. It may be dull, it may be naive, it may be oversophisticated. Yet it remains, cheese, milk's leap toward immortality." ~Clifton Fadiman

Uber Spring Flower Picture Post

noreply@blogger.com (toil-in-the-soil) — Sun, 17 May 2009 15:28:00 +0000

The spring flowers are blooming away up here in the upper Midwest. Our yard is almost completely surrounded by lilac bushes so you can just imagine the aroma that hits you as you step out the back door.

I'll be the first to admit that I am not very good (yet) at identifying different types of flower, plants or trees - so don't judge me when I refer to thing like, "the tree with the pretty white flowers." That being said, there is a tree in our front yard with pretty white flowers on it. The buds started out a beautiful shade of the pink and then gradually turned white as they blossomed.

Also in the front yard is a tree with pretty pink flowers. I waited a little to long to take these pics so a lot of the flowers have already dropped off, but there are still a few hanging on...

We moved into our house last July, so as this is our first spring it's been fun to see what comes up...and to our surprise some tulips came up! Granted they are very oddly/randomly placed in the yard, but how can you complain about surprise tulips.

Okay...and since we're all friends here...we have a lot of dandelions in the yard. I've been focusing on the vegetable garden so far and need to focus a little more of my time on the yard.

A this is Buster, who has been spending a lot of time rolling around in the dandelions and apparently is helping by transporting the seeds to other parts of the yard...

"To be overcome by the fragrance of flowers is a delectable form of defeat." ~Beverly Nichols

Hydroponics vs. Soil - Test 1 Day 28 - Plantin' Time!

noreply@blogger.com (toil-in-the-soil) — Sun, 17 May 2009 03:15:00 +0000

I can't believe it's already been 28 days since I started those seedlings. To see how the test started, look here. I think the ones destined for soil are ready to be planted outside and I've been attempting to harden them off over the last few days. Interestingly enough the ones going in the hydroponics system are a little smaller than they're rivals, but that could all change as the test continues. I'm using an all inclusive kit called the HydroFarm that I bought at my local hydroponics shop. The water on the table was a little bit of an overflow situation - no fault of the system...all due to the fact that I thought I was smart enough not to have to read the instruction manual - I was proven wrong again!

The growing medium included in the kit are these clay pebbles that keep things in place and hold moisture. As instructed (learned my lesson from the overflow situation above) I placed the seedlings - rock wool and all - directly on the wicking material. As you can see the seedling are quite small and trying to make sure the growing medium didn't crush them was a little difficult. They are under lights right now and even though the system can function outside I decided since hydroponics systems are normally set up inside with grow lights that I would try to keep in that vein. On a side note, one of the hydroponic based seeds did not germinate, but I'm thinking that has more to do with me and/or the seeds than hydroponics vs. soil at this point.

Now on to the soil! As you can see these seedling seem to be much larger and a little less fragile than their hydroponics counterparts - especially the Trevisio Radicchio (see close up below).

Now that we're actually in testing mode...I plan to post a weekly update to see where we're at. I'm also planning on covering the soil based seedling with some netting tomorrow to keep the birds and critters away. More to come...

Sustainable Television aka The Good Life

noreply@blogger.com (toil-in-the-soil) — Fri, 15 May 2009 04:24:00 +0000

The mandatory gardening ban has been lifted as the semester is over. Things did not go as well as I would have liked, but I think it had to do less with procrastination and more to do with the fact that I'm still learning [or at least that's what I'm telling myself :) ] So today, I was back in the garden weeding again. I tried to take my mother's weeding advice and took a bowl and a butter knife and went a pickin'! For the most part all was well, but I didn't use the knife all that much - probably because the soil in my MN yard is more sandy than the soil in my parents IN yard. Since I was weeding until dusk I didn't get take any pictures, so I've decided to write about TV until I can take pictures tomorrow. I am currently re-watching the BBC series "The Good Life" - known as "Good Neighbors" in the US.

As far as I know it was the first sitcom about self-sufficient living - especially in a suburban/urban setting. I mean I know it's TV, but something about it is inspiring...

They have great successes and great failures [kind of like I'm feeling in my own garden right now]...and their uber-yuppie neighbors (or whatever you would call a suburban 1970s British couple of that sort) put things in an interesting perspective!

The once you fall in love with Penelope Keith - of the pretentious yuppie couple - you have to watch "To the Manor Born"....

Mandatory Gardening Ban or How to Make Me Stop Procrastinating

noreply@blogger.com (toil-in-the-soil) — Wed, 06 May 2009 15:31:00 +0000

"If it weren't for the last minute, I wouldn't get anything done." ~Author Unknown

I am an amazing procrastinator...I don't know if it's the rush of a last minute deadline or what. I always seem to get things done when they need to be - albeit last minute. Recently, the garden has been my procrastination method of choice....should I work on my final project or go weed...and of course weeding always wins! However, I now find myself in a time-bind as I have procrastinated on working on my final project for my Evening Wear/Bridal class. This wouldn't have been a problem except that I friend and my first client has asked me to make her 2 outfits. This again wouldn't have been a problem except she needs them much sooner than originally expected which would be this Sunday and my final project is due on Monday. So over the next 5 days I have to make:

1) A formal style jumpsuit...I've decided to mix it up by using a chocolate brown wool tweed suiting material for the bodice and a golden yellow silk for the pants. I think it will look amazing.

2. A princess-seam strapless mini dress with a super short jacket with long bishop sleeves. I've gone a little crazy with the fabrics mixing stripes and patterns and blacks and blues...some won't like it, but I think it will be very fashion forward.

3. An asymmetrical knee-length one-sleeved fitted princess-seam evening gown. The fabrics and silhouette on this one are way out there, but it is not for a client or specific person so I decided to try some new and crazy stuff!

Now you may be saying to yourself...by writing a blog post isn't he just transfer his procrastination excuse from garden to blog! And you are right, BUT as I was searching for a good procrastination quote (I like the one at at the top - it sum me up pretty nicely) I found this one which motivated me - mostly through fear :)

"Procrastination is opportunity's assassin." ~Victor Kiam

This one hit me fairly hard because the friend I'm making the first and second outfits for is going to be on a reality TV show in the fall and it is a great opportunity for me - especially as things like this don't often present themselves to students or us folks in fly-over country. So, I read that quote and said I am not going to let this opportunity get away from me...I'm going to finish my coffee...finish this blog post...and then I will be incommunicado until Tuesday - no blog - no twitter - no email!!!

So on to the garden, I'm lucky the weather forecast calls for showers just about every other day so I don't even have to worry about watering. Things seem to be doing pretty well out there. We got some good rain a couple of days ago, but it has kind of a hard rain as you can see from the little pits in the soil. This is one of the brassica seedlings that seems to be doing well in its new home.

Unfortunately not all of the transplanted seedlings made it. This may have had to do with the hard rain, but more than likely it had to do with how they grew as seedlings. The brassicas (this is not happening with my tomatoes or peppers) were really spindly and long and quite fragile. Before, I start the fall brassicas, I will do some research to see if there's something I can do to fix this. I may direct sow some seeds in the spots where the transplants didn't make it, but not until next week :)

The peas are doing very well. The tendrils are growing and starting to reach out. The plants are not yet tall enough to reach the pea fence, but they are getting close...they seem to grow an inch a day which is fun to watch!

The lilacs are just starting to open. I can't wait - I love lilacs...they just scream spring to me and their scent is intoxicating. I'm even thinking about trying to make lilac wine, but we'll have to wait and see on that one...

By the end of the day Monday I will be all done with school and all the other crazy goings ons...and then I can give my full attention to the garden. I promise to post more on my hydroponics vs. soil test (right now there's not much to report as the seedling are pretty small and not ready to go in their final home). I'm also planning on doing a potato test - container vs. hilling and a tomato test - right-side-up vs. up-side-down. Ok - now time to get busy and save opportunity from it's assassin (which is probably me since I'm the one procrastinating)! Wait - so, I'm saving myself from myself - ok now I'm confused, but no time to dwell...I'm off - wish me luck!

"Earth is here so kind, that just tickle her with a hoe and she laughs with a harvest." ~Douglas William Jerrold

May Flowers are here!!!

noreply@blogger.com (toil-in-the-soil) — Tue, 05 May 2009 01:59:00 +0000

April brought the showers (kind of) and May is holding up its end of the deal with beautiful flowers. The plum trees are flowering with these beautiful white flowers. The intoxicating smell hits as you walk out the back door....ahhh spring!!!!

I think the lilacs are next and can't wait. Lilacs have always been one of my favorite spring flowers. Can't wait to see what the season brings next!!!

"The earth laughs in flowers." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Of Kings and Cabbages

noreply@blogger.com (toil-in-the-soil) — Sun, 03 May 2009 17:49:00 +0000

Things are finally warming up here in zone 4 - and I actually have had some time to get out in the garden! I prepared the 3rd of 8 beds in the garden...and let me tell you the grass that used to live here has some deep roots. This is the final product - the bed is filled with Brassicas (mainly cauliflower, broccoli and cabbage). They seem to be doing pretty well which is good as I was a little scared I was doing some damage during the hardening off process, but it looks like all is well. I've had to resort to putting some make shift blockades (bamboo sticks and string) around the beds as the pooches have not yet ascertained the difference between beds and rows!

The war against grass and weeds wages on. This is one of the many piles of weed/grass carnage that was a result of the bed preparation - and this is after all the tilling that was done last fall. As you can see the grass had some pretty strong root systems.

Buster and Brutus were my two helpers in the garden - well kind of. Buster pretty much laid around all day sunning himself and then occasionally got up to dig up some garlic...and he's supposed to be the good one! Brutus on the other hand ran around like the crazy critter that he is, chewing sticks and walking in the freshly prepared bed. They at least keep things entertaining.

The peas are growing and looking good, but still on the smaller side. I covered the ground around them with leaves in effort to keep the weeds and grass down as well as keep the moisture in.

I finally have a tiny asparagus growing - I planted two year old crowns a couple week ago, so we won't be able to eat them until next year, but it's so nice to see something growing!

The flowers on the plum tree are just about to bloom and can't wait - they are going to be so beautiful!

Buster was exhausted after his long day of lounging in the sun and was passed out on the couch by 8pm. He has got to be the laziest french bulldog on the face of the planet!

Brutus on the other hand is never tired and was wide awake despite his constant running around the yard...he did finally settle down around 10pm - just in time for bed.

Well, today is another beautiful day so I'm going to get out there and plant my leeks and kill some more grass!

"Training is everything. The peach was once a bitter almond; cauliflower is nothing but cabbage with a college education." ~Mark Twain

Rhubarb Massacre

noreply@blogger.com (toil-in-the-soil) — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 02:04:00 +0000

There has been a rhubarb massacre - granted it had to be done as it was turning into an infestation, but the carnage is upsetting nonetheless. I mean look at the beautiful red and pink stalks and the yellow of the leaves that were just about to poke their way through the soil. It's a shame, but it had to be done. This doesn't even account for the huge patch of rhubarb that remains (in its proper place)! Ok - I feel I'm spending too much time obsessing on the massacre - it had to be done - but the tiny defenseless rhubarb - oh the humanity - and at my own hands! Enough of that (in case you haven't gathered I can have a flair for the dramatic from time to time)...let's move on to better and brighter things!

The onions and garlic are growing like crazy! I think the inch or so of rain this weekend helped tremendously. However, on the down side the rain also helped the grass and weeds. As you know I have declared war on grass and will be launching a major offensive this weekend - will post pictures of the spoils of my victory...is it odd that I'm sad about the rhubarb, but not about the grass...will think about that more later...

My peas are finally up - it took them about 4 weeks. As I am not a patient person, it was a torturous amount of time and I was worried the seeds had rotted, but they had not. Hopefully by the end of the growing season, my lovely garden will have increased my patience level - I guess it's either that or it will break me :)

Our plum tree (not sure which kind as it's been in the yard for many generations and we just moved in last summer) is blossoming. Our neighbor referred to them as farmers plums as they are not very big - almost jumbo cherry sized. There are three plum trees in all on the land, but this one is the only one that's really healthy. Last year it had so much fruit on it, the branches were almost weighed down to the ground. Unfortunately, we didn't get a chance to do much with the fruit last year, but this year I'm planning on doing jam/preserves and may even see if I can make some umeboshi (Japanese pickled plums that are deliciously sour).

These are the seedlings I need to get in the ground this weekend (leeks, cabbage, cauliflower, etc.) and this is my attempt to harden them off. I read a few articles about hardening off seedlings and basically came away from my research with the following:

There's no specific method to follow
It's more of an art than a science
You have to do or bad things happen

So, basically I'm just guessing here - we'll see...hopefully I've done enough so that they'll survive, but most of them are stringy little things that seem very fragile, so fingers crossed...

On the tomato front, though, things are looking good! All 22 kinds are growing - quite well I might add! I can't wait...but unfortunately up here in zone 4 I'm not supposed to plant them until the last week in May. So, I've got some waiting to do!

Sadly, things are not doing well on the pepper front. Only a couple of the 15 kinds have germinated...I'm not sure yet if I have to start over or just wait a little longer, but I think it is mostly due to temperature. I think I may have to break down and buy one of those seedling mats, if I want any chilies in my salsa! I do have to say a big thanks to my friend Elena, who graciously gave me some of her pepper seedlings - so not all is lost. I've promised to repay her in tomatoes as her husband is only planting roma tomatoes which I just can't even comprehend and it befuddles her a little too - she might not put him in charge of seed shopping next year.

Wow - this turned out to be a mega-post, eh? I was trying to be more regular about posting, but with classes winding down things have been a little crazy here at the farmhouse in the city! However, tonight during CAD class I should be able to finish my design and be done for the semester and then this weekend I should be to get a lot of work done on my final project (due 5/11) for my Evening Wear class...ok in all honesty - I should be able to START my final project for my Evening Wear class. Well it looks like the boys are ready to go in...and I should get going to work!

My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant's point of view. ~H. Fred Ale

Goa, India in July

noreply@blogger.com (toil-in-the-soil) — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 01:49:00 +0000

Well, it's kind of a dreary day here in Minneapolis, but we desperately need the rain so I will not complain. Since I have no current pictures to post, I decided to pull some out from my photo library. These are pictures from a trip to Goa in July which was during the monsoon season. You'll notice these pictures are much more green than the ones I posted from a December trip.

Let the testing begin!!! Hydroponics vs. Soil - Test 1 Day 1

noreply@blogger.com (toil-in-the-soil) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 00:34:00 +0000

After reading a few articles I've decided to give hydroponics a try - just for fun. If you've read my previous posts you know I have a tendency to go over the top (see previous posts where I admit to growing 22 different kinds of tomatoes, 15 different kinds of peppers [19 now thanks to Elena :) ], and having over 100 different kinds of seeds [note: I'm a first time gardener] ) so you should be very proud of me that I did not go over the top when purchasing my hydroponics system - granted my partner was with me and I think that had more to do with him than my own self-control, but let's not split hairs :)

So I went for the lowest priced all-inclusive system from my local hydroponics store, Interior Gardens. The kit, called Homegarden, had everything from pump to nutrients to growing medium.

Now, I have to admit I was tempted by all the other crazy cool systems, but I'm not ready to invest that kind of cash until I've done a few test. The definition of frugal that my mom sneaked into my wallet when I was 15 has finally sunk in [it only took 18 years :) ].

So for test #1, I decided to stick with lettuce and chicory as they seem like the most frequently types of veg grown in hydroponics. The chicory seeds I chose are Chioggia Radicchio and Trevisio Radicchio from Johnny's Seeds and the lettuce seeds are Flame Lettuce, White Boston Lettuce and Buttercrunch Lettuce from Heirloom Seeds.

This is a picture of the seeds in the rockwool that came with the hydroponics kit. The rockwool was soaked in the nutrient solution for 24 hours prior to planting...I don't think the nutrient solution is organic...so if I decide to continue down this path I will figure out how to do it organically. In an effort to keep things consistent - please note I am no scientist so this is not a real experiment with controls and what not - however, I did plant 2 seeds per starter (both dirt and water).

This is a picture of the seeds in the BioDome Sponge Seed Starters that I have been using to start all other seeds that I will planting the dirt. The seeds are being started in the same nutrient solution as the hydroponics seeds - so the key differences right now are the seedling starting mediums - and then will obviously be when they are put in their growing source (dirt/water). The plan is to post a test update every week and then judge the results on growth rate and taste. I'm planning on multiple test throughout the season...more to come!

This is an unrelated picture of our French Bulldog, Buster, in a pose I can only describe as side-saddle - just wanted to share a pic of this cutie!

How cool is this?!?

noreply@blogger.com (toil-in-the-soil) — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 17:48:00 +0000

Eggshell Seed Starters - More DIY How To Projects

I took the GroGood Pledge, Please Join Me!

noreply@blogger.com (toil-in-the-soil) — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 15:19:00 +0000

I just took the GroGood Pledge and I urge you to join me! I know for those of us who are trying to keep our gardens organic, the sponsor is less than ideal, but I feel that the cause is so worthy that I can overlook it. Please join me by taking the pledge at www.grogood.com. For those of you on blotanical please spread the word!

Spring is here - in Zone 4

noreply@blogger.com (toil-in-the-soil) — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 22:16:00 +0000

Finally spring is here is in zone 4! I couldn't stop myself from wandering around the yard taking pictures of everything green.

Today was a GREAT day to toil in the soil!

noreply@blogger.com (toil-in-the-soil) — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 01:33:00 +0000

I am totally digging mobile blogging! Right now I am sitting out by
the fire as I type this on my phone.

The weather was beautiful today - it almost got up to 60! Since it was
nice and warm, I was able to set my seedling out in the warmth of the
sun and plant some garlic, green onions, yellow onions, red onions and
some more peas in the garden. Here's a pic of the red onions before I
covered them with soil.

As you can see from the close spacing I'm trying an intensive planting method...we'll see how it goes!

It's supposed to be nice all week...so when I'm not at work or in class, I plan on being in the garden...yeah!

Well...I should put down my phone and enjoy this beautiful night! Cheers!

Pictures from Goa, India

noreply@blogger.com (toil-in-the-soil) — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 16:22:00 +0000

Since I don't yet have flowers growing in my own yard, I figure I'd post a few pictures I've take in Goa, India over the past few years. Most of these were taking (except the first) were taken in the island of Chorao which is in the middle of the Mandovi River where my partners father lives in their family house. Most of these were taken during the winter season - I know nothing like a Minnesota winter. I'll post pictures taken during the monsoon season later - you'll be amazed by the difference.

toil in the soil's first post to 12seconds.tv

noreply@blogger.com (toil-in-the-soil) — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 14:37:00 +0000

I just posted my first "video" to my channel on 12seconds.tv. It's pretty cool...

[iPhone] Early Morn' in the Garden on 12seconds.tv

How to Make Your Own Hydroponics System

noreply@blogger.com (toil-in-the-soil) — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 12:49:00 +0000

I think I'm going to do this today...Looks really cool!

Hydroponic Food Factory - More DIY How To Projects

You know you have a SERIOUS problem when...

noreply@blogger.com (toil-in-the-soil) — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 01:54:00 +0000

You know you have a serious problem when it takes a complex excel spreadsheet, systematically organized stacks of seed packets, and an alpha-numeric grid scheme to start your seedlings and keep track of them all.

This is the spreadsheet that I created to keep track of everything including an indoor planting date (if needed) and an outdoor planting date...as well as the alpha-numeric code indicating the spot the seed was planted in my Bio Dome seed starter.

Here are some of the crazy seed stacks I was doing my best to keep track of as I started my seedling. I got most of my seed from Heirloom Seeds and some from Johnny's Selected Seeds as well as various other places...as you can say from my previous post - I have a hard time controlling myself when it comes to seeds.

I had to create an alpha-numeric grid scheme on my Bio Dome seed starter to keep track of the 22 types of tomatoes, 15 types of peppers and various types of asian greens and other seeds that I started...and yes I know have a problem as I again refer to a previous post :)

And to only further substantiate my claim as a seed-a-holic...I got more seeds, and I'm pretty sure there are more on their way....

Oddly enough, as I spend and spend on seeds and I am too thrifty to buy a seedling heat mat, so I am using the poor man's method of heating my seeds...putting them on a heating vent. One must have their priorities!

Urban Organic Gardening Article

noreply@blogger.com (toil-in-the-soil) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 18:56:00 +0000

Interesting article....

Denver Organic Gardening Examiner: Urban organic gardening - table gardens

Posted using ShareThis

I may have lost the battle, but I will win the war!

noreply@blogger.com (toil-in-the-soil) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 02:05:00 +0000

It appears that I must declare war on grass! Since this is our first garden at the old farm house in the city, our beds were just turned over last fall before the first snow. Now that it is spring the grass is trying to reclaim the land it once controlled.

So as you can see I am going to have many battles...one today, most likely one tomorrow...but I'm sure it will be a daily battle throughout the veggie growing season.

To wage my war on the grass, I used the garden claw that my parents sent me...just got it in the mail today...along with the my new nitrile gloves which I love! I told my mom in exchange for the lovely gift of the claw I would send her a pair of the nitrile gloves in her favorite color - pink!

On a super exiting note - at least for me - this is a sprout from the garlic my mom and I planted last year when my parents were visiting in the fall. I feel like spring is finally close!

In addition to the garlic, this is the rhubarb that the previous owners had planted. It is so exciting to see the red stalks trying to push through through the earth. This will be our first spring in the old farm house in the city - so it will be full of surprises as there are all kinds of spring plants coming up. More to come!

Growing Potatoes in Bags or Containers

noreply@blogger.com (toil-in-the-soil) — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 16:09:00 +0000

So I have been looking up information on growing potatoes in bags or containers after my dad was telling me how much easier it is than planting them in the ground and trying hill them up. He said that if you get a 15 gallon container and start 4 to 5 seed potatoes in the bottom with 3 inches of dirt and then every time the plant grows 6 to 8 inches you add more dirt to the container that by the end of the season you'll have a container full of spuds. Does anyone what experience using this method? Tip or advice is greatly appreciated.

Here are some links I've found with more potato growing information:

Potatoes a good fit for containers from The San Diego Union-Tribune

DIY: Grow Your Own Potatoes in Small Spaces (this one uses garbage bags)

Growing Potatoes in Bags

How to Grow Potatoes in a Trash Can

If you have other sources of information - let me know and I'll post them.

Hi! My name is Seth and I'm a seed-a-holic!

noreply@blogger.com (toil-in-the-soil) — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 04:16:00 +0000

I am seriously worried about financial solvency if the weather doesn't warm up. Ok...it's not that bad, but on last count, I have purchased over a 100+ different kinds of seeds including 22 different kinds of tomatoes. My mother who has been gardening since she was a child thinks I'm crazy and I'm starting to agree...I think I'm going to have a lot of happy friends and coworkers when I take my daily load of excess veggies to work after I've frozen, canned and preserved everything possible.

We actually got some decent weather today (mid-40s) and I put up the pea fence next to the bean pole. I also planted 3 of the 4 peas I plan on planting - 1 type hasn't arrived yet....oh no - more seeds...hence the concern :)

I also setup the a-frame I order for growing summer squash and other vining veggies.

This is the cucumber trellis that serves as cover for lettuce and greens in the hot summer sun...as you can see I've not only ordered lots of seeds, but also plant supports...everyday when I come home it's like a new present on the door step :)

This is a closeup of the pea fence. So far I've planted Early Frosty Pea, Sugar Daddy Snap Pea and Mammoth Melting Snow Pea - all seeds from www.heirloomseeds.com. The weather tomorrow is supposed to be ok, so I'm hoping to plant my onions and lettuce. I also have to start my tomato and pepper seeds...much to do. Here's hoping for continued good weather...so I won't order more seeds or plant supports :)

Garden Plan

noreply@blogger.com (toil-in-the-soil) — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 01:18:00 +0000

Since we are not getting any spring-like weather here in central Minnesota anytime soon, I'm stuck planning and replanning and planning some more. Here's the current garden plan, but it has changed many times in the past few days and will most likely change a few time more.

I'm hoping the temps warm up soon!