My 13 year old son has caught the gardening bug. He put in (with very little help from me) a winter garden of lettuce, spinach, parsnips, beets and turnips. The beets and turnips didn't come up. I guess we put them out too late. The lettuce and spinach did great. The parsnips were a bust, even though they came up. I got something like 6 itty bitty ones. We'll try again later.
But, he wants to put in an extensive garden this spring. He researched things like oats, buckwheat, millet and quinoa. Plus the things that I call a "salad garden" - lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, cucumbers, etc. We started planning for this spring. I will start home schooling him tomorrow, and we're including gardening in his science curriculum. Here in Texas, we can start things in February inside, to transplant out side by March 15.
We have researched the start dates in our zone for all that we want to plant. We have a 4 ft X 8 ft raised garden bed. He plans on planting the grains next to the fence row. It will be a privacy addition as well as breaking up the soil a bit.
I'll let you know how it goes.
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Monday, June 11, 2012
I'm still battling cancer (it came back in January and I won't find out if it's in remission again until my insurance company allows another PET scan). I only planted a little, so I would be able to manage it. We had plans of adding a couple more raised beds, but decided against it. I planted green beans (which I've had about 5 meals for a family of four and just gave a quart bag to my in-laws), cucumber (big harvest, also gave 4-5 to my in-laws), 2 zucchini plants, and one tomato. I planted about 6 tomatoes but only one came up. I've made zucchini bread and had zucchini on the grill at least 5 times. I planted strawberries, from Big Lots, but they all died. My brother-in-law gave us two seedless blackberry bushes and a blueberry bush. The harvest this year has only been good enough to let my son eat a few as they come ready. I planted the two blackberries where there wasn't enough sun and they almost died. I moved them, and about half came back (of each plant). Hopefully next year will be better.
One of my "cucumber" plants ended up being a cantaloupe. I don't know if it was volunteer in the compost or a miss filed seed from the heritage seeds. It's got a little 2 inch cantaloupe and a tiny one about a half inch.
Friday, July 8, 2011
Been a while
It's been a while since I posted to this blog. I've been battling cancer, but am happy to report I'm in remission. My husband has been taking good care of my garden while I couldn't.
We have had a bumper crop of cucumbers. So many that when I went home to see my parents (an 11 hour drive), we took them about 8 cucumbers. I have also given about that many to my in-laws. As well as keeping my family well stocked. I usually eat a couple tomatoes and a cucumber for lunch every day.
The beans did really well, but wore out early. We got about 4 or 5 servings for a family of four before they played out.
The peas didn't do quite as well; I only got about a half serving.
We only got a couple zucchini, but there are 3 growing right now. I don't think they like the Texas sun.
My tomatoes have been disappointing. They have kept me in tomatoes. I've been craving tomatoes (must have something I need, since the chemo), and have a couple or 4 a day. I've had to supplement by buying. I think I planted the tomatoes too close together. It's one big jungle.
The corn was a bust. We ended up pulling them up. The carrots were ok, but nothing to be impressed with. They had really good flavor, but didn't get very big. Some were bent so I suppose the compost soil didn't go deep enough. They hit that Texas clay and wouldn't penetrate it.
My husband has really gotten into gardening. He said next year we need to plant MORE. He has planned to make me 2 more raised beds, and start a bit earlier.
He is also getting more serious about composting since his dad's composted soil did so well in our garden. He wants his own to add and totally fill the boxes.
We have had a bumper crop of cucumbers. So many that when I went home to see my parents (an 11 hour drive), we took them about 8 cucumbers. I have also given about that many to my in-laws. As well as keeping my family well stocked. I usually eat a couple tomatoes and a cucumber for lunch every day.
The beans did really well, but wore out early. We got about 4 or 5 servings for a family of four before they played out.
The peas didn't do quite as well; I only got about a half serving.
We only got a couple zucchini, but there are 3 growing right now. I don't think they like the Texas sun.
My tomatoes have been disappointing. They have kept me in tomatoes. I've been craving tomatoes (must have something I need, since the chemo), and have a couple or 4 a day. I've had to supplement by buying. I think I planted the tomatoes too close together. It's one big jungle.
The corn was a bust. We ended up pulling them up. The carrots were ok, but nothing to be impressed with. They had really good flavor, but didn't get very big. Some were bent so I suppose the compost soil didn't go deep enough. They hit that Texas clay and wouldn't penetrate it.
My husband has really gotten into gardening. He said next year we need to plant MORE. He has planned to make me 2 more raised beds, and start a bit earlier.
He is also getting more serious about composting since his dad's composted soil did so well in our garden. He wants his own to add and totally fill the boxes.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Garden Update
My garden is doing great, for a first attempt at Square Foot Gardening. I laid out everything in a journal first, and then planted. I have a (almost) 4 ft x (almost) 4 ft box with tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, bush beans, bell peppers, carrots, lettuce and onions. I just found out today my dog dug up one of the peppers. Can I hurt her bad? Just kidding.
Then I have a 4 ft x 8 ft box with corn, tomatoes, bush beans, peas, cucumbers, carrots, and lettuce but we had to remove the zucchini. It just got too big and was over shadowing the lettuce. We have multiples of the beans and lettuce and tomatoes in this one. We moved the zucchini to a small box that's about 18 in x 22 in. I already have a really small zucchini on it. My bush beans are blooming, or really close to it. My tomatoes are almost to the point of having to have suckers removed.
Luckily I had my husband catch the gardening bug, because I've had bronchitis for 2 weeks. I just found out a couple days ago and got on medicine for it. He's been weeding and watering for me, and checking them every day. I said you can't see the dramatic growth rate when you look EVERY day. I walk out there once a week and go, "WOW!"
I can't wait to start picking vegetables.
Then I have a 4 ft x 8 ft box with corn, tomatoes, bush beans, peas, cucumbers, carrots, and lettuce but we had to remove the zucchini. It just got too big and was over shadowing the lettuce. We have multiples of the beans and lettuce and tomatoes in this one. We moved the zucchini to a small box that's about 18 in x 22 in. I already have a really small zucchini on it. My bush beans are blooming, or really close to it. My tomatoes are almost to the point of having to have suckers removed.
Luckily I had my husband catch the gardening bug, because I've had bronchitis for 2 weeks. I just found out a couple days ago and got on medicine for it. He's been weeding and watering for me, and checking them every day. I said you can't see the dramatic growth rate when you look EVERY day. I walk out there once a week and go, "WOW!"
I can't wait to start picking vegetables.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Econony and buying extra food
We've seen the marks of the economy and how food prices are rising. That's the reason I'm putting in my Freedom Garden. I mentioned in a previous post all that I'm planting, so I won't go over that here. We've also been stock piling canned goods and gluten free noodles. There are several survivalist sites where you can get dehydrated basics like eggs, cheese, etc. I even found a place that has several varieties of gluten free MRE's. Right now we're just piling boxes of canned goods in the house. I have the floor of my pantry lined with banker's bokes. My bedroom closet has a few boxes in it. I have 3 dresser drawers that didn't have clothes in them, packed with food. We have also been stocking up on bottled water.
As a way of conserving, we put a 55 gallon drum at the corner of our house where the rain drips down the most. We learned a lesson over the winter: cover the top with a mesh. We went to clean out the water, and it smelled like something had died in it from all the debris. My husband (bless his soul) carried all the water over to my compost by the buckets full. My Father-in-law, when he was here delivering compost for my garden, put the pompus grass from the yard into the compost along with a huge bag of leaves. My husband added another bag of leaves today. My Father-in-law says not to touch it beyond watering it everyday, for about 6 weeks and then I can start turning it.
We know that the economy will price alot of people right out of buying food, or else make them choose between utilities and food, we just don't know when. We don't want to have to make that choice. That's why we're stocking up. Luckily we have an Aldi's nearby, but even they are going up in price. When they first opened here (new to Texas), they were offerning milk for 99 cents a gallon. That, of course, forced Walmart to lower their prices. By the way, Aldi's opened up right across the street from Walmart. We decided to keep our receipts to prove that prices have gone up. But that's not something I'm going to post here, as regions differ.
As I plan my garden, using the square foot method, I'm planning to have an abundance so that I can can the left overs. I've never canned anything except stewed tomatoes (and that only once totally by myself). But, I have a Betty Crocker cookbook, an older model, and it lists how to can. I planted corn so I can have corn if I don't eat it all. I hope to have lots of tomatoes left over so I can do my own garden stewed tomatoes, or at least add them to it. We have a Mexican store that sometimes puts tomatoes at a really low price, and I gobble them up for canning. I just don't know if this summer 1) they will have them at a really low price or 2) I want to BUY fresh tomatoes to do the canning. I may decide to use only what I have and put my money to canned goods.
As a way of conserving, we put a 55 gallon drum at the corner of our house where the rain drips down the most. We learned a lesson over the winter: cover the top with a mesh. We went to clean out the water, and it smelled like something had died in it from all the debris. My husband (bless his soul) carried all the water over to my compost by the buckets full. My Father-in-law, when he was here delivering compost for my garden, put the pompus grass from the yard into the compost along with a huge bag of leaves. My husband added another bag of leaves today. My Father-in-law says not to touch it beyond watering it everyday, for about 6 weeks and then I can start turning it.
We know that the economy will price alot of people right out of buying food, or else make them choose between utilities and food, we just don't know when. We don't want to have to make that choice. That's why we're stocking up. Luckily we have an Aldi's nearby, but even they are going up in price. When they first opened here (new to Texas), they were offerning milk for 99 cents a gallon. That, of course, forced Walmart to lower their prices. By the way, Aldi's opened up right across the street from Walmart. We decided to keep our receipts to prove that prices have gone up. But that's not something I'm going to post here, as regions differ.
As I plan my garden, using the square foot method, I'm planning to have an abundance so that I can can the left overs. I've never canned anything except stewed tomatoes (and that only once totally by myself). But, I have a Betty Crocker cookbook, an older model, and it lists how to can. I planted corn so I can have corn if I don't eat it all. I hope to have lots of tomatoes left over so I can do my own garden stewed tomatoes, or at least add them to it. We have a Mexican store that sometimes puts tomatoes at a really low price, and I gobble them up for canning. I just don't know if this summer 1) they will have them at a really low price or 2) I want to BUY fresh tomatoes to do the canning. I may decide to use only what I have and put my money to canned goods.
Planting
And the planting begins. Friday my Father-in-law brought the rest of the composted dirt. He just dropped it off, as he had somewhere to go and didn't want to get sweaty. It's already pretty warm here in Texas. Saturday morning, I filled the large bin. I had forgotten about a small (18 inch by 22 inch) frame I had put up originally to compost in. I filled it with dirt and I'm going to plant herbs in it. My herbs haven't come in yet. I need to get my husband to take a picture of it tomorrow in sunlight. I need to get dirt for a front window box of bricks also, to put more herbs in.
Saturday when I went to plant, I had 2 neighbor boys helping me. My 11 year old was away at Boy Scout camp. The younger brother had come over to see if my son could play and I told him he'd be gone until Sunday night. I mentioned that I was getting ready to garden, and he said, "Can I help?" I almost felt like Tom Sawyer. We hadn't even strung off the squares yet. When we were almost done stringing off everything, his brother showed up (he's 11 also). So the three of us planted the 4 ft x 8 ft bed.
Saturday when I went to plant, I had 2 neighbor boys helping me. My 11 year old was away at Boy Scout camp. The younger brother had come over to see if my son could play and I told him he'd be gone until Sunday night. I mentioned that I was getting ready to garden, and he said, "Can I help?" I almost felt like Tom Sawyer. We hadn't even strung off the squares yet. When we were almost done stringing off everything, his brother showed up (he's 11 also). So the three of us planted the 4 ft x 8 ft bed.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
It begins
I'm so excited. My Father-in-law showed up today and put up my second bed and brought a lot of composted dirt. It wasn't quite enough, so he's gonna bring some more (possibly tomorrow). But I now have one plot almost 4 X 4 and another one 4 x 8. Tomorrow after a doctor's appointment, my 11 year old son is going to help me mark off the 12 inch lines and put string up for the squares.
I may plant the smaller bed. So, tomorrow I'll be planting cucumber, bush beans, zucchini, tomatoes, peppers, onions, lettuce, the first batch of carrots (staggered planting by 2 weeks) and chives. I have to wait until my herbs come in, and then I can plant cilantro. My son can't wait to plant the corn in the bigger one. My Father-in-law said not to plant my herbs in the bigger plot. He said he'll make me a little herb garden closer to the house, so I can sit on the porch and look at it. I think he's planning on putting them all in pots and then on paving stones. So I guess I could redo my planning and take out the herbs and add more vegetagles. That's a good thing because I read that you need one 4 X 4 plot per person in the family. That would actually make us one short. He said he has enough materials to make me another 4 x 8 plot, but we'll have to wait on the composted dirt.
I also have a compost pile, though I'm not very good at composting. He's much better than I am. I think I get impatient. We blew out a big 2 ft thick projection TV, and in the spirit of recycling, we used the base for a compost bin. I had a little in it, so my Father-in-law added all the trimmings from the pompus grass that had been lying there all winter, and a bag of leaves. He told me to just wet it daily for about 6 weeks before I even think about turning it. My husband is going to bring a 55 gallon drum home, and cut either huge holes, or the whole bottom out so I'll have a working compost. The working one is the one where you put your scraps from the kitchen in, or grass clippings, and then cover with dry leaves. He told me to put the ice cream bucket full of table scraps and clippings from cutting vegetables in the bottom and then cover with about 3 inches of leaves each time.
Hopefully as this progresses, I'll be able to get my husband to take some pictures of it with his camera phone.
I may plant the smaller bed. So, tomorrow I'll be planting cucumber, bush beans, zucchini, tomatoes, peppers, onions, lettuce, the first batch of carrots (staggered planting by 2 weeks) and chives. I have to wait until my herbs come in, and then I can plant cilantro. My son can't wait to plant the corn in the bigger one. My Father-in-law said not to plant my herbs in the bigger plot. He said he'll make me a little herb garden closer to the house, so I can sit on the porch and look at it. I think he's planning on putting them all in pots and then on paving stones. So I guess I could redo my planning and take out the herbs and add more vegetagles. That's a good thing because I read that you need one 4 X 4 plot per person in the family. That would actually make us one short. He said he has enough materials to make me another 4 x 8 plot, but we'll have to wait on the composted dirt.
I also have a compost pile, though I'm not very good at composting. He's much better than I am. I think I get impatient. We blew out a big 2 ft thick projection TV, and in the spirit of recycling, we used the base for a compost bin. I had a little in it, so my Father-in-law added all the trimmings from the pompus grass that had been lying there all winter, and a bag of leaves. He told me to just wet it daily for about 6 weeks before I even think about turning it. My husband is going to bring a 55 gallon drum home, and cut either huge holes, or the whole bottom out so I'll have a working compost. The working one is the one where you put your scraps from the kitchen in, or grass clippings, and then cover with dry leaves. He told me to put the ice cream bucket full of table scraps and clippings from cutting vegetables in the bottom and then cover with about 3 inches of leaves each time.
Hopefully as this progresses, I'll be able to get my husband to take some pictures of it with his camera phone.
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