January 12, 2010

2010 vegetable varieties list

I’m working on my seed list. Here’s a list of all the varieties I’ve grown for the last few years with notes on how I liked them. The 2010 column lists varieties I’ll grow again this year. I need to go through it and add new varieties I’ll try. Its exciting that the sun is getting a little brighter by the day. I noticed pussy willow buds today that are getting furry. My sweet potatoes sprouts on the window sill are almost starting to grow – almost … 2010 vegetable…

December 31, 2009

2009 garden review

What a year! Almost no tomatoes, but great crops of many other vegetables. We had more rain and cloudy cool weather than I’ve ever seen. The year gave me, and most other gardeners, a crash course in fugal diseases – especially Late Blight. MY BEST OF 2009– 60 lbs of Waltham Butternut squash! From a single bed. Amazing.– A visit from the Boston Globe to photograph my pumpkins. And an article published with my Pumpkin Bread recipe!– 8 new raised beds my husband made in my community plot! And big…

November 1, 2009

a FANTASTIC book: Designing the New Kitchen Garden by J Bartley

I’m really enjoying reading this book. Every word. Its wonderful. Who would have thought a book on designing the New Kitchen Garden would start way back with medieval gardens? And that garden history would be so fascinating? The drawings of courtyard gardens are detailed and beautiful. Jennifer Bartley is a wonderfully creative and inspiring writer. I’m enjoying the lists of plants grown in different types of gardens. Medicinals and herbals from monastery plots. Always ready for new (and old!) ideas for next year’s garden, I’m imagining an officinalis section with…

October 21, 2009

2010 planning

I’m starting the planning process early this year. I want to figure out where the garlic should be planted and where I need manure/compost. My gardens have gotten too big to enrich all beds, so I’m looking into crop rotation plans. The general strategy is to rotate crops that use a lot of nutrients with those that use low levels and those that generate nutrients. The diagram below shows the strategy. Most crops I plant use heavy amounts of nutrients. Crops like tomatoes and squashes. I’ll need to add manure/compost…

October 7, 2009

sliding garden planner

Hannah just sent me this link for Clyde’s Sliding Garden Planner on my/Skippy’s On-Line Garden Planner page. It looks really cool. I sent in my $5 to try this out!

July 12, 2009

fall planting calendar

I put in a date I think is about right for my first fall frost and generated a fall planting calendar for myself. (Here’s the calendar link.) I’m wondering if everything seems right here. I’m surprised to see its already late to plant beans. And I hope my broccoli will be big enough to transplant in a couple weeks. I should put in a sowing date for broccoli, collards, etc. I’m not very good with fall timing. If anyone has time to leave comments on how to update this tool,…

April 6, 2009

new beds, new plan

I made up a new garden plan. Similar to my earlier plan – but a few changes. One of the important things was to figure out where to put the asparagus bed. I think the spot on the north side next to the compost bin will work well. My parents offered me some space in their garden. I think I’ll try my popcorn there, and my winter squash. I was told that corn gets eaten in our community garden. I’d like to find out more about this. Someone told me…

February 17, 2009

fall planting calendar

I’ve started an on-line calculator for a fall planting calendar based on your first frost date. The dates are based on my experience and the calendar at Heirloom Seeds. Still a few months before I’ll need to use this. Let me know if any of the dates seem off or if I should add other vegetables. I get such a kick out of putting in dates and pushing the button! You’d think I was a kid with a new video game (or my mother in law with a slot machine…)…

February 8, 2009

generate your own vegetable planting calendar on-line

I’ve put together a planting calendar that will calculate the planting dates for crops for whatever zone you’re in. Just enter your last frost date, click the button and everything gets calculated. (magic!) It’s not quite done yet. I don’t think the last few dates calculate yet. Check back to this page and I’ll add fall planting too. Please let me know if any planting dates don’t seem right. Mostly, the dates are as recommended by Johnny’s website and Botanical Interests seed packages. Each single date refers to ‘the week…

January 31, 2009

sports, melons and seed catalogs ….

Yes, that was me. Out in the bleachers reading my seed catalog at the high school wrestling tournament. I’d look up now and then and cheer. Then, back to the heirloom melon section. Nothing like an all day sporting event to catch up on my catalogs. I think I can do better at growing melons this year. I’ll remember that the seedlings need to stay very warm. Sand Hill Preservation Center reminds growers not to start seedlings indoors more than 2 weeks early. The seedlings should not have more than…

weeks and counting until my last spring frost

S	M	T	W	T	F	S
						1
2	3	4	5	6	7	8
9	10	11	12	13	14	15
16	17	18	19	20	21	22
23	24	25	26	27	28	29
30	31

2010 vegetable varieties list

2009 garden review

a FANTASTIC book: Designing the New Kitchen Garden by J Bartley

2010 planning

sliding garden planner

fall planting calendar

new beds, new plan

fall planting calendar

generate your own vegetable planting calendar on-line

sports, melons and seed catalogs ….

My garden this week

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17 years of archives!

Skippy’s vegetable of the month – Egyptian walking onions!

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My garden this week

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17 years of archives!

Skippy’s vegetable of the month – Egyptian walking onions!

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