Monday, June 14, 2010
Omro Friday Night Market Kickoff (May 28th)
Rain, rain, go away!
Well, we have entered week number two of steady rainy/cloudy days. The garden is thriving with the cool and wet weather, but much of what needs to be done cannot be until we get some steady dry days.
The lettuces are growing beautifully! Each week we harvest several pounds of each variety to take to market. Whatever doesn't sell goes into our store for our daily customers for the next week. (And of course, to our families!)
Our radishes have come and gone. What remains in the garden now is too hot or woody to be consumed, so we are letting them go to flower. They not only attract beneficial insects, but the blooms give way to edible seed pods. In about a month, we will have a second harvest of radish pods that (in my opinion) are much tastier than the radishes themselves. Hopefully those will sell well at market!
Our early planted spinach has gone to seed. The rest is ready to be harvested and sold for likely the final few times in the coming weeks.
On the vine, our peas are flowering and setting pods quickly and efficiently. We have several types of snap peas and shelling peas. The snap peas are ready to go; the shelling peas are almost there. We had a good germination from Wando, but Progress No. 9 was really hit and miss. Our Golden Pod peas are doing amazing. The Sugar Snaps are by far the tastiest.
The Bright Lights swiss chard continues to grow and provide lovely color to our market offerings, as well as salad toppers. We were very confused for the longest time, however. Both Rita and I thought that the swiss chard were beets and that the beet greens were swiss chard. We had logged the wrong seeds in our garden chart and so it took until some beets started forming under the "swiss chard" and the "beets" continued to have no root to speak of that we realized our mistake. Having never grown swiss chard before, I just assumed the bright leaf colors were due to the intense red that beets naturally posess. Ha.
We have corn popping up in rows and winter squash planted in between. The plan is to have the sprawling vines offer a ground cover between the corn plants and rows. The broccoli and cabbage have mostly been planted and grow daily.
The summer squash is ailing from cucumber beetles already so we are trying a new spray to repel them: tea tree oil diluted in water. So far we've seen some success. We will keep trying this spray to see the long term effects. Having rain all the time sort of delays our observation.
Finally, we have gotten the rest of our started plants from Tracy. Eggplant, melon, celery, peppers and tomatoes. They sit patiently on our patio, waiting for some sunny days to introduce them into the garden for good.
The lettuces are growing beautifully! Each week we harvest several pounds of each variety to take to market. Whatever doesn't sell goes into our store for our daily customers for the next week. (And of course, to our families!)
Our radishes have come and gone. What remains in the garden now is too hot or woody to be consumed, so we are letting them go to flower. They not only attract beneficial insects, but the blooms give way to edible seed pods. In about a month, we will have a second harvest of radish pods that (in my opinion) are much tastier than the radishes themselves. Hopefully those will sell well at market!
Our early planted spinach has gone to seed. The rest is ready to be harvested and sold for likely the final few times in the coming weeks.
On the vine, our peas are flowering and setting pods quickly and efficiently. We have several types of snap peas and shelling peas. The snap peas are ready to go; the shelling peas are almost there. We had a good germination from Wando, but Progress No. 9 was really hit and miss. Our Golden Pod peas are doing amazing. The Sugar Snaps are by far the tastiest.
The Bright Lights swiss chard continues to grow and provide lovely color to our market offerings, as well as salad toppers. We were very confused for the longest time, however. Both Rita and I thought that the swiss chard were beets and that the beet greens were swiss chard. We had logged the wrong seeds in our garden chart and so it took until some beets started forming under the "swiss chard" and the "beets" continued to have no root to speak of that we realized our mistake. Having never grown swiss chard before, I just assumed the bright leaf colors were due to the intense red that beets naturally posess. Ha.
We have corn popping up in rows and winter squash planted in between. The plan is to have the sprawling vines offer a ground cover between the corn plants and rows. The broccoli and cabbage have mostly been planted and grow daily.
The summer squash is ailing from cucumber beetles already so we are trying a new spray to repel them: tea tree oil diluted in water. So far we've seen some success. We will keep trying this spray to see the long term effects. Having rain all the time sort of delays our observation.
Finally, we have gotten the rest of our started plants from Tracy. Eggplant, melon, celery, peppers and tomatoes. They sit patiently on our patio, waiting for some sunny days to introduce them into the garden for good.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Planting some more, harvesting for market
It's been too long since I posted. A run down of all that Rita's family has accomplished:
• Cut and planted potatoes in a 40' x 40' plot. None of them sprouted. We think the taters sat cut and unplanted too long. Fortunately, we still have most of the bags we ordered, awaiting planting.
• Planted most of the cabbages, broccoli and cauliflower last week.
• Planted two long rows of corn and cucumbers in the "family garden" (the front garden where we first began this green thumb journey).
• Added radishes around all the cucurbits to thwart cucumber beetles
• Began harvesting spinach and radishes for personal eats.
• Prepared for our first market day! Harvested spinach, beet leaves, four varieties of salad greens and radishes for the first ever Omro Friday Night Market.
May 29th: Ate the first four strawberries of the season from our strawberry patch! Have been getting steadily increased yields ever since.
• Today: Planted more sweet corn, all the winter squash and more radishes around the transplants. Squished a couple dozen cucumber beetles. Am looking into a non-toxic spray that will help repel them from the plants afflicted.
• Preparing for Friday's market. Last week, sold about $60 worth of lettuces and radishes. Not bad for a pretty slow showing. It did help that we were the only farm vendor there. Not so this week. Will have to put on our A-game! (but we've already gotten a couple rave reviews and methinks we may have started a following already, if on a smallish scale).
Rita has been taking photos. I have too. Will add them shortly; the camera in still in the van.
Becky
• Cut and planted potatoes in a 40' x 40' plot. None of them sprouted. We think the taters sat cut and unplanted too long. Fortunately, we still have most of the bags we ordered, awaiting planting.
• Planted most of the cabbages, broccoli and cauliflower last week.
• Planted two long rows of corn and cucumbers in the "family garden" (the front garden where we first began this green thumb journey).
• Added radishes around all the cucurbits to thwart cucumber beetles
• Began harvesting spinach and radishes for personal eats.
• Prepared for our first market day! Harvested spinach, beet leaves, four varieties of salad greens and radishes for the first ever Omro Friday Night Market.
May 29th: Ate the first four strawberries of the season from our strawberry patch! Have been getting steadily increased yields ever since.
• Today: Planted more sweet corn, all the winter squash and more radishes around the transplants. Squished a couple dozen cucumber beetles. Am looking into a non-toxic spray that will help repel them from the plants afflicted.
• Preparing for Friday's market. Last week, sold about $60 worth of lettuces and radishes. Not bad for a pretty slow showing. It did help that we were the only farm vendor there. Not so this week. Will have to put on our A-game! (but we've already gotten a couple rave reviews and methinks we may have started a following already, if on a smallish scale).
Rita has been taking photos. I have too. Will add them shortly; the camera in still in the van.
Becky
Monday, May 3, 2010
Photo Progress Update
Left: Butterhead Lettuce
Chioggia Beets below
Elly helped me today by picking weeds and eating some leaves. Then she collected straws and made a nice "tower" on the walk way before uncovering a small pine cone and methodically picking off the cones. She then announced that she was all done and needed to go play at her park. (swingset.)
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Before the Thunder rolled...
Just as the wind-swept rains plummeted from the sky yesterday afternoon, the Gerhkings and I all but finished our day's goals for the garden.
It really is quite amazing what was accomplished in a few short hours, spurred on by the darkening skies in the west and south.
We had some seed potatoes, onions and leeks that needed to be planted while the garden was dry enough and before the rains. It's a delicate balance in soil like ours; it holds water so very long. If we go in too soon after a rain, we tramp down the soil and ruin the tilth. If we cultivate too soon, we really mess things up by cementing large clods of earth together for the rest of the season. And if we wait too long, it rains again.
Friday afternoon proved to be the short window we had to get 120 potatoes, 70 leeks and 750 bunch onions planted before the big storms. We also had the fortune to transplant about 40-50 onions that overwintered from last year. Just as we had about a dozen left, the rains began to fall. Gale, Cortnie and I would likely have stayed in the rain to finish the job, but peals of thunder had preceded this shower. Not taking chances in a big open field.
And then the rains came down. We had a steady downpour from about 4:30pm to 6:30pm. Then, the heavy stuff came. We were in the path of several angry storm cells, producing 65 mph gusts of winds, hail and even tornados. We sat glued to the news and watched the atmosphere outside turn chaotic.
Maybe it wasn't the best idea to get so many live plants in the ground that afternoon. As the storm raged on, I saw in the last grey light of the day the back garden. It was completely under water, all 3/4 acre.
Oh boy.
But this morning, a bright sunshiny day, no hail here and certianly no tornadoes had crossed our path. A few puddles of standing water and several beds of hardy little onions standing like pale green flags of victory. Yes!!! Thank you God for your mercy yesterday.
It really is quite amazing what was accomplished in a few short hours, spurred on by the darkening skies in the west and south.
We had some seed potatoes, onions and leeks that needed to be planted while the garden was dry enough and before the rains. It's a delicate balance in soil like ours; it holds water so very long. If we go in too soon after a rain, we tramp down the soil and ruin the tilth. If we cultivate too soon, we really mess things up by cementing large clods of earth together for the rest of the season. And if we wait too long, it rains again.
Friday afternoon proved to be the short window we had to get 120 potatoes, 70 leeks and 750 bunch onions planted before the big storms. We also had the fortune to transplant about 40-50 onions that overwintered from last year. Just as we had about a dozen left, the rains began to fall. Gale, Cortnie and I would likely have stayed in the rain to finish the job, but peals of thunder had preceded this shower. Not taking chances in a big open field.
And then the rains came down. We had a steady downpour from about 4:30pm to 6:30pm. Then, the heavy stuff came. We were in the path of several angry storm cells, producing 65 mph gusts of winds, hail and even tornados. We sat glued to the news and watched the atmosphere outside turn chaotic.
Maybe it wasn't the best idea to get so many live plants in the ground that afternoon. As the storm raged on, I saw in the last grey light of the day the back garden. It was completely under water, all 3/4 acre.
Oh boy.
But this morning, a bright sunshiny day, no hail here and certianly no tornadoes had crossed our path. A few puddles of standing water and several beds of hardy little onions standing like pale green flags of victory. Yes!!! Thank you God for your mercy yesterday.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
More planting...
Monday, Tuesday and today, Rita and the kiddos came out to help with more planting. On Monday, Bret, Cortnie and Garrett volunteered to come over in the mid afternoon to work up the gardens. Bret began tilling the front garden. We are planning that for perennials only, including rhubarb, asparagus, raspberries, strawberries and some day...blueberries. We might also get some old timey favorites in there like gooseberries, elderberries and some grapes. Cortnie and Garrett and I worked on cleaning up the garden waste from last season. I don't know if we were wise in not tilling up the land last fall like everyone else, but Nature doesn't do that in her gardens. So why should we? Some day, I'd like to figure out a no-till option for annual gardens, but I don't see how that's possible right now. Some day.
We picked up all the dried leaves and stalks and burnt them in the middle of the garden. The ash will help build the soil for raspberries. Andy took over rototilling the entire front garden and thoroughly enjoyed himself.
We also began laying down straw in the walkways in the back garden. We'd like to have them covered before the next big rain in two days, to minimize the washing away of soil. Cortnie and I also hacked away at some extra early thistles.
To date, everything we planted except carrots and beets have emerged. Actually, I think some beets are up as well. Carrots always take awhile.
On Tuesday, the whole family came out to help. The younger kids helped clean up the back garden by picking up all the dried stalks and putting them into two big piles. Bret worked on rototilling a large chunch of garden to work it up for future plantings. Cortnie watered our seedlings and the rest helped Rita plant more peas, spinach, beets, carrots and lettuces. We're going to have lettuces up to our eyeballs! Luckliy we'll have the on-farm store outlet and perhaps a farmer's market.
Today, just a few kids came with Rita to help finish planting the third and fourth rows with the same early weather crops. We look forward to a bit of a planting break and rains coming. It's been unusually dry this spring and with our heavy clay soils, we've been taking advantage to get as much in the ground as possible before we get doused.
We picked up all the dried leaves and stalks and burnt them in the middle of the garden. The ash will help build the soil for raspberries. Andy took over rototilling the entire front garden and thoroughly enjoyed himself.
We also began laying down straw in the walkways in the back garden. We'd like to have them covered before the next big rain in two days, to minimize the washing away of soil. Cortnie and I also hacked away at some extra early thistles.
To date, everything we planted except carrots and beets have emerged. Actually, I think some beets are up as well. Carrots always take awhile.
On Tuesday, the whole family came out to help. The younger kids helped clean up the back garden by picking up all the dried stalks and putting them into two big piles. Bret worked on rototilling a large chunch of garden to work it up for future plantings. Cortnie watered our seedlings and the rest helped Rita plant more peas, spinach, beets, carrots and lettuces. We're going to have lettuces up to our eyeballs! Luckliy we'll have the on-farm store outlet and perhaps a farmer's market.
Today, just a few kids came with Rita to help finish planting the third and fourth rows with the same early weather crops. We look forward to a bit of a planting break and rains coming. It's been unusually dry this spring and with our heavy clay soils, we've been taking advantage to get as much in the ground as possible before we get doused.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
The Last Two Weeks
I haven't logged in here nearly enough to catalog all the events in the planting calendar.
We finished planting the second row on Saturday, April 3rd and had plans to plant again the next weekend. However, this did not occur. On April 5th and 6th, we had rain.
April 7th we got 5 inches of snow.
April 8th the snow began to melt.
April 9th the snow was gone and we had off and on showers.
April 11th, a visit to the garden confirmed the sprouting of our radishes. Could not tell without closer inspection if anything else had germinated. Will wait until soil dries more.
April 12th we had rain again, lasting through the afternoon and into the next morning.
April 13th we had morning showers off and on, with a strong southern wind. Expecting to see more wind and sunnier days this week. Hopefull will be able to spread out straw for walkways and move the chickens this week. (Chickens will pick off anything that sprouts). So far, have them closed in the last two days in anticipation of being moved.
Last night, Rita ordered more lettuce and radish seeds, along with some more corn and peas for her family's needs.
On April 7th, we bought garden tools, a 100' hose and a large utlility wagon for Ethan and Elly's birthdays. But will be used all over the farm as well.
Planning continues in Omro for a full fledged farmer's market. We meet every Monday and will continue to do so until the kick-off weekend of Memorial Day.
We finished planting the second row on Saturday, April 3rd and had plans to plant again the next weekend. However, this did not occur. On April 5th and 6th, we had rain.
April 7th we got 5 inches of snow.
April 8th the snow began to melt.
April 9th the snow was gone and we had off and on showers.
April 11th, a visit to the garden confirmed the sprouting of our radishes. Could not tell without closer inspection if anything else had germinated. Will wait until soil dries more.
April 12th we had rain again, lasting through the afternoon and into the next morning.
April 13th we had morning showers off and on, with a strong southern wind. Expecting to see more wind and sunnier days this week. Hopefull will be able to spread out straw for walkways and move the chickens this week. (Chickens will pick off anything that sprouts). So far, have them closed in the last two days in anticipation of being moved.
Last night, Rita ordered more lettuce and radish seeds, along with some more corn and peas for her family's needs.
On April 7th, we bought garden tools, a 100' hose and a large utlility wagon for Ethan and Elly's birthdays. But will be used all over the farm as well.
Planning continues in Omro for a full fledged farmer's market. We meet every Monday and will continue to do so until the kick-off weekend of Memorial Day.
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