Mint is great, I put a few seedlings in a 5" pot 3 years ago, stuck the pot in the ground, and then proceeded to ignore it ever since, save for the trip to grab a sprig here and there.
As many of the seed packets will attest to mint from see is not "true" I.E. it wont have the same flavor as the parent. So what I did this fall was to carefully select a leaf from each sprig, if I liked it, the plant was safe, if it was less than spectacular, I pulled the stalk and its rootball up. Hopefully next year I will have a more consistent flavored patch of mint. I also trimmed it back heavily, and spent the afternoon wondering what the heck I am going to do with all this mint.
Well some of it is going to get dried for tea of course but thats a lot of tea, and I usually prefer to blend it rather than go straight mint.
So, I made mint jalapeno jelly. Considering I hadn't made any kind of jam all year I really didn't feel rusty. I did however omit the food coloring, so the jelly looks a bit yellow, but I scraped some out of the bowl when I was done and it is certainly powerful...Its an odd experience. I've only ever had mass produced mint jelly so this was definitely stronger than what I was used to. At first all you taste is the sugar, but after its been in your mouth for a second the mint hits you...and then the heat.
It would be pretty awesome on crackers with some cream cheese. Its usually recommended to be served with lamb but...not gonna happen, so if anyone has any vegetarian ideas for it (other than crackers or toast) fire away.
Showing posts with label herbs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label herbs. Show all posts
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Still in the thick of things
Well as can probably be guessed by my extended absence, my work life has eaten my blogging time. But as I have a spare moment right now, I'll try to hit the highlights.
1.)First pound harvested! radishes put me just over the top of 1 pound composed of radishes, lettuce and arugula.
2.) the peas and most of the broccoli are beyond hope. Something ate them, and this time it wasnt the dog. I suspect its the neighborhood cats. They seem to have mowed it to appropriate height. So in went seeds for zucchini, delicata, and waltham squash, as well as french melons, nothing germinated yet.
3.) The situation in the bed out front seems to be improving, though I definitely lost a couple tomato plants, the survivors seem to be bouncing back.
Our daughter had to compose a persuasive paragraph for school on any subject...and completly unprompted she chose:
Gardens vs. Grocery Stores
I think people should have a garden instead of driving to the grocery store. If people make gardens in their backyard they can get their fruits and vegetables from their backyard.
You can buy packets of seeds for 10 cents which would be less expensive than buying produce. Gardens can keep people on a healthy diet. If you have a garden you wouldn't pollute the air as much because you wouldn't put gas in the air. People wouldn't have to pay money for gas. Plants take in carbon dioxide. Gardens look beautiful. When people come over they would be surprised by how much effort you put into it. My dad is growing his garden.
Some of the things I think you should have in your garden are tomatoes, potatoes, strawberries, corn, zucchini, and blueberries.
Needless to say I was beaming when I found out.
In other news, The area behind the bench I have dedicated to native species has borne fruit, or rather its inhabitants have been fruitful. More specifically, baby spiders, thousands of them. Go forth my pretties and feast on beetles and cabbage moths.
Speaking of the area behind the bench, I have a lone, but alive nonetheless ginseng plant coming up.
And speaking of the bench, I give you the view from the bench a.k.a. my favorite spot in the yard, overlooking my second favorite spot in the yard.
This picture was taken about ten days ago, since then the fennel (between the wormood and valerian) is taller than the fence, The valerian has exceeded six feet, the pond has cleared slightly from the lilly pads out competing the algae, and the wormwood threatens to take over the universe.
1.)First pound harvested! radishes put me just over the top of 1 pound composed of radishes, lettuce and arugula.
2.) the peas and most of the broccoli are beyond hope. Something ate them, and this time it wasnt the dog. I suspect its the neighborhood cats. They seem to have mowed it to appropriate height. So in went seeds for zucchini, delicata, and waltham squash, as well as french melons, nothing germinated yet.
3.) The situation in the bed out front seems to be improving, though I definitely lost a couple tomato plants, the survivors seem to be bouncing back.
Our daughter had to compose a persuasive paragraph for school on any subject...and completly unprompted she chose:
Gardens vs. Grocery Stores
I think people should have a garden instead of driving to the grocery store. If people make gardens in their backyard they can get their fruits and vegetables from their backyard.
You can buy packets of seeds for 10 cents which would be less expensive than buying produce. Gardens can keep people on a healthy diet. If you have a garden you wouldn't pollute the air as much because you wouldn't put gas in the air. People wouldn't have to pay money for gas. Plants take in carbon dioxide. Gardens look beautiful. When people come over they would be surprised by how much effort you put into it. My dad is growing his garden.
Some of the things I think you should have in your garden are tomatoes, potatoes, strawberries, corn, zucchini, and blueberries.
Needless to say I was beaming when I found out.
In other news, The area behind the bench I have dedicated to native species has borne fruit, or rather its inhabitants have been fruitful. More specifically, baby spiders, thousands of them. Go forth my pretties and feast on beetles and cabbage moths.
Speaking of the area behind the bench, I have a lone, but alive nonetheless ginseng plant coming up.
And speaking of the bench, I give you the view from the bench a.k.a. my favorite spot in the yard, overlooking my second favorite spot in the yard.
This picture was taken about ten days ago, since then the fennel (between the wormood and valerian) is taller than the fence, The valerian has exceeded six feet, the pond has cleared slightly from the lilly pads out competing the algae, and the wormwood threatens to take over the universe.
Monday, May 4, 2009
the good, the bad and the downright awful
Busy weekend at home! But I think thats safe to say about most weekends. I got all of the stone in place for the walkways...and I have no pics or background to go with that...so I shall endeavor to update you all on this monumental project (and sizable subtraction to the size of the mowed area). Regardless, I'm a bit sore right now.
The trees look like they are doing well. The last of the pears to bud has a few green spikes now and the nectarine (despite some definite dieback) appears to be leafing out now.
I put in the marigolds in the potato bed, most of the pea sprouts are up. If I had planted lettuce more densely I'd have a salad by now. Lesson learned. Plant leaf lettuce tighter and harvest sooner and more often. I did snatch a few leaves of thai oak leaf that were awesome, and the arugula is really good. In a week or two when I have more I am definitely grabbing a couple pears and maybe a little parmesan cheese for a salad.
Transplanted a lot of flowers (mostly petunias, but some cosmos and hollyhock) and put the chamomile in its spot. The lemon balm, bee balm, and stjohn's wort are making a strong showing only a year after transplant and the wormwood and valerian are almost two feet high already.
Now for the awful news. As regular readers might remember, I ordered 3 citrus trees on feb 15th. After a long spell of no news and no trees I contacted the seller and was told "two weeks" Several unreturned phone calls, several unreplied emails. Still no trees. Sorry chumps...no money for you. I didn't bother to call to ask for a refund since they apparently have failed to conduct themselves in any measurable way decent. The business may have changed hands but their failure to respond to such a backlog of customers means I'm not likely to see results for a while. I called my bank and had them dispute the charges, in my experience its faster than getting obstinant deadbeat vendors to take satisfactory action. So this time, a little wiser I combed review sites looking for a reputable dealer and found good reviews for Four winds nursery. They appear to have been around for a while and their customers hold them in fairly good regard. Lesson Learned. Hopefully my trees will be here this weekend.
The old vendor by the way is growquest, they now operate under the name olivetrees.net. And without some kind of acknowledgement from the new owners of changes to the business practices, I wouldn't trust them any farther than I could throw a deeply rooted, 1,000 year old olive tree (which I hear are quite heavy).
The trees look like they are doing well. The last of the pears to bud has a few green spikes now and the nectarine (despite some definite dieback) appears to be leafing out now.
I put in the marigolds in the potato bed, most of the pea sprouts are up. If I had planted lettuce more densely I'd have a salad by now. Lesson learned. Plant leaf lettuce tighter and harvest sooner and more often. I did snatch a few leaves of thai oak leaf that were awesome, and the arugula is really good. In a week or two when I have more I am definitely grabbing a couple pears and maybe a little parmesan cheese for a salad.
Transplanted a lot of flowers (mostly petunias, but some cosmos and hollyhock) and put the chamomile in its spot. The lemon balm, bee balm, and stjohn's wort are making a strong showing only a year after transplant and the wormwood and valerian are almost two feet high already.
Now for the awful news. As regular readers might remember, I ordered 3 citrus trees on feb 15th. After a long spell of no news and no trees I contacted the seller and was told "two weeks" Several unreturned phone calls, several unreplied emails. Still no trees. Sorry chumps...no money for you. I didn't bother to call to ask for a refund since they apparently have failed to conduct themselves in any measurable way decent. The business may have changed hands but their failure to respond to such a backlog of customers means I'm not likely to see results for a while. I called my bank and had them dispute the charges, in my experience its faster than getting obstinant deadbeat vendors to take satisfactory action. So this time, a little wiser I combed review sites looking for a reputable dealer and found good reviews for Four winds nursery. They appear to have been around for a while and their customers hold them in fairly good regard. Lesson Learned. Hopefully my trees will be here this weekend.
The old vendor by the way is growquest, they now operate under the name olivetrees.net. And without some kind of acknowledgement from the new owners of changes to the business practices, I wouldn't trust them any farther than I could throw a deeply rooted, 1,000 year old olive tree (which I hear are quite heavy).
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
clinical trials
ok, maybe not that official.
YesterdayI started coming down with the flu. How do I know its the flu? I've been sick enough times with it that I can see it coming from a mile away. The pain the the lower back, achy and sensitive skin, low grade fever, chills...general malaise. You get the picture. Anyway, I absolutely could not have picked a worse time to get sick. Tomorrow I go in for LASIK surgery. Given that the flu is a virus, you pretty much have to let your body do the fighting (not like a bacterial infection where you might actually need antibiotics). I have been rather hesitant to try home remedies or herbals I guess for no other reason other than I am a walking granola stereotype as is, and I just figured that would be the last straw. Granted I had tried echinacea in one case, as a preventative, though its hard to say if it was effective. I didn't get sick, but then again I might not have anyway.
But desperate as I was, I did a little research and found a combination that seemed to be recommended for flu. So after work I stopped by the local "hippie shop" as my wife calls it and picked up a bottle of echinacea extract and a bottle of elder extract. Took a dose of each as soon as I got home, and made myself a cup of chamomile tea (which I didn't realize until reading this morning was also medicinally relevant, I just like the taste). I've been taking additional doses at the recommended intervals and I have to admit, I feel about 70% better in less than 24 hours. Well enough in fact that despite going to bed thinking I was dying, I felt I could go to work today. For me that is unheard of. When I get the flu, I am out for days.
Sure this is entirely anecdotal, but it made a believer out of this guy
YesterdayI started coming down with the flu. How do I know its the flu? I've been sick enough times with it that I can see it coming from a mile away. The pain the the lower back, achy and sensitive skin, low grade fever, chills...general malaise. You get the picture. Anyway, I absolutely could not have picked a worse time to get sick. Tomorrow I go in for LASIK surgery. Given that the flu is a virus, you pretty much have to let your body do the fighting (not like a bacterial infection where you might actually need antibiotics). I have been rather hesitant to try home remedies or herbals I guess for no other reason other than I am a walking granola stereotype as is, and I just figured that would be the last straw. Granted I had tried echinacea in one case, as a preventative, though its hard to say if it was effective. I didn't get sick, but then again I might not have anyway.
But desperate as I was, I did a little research and found a combination that seemed to be recommended for flu. So after work I stopped by the local "hippie shop" as my wife calls it and picked up a bottle of echinacea extract and a bottle of elder extract. Took a dose of each as soon as I got home, and made myself a cup of chamomile tea (which I didn't realize until reading this morning was also medicinally relevant, I just like the taste). I've been taking additional doses at the recommended intervals and I have to admit, I feel about 70% better in less than 24 hours. Well enough in fact that despite going to bed thinking I was dying, I felt I could go to work today. For me that is unheard of. When I get the flu, I am out for days.
Sure this is entirely anecdotal, but it made a believer out of this guy
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Full Circle
Well we're back to where we started on this one: windowsills. The first winter resident moves in. Hyssop...or soapwort, they both have the same leaf shape and until it gets biggerI won't be able to tell if it has an upright habit (hyssop) or prostrate (soapwort) I really should label when I start two similar looking plants shouldn't I. I've got some more st. johns wort, feverfew, and I forget what else that can come to work. Starting perennials in winter worked fantastically well for me last year, I believe I had a close to 100% survival rate in the ground. No waiting for them to catch up to the weeds. As soon as the soil was decent, they were in and already dominating the scene.
As much as I love vegetable gardening (and I still say landscaping with your stomach is the way to go) There is something intrinsically beautiful and mysterious about setting up a miniature ecosystem of sorts that renews itself each year without human intervention. Odd how that as winter comes and producing food becomes impossible (this year at least) My thoughts tend to drift on the elements of my grand plan which have little to do with eating. I still have plenty of space to fill in the "sanctuary"and I dream of the day when I will have to do for the rest of the flora what I did for the sage this year...that is trim and tie and otherwise make room for its neighbors.
This may be entirely too crunchy for the room but there is a certain visceral joy after spending 8 hours under florescent lights that one gets with just a few moments in nature or a reasonable facsimile thereof. Be it the smell of the creeping thyme and lavender, or the occasional nibble of basil or lemon balm. I will miss that during the winter, but spending time improving the experience will make it worthwhile.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
pooly lit and out of focus
I thought you'd never ask
An heirloom cherry tomato plant which seems to be doing rather well. (and my first attempt at container gardening btw.)
As you can see the little bitty buds have turned into some serious pawpaw leaves.
..
The coneflower (echinacea) getting ready to flower
The valerian you may remember from my office pictures in its permanent home, after some initial dieback it is doing rather well near the weeping cherry.
It appears I will have a bumper crop of swiss chard seed, anyone want to trade?
This is the caribe potatoes flowering. Soon my pretties, soon you will make creamy delicious tubers, and then...then we feast! muahahahahah
the kiwi vine after I headed back all but the strongest shoot. Now the plant will be putting all of its energy into making this one climb. And if the current rate of growth is any indication, It ought to reach the top before fall. This one is the female vine, the male vine is being lazy right now, only about 3 inches of growth.
My wife loves petunias, practically to the exclusion of all other plant life...kidding. Anywho I cant take credit for this one, its her work. There are petunias in there, a vinca I think, and some kind of ornamental grass. Bottom line, I can't eat it...Looks nice though doesn't it?
STAY AWAY FROM MY SQUASH! This here is the ultimate in IPM, although with a massive carbon footprint...actually a massive footprint period.
Absinthe anyone? In a matter of about a week this little wormwood plant went from being barely able to fill a one gallon pot to tripling in size. Looks great, the foliage filled in nicely.
And lastly, my attempt to suppress weeds with a rapidly growing, tight planting appears to be moderately successful. That is flax, and you can see where the grass stops right at its edge. A few strays have crept in, but the spot (which is larger than this little corner) has stayed pretty clear. And yes I need to do something about where the cedar chip path meets the edge, we just havent decided what to do with it.
An heirloom cherry tomato plant which seems to be doing rather well. (and my first attempt at container gardening btw.)
As you can see the little bitty buds have turned into some serious pawpaw leaves.
..
The coneflower (echinacea) getting ready to flower
The valerian you may remember from my office pictures in its permanent home, after some initial dieback it is doing rather well near the weeping cherry.
It appears I will have a bumper crop of swiss chard seed, anyone want to trade?
This is the caribe potatoes flowering. Soon my pretties, soon you will make creamy delicious tubers, and then...then we feast! muahahahahah
the kiwi vine after I headed back all but the strongest shoot. Now the plant will be putting all of its energy into making this one climb. And if the current rate of growth is any indication, It ought to reach the top before fall. This one is the female vine, the male vine is being lazy right now, only about 3 inches of growth.
My wife loves petunias, practically to the exclusion of all other plant life...kidding. Anywho I cant take credit for this one, its her work. There are petunias in there, a vinca I think, and some kind of ornamental grass. Bottom line, I can't eat it...Looks nice though doesn't it?
STAY AWAY FROM MY SQUASH! This here is the ultimate in IPM, although with a massive carbon footprint...actually a massive footprint period.
Absinthe anyone? In a matter of about a week this little wormwood plant went from being barely able to fill a one gallon pot to tripling in size. Looks great, the foliage filled in nicely.
And lastly, my attempt to suppress weeds with a rapidly growing, tight planting appears to be moderately successful. That is flax, and you can see where the grass stops right at its edge. A few strays have crept in, but the spot (which is larger than this little corner) has stayed pretty clear. And yes I need to do something about where the cedar chip path meets the edge, we just havent decided what to do with it.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Surprises Blooms and miscellany
Well as predicted, first the flowers then the pea pods (I know what a daring amount of foresight) They are still young and could be eaten whole, I am tempted to take a nibble now, but I prefer the plump sweet gems inside, so I'll wait.
The potato forest (actually its only about 40 square feet, but it looks impressive from this angle doesn't it.)
Blurry as it is this one deserves inclusion for one reason. I never planted it, in fact I haven't grown strawberries in 3 years. It is growing in the raspberry patch and I mistook it for such until I got a closer look at the flowers one day. Where it came from I don't know but this is probably the most unlikely and welcome "volunteer" I have encountered. Sure there may only be a couple berries but I take it more as a sign from someone somewhere that this whole project is moving in the right direction.
Speaking of raspberries...I got a couple canes from a friend when he moved into his new house and they were taking over the property. I had no idea that raspberries were biennial so I mowed every year. Well after actually taking the time to read about them (after I mowed them again). They are biennials. First comes the primocane straight up from the ground, then next year the floricanes branch out and fruit the second year. Well I thought I had ruined my chances this year but apparently there was a bit of a stump left on one and it fruited!
The first nasturtium flower of the year about a day after its prime, and a minute before I ate it.
My salad bowl as I like to call it. Lettuce up front, a second crop of radishes and carrots, some pole beans for the trellis (third generation kentucky wonders, the first seed I ever saved) and a lone cucumber survivor. We had a freakinsh swing of weather from cold to hot and dry right around the time they were transplanted and the other one succumbed to the nasty conditions.
The garden as it stands now. (You can actually see the tomato plants next to the potatoes now, they took about a week to get used to that spot but they are rolling now.)
Lavender starting to bloom (a tad earlier than I remember from last year)
Yes fennel does bolt, and it looks like this
Feverfew that lives between the lavender bush is starting to flower (and I didn't get a picture, but I picked about half a cup of chamomile flowers and the plants are still covered. Not bad for only 3 plants)
The potato forest (actually its only about 40 square feet, but it looks impressive from this angle doesn't it.)
Blurry as it is this one deserves inclusion for one reason. I never planted it, in fact I haven't grown strawberries in 3 years. It is growing in the raspberry patch and I mistook it for such until I got a closer look at the flowers one day. Where it came from I don't know but this is probably the most unlikely and welcome "volunteer" I have encountered. Sure there may only be a couple berries but I take it more as a sign from someone somewhere that this whole project is moving in the right direction.
Speaking of raspberries...I got a couple canes from a friend when he moved into his new house and they were taking over the property. I had no idea that raspberries were biennial so I mowed every year. Well after actually taking the time to read about them (after I mowed them again). They are biennials. First comes the primocane straight up from the ground, then next year the floricanes branch out and fruit the second year. Well I thought I had ruined my chances this year but apparently there was a bit of a stump left on one and it fruited!
The first nasturtium flower of the year about a day after its prime, and a minute before I ate it.
My salad bowl as I like to call it. Lettuce up front, a second crop of radishes and carrots, some pole beans for the trellis (third generation kentucky wonders, the first seed I ever saved) and a lone cucumber survivor. We had a freakinsh swing of weather from cold to hot and dry right around the time they were transplanted and the other one succumbed to the nasty conditions.
The garden as it stands now. (You can actually see the tomato plants next to the potatoes now, they took about a week to get used to that spot but they are rolling now.)
Lavender starting to bloom (a tad earlier than I remember from last year)
Yes fennel does bolt, and it looks like this
Feverfew that lives between the lavender bush is starting to flower (and I didn't get a picture, but I picked about half a cup of chamomile flowers and the plants are still covered. Not bad for only 3 plants)
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Question
First a picture of the sage which finally decided to flower. 
now my question: Does fennel bolt? I Have two plants and it looks like both of them are doing just that! I thought it could be grown as a perennial.
now my question: Does fennel bolt? I Have two plants and it looks like both of them are doing just that! I thought it could be grown as a perennial.
Friday, April 18, 2008
parting shots
well its a bittersweet day, it is now warm enough to transplant most of the fine perennials who have been keeping me company in my office. Despite only really getting sun in the morning they appear to be doing well if a bit leggy. So farewell (left to right) purple basil, german chamomile, hyssop, stjohns wort, valerian, stjohns wort, mint. See you in the back yard.
whatever will I do without them in the office...I know, plant MORE!
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
adventures in chamomile
BTW I know this is faaaar to early, but does anyone have any good homemade tea recipes? I've got a few "tea" herbs growing but I have no idea about the proportions.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Ping Pong and puzzles
ping pong of course being the weather, 20 one day, 40 the next. The mint and valerian are doing well if you cant see the phone photo clearly.
the puzzle is lemon balm. Seems that the seed stock I have is succeptable to damping off. I have started it twice in the aerogarden and both times it has turned belly up a few days after sprouting. This to me makes little sense. I thought damping off was a soil born infection, wouldn't hydroponics by definition not allow for such a thing. Second, the aerogarden uses a single water reservoir for all the growing pods, so everyone shares the same water. But I have started a half dozen other seedlings during the same time, and none exibited any signs of damping off. No batch had any of the same species of seedlings, to avoid the possibility that perhaps something was antagonizing it. Even stranger still, chamomile was in the mix this time around. Chamomile tea is supposed to be a preventative for damping off, so I figured on a whim it might have some kind of positive effect. Nuthin, nada, zip. After a few days (I am still amazed with how quickly perennials germinate in this thing.) I see green baby leaves emerge, then die, then another seed germinates, wilts and dies and so on. I have started a couple seeds in sterile mix to test, but if those go belly up too then I am thinking that the seed itself is the culprit. If so I'm sure the company will give me a refund, but I'd rather have a Lemon Balm seedling. Oh well, a friend has offered a cutting if it doesn't work out.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Growing Challenge update
Well the expriment worked with the Aerogarden. No need to buy more grow plugs, just trim a piece off a piece of sea sponge you have lying around, drop a few seeds in and let the process begin anew. The Hyssop, Lemon balm and chamomile are all sprouted (in that order). So there is no concern about the larger texture of the sponge not providing sufficient capilary action to reach some very...very...annoyingly tiny seeds.
I'm still using the nutrient tablets that originally came with the kit but when that runs out I may try wastewater from the fishtank. Then maybe I can feel a little less guilty about still keeping a fishtank. The effectiveness of the water remains to be seen. N is easy to measure, but I haven't really looked for P and K test kits. There's no harm in topping the garden off with a little tank water and seeing how it does I suppose. Since most of the seedlings will barely have more than a taproot before I start moving them to flats and weather cooperating begin hardening them off I don't think a nutrient deficit will show. Once summer is in full swing I will try to grow a full lifecycle of an annual or two just to see the results...stay tuned.
The valerian, lavender, and mint are doing well in their new soil "apartments" a little too well in fact, The valerian is going to take over the counter. Its pretty obvious the light from the hood spills out in very sufficient quantities to keep adjacent plants growing well in a dim kitchen on the north side of a NY home. I may end up bringing the valerian and the mint to work and put them in my office window until spring.
Compost pile is still frozen...grrr. Wrapped a tarp around the lattice box frame, hopefully the slight thaw we had will be enough to trap some heat and restart the biological activity. Why is it you always end up with the best rinds, peels, "lettuce butts" etc, when the pile is running slow?
I guess phil saw his shadow so we have six more weeks of winter...or rather people a little further south have six more weeks of winter, I'd love to have only six weeks left....sigh.
I'm still using the nutrient tablets that originally came with the kit but when that runs out I may try wastewater from the fishtank. Then maybe I can feel a little less guilty about still keeping a fishtank. The effectiveness of the water remains to be seen. N is easy to measure, but I haven't really looked for P and K test kits. There's no harm in topping the garden off with a little tank water and seeing how it does I suppose. Since most of the seedlings will barely have more than a taproot before I start moving them to flats and weather cooperating begin hardening them off I don't think a nutrient deficit will show. Once summer is in full swing I will try to grow a full lifecycle of an annual or two just to see the results...stay tuned.
The valerian, lavender, and mint are doing well in their new soil "apartments" a little too well in fact, The valerian is going to take over the counter. Its pretty obvious the light from the hood spills out in very sufficient quantities to keep adjacent plants growing well in a dim kitchen on the north side of a NY home. I may end up bringing the valerian and the mint to work and put them in my office window until spring.
Compost pile is still frozen...grrr. Wrapped a tarp around the lattice box frame, hopefully the slight thaw we had will be enough to trap some heat and restart the biological activity. Why is it you always end up with the best rinds, peels, "lettuce butts" etc, when the pile is running slow?
I guess phil saw his shadow so we have six more weeks of winter...or rather people a little further south have six more weeks of winter, I'd love to have only six weeks left....sigh.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
So Far So Good
Two days ago I moved the mint from its spot in the aerogarden to a separate pot, and last night the valerian and lavender got their own winter homes too. Thus far they seem to be doing well, I have them sitting next to the aerogarden to share in some of the light that spills out. The question for my readers (both of you...) Can I just move them to a windowsill for the winter or do they need as much as they can get, given how early in their growth cycle they are.
BTW aerogarden offers a "master gardener kit" with "a year's worth" of foam plugs, plastic baskets, clear domes and nutrient tabs. Um...all I really need is replacement foam plugs and nutrients (eventually). And for almost 50 bucks? No way. I'll worry about nutrients when I run low, but for now I just cut up a piece of sea sponge and stuffed a couple seeds in it, I'll let you know how it works.
In the 3 empty spots are hyssop, chamomile and lemon balm.
BTW aerogarden offers a "master gardener kit" with "a year's worth" of foam plugs, plastic baskets, clear domes and nutrient tabs. Um...all I really need is replacement foam plugs and nutrients (eventually). And for almost 50 bucks? No way. I'll worry about nutrients when I run low, but for now I just cut up a piece of sea sponge and stuffed a couple seeds in it, I'll let you know how it works.
In the 3 empty spots are hyssop, chamomile and lemon balm.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Growing Challenge: preparations
I'd like to add a couple of seed sources I have done business with in the past who have been excellent.
First, (and where I get the majority) Southern Exposure Seed Exchange. I think every item is open pollinated, heirloom, and grows well in NYS despite the fact that they are a Virginia operation.
I have done well with Victory Seed Co. and Garden Medicinals and Culinary as well.
Being a part of the Growing Challenge was easy, I have sooo many new additions that only one seems like cheating.
Really for me this year involves two major goals:
1.) Implement a succession and intensive planting strategy based on the FANTASTIC "How to grow more vegetables..." book by John Jeavons.
2.) Turn the northwest corner of the backyard by the pond into a lush sanctuary of herbs (mostly perennial).
As it stands I have 3 lavender bushes, purple and white coneflower, rosemary (which might not survive the winter), garlic chives, and common sage. The north side of the pond has a dwarf ornamental cherry that was transplanted last year.
I have seed either here or in the mail for
Red Plantago, Fennel, Anise, Wormwood, Angelica, Basil (Genovese, Purple, and multicolor holy basil), German Chamomile, Valerian, Feverfew, St John's Wort, Black Cohosh, Mint, Creeping Thyme, and Lemon Balm.
I am looking for a good Butterflyweed to add as well. I understand that in addition to butterflies it attracts soldier beetles as well. I need the hired guns in a bad way. Every spring the hordes of cuccumber beetles descend upon my poor beds and lay waste to everything and anything curcurbit. I refuse to resort to insecticide, and I have seen the occasional soldier beetle near my sunflowers, so I am hoping the poor garden residents can hire some badass warriors to come and defend the crops a la The Seven Samurai. If that doesn't work I have some Amaranth I am going to plant too, I hear they like that.
And since I first wrote about the Aerogarden I have realized a major mistake...planting so early. I had terrible luck starting perrenials from seed historically and now they are growing too fast. I am going to need to move the Mint, Valerian and Lavender to small pots very soon as their roots are getting dangerously close to tangling. I will certainly update on how they take the move from hydroponic to soil.
First, (and where I get the majority) Southern Exposure Seed Exchange. I think every item is open pollinated, heirloom, and grows well in NYS despite the fact that they are a Virginia operation.
I have done well with Victory Seed Co. and Garden Medicinals and Culinary as well.
Being a part of the Growing Challenge was easy, I have sooo many new additions that only one seems like cheating.
Really for me this year involves two major goals:
1.) Implement a succession and intensive planting strategy based on the FANTASTIC "How to grow more vegetables..." book by John Jeavons.
2.) Turn the northwest corner of the backyard by the pond into a lush sanctuary of herbs (mostly perennial).
As it stands I have 3 lavender bushes, purple and white coneflower, rosemary (which might not survive the winter), garlic chives, and common sage. The north side of the pond has a dwarf ornamental cherry that was transplanted last year.
I have seed either here or in the mail for
Red Plantago, Fennel, Anise, Wormwood, Angelica, Basil (Genovese, Purple, and multicolor holy basil), German Chamomile, Valerian, Feverfew, St John's Wort, Black Cohosh, Mint, Creeping Thyme, and Lemon Balm.
I am looking for a good Butterflyweed to add as well. I understand that in addition to butterflies it attracts soldier beetles as well. I need the hired guns in a bad way. Every spring the hordes of cuccumber beetles descend upon my poor beds and lay waste to everything and anything curcurbit. I refuse to resort to insecticide, and I have seen the occasional soldier beetle near my sunflowers, so I am hoping the poor garden residents can hire some badass warriors to come and defend the crops a la The Seven Samurai. If that doesn't work I have some Amaranth I am going to plant too, I hear they like that.
And since I first wrote about the Aerogarden I have realized a major mistake...planting so early. I had terrible luck starting perrenials from seed historically and now they are growing too fast. I am going to need to move the Mint, Valerian and Lavender to small pots very soon as their roots are getting dangerously close to tangling. I will certainly update on how they take the move from hydroponic to soil.
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