Winter Harvests

Here's the list of what I planted:

Endive (received seeds at a RU)
Bronze Lettuce (received seeds at RU)
Parris Island Cos
Black Seeded Simpson (least tolerant of the cold and a bit on the flimsy side)
Craquerelle DuMidi
Kentucky Limestone
Lollo Rosso
Tango
Red Rapids
Grandpa Admire's
Buttercrunch

January King Cabbage
Monnopa Spinach

You can see pics of them on my blog, http://haphazardgardener.blogspot.com/2009/12/lettuce-bed-cole-crop-garlic.html

Stephanie thank you for sharing, I am always looking for new and interesting lettuces to plant and yours look really nice. I have only pklanted a couple of lettuce this year, my first year, the 4 seasons which I really like, some black seeded, nice flavor, but did not do too well in the container I planted it and iceberg A, I probably will not plant this one again since it takes a while to mature to a full head. By the way really nice website you have, I enjoyed looking at all your pictures very much.

This is the first year I've tried any type of gardening and have really enjoyed it, except for the squash vine borers (grrrr!). My DH and I have decided that we're going to convert a larger portion of our backyard to garden space. I've convinced him that by doing this, he'll have less yard to mow. ;) I'm so thankful that he's willing to get out and work in the yard with me and learn with me.

Here's today's harvest of lettuces. Salad anyone?

I'm happy for you. I think it's great when you can share interests, especially in something as wholesome and productive as gardening. You certainly had a load of beginner's luck it seems. I hope someone else gets your share of squash vine borers and mine too next year. That is a very appetizing photo. I wanted some lettuce tonight but it rained all day AGAIN.

Twiggy, the DH cleaned it all before it went in the fridge. His only complaint was there was too much dirt! LOL I told him that happens when you water the plants and grow things in the ground. LOL

Stephanie that is a beautiful picture, you certainly are growing a bunch of stuff, that's great you are going to increase the size of your gardening space. I am also in the process of doing that myself, just added another raise bed where I'll be transplanting my onions and cabbage as well, it is so easy to run out of room when you want to plant everything LOL.

Twiggy, yes I could not do anything yesterday either, because of the rain and also because for the last few days I've been having horrible headaches that just don't seem to want to go away, I think they might be migraines but I am not sure. I might have to go to the doctors if these headaches persist.

Steph,
I your DH available for rent?

The press is on starting tomorrow! I'll be in the yard ALL Day, or until I keel over, whichever comes first! And repeat that on Saturday. Got lots of WSing to do!

LOL Linda! If you only lived a bit closer, I'd rent him out! LOL

Carminator you've got onions growing? Wow! Please take the headaches seriously! My play Sister was just Dx with having a mini stroke. Not the real thing, but started with terrible headaches that wouldn't go away. Ended with someone noticing slurred speech. Then there was a blood red eyeball when she woke the next morning. Don't wait 2 go 2 de Doc!

I agree. Carmen mysterious headaches are not to be ignored for long. This is as good a time as any to get tuned up so go. By now you're stressing over it anyway.

Stephanie I'm like your DH about the dirt ....but the big search for the caterpillars is worse. The dirt washes off fairly easily but those hateful things cling. Mercifully, they haven't wanted my lettuce. I used two heads of pak choi a few days ago and only found one worm. That's one useful side to cold weather.

Twiggy, congrats on only finding one worm! I'm thinking of planting some kind of sacrificial plant for the worms to converge on, but I'm not sure what it's going to be.

Thank you guys for caring, yes I will go to the doctor to check it out, the headaches are practically gone now so I suspect it was just a very bad case of migranes, still if it is, I really would like something just in case it ever comes back again. It really is not fun getting sick when you have 2 little ones to take care of.

Twiggy I really have not had too many bugs bothering except for the aphids but I think I have them under controll now, although I did have some newly planted kale that has had a few leaves chewed up, probably a catterpillar but I can't seem to be able to find it when I look all over the plant, I've heard that earwigs can do a lot of damage as well and I have seen them in my raise beds.
We'll just have to prepare when the heat starts coming, this is going to be a war between the bugs and me.

Yesterday I made some compost slushie, a few banana peels, cooffee grounds and other peels and blend them with a little water, dig a hole and bury it in the raise bed, hopefully this will attract more beneficial worms.

Buggies are pretty much under control in the winter garden here. With the exception of a few loopers. I just check the greens well - lol. We've probably eaten our share of buggies... Spring brings on the aphids and all the other fun buggies - lol. I've seen a few green lacewings around the last week. It's been fairly nice here so hopefully I will have a lot of them hanging out this year along with lady bugs. They are aphid eating machines!

I just tried for the first time the white viena kolrabi, I sliced it into a salad, it was really good, actually to me it tasted more like cabage than cauliflower stem. The description sait not to let it grow more than 3 inches or it would get woody and not taste so good, approximately the size of a tennis ball I think. I also heard that the giant kinds don't get woody at all even though they grow huge, who knows maybe I'll try this ones next time and see.

On another note I am very dissapointed with my calabrese broccoli, the main heads were tiny and the side shoot even smaller, I will definetely start thinking of growing other types with bigger main heads and shoots, with my litmited space for growing I just can't grow veggies that produce so little.

Carminator1,
I DO understand about conserving our limited space! I got one nice-sized head from the Early Dividend and about 4-5 side shoots bigger than a tablespoon are ready to clip and eat as they're almost going to bloom. Gotta get some bigger heading broccolis next time.

Regarding the giant kohlrabis (8" diameter), I'll be ordering some for next season, and would be more than willing to share with ya'll. Ya'll LMK who wants to try some. Gotta find out if they're hybrids or heirlooms, so may consider saving seeds.

Linda

Linda - I'm surprised you didn't have better luck with the ED. That is my most prolific broccoli 2 years running. Huge main heads and I've been harvesting side shoots, some tennis ball sized, for a couple weeks now with more on the way...

Thank Linda I might take up up in the offer. I reallu need to try different one, would like a OP but if I don't find a good one I guess I'll have to go with the hybrids.

Kelly, wow I am so gelaous, I might try this one, but I wonder if it does as good when temps have been as crazy as we've had it in Mobile and also for what I hear in texas as well.

We have had only one day of sunshine in a whole week.

The temps were in the 70s last week, and by the first of this week they were down to 35.

The cole crops grow overnight in the freezing cold, then sit and wilt all day in the heat...
Sometimes, I turn the hose on 'em just to perk them up!

I am wondering, I just harvested the side shoots of my broccoli plants, they were probably the size is a nickel so not very big but I have to say they were delicious with some olive oil and garlic, anyways my question is, does the broccoli plant provide more side shoots or not? I am wondering because if not I shouls just pull the plants ot and plant something else instead.

If you don't see more little side shoots forming you can assume it's done and pull it. After I cut the main head I like to fertilize - it seems to kick the side shoots into high gear.

Early Dividend does well for me too. I'm still harvesting side shoots, but they're starting to get small now. They produce big heads and the first side shoots are big too, then each flush gets smaller till they're not worth messing with. I had side shoots from them last year till the first of May.
We have had 6 inches or more of rain in the last 24 hours.

Kelly thank you for the advice, actually I did not fertilize my plants much and I should, I used to make some worm compost tea but lately I have been very lazy and I have to separate the castings which takes time and effort, I guess next time I'll be better at it.

Calalily I just took a look at the plant files for the Early Divident it looks like a really good one, our weather is very similar I supose so maybe it will do well for me as well, I guess is just a matter of trying it. Boy I really need more raise beds I would have loved to start more broccoli plants now but unfortunately I have to plant other things in march so the broccoli wont be ready by then.

Calalily can you tell me a good reputable company that sells the early divident, I've been looking online but I am not familiar with any of the companies that are mentioned.

Also I have a silly newbie question when the package of seeds states that the plant matures in 60 days does that mean from the time you plant the seed or when you transplant the seedling into your veggie patch.

DTM is normally from germination (if direct seeded) or from transplant date, but that is really just a guideline.

Here's a post from Farmerdill in an older thread where we were talking about ED...

Kelly thank you so much, you told me exactly what I needed, I'll check those companies out, it just looks like a really good broccoli and I like the fact that it produces really quick.

So what you are saying is if the vegetable is for example radishes the DTM is from placing it directly in the ground but for example a tomato that takes 6 to 8 weeks for the transplant to be ready then the DTM starts when it is transplanted in the growund, right?

Boy kelly out of all the companies listed only 2 seem to carry this broccoli, one carries it in bulk cuantities and the other I think is twilley seems to carry it in smaller quantities, I wonder why the other companies discontinued carrying the seed.

I think this year I will try to order in quantity as it seems like some places are not carrying it... Hmmmmmm...

And it's a hybrid so you can't save seeds.

I might do the same, the seed if kept in good shape is suppose to last for 5 years.

It will last much longer than that if stored cool and dry I believe... If you find a good source for a good price on quantity let me know and maybe we can go halfers. I'll let you know if I find a good deal too.

Kelly that sounds like a good plan.

Carmin, we use modified raised beds, the sides are held up with straw. Here is a photo taken last year that shows the beds. We are still adding, never seem to have enough room.

Another seed company that sells in bulk is Jordan Seeds. They're easy to do business with. I can't remember if they have ED though.

Jordan's does not carry ED:o(

I was able to finaly find the seeds in vesseys but under sale items and not broccoli, I went ahead and got a package.

Calalily I absolutely love your raise bed system, if I had more land I would try doing it the same, does the straw hold the dirt together well? it tends to pour in here quite a bit so I am wondering if the dirt would go all over the place or if it would hold its shape.

I am in the process of building more raise beds, right now I only have 3 but can definetely fit more raise beds, my DH placed some posts in the middle of 2 of my raise beds where I want to put the 4th raise bed and I am having a hard time digging the posts out, he just placed them too deep and all I have is very hard compacted soil.

How does the modified bed work? Do you build up the bed, then use the hay as "sides" to hold the dirt in? Do you put hay down between the beds, too? This just fascinates me for some reason.

C - I currently have 108 sq ft of planting space in my beds and want more, more, more... I have a large yard but want to put in a pond and chickens as well as the veggies and some flowers...

Kelly, I am in the same boat. I have right now 96 sq ft, in the 3 raise beds, I want to at least build 3 more, and that will definetely give me more room, I might be able to squeeze some more than 6 but I still have to leave room for a playground for my kiddos to play in and also would love to build a small chicken coop as well, plus I have 2 dogs that need some room to roam and do their business. My backyard is slopped as well so about only 3/4 or it is usable to plant anything on, the rest just floods when we get rains. I would also love to plant a couple of fruit trees on the back yard or even front but I am always wondering how long we will be here and just don't want to invest a lot of $ if I can't be here to enjoy the fruit of my labor. I am looking to plant things that don't take a long time to produce, so far I only have a few blueberry bushes planted in the back because I was told that they produce fairly fast.

I need to start a thread about how we built the beds. I have started a photo album on our farm's facebook page, but it's not finished yet.
First we till the soil with a big tractor to a depth of about a foot. Then the beds are laid out with string line. The isles are dug and the soil from the isles is put on top of the bed to the left. The isle is filled with straw and as we walk on it, it kind of stays on the sides and makes a walking isle. The sides held up even when we got 6.5 inches of rain in one day. I did have one "washout" where I didn't get enough straw in the isle. After the straw gets mushed down in the middle of the isles, we fill them with wood chips from a friend's woodmill. No walnut shavings, only ash, poplar and oak. Once in place the beds are never tilled again. Compost is added before the first plantings and as needed each time the beds are replanted.
Here is a photo of Bud digging out the isles.

Calalily,
I've traveled around the world and seen many sights. I've stood at the Parthenon, looked down from the plateau onto the dazzlingly bright limestone of the city of Greece, and felt like my heart would burst at the beauty I was beholding.

Since I've been married, I haven't done any international traveling....

When I blew up the pic of your beds, my heart leapt and felt like it did when I beheld such wonderful sites in the world.

Job very well done. That is a beauty to behold!