Through the Garden Gate

Peas are Planted

2012-01-21T20:19:00.001-08:00

Peas and radishes planted today. Almost a month earlier than last year! I hope I planted enough!

A Visitor in the Garden

2011-06-26T23:10:00.000-07:00

This stunning dragonfly stopped by the garden yesterday perching on a tomato cage for several minutes.

Summer's Finally Here

2011-06-19T20:23:00.000-07:00

After spending all Saturday puttering in the garden, there’s not much to do there today. After a long absence from the blogosphere, here’s an update.

The harvest to date includes a few generous handfuls of snap peas, a dozen or so radishes, one turnip, quite a bit of albeit earwig-chewed, Swiss chard and at least four servings of green beans, though not all four were picked and enjoyed on the same day.

Harvest, May 11

Snap peas on the vine, May 24

Harvest, June 13

Harvest, June 18

First tomato, June 18

Acorn squash on the vine, June 18

Many of my ornamentals have begun flowering as well. I’ve got nasturtium, cosmos, coneflower and alyssum so far. The single sunflower that has bloomed though, I can’t take credit for. I am pretty sure it was “planted” by an industrious pair of scrub jays putting away a little something for leaner times. Several I actually sowed myself should begin flowering any day.

Sunflower, June 18

So my late-start attempt at cool weather gardening has been productive thanks to atypically low spring temperatures. Here in the northern San Joaquin Valley, gardening can easily be a year-round endeavor but I rarely get the gardening bug before its time to plant the hot-weather favorites like tomatoes, eggplant and peppers. And once they have exhausted themselves and started to wither, I too am drained from the due diligence needed to protect them from scorching temperatures. Truth be told, I typically start suffering garden fatigue in August.

The cooler weather lasting through June was an excellent opportunity to try growing some new things like the aforementioned snap peas. They did so well I was kicking myself for not planting more.

As for the heat-loving veggies that have been seemingly stagnate for what feels like months already, they are beginning to take off. I spotted the first tomato on a hybrid called Whopper last weekend and I’ve got one nubby little bell pepper.

The acorn squash making its first appearance in my garden has been somewhat disappointing, forming at least a dozen fruit which start out beautifully but have each begun to wither and fall from the vine.

A Productive Afternoon

2011-04-24T17:59:00.000-07:00

I busied myself in the garden most of Saturday after spending an hour exploring the Elk Grove Community Garden. After making a few purchases at the annual plant sale there, it was interesting to see what was going on in the plots of other gardeners. Most beds were empty, a testament to a late start to the summer vegetable gardening season. Only a few plots were winding down on winter crops. I saw beautiful chards, lettuces and onions. There were a few growers with peas and fava beans in their plots as well. Many had strawberries awakening from their winter naps. At the sale I picked up three tomato varieties and two perennial plants.

There was a wide variety of tomatoes to choose from however I was disappointed there were no descriptions of the many types I’d never heard of. Just as well I guess, since I tend to choose tomato transplants based on their names anyway. Here are the tomatoes I chose and descriptions and photos I mined from the internet:

Beauty Queen described as a good producer of very striped red and yellow fruit that have clearly defined markings much like Green Zebra. Small to medium in size beefsteak-shaped fruit have excellent flavor. These have proven to be very popular at farmer’s markets. Beauty Queen is a smaller version of Beauty King which arose in the fields of Brad Gates of Wild Boar Farms, Vacaville, CA.


Beauty Queen (web image)

A search for a variety labeled Lemon Oxheart yielded results for Giant Lemon Oxheart described as a gigantic glowing, pale yellow beefsteak fruit with a very sweet, good taste. It resists cracking and produces well.

Giant Lemon Oxheart (web image)

Williams Striped is a favorite at farmers' markets with large fruit weighing a pound or more. Fruits have beautiful red and yellow colors inside and out.

Williams Striped (web image)

I was lucky to pick up a couple of perennial divides to place out front. Santa Barbara Daisy has delicate white flowers, conserves water and attracts beneficial insects.

Santa Barbara Daisy (web image)

“Magic” Aster features purple daisy flowers during late summer and early fall. Relatively low maintenance it attracts butterflies and is a good cutting flower.

"Magic" Aster

And I got them all for just fifteen dollars. All except Beauty Queen have been transplanted. I ran out of room in the raised beds for Beauty Queen but plan to add it where there are currently radishes and perhaps where the peas are when they peter out.

I also placed two bell peppers in large containers and tried my luck with another round of flower seeds here and there. So far a I’ve got seedlings of Morning Glory, Nasturtium, Zinnia, Sweet Alyssum, and sunflowers scattered throughout the garden.

Nasturtium, sprouting outside a raised bed.

First Look

2011-04-24T17:43:00.000-07:00

Here it is: the first pea pod I've ever produced.

Pardon my excitement, but I can't help taking a virtual curtsy.

A little background: these were direct sown on February 12 and were off to a good start by three weeks later. These are Sugar Ann peas from Cornucopia and are ready to harvest in "just 45 days," according to the package. It's been more like double that and there are hardly enough to "harvest" but I am proud of them nonetheless.

More from the seed packet: All-America Selections Winner, Early, Sweet, Edible-Pod Type, Disease Resistant, Bush Plants Require Little Support. It advises harvesting when pods are 2-1/2 inches long, plump and snap like a bean. Time to get out the ruler!

Any other Zone 9 gardeners have experience with peas? I'd love to hear your stories. In mild climates like ours, I understand they can be grown during the fall and winter as well as spring.

More About Peas and a Newfound Garden Geek

2011-04-18T23:15:00.000-07:00

Here's a picture of the progress the peas have made. They are about a foot tall and as I mentioned in a previous post, they have begun to flower.

Sugar Ann Snap Peas

This variety is said not to need trellising but I opted to put one in place anyway and their tiny tendrils have happily begun grabbing on to it. I've never grown peas before. An attempt last season failed miserably with zero percent germination, so this is exciting. I mistakenly thought these were shelling peas but rather they are snap peas which means you eat the pod and all. I'm looking forward to how they turn out.

I also wanted to shout out to a Sacramento area garden blogger who I recently met here in cyberspace. I fondly refer to her as a fellow-garden geek. I hope she is not offended. It's just nice to run into others who share my passion for gardening. So if you're looking to learn more about Zone 9 gardening, head over to not my job and tell Kelly "Hi," for me!

Coming Along

2011-04-18T22:47:00.000-07:00

All mine for less than fifteen bucks.

Even though temps have not stabilized and are still quite frankly a wee on the cool side, I couldn’t resist a trip to Capital Nursery. And that meant naturally, I couldn’t resist buying a few things. I didn’t get crazy and I got out of there spending less than fifteen bucks. Here’s what I took home:

Beefmaster tomato

Whopper tomato

Acorn Squash

Chives

Cilantro

Blue Lake Bush Beans

Saturday I gave them all permanent homes in a bed I have had to cat-proof with bright orange temporary fencing I had lying around. I had read in The Bee’s Garden Detective column that wire poultry netting would discourage cats from digging. I avoided the expense and made do with what I had. There isn’t any evidence in the bed to date that the cat has been back. However, this morning I noticed a recycling bin I’ve used as a container planter had been marauded. The few tiny scallions I managed to sprout there are done for. It seems I’ll have to cat proof all my containers as well. For smaller planters and even one of the raised beds, I “planted” bamboo kabob skewers to discourage digging.

Unsightly but cat-proof.

Both tomatoes are hybrids. I don’t intentionally plant only heirlooms but it seems most of my past tomato choices were. It will be interesting to see if these varieties yield better.

Acorn squash is making its debut appearance in my garden this year. I hope I’ve allotted it enough room. I could easily plant three more 4’ by 8’ beds in addition to the two I already have. The main thing holding me back is the uneven ground but I think we could overcome that without too much trouble. I smell a weekend project coming on.

Cilantro and chives are two of my favorite herbs. I have one cilantro plant that I direct sowed but will easily make use of both.

Tomato: Beefmaster.

Tomato: Whopper.

Making its debut: Acorn Squash

Even with all that, I still long for more to do in the garden. Every spring I get the fever and this year is no exception.

Saturday I'm planning to attend the Elk Grove Community Garden's annual plant sale. It is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. I can't wait. Maybe I'll see you there?

Chives

Slowly But Surely

2011-04-14T17:32:00.000-07:00

Baby Arugula harvested yesterday

Day by day a little bit is happening in the garden. Here’s an update.

Harvested

To date we have harvested a few radishes and a few arugula leaves. Radishes have been maturing at a rate of two to three at a time. These are usually washed and eaten straight from the garden. I love radishes. The arugula was added to a store bought salad mix on two occasions. Both were planted Feb. 12.

Progress

The peas planted the same day are several inches high and are starting to flower. I’m glad it hasn’t heated up too much since these do better in cooler temperatures. A single cilantro plant is coming along slowly. A few scallions are peeking through the soil.

The jalapeno, green bell pepper and okra plants I bought in two-inch peat pots at Home Depot about two weeks back are in the ground and look healthy. They aren’t showing signs of growth yet probably due to the cooler weather. Though it was still early for warm season vegetables, at 98 cents each, I couldn’t resist them.

Returning Purple and White Coneflower perennials are adding leaves almost daily.

Thai Basil, Little Prince Eggplant, Lemon and Armenian cucumber that were sown March 21 have all sprouted in the makeshift greenhouse. These went in on one of the few warm days we had with temperatures in the 70s. Since then, highs have been consistently lower.

Additions

On April 4 I direct sowed the following:

Mammoth Russian and Strawberry Blonde sunflowers

Royal Carpet Alyssum

French Dwarf Double Mixed Colors Marigold

Cherries Jubilee Mounding Nasturtiums

Purple and White Coneflower

Purple Prince Zinnia

Dwarf Cherry Rose Nasturtium

Easter Egg Rainbow Radishes

Garden Babies Container Butterhead Lettuce

Purple Top White Globe Turnip

The flower seeds were sown in the corners and along the outer edges of two raised beds. The vegetables went into one of the 4’ by 8’ raised beds and a few conatiners. Spacemaster Cucumber and Bush Snap Green Beans were sown in 2-inch peat pots and placed in the "greenhouse." Everything but the Marigolds and Nasturtium have sprouted.

Two days later, on the April 6, I started the following seeds in small peat cups (most were purchased during previous growing seasons):

Purity White and Candy Stripe Cosmos

Purple Prince and Envy Zinnia

Cilantro

Italian Parsley

Lemon, Dolce Vita Blend and Genovese basils

Bush Blue Lake Snap Beans

Jalapeno, New Mex and Ancho peppers

Long Island Mammoth Dill

Bell Pepper

White Swan Coneflower

As of today, only the zinnia and cosmos have sprouted. They are currently being housed in a black seed germinating tray with a clear plastic lid which keeps the peat cups warm overnight.

I’m thinking this weekend would be a good time to start checking out warm season transplants at Capital Nursery and Green Acres. This cool weather won’t continue much longer. What do you think?

Makeshift Greenhouse

2011-03-21T20:12:00.000-07:00

I’m not sure where I read about this, either in a gardening magazine or online, but it was so clever I couldn’t wait to try it out. I call it my Bed-in-a-Bag Greenhouse. How lucky was it that I was in the market for a new comforter during seed starting season? Seeds started this afternoon included:

Summer Squash: Goldtender/Burpee 2010

Summer Squash: Fordhook Zucchini/Burpee 2010

Cucumber: Armenian Burpless/Botanical Interests 2010

Cucumber: Bush Champion/Burpee 2010

Cucumber: Lemon/Lake Valley Seed 2006

Okra: Clemson Spineless/Cornucopia/2011

Eggplant: Little Prince/Renee’s Garden 2011

Watermelons: Rainbow Sherbet/Renee’s Garden 2011

Thai Basil: Queenette/Renee’s Garden Seeds 2011

Naturtiums: Cherries Jubilee/Renee’s Garden Seeds 2011

I hadn’t intended to purchase more seeds but during a trip to OSH to pick up seed starting mix I could not resist the temptation.

I’m excited to start Thai basil, I haven’t tried it from seed before.

This will also be my first attempt at growing eggplant from seed. The variety, Little Prince, is a container type and was recommended by another gardener shopping for seeds today. Fingers crossed. I had seen a sign for a miniature eggplant at a nursery last year but sadly, the stock had been sold out.

Okra will be making its first appearance in my garden this year if all goes as planned.

But the watermelon seed purchase was a disappointment as there were only about 10 seeds included. At $2.99 a package I would expect a few more seeds. According to the package there should have been three varieties of fruit but it appeared to only contain seeds for two types: Yellow Doll which bears yellow-fleshed melons and New Orchid an orange fruit bearing variety. Tiger Baby, which produces pink fruited melons, was missing. The seeds are dyed for identification purposes.

While three types of cucumber may seem excessive to some our family should have no problem putting each to good use as my youngest son likes to eat them out of hand straight off the vine and I am a fan of chilled cucumber soup, tzatziki and cucumber in my tabouleh.

I also poked a few more pea, turnip and chard seeds into the raised bed I started back on February 12 and added a few more sweetpea seeds to a large container. In the corners of the bed I sowed seeds of several types of cosmos and a zinnia. There wasn’t much else to be done since the yard was so muddy from all the recent rain. Navigation was not only messy but precarious in spots.

New today in the garden were a couple of cilantro sprouts I had direct sowed last month. Cilantro is difficult to grow here in summer due to blistering heat but the variety I chose is billed as slow-bolting.

PEAS PLEASE! A Winter Garden Update

2011-03-13T16:37:00.000-07:00

It’s so exciting to see progress in the winter garden. While I could have started earlier, I managed to get several types of seeds planted on Saturday, February 12 without making any new seed purchases.

Of all the seeds I set out four weeks ago, the sugar snap peas have been most successful. There are many strong sprouts with multiple leaf sets.

Here’s the update on the rest: the Swiss chard, one row over from the peas only has a few tiny sprouts that look rather weak.

The turnips the next row over have shown good germination with decent size sprouts albeit a small amount of insect damage. I have surrounded each sprout with finely crushed egg shells to discourage snails.

Speaking of eggs, the Easter Egg Rainbow radishes purchased in 2006 appear to have a 100 percent germination rate while the Cherry Belle radishes purchased last year showed a disappointing 0 percent. Curiously surprising as the cherry belle are described on the package as “one of the earliest radishes.” The rainbow radishes were planted in a large pot, the others in the raised bed so perhaps warmer soil in the pot made the difference. In which case, there may be hope for the cherry belles?

Out of a full row of carrots planted, a mere two seeds have germinated within only a millimeter of each other. Disappointing.

There are a few spindly scallions appearing but I am hopeful.

A few sweet pea flower seeds have sprouted however there is evidence of animal – most likely cat – damage. It appears something has been digging in the pot. In the past, neighborhood cats have used our raised beds and pots as a litter box. Very disgusting, not to mention dangerous as cat feces often carries toxins.

In the half wine barrel where I scattered various lettuce seeds, many are emerging with the arugula making the strongest showing. Others planted there include butter crunch, iceberg and salad bowl types.

All received a serving of fish emulsion on Saturday. It’s great to be out in the garden again. What follows is a list of seeds planted including the manufacturer and year issued of each.

Container Lettuce: Garden Babies Butterhead/Renee’s Garden 2008

Rainbow Radishes: Easter Egg II/Renee’s Garden 2006

Windowbox Sweet Peas: Color Palette Cupid/Renee’s Garden 2010

Looseleaf Lettuce: Salad Bowl/Burpee 2008

Head Lettuce: Iceberg/Cornucopia 2010

Arugula: Rocket/Burpee 2010

Head Lettuce: Buttercrunch/Cornucopia 2010

Carrot: Variety Unknown/Seeds of Joy 2007/08

Carrot: Red Cored Chantenay/Ferry-Morse 2010

Radish: Cherry Belle/Ferry-Morse 2010

Turnip: Purple Top White Globe/Ferry-Morse 2010

Swiss Chard: Large Ribbed Dark Green/Ferry Morse 2010

Basil: Genovese/Burpee 2009

Cilantro: Slow-Bolt/Renee’s Garden 2008

Chives: Common/Burpee 2009

Pea: Sugar Ann/Cornucopia 2010

Scallion: White Lisbon Bunching 2010

Seed Sowing Update

2010-04-14T17:16:00.000-07:00

It has been two months since I direct sowed carrots, two types of lettuce, radishes and turnips. Sadly only the turnips are thriving.

Not a single carrot seed germinated and neither did the Iceberg lettuce. (I chose this variety only to appeal to my eldest son who has extremely limited food preferences.) While some of the Buttercrunch lettuce sprouted, it was quickly consumed by, oh slugs, birds, earwigs... (choose your favorite).

As for the radishes, well several came up but only about four have approached maturity. Most of them just quit growing and were these sad, thin, tiny things that I pulled and were later tossed by my husband who thought they were trash.

Needless to say, I am disheartened by this exercise, one of my first in direct sowing. I have also had miserable luck getting my Sugar Ann Peas to sprout, failing on two accounts. What is disappointing is that each of these are considered cool weather vegetables. Even my Sweet Peas seem stagnant after growing to only about two inches.

I hate to rush Mother Nature but I am getting itchy for some real action in the garden.

Ethel Glove Update

2010-04-14T16:38:00.000-07:00

Last March I entered a drawing for a pair of Ethel Gloves. Due to a staff changeover I only received them in February. I am happy to report that despite the delay, these gloves have lived up to my expectations. Tailored specifically for women, they fit well, which means I actually wear them. In the past poor fit often meant I didn't bother with gloves. They are good-looking, come in several design patterns and appear to be durable. I'm looking forward to using them for a long time. Priced at $20 they seem like a good value.

Adventures with Herbs

2010-04-10T19:16:00.001-07:00

One of my goals this season is to make better use of the culinary herbs that are thriving in my garden. I started this bed in 2008. Originally it contained a lemon basil, which of course is annual so it is long gone. In this photo the rosemary, oregano and marjoram are sprawling. Last year I grew some thyme in the bare spot on the right. Thyme apparently needs more attention than the other herbs, or at least more water, because it now, is also long gone. This year I'm planning on starting thyme from seed but I think I will fill the bare spot with sage, another hardy perennial herb. Currently, the garden includes a potted sage that has flourished there a few years.

In an effort to use these beautiful herbs, I prepared Sage Butter to serve over cheese raviolis earlier this week. I found the recipe in Silver Spoon, said to be "Italy's bestselling culinary bible." It's not much of a recipe actually. You simply melt 7 tablespoons butter over low heat and add about 15 fresh sage leaves as soon as the butter starts to color, then season with salt. When the leaves are crisp, remove them from the pan and serve. I must admit I was too impatient to wait for the leaves to crisp, and I did not brown the butter or add salt, but we enjoyed the dish nonetheless. The butter was delicately infused with fresh sage flavor for a mild sauce, the kind we prefer over raviolis in order to actually taste the cheeses inside.

A quick internet search yielded other versions of the recipe, some included shallot, lemon juice, ground black pepper and even garlic.

Red Admiral on California Redwood

2010-04-09T15:37:00.000-07:00

Wow. Another unusual butterfly sighting in my very own backyard. I'm not sure if I just happen to be noticing them more or if there actually are more this year. I say unusual because ordinarily I see the more common Monarch variety here in this neck of the woods. This one alit on a California Redwood for several minutes on Thursday just before 6 p.m. This afternoon I glimpsed what looked like a couple of Monarchs passing through the yard. Neither sat and stayed awhile, so no photo.

Limitations of Spring: Weather, Slugs

2010-04-05T20:06:00.000-07:00

With hail in the forecast last week I was glad I hadn’t invested too much effort or cash into this year’s garden. To protect the few tender seedlings that I had already put in the ground, I placed a few “cloches,” fashioned from recycled plastic drink bottles, over them. The hail never materialized but we have had high winds and heavy rains the past few days. Above is a 5-inch green bean seedling in its plastic housing.

Of course wet weather means snails and slugs are on the prowl. I never have good luck with greens. What few butter head lettuce seedlings that sprouted in the half wine barrel appear to have succumbed to the slimy pests. I can’t figure out where they hide during the day. Could they possibly climb the height of the barrel then commute back down under it at dawn? It seems like quite a haul, and it’s not like I can just tip it up and casually peek under. It weighs about a ton. Or, could this be the result of marauding birds? These two pictures were taken only days apart.

Whatever the culprit, they are ruthless. Here is a small arugula seedling I placed a berry basket over. Notice the damage on the protruding portion of the tiny leaf? Someone’s been sampling.

During a dry spell Saturday, I got to work on some seed starts for succession planting. Here is a photo of what I am calling my pop-bottle “greenhouse.”

Western Tiger Swallowtail on 'Bowles Mauve' Erysimum

2010-03-28T17:12:00.000-07:00

Impatiently Waiting

2010-03-28T14:23:00.000-07:00

While the weather this afternoon is a pleasant 73 degrees here in the northern tip of California's Central Valley, the summer gardening season isn't quite in full swing.

Hot weather veggies like tomatoes and peppers, both the sweet and hot varieties, won't begin to flourish for a few more weeks at least when temperatures remain warm at night as well as at mid-day.

Mild weather has helped a few seedlings I've planted to germinate but the growing is slow. Daily progress is barely noticeable and I am eager for the days when plants like summer squash seemingly double in size over night. Until then, I am anxiously waiting.

Pictured are seedlings of both green and yellow summer squash, green beans, Armenian cucumbers, cosmos and nasturtiums. I've also had luck sprouting zinnias, sunflowers, alyssum, arugula, butter lettuce and turnips.

This year I hope to fulfill my resolution to keep the garden going year-round and pursue more cool-weather crops come fall.

Best-Ever Seed Tape

2010-02-14T15:20:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I got out into the garden for the first time this season. Trying not to be discouraged by the weeds surrounding my raised beds I got busy making and planting home-made seed tapes. I had seen the idea in Organic Gardening magazine and was eager to try it out. If successful it should eliminate the need to thin seedlings, a chore that seems so counter productive to me. Seed tapes are ideal for small seed crops like carrots, radishes and lettuces.

I planted two types of lettuce, Iceberg and Buttercrunch; Cherry Belle radishes and Red Cored Chantenay carrots in rows in one raised bed. Before doing so I sprinkled and mixed in some Plant Tone plant food.

In large containers, I direct-sowed Purple Top White Globe turnip, Sugar Ann peas and a container variety of Sweet Peas. I also assembled indoor starts of three varieties of Southwestern chiles: 'Sierra Fuego' Jalapeno, 'Joe Parker' New Mex and 'San Luis' Ancho.

Follow this link to OG for directions to make your own seed tapes:
Best-Ever Seed Tape

First Bounty

2009-07-29T17:37:00.000-07:00

We have been enjoying the fruit of our labor in the vegetable garden enjoying our yellow squash, basil and green beans. But the biggest news is that I picked a few ripe tomatoes last evening. The number of green fruits is amazing, I think we'll do much better than last year in terms of yield. Above all else this is what we look forward to all summer -- fresh, organically home-grown tomatoes.

We've enjoyed our squash grilled and also fried in EVOO with fresh basil and Parmesan. We've had steamed green beans with a little butter and also in a pasta salad. There was pesto pizza and creamy pesto raviolis. Tonight's menu includes the first ratatouille of the season with just-picked eggplant, squash and basil. But I can't wait for the BLTs, Caprese salads and salsas yet to come.

Finally Fruit!

2009-06-14T13:12:00.000-07:00

While slightly out of focus it is still ample proof that we are finally getting tomatoes. I know many California gardeners both in the north and south who have already had tomatoes starting to ripen and in some cases ready for harvest, we got a later start. I was trying to be patient and heed expert advice to wait until the soil was indeed warm enough for setting out the garden. (I almost never wait this late -- we planted May 10 -- but with the late rains, things didn't get going as fast as I would have liked.)

With the recent weeks of almost coastal-like weather we've been having, I have been seeing more tomato blossoms fall than set. Skies have been partly cloudy for more than a week, temperatures have remained about 10 degrees below normal only reaching the low 80s and a 10 mph breeze blows throughout most of the day.

So this morning I was pleasantly surprised while taking a look at how things are progressing to find this specimen, about one-inch in diameter, it is a Mr. Stripey. Further inspection resulted in a find of two smaller fruits on the Shady Lady. I had resigned myself to not seeing fruit until temperatures were well back into the normal range of upper 80s to low 90s.

With the weather expected to heat up late in the week I am hoping for many more similar sightings. Now I just have to figure out how to keep those pesky scrub jays away once they begin turning red.

Of Cucumbers, Radishes, Carrots and Sunflowers

2009-06-10T16:44:00.001-07:00

I mentioned last post that the cucumber had set fruit. These are Spacemaster, a bush variety that I have planted in an old recycling tub.

This week the lettuce and alleged spinach made it into the compost bin and carrots and radish seeds went in their pots. The carrots are Romeo Round Baby Carrots, radishes are Easter Egg II Rainbow. Not sure if it may be too warm for these crops so it's definitely an experiment.

A watermelon seed I had planted earlier that hadn't germinated came up near the bell pepper I put in its place. I gently dug it up and placed it in a tiny pot but I'm not sure I have room or a sunny enough location for it.

There are lots of zinnia and cosmo seeds coming up and I am diligently attempting to keep the birds and snails away from them by keeping overturned berry baskets over them until they get big enough to defend themselves.

I am eagerly awaiting germination of of the sunflower seeds, a Mammoth variety, that I finally planted after deliberating where to put them. I was hoping to find another packet of Strawberry Blonde sunflowers that I planted last year. I purchased them at Target but didn't see any when I looked there yesterday. I may try another Target store because these are very pretty, described on the package as "a beautiful soft lemon yellow brushed with rose-pink." A few seeds I had left over went into the ground earlier this year but either did not emerge or were taken by snails. Unfortunately, I never did get a photo of these in bloom last year.

Garden Update

2009-06-05T18:17:00.000-07:00

The vegetable garden is thriving even after a late-season storm early Thursday morning that dumped nearly a half inch of icy rain. Typically Sacramento’s rainy season is October through April so this was different for us. This storm was also unusual in that it included nearly continuous lightening flashes and thunder so loud it shook the windows and activated car alarms all over town. Primarily I was worried it might hail. So when I heard a heavy downpour shortly after midnight I went outside to feel the precipitation. It had a slushy feel to it but I don’t believe we got hail in our area and the garden survived intact. A retired National Weather Service meteorologist described the event as “the most impressive display of lightening I have ever seen,” according to The Sacramento Bee. The storm lasted at least two hours as I was awakened after 3 a.m. by similar storm characteristics.

All of our tomato plants have grown considerably since planting on May 10 (top photo). Heights of the plants range from 12 inches to about 27 inches (lower photo). All have blossomed as have all the pepper varieties, the eggplant, zucchini and cucumbers.

Green Beans!

2009-06-05T18:11:00.000-07:00

The green beans and the zucchini were the first to produce fruit. These are Derby, a bush variety I purchased as a nursery start.

Curiously Bitter Lettuce

2009-06-05T17:46:00.001-07:00

I haven’t had much luck growing lettuce. On April 12 I sowed some lettuce seeds in a large container. While several seeds germinated they began as compact heads and more recently have grown tall. The taste was so bitter I couldn't even swallow it.

I know this is a common problem especially in areas where temperatures can soar well into the 90-degree range – and we’ve had a few days in the upper 90s already. I think I’m giving up on lettuce for now. There are so many great varieties available at local stores.

The variety I planted is Salad Bowl from Burpee. As you can see by the picture it is beginning to bolt. I plan to compost it this weekend.

Curious Spinach

2009-06-05T17:39:00.000-07:00

I planted spinach seeds this year for the first time. Curiously, what came up looks nothing like the picture on the packet. I chose Catalina, a baby-leaf spinach from Renee’s Garden. The illustration on the seed packet shows rounded smooth-edged leaves. What I have is definitely pointed at the top of each leaf with a more ragged edge. Could these seeds possibly have been mislabeled? Curiously, a variety called Summer Perfection shown on the company's website (just below the Catalina) looks more like what I have. I suppose it's possible the seeds found their way into the wrong packet.

Either way, it is bound for the compost bin as it was quite bitter tasting. Now I've just got to decide what to replant in the pot.

Tomato Steroids

2009-06-03T13:16:00.000-07:00

On Sunday while out doing some shopping I stopped by Capital Nursery to pick up some fish emulsion for the garden. In the past I have used this type of fertilizer exclusively with the exception of compost at planting time. But this year I spotted this adorable little bottle.

Earlier in the weekend I had asked a grower at the farmer's market what the secret is to growing Brandywines. He mentioned that often they grow lush foliage but few flowers. The secret he said, is calcium. While compost is excellent fertilizer he continued, it is very high in nitrogen which encourages foliage growth. Calcium is what helps tomatoes flower and therefore fruit, he said. I've also read that lack of calcium contributes to blossom-end rot, a problem I have confronted many times.

With this advice in mind I scoured the nursery shelves for a fertilizer that is easy to apply and was high in calcium. Most did not even list calcium as an ingredient. Dynamite Mater Magic was therefore my pick as it contains 4.5 percent calcium according to the product label. In a few days when the garden dries out from its last watering, I will apply the granular mix and top dress the garden with some fresh potting soil and water it in.

In the meantime, the cute bottle sits on the kitchen counter and my youngest son expounded incredulously the other day, "You bought tomato steroids, Mom?"

Speaking of basil...

2009-06-01T18:53:00.000-07:00

...one can never have enough. The leaves are great on turkey sandwiches, with good mozzarella and vine ripened tomatoes and of course in pesto on pasta. With just a few dollars left and a sack full of strawberries, blueberries, peaches, plums and apricots at the farmer's market Saturday, I picked up another basil start and a green bell pepper. The grower said an average bell will produce between a dozen and fifteen peppers. Since these are one of my youngest son's favorites I figure if we want any for cooking we needed another one. I placed the basil and pepper in the spots where I had attempted to start two watermelon varieties. The seeds were old and only one of each variety sprouted but within days of emerging the tender seedlings were plucked and disappeared. I blame the mischievous scrub jays that nest in the Redwood trees in our backyard. After contemplating I decided the location was probably not sunny enough for watermelons anyway.

Baby Zukes

2009-06-01T18:44:00.000-07:00

As could be expected, the zucchini will likely be the first to produce edible fruit.

Although I did see two baby green beans on the nursery transplants I put in a few weeks back. Since I had only purchased two, I picked up a packet of Burpee Bush Blue Lake seeds and three more plants have sprouted already. I have never grown green beans before and look forward to a plentiful harvest.

I also picked up some Genovese Basil seeds from the Burpee rack and have two pots sprouting as well.

Pork Fat Rules

2009-06-01T18:36:00.000-07:00

Last time I shopped at Trader Joe's I saw a package of pork chops prepared as seen here. Pshaw, I said, I can do that. Note the fresh, home-grown, rosemary. After grilling, the meat was pleasantly seasoned with a distinct rosemary flavor. And yes, that is bacon holding it all together. Mmmmm...

From Successful Gardening to Weight Loss, Does Moon Phase Matter?

2009-05-13T05:08:00.000-07:00

Familiar with the notion that some gardeners transplant and set out seeds according to the lunar calendar I decided to see how, according to where in the cycle I put in my garden this year, my crops might fare this year.

Moon gardeners believe plants do better when set out at the right time. The phase of the moon determines whether energy and nutrients are directed above or below ground. (Fine Gardening magazine)

Turns out according to proponents of this method I may have missed the ideal planting period by as little as one day, perhaps close enough? I set out garden transplants on Sunday, May 10. This month’s full moon appeared Saturday, May 9. In fact, May’s full moon was known as the “corn planting” moon by early Native Americans.

The theory is during the waxing period of the moon, the phase when the moon is becoming fuller the earth receives the plants readily and will develop roots easily. They are also ready for the increasing moisture that follows during the waning period when the moon is becoming smaller. We all know the ocean’s tides are controlled by the moon’s gravitational pull. It isn’t hard to conclude then that underground water tables react similarly.

While not sure if it is folklore, old wives’ tale or scientific fact the Farmers’ Almanac tells me in its astronomy section that one of the best days to start a diet to lose weight is May 13. In that vein, I’d like to officially declare today as the first day of my weight-reduction effort.

For more on planting by the moon phases, read this New York Times article.

Seed Sowing

2009-05-11T11:14:00.001-07:00

Seeds planted Saturday, May 9

Crimson Sweet Watermelon
Sugar Baby Watermelon

Seeds planted Monday, May 11

Herbs:
Italian “Gigante” Parsley
Chives
Slow-Bolt Cilantro

Flowers:
Berry Basket Cutting Zinnias
Chartreuse and Purple Mix Zinnia
Knee-high Cosmos Sonata Mix
Mini Sun Hybrid Sunflower
Strawberry Blonde Sunflower

Vegetables:
Easter Egg II Rainbow Radishes

Officially Up and Running

2009-05-10T21:55:00.000-07:00

Today we finally made it to the nursery for our vegetable starts. I sketched out on paper where I wanted to put what and we piled in the car. Here’s what vegetables we bought followed by some details on each:

First the peppers:
Ixtapa – a mildly hot jalapeno
Habanero – legendary hottest of all peppers from the Caribbean
De Arbol – a red, slender pepper, originally from Mexico
Tiburon – Poblano Hot Pepper for makinh chili rellenos
Oriole – a sweet hybrid tangerine orange Bell Pepper

Next, tomatoes:
Brandywine – the classic heirloom
German Johnson – an old time heirloom from the Carolinas
Box Car Willie – heirloom with good resistance from disease and cracking
Mr. Stripey – clearly defined yellow-orange stripes, mild flavor, low acid
Shady Lady – ample foliage provide excellent coverage for the fruit, preventing sunburn, hence the name Shady Lady
Patio – a bush variety and good choice for container growing

Admittedly, we chose several tomatoes simply for their whimsical names. The abundance of these two vegetables reflects our penchant for homemade salsa.

We also planted:
Derby – a stringless Bush Bean that produces all season
Gold Rush – yellow zucchini summer squash
Yellow Submarine – a yellow-skinned, seedless cucumber
Satin Beauty – Eggplant

To Ban or Not To Ban

2009-05-08T20:39:00.000-07:00

When you first start gardening you try it all, anything you think might grow in your humble garden, you pick up off the seed rack. Sunflowers are easy enough. “I absolutely must have seven or eight varieties, to start,” you muse. Zinnias – now there’s a favorite of mine, and they are so easy. Zinnias I like because they come in almost every color of the rainbow. There’s even a lovely one called Green Envy, Elegans in Latin, how could you turn your back on that? (More on back turning later.) The Envy isn’t actually green per se, but rather a pale, yellowy-green…spring green – if you will, in Crayola terms.

But early on I was attracted to, for a reason that escapes me now, Nasturtiums. They’ve been around for centuries, so I’ve heard, and once they are in your garden, they magically reseed themselves and come back year, after year, after year.

“If you are looking for a plant for your garden that will spread like wildfire, produce decorative foliage, have an ocean of brightly-colored blossoms, and be tasty to boot, there is only one that will fit the bill: Nasturtiums.”

Thus writes Linda Gilbert a Bay Area freelance journalist, cooking class instructor, and co-owner of the Sonoma catering company, Broadway Catering and Events.

“Nasturtiums are a gardener's dream,” Linda expounds.

“They are virtually carefree once established. Snails don't seem to be interested in them. They will even self seed and come back the next year in mild climate.”

Now in the beginning of your gardening career, a flower with that much staying power is miraculous to you. “It actually plants itself?” you marvel. You’re standing in the garden the following spring pounding your chest like Tom Hanks in Cast Away: “I. Have. Made. Flowers,” you bellow aloud to no one in particular (since you haven’t a gardening equivalent to Wilson... yet).

And they do double duty…you can even eat them.

“Their sweet, peppery taste (both in the leaves and in the flowers) adds to the enjoyment,” Linda continues.

“Take advantage of this spicy flavor as well as the decorative color. Use both leaves and blossoms in salads. Try adding them to spinach salads for a dramatic effect. Nasturtium's spiciness is also a winning addition to cheese spreads. Both the leaves and the blossoms look and taste great in tea sandwiches. For a stunning look, pair orange nasturtium blossoms with violets on open-faced cucumber sandwiches on white bread.”

And on and on. Year, after year, after year. Thanks Linda, but I think I’ll pass.

The flowers are pretty enough. And I do still revel in wonderment when they return year and again without effort on my part. But here’s the thing: All those years ago, I grabbed a pack labeled “Jewel Mix.” Now these are listed as a “customer favorite” and received a “5 out of 5 average customer rating,” on Burpee’s website.

What’s not to like, you’re asking yourself, right? This is the rub…I’m not crazy about, okay I’ll just say it – I hate their colors. There I said it. Petty? All flowers are beautiful just like all babies are cute you’re thinking, right?

So I am left wondering, is it okay to prohibit, say all, orange flowers from your garden, or all yellow flowers? In the beginning you’re so happy, thrilled and overjoyed by the fact that you have made flowers that the thought of removing them once they have established themselves is illogical, absurd, ridiculous even.

Now that I’ve been through the garden gate a few hundred times or so, I have read my share of gardening books, magazines and blogs to have heard more than once, that one can do whatever one pleases in their own garden. As in most aspects of life these days, anything goes. Wear white after Labor Day? Once, unthinkable. Sip white wine with filet mignon? Years ago, it simply was not done. Leave the house without lipstick? Previously, unconscionable. Now, all matters of personal preference.

Thanks to modern science, Nasturtiums do come in softer palettes these days. One of my favorite seed companies, Renee’s Garden, offers a custard-colored “Vanilla Berry” or the orange-sherbet-and-vanilla-hued “Creamsicle” is somewhat pleasing. But these I have found pale not only in color but hardiness as well compared to their heirloom ancestors, including “Jewel Mix.” They didn’t take well in my garden and those that did grow didn’t hang around long let alone return spontaneously the following season.

As a novice gardener my neighbor told me she had such a distaste for it, she simply never included orange in her borders and beds. I stood there, speechless. I was reminded of when handed my tightly-swaddled newborn son for the first time, I was so awestruck I never, until hours later, thought to unwrap him and adoringly examine him from head-to-toe. What I was thinking in both instances: I can do that?

The conundrum remains though for me. How awful would I be if I ripped out all those orange and worse, goldenrod, Nasturtiums and started over with some soft pink… maybe... well anything else really?

Seed Sowing

2009-04-12T17:53:00.000-07:00

Today was beautiful, sunny and warm so in between loads of laundry, I got some work done in the garden. I decided I’d take a look through my stash of seeds from seasons past.

I never can seem to use up a full seed packet. I just don’t have the garden real estate. So today I did an experiment of sorts. I planted several types of seeds that were a year old or more. I’ve had success with second-year germination before but some of these dated back three years. I also tried a couple of squash seeds I’d saved myself from two seasons ago if I remember right. So here’s a list of went into the ground or large pots, accompanied by their source and “packed for” dates:

Slow-Bolt Cilantro/Renee’s Garden/2008
Coriander-Cilantro/Burpee/unknown
Spacemaster Cucumber/Lake Valley Seeds/2006
German Giant Radish/Burpee/2008
Garden Babies Butterhead Lettuce/Renee’s Garden/2008
Strawberry Blonde Sunflower/Sean Conway for Target/2008
Mini Sun Hybrid Sunflower/Burpee/2008

So I guess most of them are not that old. I’ll keep my fingers crossed and wish for success. I also planted some marigold seeds that I had saved. I really should date those little zip-top baggies. The squash is probably a green variety. They seemed flat, not meaty as you would expect so they were probably the biggest gamble.

I had planned to plant some Jalapeno seeds that were also dated 2006 in my half-whiskey barrel but found that it was infested with ants. A few other containers were also housing rather large ant colonies. I’ll have to dump out all that soil and start over I guess. Sometimes it seems like Elk Grove is built on one big anthill. I should be happy they are in the garden and not the house I suppose.

Next week my husband and I will head to our new favorite garden center, Green Acres Nursery and Supply. We went there last spring for pepper and tomato starts and were very impressed with the selection.

Maria follows Michelle's lead: Sacramento's capitol gets Victory Garden

2009-04-02T14:21:00.000-07:00

Just days after Michelle Obama broke ground for a vegetable garden on the White House lawn, California’s first lady announced that Sacramento is getting a public edible garden too.

See more details here.

Too early yet for Early Girls, tomato grower cautions

2009-03-30T21:01:00.000-07:00

by Bill Lindelof
The Sacramento Bee

In the spring, a gardener's fancy turns to tomatoes.

The itch to buy tomato plants at the local hardware or nurseries can be overwhelming. The siren call of Early Girls and Better Boys beckons.

That might be particularly true this week as the National Weather Service forecasts sunny skies and daytime temperatures in the low- to mid-70s. Nighttime lows are expected to range from 44 to 50 degrees in Sacramento.

But hold on there, tomato lover. It's still too chilly to plant delicate seedlings. That's according to Don Shor, noted gardener and owner of the Redwood Barn Nursery in Davis.

Sure, he stocks tomato transplants in his store – but that doesn't mean he approves of planting them outside quite yet.

Shor said that before tomatoes are planted, the nighttime temperatures should consistently be above 50. Soil temperature should be 60 degrees.

"The key is soil temperatures," said Shor.

He suggests the "butt test." To do that, go outside and plant your rear on the ground.

"Put on some shorts, sit on the ground and if you are uncomfortable, the tomato plants will be, too," said Shor.

Shor is less concerned about tomatoes being planted too early than he is about peppers and eggplant. Put in a tomato too early, and the plant will turn purple and get phosphorous deficiency.

"They will sit there and sulk," he said. "Things that want to eat them will eat them. Then, when it warms up, they will start to grow. But put peppers and eggplant in too early, and they will be stunted all season. The peppers you plant in May always do better than the peppers you plant in April."

The rules with peppers and eggplant are night temperatures of 55 to 60 degrees and a soil temperatures of 70 degrees. Shor said that some gardeners use seedling blankets or plastic "walls of water" to warm plants. "Or you can do like I do – just wait," said Shor.

At times, his nursery has put up a sign near the tomato seedlings saying "It's too early to put these in the ground." That entertains customers, he said.

"I got my first request for tomatoes on Jan. 17," he said. "There had been a good frost on the ground."

Some gardeners like to buy small plants early on and shift them into larger pots for later planting. Going by the calendar, Shor suggests waiting to buy tomatoes, eggplant and peppers until May 1. "People often wonder when it is too late to plant tomatoes," he said. "You can plant them into June. We have a long season here."

What really helps warm the soil is a raised bed. Out in the open field, soil can linger in the low 50s, while the city gardener's raised bed is a toasty 62.

Ethel Glove Giveaway -- I Won!

2009-03-22T20:59:00.000-07:00

What a thrill! I've won a pair of Ethel Gloves through one of my favorite blogs, An Alameda Garden!

I am looking forward to trying these out. So often I rip my gloves off in frustration and go without due to poor fit. I hate not being able to feel what I'm doing.

These gloves are made especially for women so no more over-sized gloves for me. Thanks, Claire, for this great opportunity to give these gloves a try.

Stay tuned for a full review after I receive and test-drive the gloves.

White House Kitchen Garden

2009-03-22T20:31:00.000-07:00

Michelle Obama and more than two dozen Washington-area fifth-graders broke ground Friday for the first vegetable garden at the White House since Eleanor Roosevelt’s victory garden during World War II.

Read about it here. And here’s a great diagram of the proposed layout.

Garden Inspiration

2009-03-13T16:20:00.000-07:00

As the weather begins warming, trees start budding and early bloomers begin emerging from the earth, my thoughts naturally turn to gardening once again. Although here in Northern California’s mild climate, year-round gardening is possible, inevitably each fall I give up the ghost. By late August, the most vigorous crops -- tomatoes and peppers -- have slowed production, started looking haggard and bedraggled, and are seemingly as exhausted as I am. So I put the garden to bed and head back indoors to endure the less physically demanding seasons of fall and winter.

Then each spring, like most gardeners who live in less temperate climates, my thoughts turn longingly and eagerly to getting back into the garden and looking forward to the bounty and satisfaction of growing my own produce.

Today I started surfing the blogs again and naturally started with Angela’s “Garden Bliss” where I not only enjoyed her garden rants and musings but followed several links to some other great gardening blogs.

I came across this post of a granddaughter remembering her grandmother on the day that would have been the elder woman’s 76th birthday. The grandmother it seems had a major influence on the writer’s interest in, and love of gardening. It was a touching post that inspired reader’s to comment on their own remembrances. So here I am heading back Through the Garden Gate and it feels great.

While many people stereotypically associate gardening with women, usually older women, In my family it was notable that the men were gardeners. My earliest gardening remembrances are of my grandfather among his tomato plants searching for the perfect specimen and then later standing at the kitchen sink with a saltshaker enjoying a huge, utterly ripe, beefsteak tomato while catching the juicy drips falling from his chin. To this day, without a doubt, that right there -- that to me is the taste of summer.

When I think about what specifically draws me to the garden, it is the tranquility one finds there and the silent appreciation of reveling in the literal fruit of your labors. When I am tending the garden, tension recedes, stress floats away. I am perfectly alone with my thoughts and a deep sense of nurturance acquired by the satisfaction and pride in myself that I have created something so wonderful.

The garden is where I retreat to after a long day at work, a long day of tending to my children’s needs. While I’ve heard it said that sharing this joy with my offspring is supposed to be a spiritual feeling, and could be a breeding ground of significant, lasting memories, I cannot help not feeling guilty when I shoo them back in the house to leave me be among the greenery. The garden is my Calgon.

Perhaps that peaceful calm is what my grandfather sought as well, all those years ago.

Where do you find inspiration to begin gardening anew each spring and who originally inspired your interest in getting your hands dirty?

Lazy locavores?

2008-07-22T14:13:00.000-07:00

Peter DaSilva for The New York Times

Trevor Paque at work in San Francisco in a garden his company planted in a client’s backyard.

A Locally Grown Diet With Fuss but No Muss

By KIM SEVERSON

Published: July 22, 2008 in The New York Times

Eating locally raised food is a growing trend. But who has time to get to the farmer’s market, let alone plant a garden?

That is where Trevor Paque comes in. For a fee, Mr. Paque, who lives in San Francisco, will build an organic garden in your backyard, weed it weekly and even harvest the bounty, gently placing a box of vegetables on the back porch when he leaves.

Call them the lazy locavores — city dwellers who insist on eating food grown close to home but have no inclination to get their hands dirty. Mr. Paque is typical of a new breed of business owner serving their needs.

Beautiful Bounty

2008-07-18T00:31:00.001-07:00

I am loving my tomatoes this year. I think the addition of welded concrete reinforcement wire cages has not only successfully staked the plants but made the fruit less accessible to curious birds that were sampling my crop last year. I had seen this staking method used in the community garden and as far as I am concerned this is the only way to go for supporting indeterminate tomato varieties.

Ratatouille, eat it up yum. . .

2008-07-17T23:46:00.000-07:00

Last year I fell in love with ratatouille when I had an abundance of zucchini and basil. I wound up purchasing eggplant at the grocery store and using canned tomatoes to round out this rustic dish that originated in France.

This year I got the zucchini started late and feared I'd need to supplement my recipe with store bought ingredients again seeing that the eggplant had rapidly produced a bumper crop.

I was thrilled then when a friend, who I offered extra eggplant to, swapped me for two huge zucchini she'd grown in her backyard.

This year the tomatoes are doing so great I was able to skip the canned but sadly had to purchase the fresh basil as the only variety I am currently growing is a lemon flavored that didn't seem appropriate for the dish.

Ratatouille was originally a common dish, prepared in the summer with fresh summer vegetables. I consulted my faithful red plaid Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book for some guidelines and a jumping-off point then got to work. First, I got some onion and garlic going in some olive oil while I pulsed the tomatoes in the food processor to get them a little saucy yet still chunky. Next I added the tomatoes and peeled and cubed eggplant and zucchini that I had briefly steamed in the microwave to the pan. While it simmered I added some roughly chopped basil, salt and pepper, a little Italian seasoning and a splash of red wine. After the flavors melded awhile I poured it over a pot of steaming fusilli and finished it off by stirring in a large portion of Trader Joe's four cheese blend which includes shredded Parmesan, Asiago, Fontina and Provolone.

Served over pasta this is a hearty and delicious meatless meal.

I think it's ready!

2008-07-15T00:45:00.001-07:00

Sunday, July 13

Look at the size of this baby!

2008-07-15T00:44:00.001-07:00

Lip smacking good!

2008-07-15T00:43:00.001-07:00

Garden Photos/Saturday, July 14

2008-07-15T00:38:00.001-07:00

West facing...eggplant, lemon cucumber and watermelon (vine is shown creeping along the foreground).

Garden Photos/Saturday, July 14

2008-07-15T00:33:00.000-07:00

East-facing view...tomatoes. peppers, zucchini, Echinacea, etc...

Herb Bed

2008-07-15T00:22:00.000-07:00

This is an informal herb patch I'm working on. So far there's Rosemary, Greek Oregano, Lemon Basil and Marjoram. Last week we enjoyed a potent batch of Lemon Basil Pesto with linguine.

Against the fence are three Strawberry Blonde sunflowers described on the package as "a beautiful soft lemon yellow brushed with rose-pink." I am eagerly awaiting blooms. Pink sunflowers?? Yes, please!

In front of the sunflowers is a compost experiment gone astray. Too many cantaloupe seeds wound up in the bin and I have a tendency to under-"cook" my compost. Given more time, wouldn't these seeds eventually decompose? I have this problem with tomato seeds as well.

Sunflower Patch

2008-07-15T00:16:00.000-07:00

Here's a little sunny corner of the backyard I like to call the Sunflower Patch. There are a few more Strawberry Blondes here and a variety called Mini Sun Hybrid. The package says they grow to a height of only sixteen inches. I hate when they get so tall they flop over. The Blonde's are expected to be six feet at maturity.

Garden Update/Eggplant Recipe

2008-07-07T21:56:00.000-07:00

While I don't have any pictures to prove it, there's been plenty of gardening going on here. This year my raised beds contain:

five types of tomatoes,
a volunteer cantaloupe,
four types of peppers -- two bells and two spicy
two types of eggplant
a lemon cucumber, and
a watermelon vine.

In addition I have two types of zucchini in my half whiskey barrel and two more spicy peppers and a bush type tomato in large pots. A small square-shaped plot is housing a few herbs as well.

Everything is looking great with plenty of fruit and blossoms. A few tomatoes are a few days away from being ripe enough to pick and tonight I plucked two Satin Beauty eggplants that truly lived up to their names.

Their skins were beautifully dark and glossy. Eager to find a different way to eat them than parmigiana style, I did a search at allrecipes.com and found one called Eggplant Croquettes. Basically they were eggplant and cheese patties seasoned with garlic, onion, fresh parsley and bound together with egg and bread crumbs. They were almost like a veggie burger. I tweaked the recipe a bit using instead of the cheddar called for, a four-cheese Italian blend of shredded Parmesan, Asiago, Fontina and Provolone that I bought at Trader Joe's. This is a yummy blend that I always use in my hot artichoke dip. I also used fresh flat leaf Italian parsley I had growing instead of dried and olive oil for frying instead of plain vegetable oil. They were a nice alternative to the usual way I serve eggplant although I did serve them with a tiny bit of tomato sauce for a little added flavor.

I hope to get some pictures of everything growing soon.

The Winter Garden

2008-01-27T17:17:00.002-08:00

How exciting to begin 2008's garden in January. Long a dream, now a reality.

On Friday, I found myself poking around at OSH to fill up some rare free time. I picked up several seed packets, three bags of compost and a six-pack of broccoli -- Cape Queen F-1 Hybrid variety. It was the last one there and aside from a couple of yellowing leaves here and there the starts looked healthy.

After a solid week of rain, Saturday saw a break in the clouds and I put them in. Due to some uneven ground, there are large puddles of standing water surrounding the raised beds in areas which required a few strategically placed wooden boards in order to gain access.

After sprinkling compost and digging it in a bit I also planted several seed varieties: "German Giant" radish, "Salad Bowl" lettuce, "Garden Babies Butterhead" container lettuce and "Catalina" baby leaf lettuce. The lettuces went into my half wine barrel planter and a low lying bowl planter.

As I worked the local scrub jays squawked, no doubt in excitement. Somehow they knew my actions meant fresh seeds for pecking at a later time. I am anxious to see what actually sprouts of course. I'm hoping for several successive plantings.

A few other seed packs I brought home but have yet to plant are: "Harmony Hybrid" spinach which appears to have more crinkled leaves than the Catalina, chives and Slow-Bolt Cilantro which can be planted as early as February according to the package notes.

Fingers-crossed, I hope there will be something positive to post in 7 to 14 days.

2008-01-27T17:15:00.001-08:00

2008-01-27T17:12:00.000-08:00

2008-01-27T17:11:00.001-08:00

2008-01-27T17:09:00.001-08:00

Another Quail Sighting

2007-08-22T21:18:00.000-07:00

I didn't get a picture but as I was getting in my car at about 8 p.m. last night I spotted the quail pair again. They were in the road and at first I thought they were just pigeons which are abundant here, but on closer examination I realized it was the happy couple once again. As I pulled out of the driveway into our cul-de-sac, they quickly walked over to the neighbors lawn where I saw them pecking for supper.

Curious Quail

2007-08-13T08:57:00.000-07:00

A pair of California Quail have been living in the neighborhood this summer. We spot them every few days or so roosting on our fence or our neighbors roof. This weekend they seemed to be having a turf war with our resident Scrub Jays. They had a noisy show down for about a half hour early Saturday evening. No apparent winner as of yet.

August 9 Harvest

2007-08-13T08:54:00.001-07:00

Garden Update

2007-08-04T16:12:00.001-07:00

Although the pace of summer is more relaxed while school is not in session, I haven't had much time to post much less read blogs. Intermittent internet access problems have also made posting difficult.

We have been reaping the benefits of our kitchen garden and enjoyed our first batch of fresh salsa using our own tomatoes and chiles this week. The latest cilantro I planted is for some reason stunted so we had to run to the store for that. My husband is the salsa chef so I'm not sure what combination of chile and tomato varieties he used, but the result was wonderful. He made a fresh salsa earlier in the season using store bought tomatoes and homegrown chiles and cilantro. Timing all three to be ready simultaneously has proved as challenging as making a Thanksgiving dinner and timing everything so nothing is cold by the time it all cooks and makes it to the table.

We had a little heartache because our first large tomatoes were enjoyed by birds or some other critter. Our Sweet 100 cherry harvest has been steady and abundant but remains untouched by local wildlife. I placed some bird netting over most of the tomatoes and we have enjoyed about a dozen Brandywines so far. I’ve been picking them a little early before they are completely red to make them less likely to become bird bait. It looks like we will have one or two every other day or so for the next month.

The zucchini has been particularly fruitful and my next-door neighbors have been enjoying them regularly. It is my cucumbers that have been most challenging. While they need steady watering, tomatoes do better with less, so I’ve begun a spot watering schedule so everybody stays happy. Homegrown cantaloupe has been a first-time treat and I am excited they grow so well here.

June 16 Harvest

2007-08-04T15:53:00.001-07:00

June 13 Harvest

2007-08-04T15:44:00.000-07:00

Zucchini Harvest

2007-06-04T17:25:00.001-07:00

Sunday morning I pulled these out of the garden. I took two from the “Black Beauty” and one from a generic labeled simply “Zucchini Squash.” Both were from nursery starts I picked up at Capital Nursery.

2007-06-04T17:17:00.000-07:00

Here’s how they looked April 29 going into the ground.

2007-06-04T17:12:00.000-07:00

Within a couple of hours I’d baked one into this golden loaf of zucchini bread. I used a basic recipe from the Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book. Before long, when temperatures hover in the high nineties and threaten to spike into the hundreds, I won’t want to turn on the oven for any reason so I plan to get my fill of this early in the growing season.

2007-06-04T17:10:00.001-07:00

Here, the remaining two sit brushed with olive oil awaiting their turn on the grill. With four zucchini plants producing already and two more I planted from seed this morning, we’ll likely be able to enjoy them prepared this way through September. Next harvest I’ll probably make some Zucchini Fritters as my 8-year-old son has already requested them.

2007-06-04T17:03:00.001-07:00

Here are some seeds I started Sunday. The cucumbers and basil seed I bought last year. I’ve had good success with leftover seed in the past so I’m optimistic they’ll sprout. The “Romanesco” Italian Zucchini I bought this year and have one already producing in the garden. Although I haven’t harvested any, they are really pretty.

Progress

2007-05-25T20:04:00.001-07:00

"Black Beauty" Zucchini Squash

2007-05-25T20:02:00.000-07:00

"Garden Salsa" Hot Pepper

2007-05-25T20:00:00.001-07:00

"Magellan Ivory" Zinnia

2007-05-25T19:40:00.001-07:00

Anticipation . . .

2007-05-07T20:42:00.000-07:00

I am eager to see things happening in the garden. The vegetable nursery starts I set out last week are doing well even though the temperature spiked to 93 degrees today.

We installed soaker hoses to take the hassle out of watering. I'm a little worried that the snails will discover these still-tender sprouts and devour them in a single evening. However they are situated in an area previously overrun with weeds that never attracted the slimy critters so I am forcing my anxiousness away.

I am especially impatient for the zinnia to bloom. I think they are my favorite flower because they grow so easily yet are so pretty.

Without many blooms in the garden it appears as a blank palette, much like this colorless illustration.

Ready, Set, Garden

2007-04-30T21:30:00.000-07:00

Until this weekend I’d only been puttering in the garden. I put up some seeds in starter trays and pots in early March with only little success. I put in some zinnia, alyssum and cosmo seeds around the trees in the front yard which haven’t done much after sprouting. A few new Nasturtium seed varieties I planted out front are doing well. I’m trying two mounding varieties from Renee’s Garden – Creamsicle and Vanilla Berry. The colors will be much softer than the Dwarf Jewel Mix that is out there already.

But the most exciting news is the completion of two raised beds in the backyard. We had been talking about doing these for the last couple of years now and were inspired by a how-to article in the newspaper. Although we enjoyed our plot at the Community Garden last year it was a six-mile roundtrip with poor bicycle access along the route. With gas hovering at more than three dollars a gallon it just didn’t seem practical or convenient.

Yesterday I put in several vegetable and herb starts purchased from Capital Nursery. Including some large pots we’ve got four varieties of zucchini, two cucumber varieties, six chile peppers, one sweet pepper, six tomato varieties, some cilantro, two different kinds of basil, watermelon and cantaloupe. For color and to attract pollinators, I put in some zinnias and marigolds.

Good Reads

2006-10-16T11:50:00.000-07:00

As wintry weather approaches I am anticipating more time to pursue my other passion.

"If you have a garden and a library you have everything you need." -- Cicero

What Color Flower Are You?

2006-10-16T11:45:00.000-07:00

You Are a Purple Flower

A purple flower tends to represent success, grace, and elegance.
At times, you are faithful like a violet.
And other times, you represent luxury, like a wisteria.
And more than you wish, you find yourself heartbroken like a lilac.

What Color Flower Are You?

Garden fatigue

2006-10-05T13:38:00.000-07:00

I have not posted much lately. I have to admit I was suffering from what is not a term I coined myself it seems. It started about August when the heat became relentless and being outdoors was heinous. That accompanied by my much lamented losses attributed to the local vermin and I find myself needing to give myself a kick in the pants and get back out there. I did actually throw some cilantro seeds in a pot last month and lo and behold I have another bunch to throw in salsa and taco salads, etc. in the works.

We had our first rain of the winter season last night. I had my window open as I enjoy the crisp late evening/early morning air and was awoken at about 1 a.m. by a pretty decent sounding downpour. For us located in the Central Valley it is a sound we have not heard since March.

My best intentions have me dreaming of lettuce, carrot and radish plantings. Maybe by committing these plans to writing I will have more motivation to get it done.

In the meantime, I am delighted with my Great Pumpkin (below)! I imported the photo of the beauty growing at my community plot to my computer wall paper to get in the fall spirit.

Great Pumpkin!

2006-10-04T20:04:00.000-07:00

More Sunflowers

2006-09-05T15:04:00.000-07:00

I love how cheerfully and proud sunflowers spring up sturdily almost anywhere you drop a few seeds. Especially when they are unexpected.

After spying a lone stalk topped with the familiar yellow-petalled disc in the front yard of a neighbor I asked him about it. The flower, growing beneath a tree on his front lawn, had just shown up there, he said. I was enchanted.

New to gardening at the time, it was the first time I'd been introduced to the concept of "volunteers" in the garden.

Later when my boys were toddlers we enjoyed watching volunteer Helianthus annuus, as they are officially named, spring up in the cracks between the paving stones on our back patio. The product of birdseed we had placed in the area, and misplaced as they were we let them grow until they towered over the boys.

Well I'm as enchanted by sunflowers today as I was then and every year I plant a packet beneath the large tree in our front yard. Enough late afternoon sun shines on the patch that the plants thrive there.

This year I chose Kneehigh Sunflowers Music Box Variety after last year's Giant Greystripes wound up competing with the foliage of the large tree they grew under. The packet describes them as "bushy plants (that) bloom freely in lively sunny shades from rich clear yellow to deep gold and cream with lots of pretty bicolors of bronze over gold, all with crisp petals and chocolate center discs." The description sold me (who writes this garden porn anyway?) and they have lived up to their word nicely.

A favorite in many children's garden, sunflowers are truly one of the easiest flowers to start from seed. If you too are a sunflower lover and haven't read Eve Bunting's Sunflower House, browse through a copy the next time you are in a library or bookstore. And check out this how-to article and plan to make one of your own next summer.

Community Garden partnership with Elk Grove Community Food Bank Services

2006-09-05T14:14:00.000-07:00

I thought it was appropriate to mention this relationship after reading in Angela's Northern California Garden Blog about a how gardeners in Seattle are encouraged to donate surplus harvests to their local food bank.

The Elk Grove Community Garden and Learning Center where I maintain a plot is operated under the umbrella of Elk Grove Community Food Bank Services.

About 25 percent of the 4-by-16-foot planting beds are dedicated to families who use the Food Bank. They may "adopt" a plot to cultivate as they like.

The Garden being in its infancy however, I'm not sure if any families have come forward to claim a stake.

In the meantime, those plots are gardened by volunteer members for two reasons: to serve as demonstration plots and to provide fresh produce to the Food Bank located behind the Parks & Rec. offices at 8820 Elk Grove Blvd.

Currently many of the plots are filled with thriving squash and tomato plants donated by the Horticultural Department of Cosumnes River College.

All gardeners are encouraged to donate surplus to this cause and bins for this purpose are located in a common area. About twice weekly, produce is delivered to the Food Bank by one of our members.

Originally the garden was affiliated with the Elk Grove Community Services District however working with food bank services became a more viable and obviously more logical partnership.

Inaugural Tomato Tasting

2006-08-30T11:58:00.000-07:00

The Elk Grove Community Garden hosted its inaugural tomato tasting on Saturday. The event featured more than a dozen varieties of tomatoes and drew dozens to the garden to learn more about community gardening.

Wise Words

2006-08-21T10:27:00.000-07:00

“Life beats you down and crushes the soul, and art reminds you that you have one.”

--unknown*

Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary

'ärt

1 : skill acquired by experience, study, or observation art of making friends>
2 a : a branch of learning: (1) : one of the humanities (2) plural : LIBERAL ARTS b archaic : LEARNING, SCHOLARSHIP
3 : an occupation requiring knowledge or skill art of organ building>
4 a : the conscious use of skill and creative imagination especially in the production of aesthetic objects; also : works so produced b (1) : FINE ARTS (2) : one of the fine arts (3) : a graphic art
5 a archaic : a skillful plan b : the quality or state of being artful
6 : decorative or illustrative elements in printed matter

To me, gardening is an art, don’t you agree?

* I stumbled upon this while surfing. Click here and scroll down.

Pesto 1-2-3

2006-08-18T18:13:00.000-07:00

Ahhh... can't you just smell it? This basil, called Profumo di Genova that I wrote about here, lived up to its name nicely. It had great color, fragrance and flavor. It's another Renee's Garden item and I remembered fondly why I favor their products so much when we enjoyed this tossed with some linguini.

Radish Haul

2006-08-18T17:55:00.000-07:00

In early July I went ahead and harvested these Rainbow Radishes called Easter Egg II from Renee's Gardens. Although they are a cooler weather crop I decided to give them a try in a windowbox-type container and planted them up in early May. Considering the warm temperatures they tasted pretty good -- I prefer them spicy -- although they were meager-sized.

Pile O' 'Maters

2006-07-11T22:27:00.000-07:00

Mostly Early Girls, a couple of Heatwaves and a handful of Sun Cherry.

I felt I needed to get these low growing tomatoes out of the garden plot as it appears I have been receiving nocturnal visits from who-knows-what variety of rodent. That's right folks, before I even got a single taste, a marauding mouse/rat/raccoon (pick your best guess) has been feasting on my bounty.

I am heartsick naturally. We're not talking little nibbles here. We're talking at least a third of almost a dozen different fruits. Oh yeah and the strawberries have been decimated as well. I had originally suspected birds were doing this damage but it is just too extensive to be the swarm of sparrows (or swallows?) that scurries nearly each time I approach. Not that they are entirely innocent. A few of the higher growing of the crop have been slightly pecked.

My fingers are crossed that whatever is responsible for this debacle is petite and not a good climber.

The community garden area, previously undeveloped, lies adjacent to a large open field which could be home to any number of culprits. Also, my plot lies about halfway into the property with the remaining half past mine vacant and overgrown. Need I say more? After this season I'll likely be relocating.

Zucchini Bread Anyone?

2006-07-11T22:25:00.000-07:00

Friendly Visitor

2006-07-02T14:42:00.000-07:00

Last night I had a visitor in the garden. Click on the photo to get a closer look.

He was lounging among the zinnias and marigolds that are blooming nicely.

Sunflower -- "Autumn Beauty"

2006-07-02T14:39:00.000-07:00

Sunflower -- "Giant Greystripe"

2006-07-02T14:25:00.000-07:00

Zucchini Fritters

2006-06-26T19:42:00.000-07:00

On Friday I harvested two large green zucchini squash and made one of my favorite recipes -- Zucchini Fritters. These are yummy and make a great light supper with a green salad on a hot day when you don't want a big meal. The recipe is from Foods from Mother Earth and follows below.

Ingredients

1 large or 2 medium zucchini squash
1/2 of a medium onion
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup unbleached flour
1/8 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup lowfat milk
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup sour cream or plain yogurt

1. Peel the zucchini if the skin seems tough, or else wash it well, then grate the zucchini and onion coarsely with a hand grater or food processor.

2. In a medium bowl, combine the grated zucchini, onion, eggs, flour, baking powder, salt and vegetable oil. Stir, then add the milk a little at a time, until well blended.

3. Heat a large frying pan or griddle over medium heat. Spoon the mixture into the pan to make small, round fritters. Cook until lightly browned, about five minutes, then flip to brown the other side. Serve hot with sour cream or yougurt.

Makes about 16 fritters.

Enjoy!

Cool Reads

2006-06-19T16:04:00.000-07:00

If like me, you find yourself needing to escape the brutal mid-day heat of the Central Valley but can't stop thinking about gardening, I recommend the following with a tall glass of iced tea:

From the Ground Up: The Story of a First Garden
by Amy Stewart

FROM THE PUBLISHER
Amy Stewart had a simple dream. She yearned for a garden filled with colorful jumbles of vegetables and flowers. After she and her husband finished graduate school, they pulled up their Texas roots and headed west to Santa Cruz, California. With little money in their pockets, they rented a modest seaside bungalow with a small backyard. It wasn't much—a twelve-hundred-square-foot patch of land with a couple of fruit trees, and a lot of dirt. A good place to start. From the Ground Up is Stewart's quirky, humorous chronicle of the blossoms and weeds in her first garden and the lessons she's learned the hard way. From planting seeds her great-grandmother sends to battling snails, gophers, and aphids, Stewart takes us on a tour of four seasons in her coastal garden. Confessing her sins and delighting in small triumphs, she dishes the dirt for both the novice and the experienced gardener. Along the way, she brings her quintessential California beach town to life—complete with harbor seals, monarch butterfly migrations, and an old-fashioned seaside amusement park just down the street. Each chapter includes helpful tips alongside the engaging story of a young woman's determination to create a garden in which the plants struggle to live up to the gardener's vision.

The $64 Tomato: How One Man Nearly Lost His Sanity, Spent a Fortune, and Endured an Existential Crisis in the Quest for the Perfect Garden
by William Alexander

FROM THE PUBLISHER
William Alexander had a simple dream of having a vegetable garden and small orchard in his backyard. It was a dream that would lead to life-and-death battles with groundhogs, webworms, and weeds; midnight expeditions in the dead of winter to dig up fresh thyme; skirmishes with neighbors who feed the vermin (i.e., deer); the near electrocution of the tree man; and the pity of his wife and children.

Both are quick, satisfying reads.

May I also suggest a look at a few of may favorite gardening blogs:

Angela's Northern California Gardening Blog
Dirt
My Bay Area Garden
In My Kitchen Garden

I am a Petunia

2006-06-12T12:07:00.000-07:00

I am a
Petunia

What Flower
Are You?

"You are a tried and trusted friend who will be there for your friends when they need you. But you have a tendency to be nervous about doing things that go against the norm."

This is cute and fun but either I didn't answer accurately or it's a little skewed. The petunia in the picture is sure pretty, but I generally don't plant these because they are a little, how shall we say, common.

So, if I am nervous about doing things that go against the norm, why don't I plant petunias like everyone else?

Nasturtiums

2006-06-03T22:32:00.000-07:00

I had such good luck with these Nasturtiums, a Double Dwarf Jewel Mix I planted from seed last year I was encouraged to add more varieties to the garden this year.

I was very pleased the bright yellow bloomers above endured our mild winter and self sowed to increase their numbers.

I added to the planting this year to extend it further alongside the garage in the front yard. I picked up a few starts from a local nursery and added a few that I started from seed. The group now includes some reds, oranges and a few almost burgundy colored specimens.

Since last year I have discovered these hardy beauties come in a few softer colors that I much prefer. In the backyard bed adjacent to the kitchen I transplanted a few seedlings Thursday evening. I started them from a packet of Vanilla Berry Mounding Nasturtium from Renee’s Garden.

The package describes them as buttercream-colored blossoms marked at the throat in deep strawberry. I am looking forward to seeing them bloom and hope they will spread throughout the bed.

More Then and Now

2006-06-03T21:55:00.000-07:00

In only two and a half weeks this barrel o’ veggies has become quite lush.

A friend picked up this half wine barrel for me for a mere ten bucks at a roadside Boy Scout fundraiser.

For that price I couldn’t pass it up.

On May 16 I filled it with two yellow crookneck squash, a zucchini squash and a Brandywine tomato.

I’ve been a fan of container gardening for years. Mainly I preferred it because it spared me the back breaking labor of double-digging and amending our hard-packed clay soil. An added benefit I suppose is keeping the goods above the “snailosphere” to borrow a term from Angela’s Northern California Gardening Blog.

Today the plants are not only thriving, they are flowering and one baby crookneck has emerged.

Fresh Lettuce

2006-06-03T20:45:00.000-07:00

With the season now in full swing I've been so busy gardening, blogging time has been scarce.

At the home garden we harvested some baby lettuce for a salad Monday. It was my first attempt growing lettuce. I planted seed called "Crunchy Lettuce Trio Blush Batavians" from Renee's Garden in a small clay bowl.

The package says it does well in both heat and cold weather. This is how it looked May 22. In my hurry to get dinner on the table I didn't snap any photos of the lettuce at harvest or served in a lemon juice, garlic and olive oil dressing. I had been seeing those baby lettuce mixes in the store and had even purchased a few, so when these grew bushy enough I simply cut the leaves about an inch or so from the base and voila! Some varieties will continue to grow for a second harvest and I'm hoping this is one of them.

As you can see the planting was quite crowded so tender baby leaves were the goal all along. I have purchased a slightly larger bowl and several types of summer lettuce seeds that reportedly do well in the heat of the season. After this had sprouted and when the weather turned warm I moved the bowl to an area where it gets only a few hours of morning sun. One of the perks of gardening in containers is location changes are easy.

At our community plot I stole a couple of strawberries today. Shh... Don't tell the kids. They weren't completely ripe but tasty nonetheless. I wanted to get them before the birds did.

Side-by-side Comparison

2006-06-03T18:31:00.000-07:00

On the lower left is what the garden plot looked like on Day 1 back on April 26. As you can see in the photo at right taken May 29, things are coming along well.

Most of the nine tomato plants have set fruit. For some reason however the Beefsteaks are struggling both here and at the home garden. They flower but the buds wither and die, then fall sadly to the ground.

Peppers and strawberries and birds, oh my

2006-05-19T23:13:00.000-07:00

There's no place like California to garden. A native of the northeast living here for almost twenty years, I am still amazed how early warm weather arrives each year. Even though this year's seasonal rains and harsh spring storms lingered longer than usual, I've already got produce from my hot-weather crops.

I was thrilled Thursday to find this tiny pepper dangling on my Anaheim chili.

I had been seeing some action from the volunteer strawberries that showed up mysteriously in the front yard last year. But thanks to neighborhood birds I have yet to sample the goods growing in a small bed that surrounds a large tree. No big deal, I thought. It's not like I put much effort in, heck I hadn't even planted the things. I assumed they were the product of some underdone self-made compost I put there. So I saw them as an offering to the Gardening Goddess, in exchange for the protection of the remainder of my future harvest. And besides, I sort of owed those birds something, what with that empty bird feeder swinging above taunting them for what two, maybe three years since I'd last filled it.

But then I see the same evidence of critters down at the Community Garden plot I'm renting where I'd lovingly and quite purposefully placed two Junebearing strawberry transplants. Alas it is not to be, perhaps. And like the turtles in Susan's Missouri kitchen garden, the birds never finish what they started. I have a feeling the birds take only a bite or two and leave the rest because what they have come upon are only half-red berries, not nearly ripened to their potential sweet perfection. I wish they wouldn't leave behind their half-eaten remains for me to mourn.

Why blog?

2006-05-19T18:31:00.000-07:00

The desire to make a garden is often followed by a desire to write down your experiences there. --Michael Pollan, from Second Nature: A Gardener's Education

After anouncing the debut of Through the Garden Gate to friends and family, someone asked me, "What exactly is a blog?"

As the above quotation suggests, the marriage between gardening and blogging seems natural but perhaps it was best explained by Angela in her Northern California Garden Blog where she answered the question "Why do I garden blog?" quite eloquently. I love the part about taking a virtual peek over a neighbor's fence.

Writing and gardening, these two ways of rendering the world in rows, have a great deal in common. -- M.P.

Garden Plot Update

2006-05-17T19:01:00.000-07:00

Here's what the garden plot looked like yesterday. Considerable growth in less than a month. I have noticed, as many other gardeners I'm sure have, the tomatoes I have in containers at home have a little more height and just seem more vigorous. I'm sure it's because those in pots have warmed up quickly while the ones in the ground needed a little more time to get toasty. They seem to be catching up rather quickly, however.

Here's an Early Girl from the same six-pack that is thriving in a container at home. A small pot of basil started from a packet of Renee's Garden seeds is nestled below. The variety is Profumo di Genova and it is labeled a "Specialty Basil." The packet described it as an Italian import bred for basil flavor without minty/clove overtones, its compact shape and good disease resistance. The package goes on to boast: "Fancy European greengrocers offer pots of dense, leafy Profumo di Genova at the front of their market stalls so cooking gardeners can take it home and enjoy a regular supply of its spicy, fragrant leaves." The description made it too enticing to pass up, since I won't be taking that European vacation to the Italian Riviera this summer after all. Kudos to the copywriter at Renee's. I was instantly transported to an open-air farmer's market and could practically hear the sounds of a bustling crowd clamoring to spend their Euros on the best basil available. Instead, for about three American dollars I hope to enjoy some wonderful pesto later this summer from the comfort of my own patio while sipping a phenomenal Italian wine. I better start sampling vintages now to find just the right one.

In the foreground are on the left, some cilantro started from seed next to a Purple Coneflower I picked up for $1.99 at the Natural Foods Co-op.

Community Garden Plot

2006-05-15T21:34:00.000-07:00

Here's a section of my plot at the Elk Grove Community Garden. This picture was taken April 26. I planted several types of tomatoes, peppers, some strawberries, marigolds, and some Giant Greystripe Sunflowers. Since then there has been significant growth.

Later I added Lemon Cucumber, Spacemaster Cucumber, Sugar Baby Watermelon and Jack O' Lantern Pumpkins. This past weekend I put in two types of basil -- Genovese and a lime-scented variety -- and another giant sunflower. I read that you can train cucumber vines up sunflowers. We shall see.

As it is the real estate in the bed, which measures about 16 feet by four feet, is bound to get a little crowded soon. The tomatoes, peppers, basil varieties, marigolds and strawberries were nursery transplants. The remainder I started from seed at home then transplanted later.

This is my first experience growing in a raised bed. In the past I gardened soley in large containers with the exception of a Lemon Cucumber last year and a volunteer tomato that sprouted next to it -- a product of a little underdone self-made compost.

Into the Garden

2006-05-15T20:57:00.000-07:00

According to an ancient Chinese proverb, "Life begins the day you start a garden."

I have found that a garden sustains not only the physical but the spiritual while nourishing not only the body but the soul.