Seven Potato....MORE!

Our 2013, 50 Lb. Potato Harvest

In 2013 we planted seven pounds of potatoes and harvested 50.  We were very proud and we naively believed that they would last us well into winter.  Boy were we ever wrong. 
We went through those yummy spuds in just a month and a half and we ended up having to purchase another 100 pounds of organic potatoes from our Mennonite friends. 

The tubers we purchased were good enough and we are still eating them.  However, they did not compare to the ones grown in our own backyard.

This year we will be planting 20 pounds of seed potatoes in hopes of harvesting between 150-200 pounds of yummy spuds.  To that end, we have purchased 10 pounds of Kennebec potatoes, five pounds of Yukon Gold potatoes, and 5 pounds of Red Pontiac potatoes.

 

 

 

Onions and Leeks - Germinating and Planning

Tiny Onions Just Beginning to Emerge

The onions and leeks are starting to come up!  One hundred seeds were sown in each of the pots, so there are many more seeds to germinate. 

Rather than planting our onions in one bed (as we did last year), I've decided to plant them throughout the garden alongside those plants with which they are most compatible. 
 
Here's a clip from a great book I'm reading called Carrots Love Tomatoes by Louise Riotte:

Onion (Allium cepa) 

Onions and all members of the Cabbage family get along well with each other. They also like beets, strawberries, tomatoes, lettuce, summer savory, and chamomile (sparsely), but do not like peas and beans. Ornamental relations of the onions are useful as protective companions for roses.   

Since onion maggots travel from plant to plant when set in a row, scatter your onion plants throughout the garden.  

Leek (Allium porrum) 

Leeks are good plants to grow with celery and onions, and also are benefited by carrots. Returning the favor, leeks repel carrot flies.

And the winner is.....

The First 2014 Seedlings

The first seeds to germinate and pop up were the broccoli seeds.  I can't tell you how good it was to peer in the flats yesterday and see the tiny broccoli plants peeking back at me.  This morning the Mexican Mint Marigolds were up as well, but the first place prize definitely goes to the broccoli.

more seeds

"Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant.
-  Robert Louis Stevenson

Expecting Wonders

Though I do not believe that a plant 

will spring up where no seed has been, 

I have great faith in a seed. 

 Convince me that you have a seed there, 

and I am prepared to expect wonders. 

Henry David Thoreau  

I started a bunch of seeds today so it's official....the 2014 growing season has begun and I am expecting wonders.  

Into the pots and seed starting trays were sown Broccoli, Bell Peppers, Celery, Celeriac, Mexican Mint Marigolds, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jalapeno Peppers, Artichokes, Forget-Me-Nots, and Oregano seeds.  I'm praying for excellent germination and can't wait to experience the wonder of seeing those tiny seedlings push through the soil.

A New Growing Season Begins

A Treasure Chest of New Seeds

It has been a record-cold winter, but the days are lengthening and despite the cold, I can feel Spring approaching.  We used up most of our old seeds last season, so we ordered new seeds this year.


We will still be using some remaining seeds from last year, but here's what our treasure chest of seeds contained:

NOTE:  * means we have either never tried to grown this...or have yet to succeed at growing it.

Asteraceae

*Artichoke (Imperial Star)...We are not giving up on artichokes!

Lettuce, Red Summer Crisp (Magenta)

Lettuce, Green Romaine (Coastal Star)

Brassicas

 Broccoli (Green Magic and Bay Meadows)
*Brussell Sprouts (Diablo) 




Cucurbits
Cucumbers (Diva Specialty)
Melons (San Juan and Sarah's Choice)
*Squash, Spaghetti
*Squash, Winter (Delicata and Sunshine Kabocha Orange)
Squash, Zucchini (Costata Romanesco)


Herbs

*Arugula (Astro)
Basil (Genovese)
*Chervil (Vertissimo)
Cilantro (Calypso)
*Cumin
*Fennel (Orion)
*Marigold, Mexican Mint - seeds failed last year
*Marjoram, Sweet (Common)
Parsley (Giant Italian Leaf)
Sage (Common)

Legumes

Beans, Snap (Amethyst Purple and Cosmos)
Peas, Shelling Type (Penelope, Sienna)


Miscellaneous

 Celery, Stalk (Tango)
Chard, Swiss (Bright Lights, Multicolor)




Nightshades

 *Husk Cherry (Goldie)
Pepper, Bell (Green to Orange and Green to Red Varieties)
*Pepper, Hot Drying (Red Rocket)
Pepper, Jalapeno (Jalafuego)
*Tomatillo (Toma Verde)
Tomato, Grape (Five Star)
Tomato, Red Short Vine (Defiant)
Tomato, Salsa/Sauce/Drying (Paisano)


Roots

Carrots (Nelson)
Celeriac (Brilliant)
Leeks (Lancelot)
Onions (Pontiac Yellow Storage,  Ruby Ring, Cabernet and Sierra Blanca)