The 2009 season is winding down

The 2009 growing season is coming to an end here, we have been getting rain and cold temperatures at night. I decided to get the tomatoes in even though a lot of them are still green. All the beans are harvested, still waiting for the dent corn to dry. We have snow peas that need harvesting I'll keep picking till they die out. Brussels sprouts will be another month or so, but it looks like I can get the pumpkins soon. I planted a late crop of turnips, carrots, and Swiss chard and believe it or not I finely got carrots to come up not a lot but some I'll take the victory. Now that all most all the tomato plants are up I'll be burning them so I can get the ashes in the the ground for next year. Here is a good place to add, do not compost any tomato or potato plants. The plants can carry a soil born pathogen that will contaminate your soil. Some scientist estimate that the pathogen lives in the soil for up to 100 years. This pathogen will spread disease to your other plants and make the ground unusable. So with that in mind I just burn the plants to be safe. I have enough trouble in my garden I don't need to add more.
I made some green tomato relish for the first time this year and canned it, it is so good. I have been thinking of all kinds of dishes that it will go good with. Keep an eye out for new recipes, I will share with you how I use the relish.
I've dried the beans, and the beats are caned and frozen. Now I am just waiting for the last few vegetables to finish up and I'll be prepping for next season. For me this is an exciting time of year and a sad one, I get to see all that God has given this summer and the hope of next year, but I also see the garden emptying out after I pull or turn the plants under. But winter is coming and to me that is the start of new hope for next year. So lets hope for a good winter, a nice white blanket over the ground as the soil sleeps and gets ready for work next summer.

Till next time

Happy Gardening

Worm Bin Outdoors

I installed another compost box in the garden. It is 4' x 2' x 2' made of ¾” untreated plywood.
I buried the box 2' deep, by burring the box it will insulate it so the worms don't freeze in the winter or get to hot in the summer. Using worms in your compost bin will help speed up the compost process and you don't have to turn the bin every other day or so. Worms will eat ½ there weight every 24 hours and will double there numbers every 60 to 90 days. Worms will eat old bread, vegetable scraps, manure, paper, grass clippings and leafs. Don't feed your worms any meat, fats or pet faeces. Composting with worms can cut your wast to the street down up to 95% a week and you will have the best soil amendment on your block. Just add your compost to your garden and soon you will have the best garden around. You can see the video on the worm box on you tube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtFYwxSOeLM

Till Next time.



Happy Gardening / Composting