I was out front enjoying the nice fall day, after being stuck in the house for the past three days due to cold and some snow. I saw a little lizard out and about soaking up some of the afternoon sun. I have uploaded a short clip on you tube of my little garden friend.
Everything except for the Brussels sprouts has been harvested. I am going to burn the weeds and let the ground rest for the rest of the year.
Till next time
Enjoy the sunshine
Monday, November 2, 2009
Saturday, September 26, 2009
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
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
Thursday, September 3, 2009
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
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
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Bees in the garden
It's amazing, went all summer and only saw a few bees, today there where a lot of them. I counted 15 but there where more. Bees have been suffering from CCD (Colony collapse disorder.).
From what I have read and seen CCD is not fully understood yet. Some think it might be a might causing the decline of bees, while some think it is a virus. Some have blamed it on the environment and the use of chemicals on crops and other plants to control insects. There are some that say it is a combination of all of them. Regardless of the cause it is something we all need to be concerned about.
CCD has been confirmed in 24 U.S. States and parts of Canada, it also has hit India, Brazil, Australia, The U.K and parts of Europe. So why the big fuss? With the decline of these pollinators the human race is in big trouble. I have heard that if there where no more bees mankind would die out in as little as three months and as long as a year either way it will impact mankind in a very negativity way. So what can I do? Grow plants that attract bees, lay off the insecticide and herbicide. For more information on CCD you can go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colony_Collapse_Disorder and http://www.ars.usda.gov/News/docs.htm?docid=15572 there is a lot of information on CCD on the web it is worth a look.
Till next time.
Happy Gardening / bee pollinating.
From what I have read and seen CCD is not fully understood yet. Some think it might be a might causing the decline of bees, while some think it is a virus. Some have blamed it on the environment and the use of chemicals on crops and other plants to control insects. There are some that say it is a combination of all of them. Regardless of the cause it is something we all need to be concerned about.
CCD has been confirmed in 24 U.S. States and parts of Canada, it also has hit India, Brazil, Australia, The U.K and parts of Europe. So why the big fuss? With the decline of these pollinators the human race is in big trouble. I have heard that if there where no more bees mankind would die out in as little as three months and as long as a year either way it will impact mankind in a very negativity way. So what can I do? Grow plants that attract bees, lay off the insecticide and herbicide. For more information on CCD you can go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colony_Collapse_Disorder and http://www.ars.usda.gov/News/docs.htm?docid=15572 there is a lot of information on CCD on the web it is worth a look.
Till next time.
Happy Gardening / bee pollinating.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
New Garden News
I have uploaded three new videos on you tube. One on transplanting Rhubarb, one on companion plants, and one on the garden. You can view them at: http://www.youtube.com/user/HighPlainsGardening (You can click on the title to get there)
I thought that last year was a strange growing season, but this year has been a roller coaster ride all year for me. We have had strange rain storms, high winds, dry spells, times when it looked like the plants just wold not grow then just pop up and do there thing. My first crop of snow pees took for ever to germinate but once up just took off, now my second planting they are on time and doing great so far.
My tomatoes have done the same thing. After I transplanted them they just hung out with very little growth then about 3 weeks ago just took off, in size and with tomatoes as well. (I don't have any ready to pick but if the weather holds I just might get some about the middle of September.) So through it all the one thing that has held true this year is that it will be in Gods time. I get so raped up in the growing at the first of the year and have it all planed out when things will be ready and how much there should be to harvest then God tells me to just enjoy the growth. This summer I have taken the time to just sit in the garden and look at what God is doing in a place as rough as this. It's awesome. So as the weather slowly turns to winter I will sit more and watch the birds and enjoy the green in the garden.
Till next time
Happy growing / enjoy the green.
I thought that last year was a strange growing season, but this year has been a roller coaster ride all year for me. We have had strange rain storms, high winds, dry spells, times when it looked like the plants just wold not grow then just pop up and do there thing. My first crop of snow pees took for ever to germinate but once up just took off, now my second planting they are on time and doing great so far.
My tomatoes have done the same thing. After I transplanted them they just hung out with very little growth then about 3 weeks ago just took off, in size and with tomatoes as well. (I don't have any ready to pick but if the weather holds I just might get some about the middle of September.) So through it all the one thing that has held true this year is that it will be in Gods time. I get so raped up in the growing at the first of the year and have it all planed out when things will be ready and how much there should be to harvest then God tells me to just enjoy the growth. This summer I have taken the time to just sit in the garden and look at what God is doing in a place as rough as this. It's awesome. So as the weather slowly turns to winter I will sit more and watch the birds and enjoy the green in the garden.
Till next time
Happy growing / enjoy the green.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
The Start of the Harvest
Started the harvest for this year, I got some beans, beats, onions, garlic, and kale. I've canned and frozen them, even froze some beet greens for this winter. I am hopping for some tomatoes to ripen I have quite a few green ones on the vines and if the weather holds out should get a nice crop this year.
I've heard from all over Colorado that tomatoes this year are hit and miss, more misses than hits. (this is from home growers only) I had a call the other day that even in north east Oklahoma is having a bad time with tomatoes. I finely got some carrots to come up not a lot, about 3 feet, I planted a 20 foot row.
But it just isn't my year for carrots I guess. I have up loaded some photos of the harvest. I am debating on having a garden in Denver next year. It will depend on where we will be next year, but if I do I have decided to have a stand up to sell some of the goods. As time gets closer I will up date and post where and when the stand will be open, and what will be for sale. So as this year starts to wind down, its time to start planning for next year.
Till next time.
Happy Harvesting / planing 
I've heard from all over Colorado that tomatoes this year are hit and miss, more misses than hits. (this is from home growers only) I had a call the other day that even in north east Oklahoma is having a bad time with tomatoes. I finely got some carrots to come up not a lot, about 3 feet, I planted a 20 foot row.
But it just isn't my year for carrots I guess. I have up loaded some photos of the harvest. I am debating on having a garden in Denver next year. It will depend on where we will be next year, but if I do I have decided to have a stand up to sell some of the goods. As time gets closer I will up date and post where and when the stand will be open, and what will be for sale. So as this year starts to wind down, its time to start planning for next year.
Till next time.
Happy Harvesting / planing
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Beets
Well I harvested some beets today. Looks like I’ll be blanching and freezing beets this afternoon. I also harvested the last of one row of beans just enough for dinner. With all this crazy weather they aren’t looking all that good right now. I’m thinking about pulling the plants and replanting that row, I might have enough time for one or two pickings yet this year. (I hope)
The other beans are looking good, should be picking them in about 3 weeks I am going to let them dry on the vine for winter storage.
The Brussels sprouts are looking real good this year, I don’t plan on getting anything off them till well in to September or October any how after the first snow. I have read that it gives them more flavor if you hold off on picking till after it snows. I have a few tomatoes little as they may be right now but I do have some. Last year I didn’t have any un-till the end of August first of September.
Until next time
Happy Gardening / Harvesting
The other beans are looking good, should be picking them in about 3 weeks I am going to let them dry on the vine for winter storage.
The Brussels sprouts are looking real good this year, I don’t plan on getting anything off them till well in to September or October any how after the first snow. I have read that it gives them more flavor if you hold off on picking till after it snows. I have a few tomatoes little as they may be right now but I do have some. Last year I didn’t have any un-till the end of August first of September.
Until next time
Happy Gardening / Harvesting
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