Down Mulberry Lane

Squashkin? Delakin? Pumash?

We couldn't decide what to call this new squash.  I had a plant come up on it's own and I just let it go, knowing my other squash weren't growing as well.  This is what we ended up with.  In looking at it, we think it is a cross-breed between the delicata squash that we grew last year and the sugar pumpkins.  Most all were growing on their bottoms, sitting upright.  The green stripes were a bit more apparent until just at ripening when they began to take on some orange. 

I decided to cook one up today and see what it tasted like.  I baked it for quite some time and once done, I served it at supper.  The texture was more stringy like in spaghetti squash (which is odd because I never grew that here).  I think it took on that from the pumpkin.  The smell of the item smelled identical to pumpkin, although it was more yellow in color like squash.  The flavor... was bitter.  We don't know what went wrong with this cross-breed, because delicatas are sweet and so are sugar pumpkins, but this was like a flat squash flavor with a bitter edge to it. 

I will be trying to boil the next one to see if I notice any changes and see if I can work with it enough to cause us to keep the 20 some that grew in the patch.  If not, I guess the girls can enjoy carving them... we have plenty. 

Warmly, ~Melissa

Today's garden progress

June 4th, 2008 

Today I put some veggie plants into the garden that I had gotten at Farmer's Market yesterday.  I got a flat of veggies and flowers for $1.  Woo Hoo!  Can't beat that.  So I planted 12 cabbage plants.  6 cauliflower.  12 broccoli.  I then weeded the area around the pea fence.  I also weeded between the onions and beans and garlic.  Dh weeded the corn and melon area of the garden.  He did half the garden, I did 1/4th of the garden.  I think he was trying to run off some of his dinner from Chipolte's.  His parents took him out for driving them to Mayo today.  I did appreciate the help in the garden, though. 

I also planted a bush in the flower garden.  I'm not sure it will survive.  The dog got it this morning as I was leaving for jury duty and chewed up the root and I think broke the main tap root.  We will see how it progresses after being in the dirt.  This is the SECOND plant the dog has decided to chew apart before I plant.  I am learning not to leave ANYTHING outside.  She got my garden gloves (2 pairs of them) by me going in for a drink... I come back and chewed to pieces.  I don't think she likes me.  LOL. 

Rain is on it's way again, actually some bad storms.  I hope the new plants survive the winds.  I hesitated on the tomatoes and glad I did, they are still not wind tolerant and a storm would likely break them into pieces. 

Warmly, ~Melissa

Asparagus Planting...

I finally am having time to post my pictures of the asparagus planting. 

First you need to soak the roots for a couple hours.  So I had them in a bucket to soak.

Next I had to dig a hole about 8 inches deep.  I didn't even need Dh's help!  I amaze myself sometimes!  LOL

Then I was to lay the asparagus roots in spider like fashion into the hole. 

Then I am to cover with 2-3 inches of soil at this point.    I will redo this as the roots grow up through the soil until the hole is filled in.  2-3 inches at a time. 

You can't see it, but I still have quite the hill of dirt there.  After I got this dug, I realized I had no fencing to put around it, so I am using the baby gate until it gets all filled in.   It's been almost two weeks and I do not see any greenery peeking up through the soil as of yet.  So, it may be a summer project. 

Warmly, ~Melissa

UPDATE:  Year Two - 2008

 This is year two's asparagus.  I had planted purple asparagus, and you can tell it is purple.  This asparagus is supposed to be a little sweeter than green asparagus.  This year, we don't pick anything unless it is larger than a finger, with limited pickings.  We opted not to pick as the dogs ran through the patch and broke most of the stalks; we called that this years picking. 

Warmly, ~Melissa

Asparagus Planting update: 2nd year photo

I thought I would update on my asparagus planting.  Here is a photo of year two. 

The new stalk is the purple stalk.  The other two brown stalks are from last year.  I found out those dried stalks are very splintery... I got several slivers from trying to break them... I just left the rest as I kept getting slivers.  You are allowed to pick stalks that are larger than your finger the second year, but to limit picking to very little.  I didn't pick any as the dogs ran over the bed so often, they broke most of the stalks off, so I called that this years picking.  Next year, I should be able to pick more again.  After year 3, you can pick as much as you like.  Can't wait. 

Warmly, ~Melissa

Tuesday's planting

Trying to keep track of what was planted. 

4 rows of Okra

packet of cosmos flowers

morning glories by each trellis

Put together a raised bed for lettuce.  Filled with dirt...no seeds yet. 

Transplanted day lilies from front of house to flower garden. 

Warmly, ~Melissa

Fire Ring

Last week, Dh put this fire ring together.  It is made out of old patio blocks that have been used for assorted projects over the years.  The last place they were in use was in surrounding the old garden plot that we just took out last fall.  The ring is actually placed on one end of the garden plot.  

This is a temporary solution to building a permanent fire ring.  First we wanted to be sure that where we chose it would be liked.  We didn't like our last spot out in the grove.  We have too many trees dying and a small spark could cause a much larger fire.  So we opted for someplace more open.  We think it will be fine, but we will have to drag chairs over or decide to make some benches, eventually.  So we will wait to see if it gets used and if it is enjoyed out in the open. 

You can see from this picture how close it is to our lane.  You can barely make out the strawberry bed that was just put in on the far end of this old garden plot.  You all probably shake your heads at my description of this old plot.  This was our old garden... the veggie garden.  I plan to eventually make a flower garden out of the plot.  I told the girls I am going to make it a secret garden.  One asked if I was going to put stone walls up, but I don't think DH would want to move snow around that in the winter, so likely not.  The reason it is a secret is that DH doesn't quite know my plans for it, yet!  LOL, he just thinks it is a neat spot for the campfire!  I'm sure he'll figure it out later this summer when he sees all the flowers pop up.  LOL.  (I have alot of seeds I can fill in the garden with.) 

I will update on the "garden" aspect another time. 

Warmly, ~Melissa

Monday's Garden 5-19-2008

Today we planted:  Peas, sweet corn, green beans, yellow beans, garlic, sugar pumpkins, butternut squash, and  "chelsea" watermelon.  Dh helped out alot.  He put fence up for our peas.  He also planted corn with the girls as I planted the beans. 

In the yard, I planted 2 red quince bushes.  I also planted a flower pot with an orange geranium and some blue small flowers (didn't catch the name of them).  Maybe I'll post a picture later. 

Warmly, ~Melissa

Strawberry bed...

Today we finished the strawberry bed.  With the help of my daughter Megan, we got it done in short time.  Dh had put together the boards for me last night.  Today, we had to move some dirt to get the boxes positioned where I wanted them, but then we filled them up and then planted our strawberries. 

The box currently looks mostly empty, but I assure you, I planted those dormant strawberry plants and they "should" come up.   With what room was left, after I planted the dormant strawberries, I transplanted strawberry plants that we have grown in past years.  I had just enough to fill the box full.  The box fit about 55 strawberry plants. 

This should work better than our flat strawberry bed that just never could put anything out... several problems... too much grass... it just found the berries every year and buried them!  Chickens... Peacocks, etc... we have chickens that like to be OUT in the yard.  They usually stay closer to the chicken barn, but they often would follow the peacocks out to the garden.  We sold the peacocks last fall, so this will be our first year in almost 8 years that we will not have to deal with peacocks in my garden!  I am excited to say the least... no more worrying about the tomato harvest, actually anything... they sure knew when to go after stuff... just when it hit ripe.  I see now the chickens do not go out so far in the yard now, they stay close to the barn... the new dog helps with that. 

Shasta, our English Shepherd, keeps all the animals near home base.  Chickens belong in the chicken barn or that barnyard.  Sheep belong in the paddocks out front, but if one gets separated, she is out shooing it back to the rest of the flock.  Good dog!  Now, if she will stay out of my flowers, I will be happy!  She loves to run and in her play, she has knocked most of the asparagus off.  She was sniffing the newly planted strawberries and I scolded her NO.  She walked away, but was back shortly.  I kicked her in the behind this time (not hard, just enough for her to lose her balance on my new tiered bed), she was scolded again and she seemed to leave it alone from there on.  She likes that new plant smell... the peat in the packaging just makes her think there is a prize to pull out.  (Last night she found one of my grape vine packages the plant packed in peat, she tore the packaging apart and found the grape vine.. tossed it and by this time we had seen her and she knew it, so she flipped the vine into the yard and then ran to greet us with a happy hello... as if she hadn't done a thing wrong!  I did find the vine and she thankfully hadn't broken the stem or the roots, so hopefully it will be ok!)

Anyways, she is learning, she is still a pup, still not a year old.  But now that planting is underway, she'll need some training of where she can play and where she can't. 

As for the strawberry bed... I am pleased enough with how it came out.  Layering the planting gives the roots more room, so you can plant closer together and plant more in a smaller space.  Bigger output, too, for the same area.  Hopefully we will see some good strawberries next year.  It's always sad to have to wait another year, but a year to get established seems to be what has worked out in the past.  The second year gets the strawberries.   I might (might) get some strawberries from the transplants... its just not likely from the dormant plants, unless I had been able to plant them earlier... but even then, I've never had success with the first years planting. 

Warmly, ~Melissa

The Garden...it's time...

We are finally beginning to think about the garden.  It seems late, but with the cold weather and late snows... we hadn't had a chance to get out into the garden and get working on it. 

I see my rhubarb is starting to pop out of the ground.  I hope to split a couple of those bunches and give the roots some room to spread out once again.  The rhubarb did not put out too well and after talking to some seasoned rhubarb growers, they said that if you pick heavily from them, the roots can get bound.  They just need to be split so they have room to spread once again.  So that is my plan for this spring... to split my rhubarb patches up a bit.  Now if I can just find a tool strong enough to do that... last year I broke a handle on my pitchfork trying... I was hoping that perhaps spring is a better time to do it.  It is to rain for a few days straight, so hopefully that will soften the ground to get me into it easier.

Dh tilled the garden.  It took him a while, but he got it done today.  It will rain good this week and he'll likely need to till again before I plant so it is once again soft enough for me to move it around. 

I went to the garden store and bought some seeds and onion sets.  I spent $24.  I was feeling guilty when I realized I was buying groceries and how much money would I likely be saving... a whole bunch more, I hope!  The plan for this year is to harvest as much as possible out of the garden.   I'm sure it will be a trying year, but I hope to can and freeze in abundance.  I thought I did alot of beans and applesauce last year, but we've run out of applesauce a couple months ago and I only have 3 pints of green beans left.  Only a few tomatoes as well.  NOt likely to make it even until this years harvest.  I'm trying to make a pantry plan and a better menu plan so I can actually make sure I will make it the entire year with the harvest... after we've gotten our fill, we plan to bless others with extra veggies and fruits that we have grown. 

I'm looking forward to the garden.  Has anyone tried the garbage can potatoes?  I'd like to try growing them this year if only I had some directions on where to place the can... drainage needed, etc.  If anyone has any suggestions... I'd love to hear them!

Warmly, ~Melissa

More corn...

Yesterday Dh picked around 300 ears of corn again.  I sold 7 dozen at market, but the rest we blanched and froze.  Dh did most of the work with the corn as I was getting ready for market.   I did help him when it came to cutting it off the cob and bagging it up.  I was home by then.   After eating some for supper, we had 16 more quarts frozen up for the winter. 

We have about 100 small ears of corn left in the garden... I think we'll eat away at those  this week and freeze the rest again, but I don't expect to get much since the ears are so short.  Most of these are the second ear from some stalks. 

Some thoughts about the corn... Next year we will plant them farther apart.  We think the corn was too close as that can make for smaller ears.    We also will plant about 8 rows and then replant 2 weeks later to keep the season going longer, rather than all the corn all at once.   If we plant the same area, we would get about 4 plantings of corn. 

Oh, and the corn we planted... the Organic Sugar Pearl corn was very sweet, sweeter than our bi-colored corn and the germination rate was higher with the sugar pearl than the two varieties of bi-color that we planted.  We also had way less bugs and worms on the sugar pearl.  We were very happy with that variety.  Our customers however shied from the "white corn" and really needed convincing...some we never could convince.  LOL    We even found it good to eat raw... which Paige... the little one was always walking around with an ear if we'd let her.   We're still trying to decide whether we are doing market again next year.  The white corn was very good and yet it wasn't a high seller... so if we do market next year, we probably won't grow it again as it didn't sell very well, but we will probably grow some for "us" at home. 

Warmly, ~Melissa