Gardening: (2016– )

[KennethT]

Here's the plant

 

[FauxPas]

16 minutes ago, KennethT said:

Here's the plant

 

Lush, healthy plant. Gorgeous! 

 

[chromedome]

I haven't posted much about my garden this year, partly because of time constraints and partly because it's been underwhelming; in part because of the drought and in part because of (again) time constraints. Dealing with the chickens and quail and their supporting infrastructure took up much of the time I'd have otherwise put into my garden during the crucial weeks of late spring/early summer. 

So ordinarily, for example, I'd have many pounds of blanched and frozen greens tucked away for winter, while this year I've only been able to harvest sparingly for a couple of meals. Consider this bed, for example. See those itty-bitty chard plants in between the established ones? That was my second planting, from late June/early July (I don't quite remember which). 

 

We did get a half-inch or so of rain a few weeks ago, and promptly got a nice flush from our bucket of chestnut mushrooms (Pholiota adiposa). 

 

...and of course, there were the usual joys of growing in stony soil...

 

On the upside, we now have a vine of wild grapes growing along our fence line, probably because a helpful bird perched there at a crucial moment and provided us with viable seeds. This pic was taken a couple of months ago, before they ripened, but we did get a solid cup or so of tiny, tasty mature grapes. Lots of them were lost to a fungus before they ripened, but I discovered the vine in the course of clearing away the undergrowth from our fence line so hopefully the improved air circulation will help with that, next year. Of course, being situated right at my fence means I"ll also be able to conveniently train it along that established bit of structure. Gotta read up on vine pruning!

 

Had my first, eagerly-awaited Black Krim a couple of weeks ago, too, this "conjoined twin" (photographed about 7 days before it was actually harvested). That on toast was two days' lunches. 

 

My other tomatoes are coming on nicely as well. Ironically the Scotians (an early variety that's popular locally) were slower to ripen than my Black Krim or the Romas, which are coming on nicely now. Also getting some from the yellow heirloom variety (its name escapes me just now) and my yellow and red cherry tomatoes. The "Plourde" (a regional heirloom variety) is getting close as well. Daytime highs are supposed to stay pretty decent (mid-teens C, so low-mid 60s F) through October, so barring a hard frost there's still some time for ripening. Got my fingers crossed (and my row covers ready). 

 

ETA: I've been stinting somewhat on irrigation, because we're on a well and nobody knows where the damned thing is! My father-in-law thought that info was in the pre-sale inspection report, but it wasn't. Neighbours have been here since before it was built, but they don't know either, and previous owner couldn't tell her/original owner is now deceased). So I"ll have to check with the county to see if they have that info, and if not I'll have to phone the well-drilling companies to see who did the job back in the day. 

Also, by spring I'll have a rainwater catchment system in place and that will take up the slack quite a bit. 

Edited 8 hours ago by chromedome (log)

[YvetteMT]

@chromedome you'll love your water system! We've got a system that catches half of what falls on the house and shop and waters the raspberries, strawberries, and haskaps.  Slow rain years i can get to July without using the well, this year I've not emptied it yet. We've got a very deep, good, well but the electricity saved not running the pump for this section of edibles is noticeable. 

 

While some of you are still harvesting, it's nearly time to put things to bed here.  Supposed to have freezing temps this week.  So today I'm deep watering the fruit trees and everything else. The hoses attached to outside spigots will get pulled midweek, the catchment tank won't be drained for a few weeks. 

 

Haskap berry bush

 

Strawberry bed- 

 

Oregano-(and marigolds)

 

And two basil plants. One is already unhappy at the temps

 

the herbs and marigolds will spend all winter where they are in hopes of ground bees using them as winter shelter.  The strawberries don't get mulched either.  Most folks up here will cover with straw, I don't.  I'm loathe to baby anything,  I'll fertilize and water but taking the time to cover/ wrap etc is beyond me.