Green Tomatoes and Peas

We had fried green tomatoes for lunch on Tuesday (Nov. 18). I think that the reason they are common in the South is that the tomatoes are still growing. I picked them because the weather was getting cold enough the vines were, finally, starting to wilt. There were a bunch of tiny tomatoes not worth slicing and lots of blooms too.

On the same day I also picked the first three pea pods from the fall bunch. They were very good, although the peas were kind of tiny. They were all sweet and delicious. They seem to have survived the cold a little better, but it got really cold later in the week and I haven't checked on them again. I would absolutely love it if we could get a fall crop of peas.

So, this week I also got my first seed catalog for next years garden, I'm not sure how they timed it to show up on exactly the day that the rest of my garden wilted from cold.

Tomatoes

Unbelievably, my tomato plants still have blossoms and green tomatoes. Gardening in the south is crazy. I put in another batch of peas (not Territorial) at the beginning of October (I think). I didn't get really good germination only about 4 of 12, but there are blossoms on the plants that grew. So, maybe we'll enjoy some winter peas.

Salvaged Potato

Ian discovered a potato sprout in our compost pile the other day. He was excited about it (and so was I), so we planted it in our garden. We'll see how it does. I put a box out there around it today so that we can pile the soil up deeper—a temporary 2-story enclosure. It seems a little late for starting to plant something, but the fall weather has been great and potatoes seem like something that could survive some cold.

Roots

I picked a bunch of carrots. They weren't very good, but we roasted them and they were delicious.

We've had an explosion of some sort of burrowing rodent throwing up hills all through our backyard. I think that they must have gotten to the garden, because a couple of carrots seemed to have been eaten at the bottom.

Something also got my broccoli plants. I think it was most likely the dog, but I didn't actually see her do it.

Fall Planting

I put in broccoli and lettuce today–starts from Julie.

Tiny Corn

We picked our first two tiny ears of corn today. One was perfectly ripe and one was not quite. But Ian and Molly loved it!

Tomatoes & Beans

We had an early harvest of tomatoes, thanks to a well timed Miracle Grow application and some early hot weather. Here's Ian with the first tomato of the season.While he wasn't quite as exuberant about the peas as I thought he would be, he has made up for it in his uninhibited enthusiasm for tomatoes.

The green beans were kind of overshadowed by the peas. While there have been a couple of very thin beans start develop. They've been eaten—by birds or squirrels I think. I put in a few more seeds where the plants hadn't survived the overshadowing of the peas and they came up within a couple of days. So, hopefully I haven't missed bean season and hopefully it's not too hot.

Harvests

We had delicious time standing in the garden eating peas. Molly loved to practice her standing balance and pull a pea pod off the vine. She preferred to open the pods and eat each individual pea—unfortunately her fine motor skill coordination isn't as refined as she'd like it to be and some would inevitably end up on the ground. No problem though she'll eat them from there too.

The very first ripe peas went to our Joy School group. Several of the kids—Thomas and Evan—took a keen interest in checking up on the garden every time they came to our house. I had hoped to reward them each with one pea pod, but no luck, they got the idea and soon devoured everything that had any size to it at all. But their exuberance was wonderful.

We had our friends the Howells over and compared notes on our small gardens. Neither had ever grown peas, so we took them out and introduced them. Amanda really liked the fresh garden peas, but Brandon, a true Carolinian (i.e. Southern) complained that they were too crisp and crunchy. He admitted to preferring his vegetables mushy—even wanting to send back the "uncooked" vegetables that you get at expensive restaurants.

The hot weather came early this year and we only got to fully enjoy the first of my three successive plantings of peas. We got about half of the second bunch. The plants in the thrid planting didn't do much at all. So, next year I think I'll put more squres into the first planting. Despite Mel's warnings, I think it's hard to have too many peas.

These sugar snap peas were fantasic. We even had a few that we chopped up and added to two suppers. The pods were delicious!

Seeds

I have been fascinated by seeds lately. I'm astounded that the little plants come out of the seeds after simply putting them in the ground. Ian got a few sunflower seeds from nursery two Sundays ago and we planted them and there are little seedlings poking out of the ground—one yesterday and three more today. They are different than the other sorts of seedlings I've had grow, they are bigger and thicker in their little stems and something, maybe waxier too.

I have also been watching some apple seeds grow. Right now they are planted in paper towels in a glass. The seeds are right up near the edge of the glass and I can see the roots go down and the shoots start to go up. I am even more amazed because they came out of the apples I used for apple sauce for Joy School the other week.

The seeds in the garden are also growing great. Everything is up. The parsnips are starting to get their first set of distinctive leaves. But, the bean sprouts were the most interesting. Here are three of the seedlings yesterday.

Little fingers

As I escorted our Joy School friends out to see what the seeds sprouted seeds looked like—we were learning about how seeds grow—I was surprised to find two dandelion flowers smiling up out of the empty garden box that has been waiting for corn to grow. As my attention was focused on coraling 6 pre-schoolers, holding their attention, and minimizing the damage, I didn't think too much beyond a slight worry that such a tenacious weed had already broke through my haphazard cardboard barrier and stretched out through my 4 inches of fine Mel's Mix.

By the time I got back out there this afternoon, the bright yellow smiles had wilted. One of the ingenious Joy Schoolers had taken our lesson to heart and planted some beautiful flowers.

The corn got started today. Since I seem to be a little short of Mel's Mix I mounded up 16 mounds that should be plenty deep. I planted 4 seeds today, that should give me a 4 week progression, hopefully that's enough plants to polinate themselves.

Following a nursery lesson Sunday, we also have a few Sunflowers that we've added to our bevy of seeds to watch. The Sunflowers be out by the end of the month. They're planted in front.

Today's planting

green beans Apr. 24	carrots (12/16) Mar. 25 Apr. 23	parsnips (1 long row of 8) Mar. 25 Apr. 23	peas Apr. 10
peas/peppers Mar. 10	green beans Apr. 23	parsnips (1 long row of 8) carrots Apr. 25	peas Apr. 10
strawberries Mar. 8	lettuce Mar. 10 Mar. 25 Apr. 6	peas Mar. 19	green beans Apr. 10
peas Mar. 8	strawberries Mar 8	green beans Apr. 10	peas/peppers Mar. 19

I put in two squares each of peas and green beans. The parsnips are just coming up.

Baby Carrots

After what seems like many, many days of rain (I think it was really only 3), we wandered out to the garden yesterday and found that the carrots had poked out of the soil. They seem to be looking good, I am excited to see them, because I haven't grown carrots before.

Grow dandelions!

I have been thinking about gardening with kids today (see the previous post) and happened upon my three-year old neighbor picking dandelions for her mom. She was singing and talking to them. This went on for several minutes. Perhaps one of the secrets to gardening with kids is to plant dandelions.

Comment on Slate Kid Gardening Article

Slate Article: Kinder-gardening
My three-year old and I are enjoying his second season of gardening—his first started when he was just over a year, we moved in the middle of season last year. (Having relocated to the south, we have really started gardening already this year. We have pea plants and lettuce seedlings.) We are both really enjoying the endeavor. Here are three things that make us happy gardeners.

1. Elephant watering can from Target.* We fill this up from my watering can and he waters each plant. It doesn't hold very much water, so even if the whole thing goes onto one plant, there is no harm done. And, since it come out in a fairly strong stream pointed far away from the little body, there is very little accidental self watering.
   
2. Seeds from Territorial seed company. This is my third year using their seeds and every year I am astounded at how many of them actually turn into happy healthy plants. It seems like nearly every seed sprouts. (Maybe this is not as miraculous as it seems to me, but I have not had good luck with other seeds.) Note: I do not start any seeds in doors. If I can't direct sow them, then I buy healthy plants from a nursery.
3. Square foot garden. Mel Bartholomew claims all sorts of great things about this gardening method. So far, I can say that the definite boundaries of the garden are important for my three-year old. We haven't had a weed yet. And empty squares have been a great way to re-direct my three-year old's need to dig. By the time all of our squares are planted, there will be things (sugar snap peas and lettuce) ready to harvest and then replant.

*I can't find the elephant watering can online at Target. Perhaps it is a regional offering. It looks like the picture below and I found it on a whole aisle of cutesy kid gardening stuff located just next to the grown up gardening stuff in the seasonal section of our store.

Stomping the green-eyed monster

Heading out to the garden this afternoon felt like stepping into a green house. The coming storm had already laid down the humidity and the temperature was something like 76 degrees. That should be good for our six tiny pea seedlings. And they'll need all the help they can get after the thorough stomping they received from the green-eyed monster.

When Molly's gardening exuberance inspired me to take a picture of her sitting in the garden again, Ian had had quite enough. He stomped through the peas so he could get his turn being yanked out of the garden. After a brief explanation, he offered an extremely heart-felt apology to the pea seedlings, promising that their mommy would be here soon and that he would take good care of them from now on.

It's growing

There is nothing quite as refreshing to the soul of this gardener than a good rain storm to water seeds and fill a rain barrel and seeing the first green sprouts poke out of the ground.
These are lettuce seedlings. I also have one pea sticking out.

Water

Having been raised in the high mountain deserts it's hard for me to wrap my mind around a serious drought in a place where rain falls hard and fast in big drops.

Yesterday we installed a rain barrel to ensure that our garden can get water, despite stage 3 drought restrictions. I still hold out hope that enough rain will fall to fill the reservoirs; however, as they are up stream, it's not a terrible idea to have a rain barrel anyway.

Our rain barrel is a small one only 35 gallons, but I hope that it'll be enough for our small square foot garden adventure.

Ian loves to water. Every day he throws a fit that he can't water more. Luckily Mel says that you can't water a square foot garden too much; although, I'm sure that Raleigh City might disagree.

In the ground

I did not soak the peas that we planted today, contrary to Mel's advice. But Ian's baby elephant gave them a good soaking once they were in the ground.



Two strawberry plants with the green leaves excite the garden. Even if they don't produce anything, they make the space seem like someplace things could grow.

Despite my over planning, I put the peas where I didn't necessarily want them. I was going to plant the 4 squares that my cover will cover (and keep the birds away from the seeds) with 2 strawberry plants, peas, and lettuce. So, I thought I'd put the peas in the square furthest into the garden, but between corralling two kids, they went in the very corner, so we'll have to reach over the strawberry to harvest the lettuce. Hopefully, the strawberry won't get too trampled—although Molly's already crawled over both plants and given it her best effort to rip their leaves off.

Planting Schedule

peas	carrots (12/16) Mar. 25	parsnips (1 long row of 8) Mar. 25	peas/peppers Mar. 17
peas/peppers Mar. 10	green beans	parsnips (1 long row of 8) carrots Apr. 25	green beans
strawberries Mar. 8	lettuce Mar. 10 Mar. 25 Apr. 6	peas Mar. 19	green beans
peas Mar. 8	strawberries Mar 8	green beans	peas/peppers Mar. 19

Mel's Mix

I finally got all the pieces together to mix up my 'magic' Mel's Mix soil. It was way more work than I wanted. He has an ingenious way to mix the three ingredients (vermiculite, peat moss, and compost)—with a tarp: dump all the stuff and then move the tarp to roll it all together.

Well, my tarp turned out to be too small. And, it is definitely a two adult persons job. I ended up using Ian's little plastic shovels (so as not to tear the tarp) to stir things together.

After I lugged the stuff up to the garden spot, I was disappointed to find that I only have enough for just over two boxes. I think that I must not have gotten enough compost. I went to the city and filled up two garbage bags.

To save the day, Ryan was enthusiastically impressed with the soil. Hopefully the cats won't invade the one box that I left uncovered tonight and we'll actually get seeds in the ground tomorrow.

Strawberry Shock

While I was out and about looking for vermiculite and compost on Saturday, I was also half-heartedly looking for strawberries. I didn't find any. I am almost unable to believe this, as my research shows this is the time to plant them. I saw starts of tomatoes, but no strawberries.

Compost and other soil matters

So, who knew that compost would be the Mel's Mix component that I would have the most difficult time obtaining. I am still very pleased with my pile, but I tried to "screen" it on Saturday to determine how much more I'd need to buy and there was only a negligible bit that would pass through the screen I was using. Possibly I need a screen with bigger holes, but still I'm going to need to add some. I had not given it much thought as I assumed that I could just pick some up wherever I found the vermiculite or at the least from Lowes. But, the nursery that stocked vermiculite, had very expensive compost. I did get a good tip from a friend about getting compost from the city. It is cheap ($3 for any size load) and relatively close. But it doesn't come in bags and from the website I think that the operation favors truck loads—of course, it would since that's how most people will want it.

I am pleased with having locate vermiculite, it's not very common around here. When I talked to mom, she said that is because Mel is a Westerner. And the peat moss was easy as they stock it at Lowes.

I had hoped to go get the compost from the city today, but didn't make it. I'm not sure when I'll be able to do it. There is supposed to be some very nasty stormy weather moving in. I would kind of like to have it before then, so that the rain can wet it for me, but it might just blow away before the rain comes.

Compost

There is a worm in my compost pile. Yipee! (I understand that means that I have a good pile.)

Multi-Vegetable Square

peas/peppers	parsnips	carrots	lettuce
peas/peppers	carrots	peas	strawberries
peas	green beans	green beans	strawberries
peas	green beans	green beans	peas/peppers

Boxes

Last week Ian helped me to paint the boards for one of our garden boxes. He loves to paint, especially when his dad is working on painting project around the house. (Ryan has been painting the shutters.) I expected Ian to be sloppy and messy. But he wasn't. I gave him a paint brush and a little bit of paint in a cup and he very carefully spread the paint over the board. He spread it fairly smoothly, very little unevenness. He spread the paint over the whole board. He didn't leave any board showing and only dripped a little paint down the side. He is constantly surprising me about what he is able to do.

Ryan helped me put the boxes together and now I have 3 4'x4' boxes waiting to be filled and planted. If I figure right then we need about 48 square feet of "soil" mix. I'm pretty sure I haven't figured right. But I'm hoping that the growing medium won't break the bank. I finally found some peat moss at Lowes $10 for 4 cubic feet. I'm still looking for some vermiculite.

Compost

I noticed yesterday that my little pile is actually making compost. I've been cutting everything up small, adding lots of different things, and keeping it wet.

I also heard from a friend of mine who has chickens that she has some manure that I can have. I would never have imagined that I would be excited about manure, but I am.

So much

I blocked out the squares for my square foot garden and I am absolutely amazed at what I can grow in a 4'x4' square. In my imaginings I can grow a very lovely summer eating garden full of thriving plants producing just the right amount of ripe vegetables at any given time.

Note that on the square foot garden website there is a note that for tomatoes I should see page 46 of the book for directions on how to prune the plants to have one stem and increase the harvest. I am waiting to see what he says before I determine how many plants can go in each square.

Hopefully, I'll pick up the book tomorrow.