Update on the garden. - Plans for expansion

It's almost mid September and I'm already looking ahead to next year. This year I had 2 @ 4'x7' and 2@ 2'x8' Squarefoot garden beds, 3 Growboxes and a few buckets that my wife AKA "The Student" grew.

After visiting a few other gardens,  and getting a year of SFG under my belt I'm already planning to expand. It will require some good old fashioned hard labor, as I'll be moving some perennials to the front and side yards and converting more of the back to boxed raised beds.

Here is a birds eye view of the whole back:

It isn't very big and my garage to the left is to the east so that back doesn't get sun until late. At this point I'll leave it well enough alone.

So let's see what will be expanded. On the right side, I'll move some iris, coreopsis, lilies, knock out roses, echinacea and russian sage. The clematis I'll leave, and the trumpet vine I'll start what I suspect will be a multi year effort to eradicate. Seven or eight years in and no blossoms. Forget it.

I have not decided how to divide that space up but I suspect a narrow bed against the fence, a walk way and then another bed.

To the left,

Again things to move, creeping phlox, iris, sedums,  salvia. I will also be severely pruning back the roses. They may not bloom next year though I doubt I'll kill them. The root structures must be vigorous after all these years.  I also think I can probably squeeze in another bed or two where the bench and bird bath are now.

So what do you you think? Sound like a plan? are you expanding/making changes? I'd love to hear from you.

Until next time, Keep Digging & Eat Well!

The Gastronomic Gardener
Garden blog http://amidwestgarden.blogspot.com/
Cooking blog http://ihopeyouarehungry.blogspot.com/
Twitter - @gastrogardener
http://www.facebook.com/TheGastronomicGardener
email: thegastronomicgardener at gmail dot com

Harvest between the storms

We've got a series of showers and thunderstorms rolling through but I managed to get out and get 13lbs or so more of produce yesterday morning.

The plum tomatoes to the left are from the Growboxes. They are still neck and neck with the Squarefoot gardening technique (17 and 18 lbs respectively) except...

...there are only two plants in the grow box, versus 3 in the Squarefoot garden! So the Growbox appears to be 1/3 more productive. It's looking like next year more of the Growboxes will be devoted to tomatoes in order to maximize yield.

In other news, there at least a couple butternut squashes that are growing. I hope there is enough time for them.

I also spotted a tiny acorn squash and an even smaller watermelon. I don't think the melon will make it before frost but we'll see.

A globe eggplant is growing nicely. In my limited experience, eggplant do very well at the end of the season.

I am already planning to expand for next year, but that will require the relocation of some of the perennials to the front or donating them to friends.

Now I'm off to do some tidying up. There are parts that are completely out of control heat and rain aren't just good for the vegetables. But that is a different post.

I leave you with an "art shot."

Future pickle

Until next time, Keep Digging & Eat Well!

The Gastronomic Gardener
Garden blog http://amidwestgarden.blogspot.com/
Cooking blog http://ihopeyouarehungry.blogspot.com/
Twitter - @gastrogardener
http://www.facebook.com/TheGastronomicGardener
email: thegastronomicgardener at gmail dot com

Garden Update

It's been a busy couple days in the garden. The heat has finally broken and I can get outside without melting. What's Happening?

One Growbox is done, the zucchini and cucumbers succumbed to powdery mildew, there were no blossoms active so out they came.

In the Squarefoot bed, the squash is turning into "Frankensquash." The normal stem has  turned more ribbon like and there is a large cluster of tiny squashes. Have yours done this?

I cleaned out some "squares" and added more soil mix (1/3 each by volume, peat, vermiculite and manure). I got a nice little surprise when cleaning out one of the squares that I had grown green onions. These little treasure were hiding under the soil.

I put in carrots, beets, radish, lettuce, bush beans,kale and bok choi. Hopefully we'll get something from them. Here's a couple squares.

We've been getting good harvests and the cucumbers in particular keep on coming. Almost to 50 lbs from three plants. Well, two plants now. I know  it's normal, but I still am thrilled to pick a few pounds one night, go out the next and get another three plus pounds. It makes me happy.

Picked some peppers yesterday. I'm a little paranoid to let them go all the way on the vine. Seem like when I do, some critter gets to them or they rot or in some way become unusable. Not happening this year. I'll pick a little early and be sure to have something to eat.

These peppers are big. In my hand for scale.

I also picked a couple of the giant marconis. The big one is 8" long.

Are you planting fall crops? When are your frost dates?

Until next time, Keep Digging & Eat Well!

The Gastronomic Gardener
Garden blog http://amidwestgarden.blogspot.com/
Cooking blog http://ihopeyouarehungry.blogspot.com/
Twitter - @gastrogardener
http://www.facebook.com/TheGastronomicGardener
email: thegastronomicgardener at gmail dot com

Tuesday Harvest 15 lbs of goodness

I suppose it is the IT  manager in me that wants to measure, to compare, to categorize. Maybe some day I  will be able to be a bit more mellow about it and roll smoothly with good and bad instead of hyper-analyzing what is happening. But as it is only the second year, I think it'll have to wait.

Tonight was a good harvest. The tomatoes are coming in fast. Sadly the Dark Prince seem prone to splitting, while the Celebrity are not so much. There has been some BER in the Romas but it has not been terrible. The romas are clearly determinate, they are coming all at once. Sauce or salsa is in the immediate future.

By the way tonight had 5# 11.4 oz of tomatoes from the SFG, and 5#6oz from the Growboxes. They continue neck and neck.

Anyway, here is the bounty.

Until next time, Keep Digging & Eat Well!

The Gastronomic Gardener
Garden blog http://amidwestgarden.blogspot.com/
Cooking blog http://ihopeyouarehungry.blogspot.com/
Twitter - www.twitter.com/DavidPOffutt
http://www.facebook.com/TheGastronomicGardener
email: thegastronomicgardener at gmail dot com

Growing method Comparison - Early August

When we last looked at the different growing techniques, there was not a big difference between between the Growboxes and the Squarefoot gardening methods.

As of this weekend, there is also not a huge difference in production, but there is a surprise.

The Growboxes are still lush but the cucumbers seem to be slowing down and yellowing.

Growboxes do require daily filling of the water reservoir in hot weather. The tomatoes are doing pretty well but I'm finding there is some BER which is a little surprising considering there are nutrients in the covers.  One thing I have learned is next year I will have to stake them up. The jalapenos are loaded and flopping over as well.

The square foot garden is going like crazy!

The cucumbers show no sign of slowing down.

I have no pictures of the veggie plot but it is a neglected mess. But it's not all about looks. It's about production.

So far to compare the tomato production:

Squarefoot garden:   8.28 lbs
Growbox                   6.90 lbs
Veggie plot                8.81 lbs

Grow box could catch up with two tomatoes, they are big. The veggie plot, I'm harvesting them green as any that start to ripen rot, or are pillaged by some critters.

So the verdict is still out.

In other news, the Brussels sprouts are sprouting.

I removed the last of the carrots, radishes, and beets. I'll be putting in some fall crops this weekend.

How does your garden grow?

Until next time, Keep Digging & Eat Well!

The Gastronomic Gardener
Garden blog http://amidwestgarden.blogspot.com/
Cooking blog http://ihopeyouarehungry.blogspot.com/
Twitter - www.twitter.com/DavidPOffutt






http://www.facebook.com/TheGastronomicGardener
email: thegastronomicgardener at gmail dot com

Comparing growing methods after one month

Welcome Kalipso, glad you are following, and welcome to everyone else who recently started following. I'm glad you are here. From now on, I'll do my best to acknowledge you, the readers, especially those who are new to my blog.

About a month ago I planted tomatoes and peppers using three different techniques.
1) Grow boxes

2) Square foot garden

3) And over at the Veggie plot a few miles away.

So far moisture has not been an issue between the gardens. The Growboxes do come with fertilizer strips, the Squarefoot garden is naturally fertile from all the compost, and the veggie plot we know is very fertile.

In the Growboxes

• Tomatoes 
• Celebrity - 24" tall, fruit and many blossoms
• Roma - 18" tall, fruit, many blossoms
• Peppers
• Between 8 and 12" tall, no fruit loaded with blossoms

In the Squarefoot beds:

• Tomatoes
• Celebrity - 21" tall, fruit and many blossoms
• Roma - 21" tall, fruit, many blossoms
• Peppers
• Between 8 and 18" tall, some fruit, many blossoms

 

Here's a shot of the garden behind the house, with the veggie beds surrounded by flower beds. Quite a difference from a month ago!

A quick drive over to the veg plot, some weeding and scratching - as expected this is a little neglected - but as we have had sufficient rain (and more on the way) things are growing - including the weeds!

• Tomatoes
• Celebrity - 23" tall, no fruit and some blossoms
• Roma - 16" tall, 2 fruit and some blossoms
• Peppers
• Between 6 and 10" tall, 2 fruit, some blossoms 

And a shot of the whole garden...

Observations:
Growth:
Not much difference in growth between Growbox and SFG in terms of plant size, and the tomatoes at the veggie plot  are not far behind, but the peppers are relatively stunted.

Fruit production:
The difference so far between the Growbox and SFG is, in my mind, negligible, and the in-ground veggie plot lags behind.

Some of the difference might be explained by differences in light exposure between here and the veggie plot. Time will tell if any ground is made up, if the SFG can support larger plants later in the season, and if there is difference in long term fruit production. Stay Tuned!

Until next time, Keep Digging & Eat Well!


The Gastronomic Gardener
Garden blog http://amidwestgarden.blogspot.com/
Cooking blog http://ihopeyouarehungry.blogspot.com/
Twitter - www.twitter.com/DavidPOffutt
http://www.facebook.com/TheGastronomicGardener

First Harvest 2011

Really it's not much but enough for a small salad. Spinach, lettuce, chard, basil, green onion and radish.
At this point it is mainly symbolic, but it was grand to have a home grown salad for the first time since last summer.

Here is the garden tonight. Still not sure how much production we'll see out of it in a season. But that is part of the fun!

Until next time, Keep Digging & Eat Well!

The Gastronomic Gardener
Garden blog http://amidwestgarden.blogspot.com/
Cooking blog http://ihopeyouarehungry.blogspot.com/
Twitter - www.twitter.com/DavidPOffutt
http://www.facebook.com/TheGastronomicGardener

Monday Walk-About

Yesterday we got about 4" of rain as measured in a 5 gallon bucket. Today it's going to be 90! I went out early to do some weeding and "smartening up" as Mark would say.  I made good progress but there is still much to be done.  There are some fine things in a garden after a good soaking (drowning?)

The west side is one of my favorite views of the garden,  a small arbor down the path, my crooked gate, another arbor and the Japanese maple. I like the way it pulls you in.

This tangle of color has variegated Iris, Shasta Daisy and bachelor buttons. The iron fence I rescued from scrap last year. I got 4 panels. They weigh a ton! Had them professionally stripped and now they are left to aged gracefully in the garden.

Through the gate and on the left, the clematis is spectacular!

Down  the path (don't look to the right, the ivy bed is a disaster!) and into the back. A different perspective of the Squarefoot garden.

The roses are late, but will come in their own time.

Finally two guardians, one in the sun, one in the shade.  The hermaphoditic sun god from the Dominican Republic faces east to greet the rising sun.

And this little fellow from Limburg Germany is up to something, but he's apparently somewhat nervous.

I'm off to the in-laws to drop off some tomato seedlings...

Until next time, Keep Digging & Eat Well!

The Gastronomic Gardener
Garden blog http://amidwestgarden.blogspot.com/
Cooking blog http://ihopeyouarehungry.blogspot.com/
Twitter - www.twitter.com/DavidPOffutt
http://www.facebook.com/TheGastronomicGardener

Transforming the Garden, aka Get rid of the lawn!

As you probably know, I converted most of my tiny patch of lawn  in the back to a Square foot garden.  Sadly, it looks rather tatty, and needs to be spruced up.  One goal is to eliminate any lawn whatsoever back there.  It's a joke to try and mow, and now that the boxes are there, it would be a pain in the neck.

Here we are before....

A layer of weed cloth, and the edging bricks dug out of the ground. They've sunken in quite a bit in seven. years.

Finished with a layer of mulch. it'll compact once it rains. No more mowing!

It took from 8:00am until 2:30 this afternoon, but so worth it.  What do you think?

Off to the Butcher Shop!


Until next time, Keep Digging & Eat Well!


The Gastronomic Gardener
Garden blog http://amidwestgarden.blogspot.com/
Cooking blog http://ihopeyouarehungry.blogspot.com/
Twitter - www.twitter.com/DavidPOffutt
http://www.facebook.com/TheGastronomicGardener

It's (almost) Summertime and the thinning is easy

In a Square Foot Garden thinning is easy. Unlike the directions on the seed packets there is no sow, then thin to the proper spacing. We've already sown to the proper spacing, but we did place 2-3 seeds per spot.

You do need to thin, but pulling up the ones you want out could disturb the seedling you want to keep. What to do?

OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!

Have your own little French revolution right at home, of course without the rioting mobs, blood, and the incessant thump of a guillotine blade doing its job. No, a simple snip will do the trick.

My weapon of choice, my trusty Swiss Army Knife. The blades are small enough to get in and delicately do the dirty deed.

Here are two squares planted with turnips, they are in need of thinning. It's a bit hard to tell but there are 32 spots planted, 16 per sf.

Doing the deed.

Six minutes later and that's better!  There are still a few spots  that I will have to come back to, but at least there are now 32 distinct spots.

Off to the remote veggie plot!


Until next time, Keep Digging & Eat Well!

The Gastronomic Gardener
Garden blog http://amidwestgarden.blogspot.com/
Cooking blog http://ihopeyouarehungry.blogspot.com/
Twitter - www.twitter.com/DavidPOffutt
http://www.facebook.com/TheGastronomicGardener

Setting out plants in the square foot garden

The seedlings in the sun room, are puny compared to the offerings at the store. Since I really only was successful with tomatoes and peppers, I proceeded to purchase.. tomatoes and peppers, and eggplant and a few herbs.

The east bed is planted, sans a few squares, and the other starts are placed. The taller peppers and eggplanst are placed in west and north squares to reduce shading of other plants.

An overview...

I also crawled into the rose bushes (very slowly) and tied up some of the canes to "smarten" the roses up a bit.

I have a surprise for you in the next post, stay tuned!


Until next time, Keep Digging & Eat Well!

The Gastronomic Gardener
Garden blog http://amidwestgarden.blogspot.com/
Cooking blog http://ihopeyouarehungry.blogspot.com/
Twitter - www.twitter.com/DavidPOffutt

http://www.facebook.com/TheGastronomicGardener