Friday’s temperature dropped to a comfortable range. Everything in the fall garden has sprouted except for the spinach, carrots and beets. I thought the spinach had come up, but Saturday morning, it was nowhere to be found. It will have to be replanted next weekend. This weekend saw another bed renovated and planted with a follow up crop of radishes, beets and carrots.
Tomorrow there will be another trip to renfrow’s to purchase onion sets and mesclun seeds. That should round out the fall garden except for more follow ups on radishes and carrots. The beets will probably not have time to get a good start for first frost if they are planted any later.
The cucumbers and squash have some female blossoms now. There is a chance they will start producing before the tomatoes totally quit. The arugula is almost ready to pick, so we will have a complete garden salad with any luck at all. The lettuce may even be big enough to pick by then. Mesclun and spinach will probably not be.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://davidsegrest.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
Showing posts with label Cucumbers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cucumbers. Show all posts
Friday, September 30, 2011
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Fast Germination
The fall garden is amazing for the fast germination. Arugula was planted Sunday and came up on Monday. Turnips, mustard and kale were planted on Sunday of the week before and sprouted on Saturday. Cabbage and spinach were planted at the same time as the Arugula. They have not sprouted yet, but the soil may be too warm. They need temperatures of less than 70 degrees.
The next crop of figs seems to have started with a handful on Monday (Labor day). The previous crop was the largest we have ever had. This crop appears to be the sweetest ever. We make a lot of fig preserves because they are so good on biscuits or toast on cold mornings. The late cucumbers already have blossoms and runners so they were put onto a trellis this weekend. See the picture above.
A late harvest of cucumbers and squash is always iffy because there are so many bugs to eat them. The first plantings of cucumbers are dead already. The first plantings of squash are still alive, but they are producing almost nothing.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://davidsegrest.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Replanting
Technically there are only 3 months left before our 1st killing frost, but some years it doesn’t come until December. A few leftover squash and cucumber seeds are not much to risk in order to continue harvesting the bounty a little longer. Three hills of yellow crookneck squash were planted this weekend. The old ones are starting to look kind of ragged. We are still picking a few. The zucchini and the cucumbers have quit producing. The patty-pan has slowed down but we are getting a couple a day.
The cucumber was replanted sometime back and came up well. In fact, it came up so well that a lot of the plants were given away. Then Bugs Bunny found the tender shoots delectable, so they wound up too thin. The survivors were sprinkled with cayenne pepper powder and a few seeds were inter-planted in the gaps.
The green beans finally started making, so they found their way to the supper table last night. The tomatoes are heroes this year. There are plenty of them and they are delicious. The vines are looking a little ragged, but the rain perked them up some.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://davidsegrest.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
The cucumber was replanted sometime back and came up well. In fact, it came up so well that a lot of the plants were given away. Then Bugs Bunny found the tender shoots delectable, so they wound up too thin. The survivors were sprinkled with cayenne pepper powder and a few seeds were inter-planted in the gaps.
The green beans finally started making, so they found their way to the supper table last night. The tomatoes are heroes this year. There are plenty of them and they are delicious. The vines are looking a little ragged, but the rain perked them up some.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://davidsegrest.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Fall Garden Time
It is time to start thinking about the Fall garden. We have already made a 2nd planting of cucumber that will hopefully produce right up till the 1st frost. Soon it will be time to plant onions, cabbages, greens of all kinds, carrots and radishes. Maybe even a few potatoes could go in the ground.
Supposedly almost any kind of greens can be used to make sauerkraut. The greens are really prolific enough that the only loss will be a little time and a handful of salt. How do you suppose kale kraut or mustard kraut will taste? There is one way to find out.
It is also a good time to take cuttings and start new plants. Fall planted perennials should be ordered for early September planting. Most of these plants need to get a good start before 1st frost so the roots will continue to grow and acclimate through the cold season. Our special fall planting project this year will be edible cherries.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://davidsegrest.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
Supposedly almost any kind of greens can be used to make sauerkraut. The greens are really prolific enough that the only loss will be a little time and a handful of salt. How do you suppose kale kraut or mustard kraut will taste? There is one way to find out.
It is also a good time to take cuttings and start new plants. Fall planted perennials should be ordered for early September planting. Most of these plants need to get a good start before 1st frost so the roots will continue to grow and acclimate through the cold season. Our special fall planting project this year will be edible cherries.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://davidsegrest.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Dead Cucumber Vines
None of the cucumbers are producing much of anything. One row finally died except for one plant. They were pulled off this weekend and disposed of in the trash can rather than the compost pile. A new row was planted in another bed. Cucumbers are a favorite vegetable from the garden. It is painful not to have any.
Every year new lessons are learned from experience. The raised beds were started several years ago. One of the mistakes that were made at that time was to make several beds in each row. The thirty inches between the beds is just wasted and things grow over the space so that it really is not good for navigation. Also some of the beds were 3’ wide and some are 4’. The 4’ wide beds hold more and will be more efficient. This winter’s project will be to start the reconstruction of the beds to make them the same length as the row and all of them will be 4’ wide.
The eggplants are finally producing. The potato bag was emptied. There were not a lot of potatoes, but for the space and effort invested the yield was acceptable. The dirt will be improved next year and hopefully the yield will increase.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://davidsegrest.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
Every year new lessons are learned from experience. The raised beds were started several years ago. One of the mistakes that were made at that time was to make several beds in each row. The thirty inches between the beds is just wasted and things grow over the space so that it really is not good for navigation. Also some of the beds were 3’ wide and some are 4’. The 4’ wide beds hold more and will be more efficient. This winter’s project will be to start the reconstruction of the beds to make them the same length as the row and all of them will be 4’ wide.
The eggplants are finally producing. The potato bag was emptied. There were not a lot of potatoes, but for the space and effort invested the yield was acceptable. The dirt will be improved next year and hopefully the yield will increase.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://davidsegrest.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
Monday, June 20, 2011
Pathway Mulching
The pathway mulching started a little late this year. Leaves are not easy to find on the curbside. Some progress is being made however. Saturday, I found a bunch of pine needles. There were more than I could safely carry in my pickup truck so I made another trip Sunday. Most of them went into the pathways, but a few were used to put a light covering on the leaf mulch in the flower beds to give them a nicer look.
We are finally picking cucumbers. They are really hard to find among all of the foliage. The bugs are coming back as well, but not as bad as yesterday. The garden needs to be sprayed again, but every day seems to threaten rain. It hurts to spray and then get it washed off. BT is being used again this year, but the application method is different. Some of the bottles that came with organic foliar fertilizer were saved. The BT is put in the bottle at ½ strength and sprayed with the hose. It seems to work pretty well.
The squash is coming in like crazy. We have given away and eaten bunches, but now it is time to start drying it for use in soups this winter. The tomato vines are loaded too, but don’t count your tomatoes before they are sliced.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://davidsegrest.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
We are finally picking cucumbers. They are really hard to find among all of the foliage. The bugs are coming back as well, but not as bad as yesterday. The garden needs to be sprayed again, but every day seems to threaten rain. It hurts to spray and then get it washed off. BT is being used again this year, but the application method is different. Some of the bottles that came with organic foliar fertilizer were saved. The BT is put in the bottle at ½ strength and sprayed with the hose. It seems to work pretty well.
The squash is coming in like crazy. We have given away and eaten bunches, but now it is time to start drying it for use in soups this winter. The tomato vines are loaded too, but don’t count your tomatoes before they are sliced.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://davidsegrest.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
It’s Growing
This week has brought a lot of rain and sunshine and the combination has made the garden really grow. The picture of zucchini was taken on 5/15/11 and the bed is 4’ wide. The cucumbers have trellises now and they are already climbing them. A small start has been made on the tomato fence.
2 5’ 3” schedule 40 plastic pipes were purchased and cut into 20” sections. 5 of these were planted in the tomato row about 15” deep. The large bamboo shafts are placed in the pipes. The laterals on the trellis are tied to these. Last year the bamboo shafts were too unstable when they were sunk into the dirt. It is hoped that the pipes will be more solid. It is hoped as well that they will carry a huge weight of tomatoes.
The broccoli, cabbage and herbs are doing really well this year. We have been eating broccoli about twice a week and the cabbages are forming firm heads. It has been raining for about a week, so all of the BT has probably washed off of the plants and will need to be re-applied as soon as the rain stops.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://davidsegrest.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Productive Weekend
In spite of time out for Mother’s day this was a productive weekend. Little fences were built for the cucumbers to climb. One whole row of stakes were put in for the peppers. The garden was sprayed with BT to eliminate the cabbage loopers and other villains. The pole beans, okra and winter squash were all heavily side dressed with compost. Another step in completed the fence on the eastern side of the garden was completed.
There is still a lot to do. The remaining squash, cucumbers, lima beans, broccoli and cabbage still need to be side dressed. The irrigation system and the fence need to be finished. There is still a lot of stuff to plant in the front yard. The grass cutting and compost turning go on ad- infinitem.
The greenhouse is empty of plants and will need to be cleaned up before starting the propagation cycle. All of the cups and flats need to be washed and disinfected. The heat pads need to be cleaned and some of the shelves need renovation.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://davidsegrest.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
There is still a lot to do. The remaining squash, cucumbers, lima beans, broccoli and cabbage still need to be side dressed. The irrigation system and the fence need to be finished. There is still a lot of stuff to plant in the front yard. The grass cutting and compost turning go on ad- infinitem.
The greenhouse is empty of plants and will need to be cleaned up before starting the propagation cycle. All of the cups and flats need to be washed and disinfected. The heat pads need to be cleaned and some of the shelves need renovation.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://davidsegrest.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Equality Among Figs
When it was time to prune fig trees last year only one tree was pruned as a kind of experiment to see how production would be affected. When the figs first started ripening the un-pruned tree out produced the pruned fee at least double every day. Wednesday both trees produced the same amount. There were downsides to not pruning.
The un-pruned tree is harder to pick. It also shades the garden more. This year both trees will be radically pruned. The birds get about 1/3 of the figs anyway. The birds pick the taller tree more easily than the shorter tree. We enjoy birdsong and seeing the birds. It is a fair trade.
The new planting of cucumbers from Thursday had sprouted when we got back from Charleston on Sunday PM. The rain had washed off all of the spray and the cucumber beetles and squash bugs are back in full force. BT was sprayed with the sprayer from Lowes. The sulfur is in the sprayer from Home Depot. It has a pressure relieve thing that won’t hold pressure now. The sprayer is about 2 months old. Someday I will learn not to buy anything from Home Depot with moving parts.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
The un-pruned tree is harder to pick. It also shades the garden more. This year both trees will be radically pruned. The birds get about 1/3 of the figs anyway. The birds pick the taller tree more easily than the shorter tree. We enjoy birdsong and seeing the birds. It is a fair trade.
The new planting of cucumbers from Thursday had sprouted when we got back from Charleston on Sunday PM. The rain had washed off all of the spray and the cucumber beetles and squash bugs are back in full force. BT was sprayed with the sprayer from Lowes. The sulfur is in the sprayer from Home Depot. It has a pressure relieve thing that won’t hold pressure now. The sprayer is about 2 months old. Someday I will learn not to buy anything from Home Depot with moving parts.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Adventures in the Jungle
Everything in the garden is so big that one has to walk over to the bed of interest to see what’s happening there. Visibility is limited. The birds are everywhere. They are feasting on the figs. My greatest fear is coming around a tall tomato bush and meeting a tiger or some other jungle creature that decided the garden would make a good home.
The struggle to get ready for the fall garden is intensifying. There are several beds with old non-producing stuff that can be pulled off. There are so many desirable items for the fall and so many items that can possibly be replanted for a second crop. It is a challenge to plan the layout. I think I will just spend the weekend reworking the space available and then come up with a planting scheme.
The garden needs another planting of cucumbers and mesclun and some spinach and sallet greens. The broccoli and cabbage plants in the greenhouse will be ready to transplant by labor day or maybe a little sooner. There are enough plants, but the soil was too warm for good germination.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
The struggle to get ready for the fall garden is intensifying. There are several beds with old non-producing stuff that can be pulled off. There are so many desirable items for the fall and so many items that can possibly be replanted for a second crop. It is a challenge to plan the layout. I think I will just spend the weekend reworking the space available and then come up with a planting scheme.
The garden needs another planting of cucumbers and mesclun and some spinach and sallet greens. The broccoli and cabbage plants in the greenhouse will be ready to transplant by labor day or maybe a little sooner. There are enough plants, but the soil was too warm for good germination.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Cucumbers and Onions
My wife’s favorite way to eat cucumbers is to marinate them in oil, vinegar and salt water with just a bare touch of sugar. Leave them in the fridge for at least 4 hours. Overnight is better. I would add a few basil leaves. Michael Swol likes to add a jalapeño pepper. It is fantastic any way you do it.
We picked over 5 ½ pounds of produce yesterday (Sunday). Most of it was squash and cucumbers, but we did pick some mustard greens and salad stuff. I also replanted the patty-pan squash. I found a package of seeds at the Myers Park Garden center. They were “Renee’s” and they had 3 different varieties. The variance seemed to be mostly by color. They were planted in a 3’ wide bed, so they will probably run everywhere. There was a good thunderstorm yesterday that should get them off to a good start.
The thunder storm knocked down about 1/3 of the sunflowers. They were planted a little too close anyway. Today I will pull all of the downed ones and side dress the rest. They are just starting to make flowers.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
We picked over 5 ½ pounds of produce yesterday (Sunday). Most of it was squash and cucumbers, but we did pick some mustard greens and salad stuff. I also replanted the patty-pan squash. I found a package of seeds at the Myers Park Garden center. They were “Renee’s” and they had 3 different varieties. The variance seemed to be mostly by color. They were planted in a 3’ wide bed, so they will probably run everywhere. There was a good thunderstorm yesterday that should get them off to a good start.
The thunder storm knocked down about 1/3 of the sunflowers. They were planted a little too close anyway. Today I will pull all of the downed ones and side dress the rest. They are just starting to make flowers.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Summer Bounty
Finally cucumbers have joined the garden salad. Tomatoes will be awhile. The squash plants are overflowing their beds. The greens are getting brown and lacy. It is time to get them out of the way so the squash will have more room. The sugar peas are still producing as is the broccoli, but they are starting to look kind of ratty.
I was a little disappointed because I thought that the zucchini I planted was a different variety. It turned out to be tasty, so I was fine. Now I am really disappointed, because what I thought was patty pan is a pale colored zucchini. I hope it is not too late to replant patty-pan. The real problem is that I don’t have any space yet. The broccoli is planted beside okra and cucumber. The sugar peas are in a 3’ wide bed. It is too early to pull the potatoes.
A year without patty-pan squash could be really sad. Maybe I can plant some in the front yard. I had better buy the seeds someplace else. I am sure if I go back to Renfrow’s they will be from the same batch.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
I was a little disappointed because I thought that the zucchini I planted was a different variety. It turned out to be tasty, so I was fine. Now I am really disappointed, because what I thought was patty pan is a pale colored zucchini. I hope it is not too late to replant patty-pan. The real problem is that I don’t have any space yet. The broccoli is planted beside okra and cucumber. The sugar peas are in a 3’ wide bed. It is too early to pull the potatoes.
A year without patty-pan squash could be really sad. Maybe I can plant some in the front yard. I had better buy the seeds someplace else. I am sure if I go back to Renfrow’s they will be from the same batch.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
Friday, May 28, 2010
Stuck in the Middle Again
Some people would say winter is the hardest time of year in the garden. The turn of spring and summer has got to be close. Except for tying up tomatoes and pulling weeds there just is not a lot to do right now. The garden has been pretty heavily mulched so there are not even many weeds. Picking greens and peas and cutting broccoli and asparagus is fun; but it is already getting old. The summer stuff is not coming in yet.
Three small yellow squash have been picked. The first zucchini was 1 ½ ‘’ long when the blossom fell. It was rotten already. It did not appear to have been struck by a pest. Sometimes at the beginning of the season the first female blossoms don’t get pollinated. If the situation persists, I will have to engage in artificial insemination. (or something like that)
There are still no tomatoes on the tomato vines; but some of the little cucumbers at the base of the cucumber blossoms seem to be growing a little larger. The cabbage is heading up a little bit; but it will still be awhile before it is really a cabbage head. The broccoli is still making side shoots, so I won’t have either that space or the sugar pea space for planting something else for awhile. Ho-hum.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
Three small yellow squash have been picked. The first zucchini was 1 ½ ‘’ long when the blossom fell. It was rotten already. It did not appear to have been struck by a pest. Sometimes at the beginning of the season the first female blossoms don’t get pollinated. If the situation persists, I will have to engage in artificial insemination. (or something like that)
There are still no tomatoes on the tomato vines; but some of the little cucumbers at the base of the cucumber blossoms seem to be growing a little larger. The cabbage is heading up a little bit; but it will still be awhile before it is really a cabbage head. The broccoli is still making side shoots, so I won’t have either that space or the sugar pea space for planting something else for awhile. Ho-hum.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Greenhouse Tomatoes
Greenhouse tomatoes have gotten a well deserved reputation for mealiness and lack of taste. The greenhouse tomatoes in Bulgaria don’t taste that way. They are grown in the ground rather than in pots. This inspired me to try the same thing in my greenhouse. A raised bed has been built inside the greenhouse. The plants have been started and are almost ready to go into the ground. Fluorescent lights have been installed on chains so they can be moved up as the tomatoes grow.
The lights are also on a timer. The ideal time of daylight needed is 18 hours per day. There will also be cucumbers and basil in the raised bed. A special variety of cucumber is being used that were bred specifically to be grown in greenhouses. They are long skinny things with bumps instead of spines. The arugula and mesclun are doing well in the garden. They do not normally freeze. The weather people are calling for a very cold winter this year. A tunnel might be needed for the worst nights. Since the plants are in raised beds, that should be fairly easy to install.
Year round salads from the garden are a major goal in our house. Grocery store stuff is ok; but not as satisfying as the things from the yard. We did not get a single tomato from the hanging vine; because the deer ate them. The vine has recovered pretty well so it will be moved to the greenhouse.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
The lights are also on a timer. The ideal time of daylight needed is 18 hours per day. There will also be cucumbers and basil in the raised bed. A special variety of cucumber is being used that were bred specifically to be grown in greenhouses. They are long skinny things with bumps instead of spines. The arugula and mesclun are doing well in the garden. They do not normally freeze. The weather people are calling for a very cold winter this year. A tunnel might be needed for the worst nights. Since the plants are in raised beds, that should be fairly easy to install.
Year round salads from the garden are a major goal in our house. Grocery store stuff is ok; but not as satisfying as the things from the yard. We did not get a single tomato from the hanging vine; because the deer ate them. The vine has recovered pretty well so it will be moved to the greenhouse.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Watermelon Fence Revisited
Watermelon Fence Revisited
I
t would be great to show a picture; but the camera was stolen this weekend. A picture will come as soon as the camera is replaced. The new watermelon fence went up yesterday, complete with last years lessons. The fencing used this time was a plastic wire with a 1” grid. Last year the 2”X 4” wire allowed the baby watermelons to fall through. Some hung below the fence and had to be supported. Some got caught in the grid and were deformed.
One more try was made to plant cucumbers. Only a few of my first planting germinated. None of the next two plantings germinated. This time a trench was dug and filled with compost. The cukes are one of my favorite things from the garden. We are still picking mesclun and oak leaf lettuce. We had a salad with cucumber from the garden and mesclun and nasturtium blossoms. The tomato was store-bought.
Winter Swol has a new recipe for grape leaves stuffed with figs and cheese. I will try to pry it from her mind and share it with you in the next post. Hopefully there will be ripe figs by then and we can try it and include pictures if I get a new camera. The fig tree is loaded, I am confident it will do its part. Shopping for a camera may be more troublesome.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
I
t would be great to show a picture; but the camera was stolen this weekend. A picture will come as soon as the camera is replaced. The new watermelon fence went up yesterday, complete with last years lessons. The fencing used this time was a plastic wire with a 1” grid. Last year the 2”X 4” wire allowed the baby watermelons to fall through. Some hung below the fence and had to be supported. Some got caught in the grid and were deformed.
One more try was made to plant cucumbers. Only a few of my first planting germinated. None of the next two plantings germinated. This time a trench was dug and filled with compost. The cukes are one of my favorite things from the garden. We are still picking mesclun and oak leaf lettuce. We had a salad with cucumber from the garden and mesclun and nasturtium blossoms. The tomato was store-bought.
Winter Swol has a new recipe for grape leaves stuffed with figs and cheese. I will try to pry it from her mind and share it with you in the next post. Hopefully there will be ripe figs by then and we can try it and include pictures if I get a new camera. The fig tree is loaded, I am confident it will do its part. Shopping for a camera may be more troublesome.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Hanging Tomatoes
Hanging Tomatoes
I suppose by now that every gardener has heard of the hanging tomato vines. It really seemed like a great idea; but I have been just a little skeptical. Yesterday I had lunch with my mother at Plantation Estates. She told me about one of the residents that had a hanging tomato vine. We walked down to take a look. This vine is huge and has large tomatoes on it. I am sold and will have 1 (or 2) on my patio by the time the weekend is over. It will be easy to take into the greenhouse when the weather gets cool.
We got a few more squash yesterday, 2 zucchinis and a yellow crookneck. They were very small. My policy is to pull the squash when the blossom falls. I may need to start waiting one more day. Every variety of summer squash has at least 1 fruit on the plant. The spaghetti squash has blossoms. I really hope the pepper and garlic spray will keep the pickle worms away this year.
A short thunder storm boomed through last night; so watering will not be necessary before Sunday. Thunderstorms have been predicted for every night since Monday; but that is the 1st one that materialized.
I lost 4 tomato plants this past week. I bought 3 yesterday at Renfrow’s and have 2 left in the greenhouse. I also bought some cayenne pepper plants. We don’t eat them; but they make good bug spray. I would have bought habanero’s if they had had them. Also had to get more cucumber seeds.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
I suppose by now that every gardener has heard of the hanging tomato vines. It really seemed like a great idea; but I have been just a little skeptical. Yesterday I had lunch with my mother at Plantation Estates. She told me about one of the residents that had a hanging tomato vine. We walked down to take a look. This vine is huge and has large tomatoes on it. I am sold and will have 1 (or 2) on my patio by the time the weekend is over. It will be easy to take into the greenhouse when the weather gets cool.
We got a few more squash yesterday, 2 zucchinis and a yellow crookneck. They were very small. My policy is to pull the squash when the blossom falls. I may need to start waiting one more day. Every variety of summer squash has at least 1 fruit on the plant. The spaghetti squash has blossoms. I really hope the pepper and garlic spray will keep the pickle worms away this year.
A short thunder storm boomed through last night; so watering will not be necessary before Sunday. Thunderstorms have been predicted for every night since Monday; but that is the 1st one that materialized.
I lost 4 tomato plants this past week. I bought 3 yesterday at Renfrow’s and have 2 left in the greenhouse. I also bought some cayenne pepper plants. We don’t eat them; but they make good bug spray. I would have bought habanero’s if they had had them. Also had to get more cucumber seeds.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
Monday, August 18, 2008
A Change is Gonna Come
A Change is Gonna Come
Every year is a learning experience in the garden. Some of the things learned this year that go into planning for next years garden are:
1) The watermelon fence is a great idea. The 2” X 4” wire lets the baby watermelons hang down on the inside. I will put some plastic hardware mesh on the top of the 2” X 4” wire next year.
2) The plastic wire for the cucumber fence is too flimsy for 8’ spans. Next year it will be on 4’ spans. I may even put rails there to support the vines better. There were hot peppers and herbs in the row as well to keep the bugs and other critters away this year. That seemed to help. I will do that again.
Some things I know are a problem. I just don’t know what to do. They will take some research.
1) The tomatoes are braced and tied as high as I can reach; but they still keep growing and fall over. If I make them any higher, I won’t be able to pick them without a ladder.
2) The squash plants wander all over the garden.
3) The spaghetti squash just plain died. There was only 1 squash and it had worms. That is the most delicious squash. Why can’t I grow them?
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
Every year is a learning experience in the garden. Some of the things learned this year that go into planning for next years garden are:
1) The watermelon fence is a great idea. The 2” X 4” wire lets the baby watermelons hang down on the inside. I will put some plastic hardware mesh on the top of the 2” X 4” wire next year.
2) The plastic wire for the cucumber fence is too flimsy for 8’ spans. Next year it will be on 4’ spans. I may even put rails there to support the vines better. There were hot peppers and herbs in the row as well to keep the bugs and other critters away this year. That seemed to help. I will do that again.
Some things I know are a problem. I just don’t know what to do. They will take some research.
1) The tomatoes are braced and tied as high as I can reach; but they still keep growing and fall over. If I make them any higher, I won’t be able to pick them without a ladder.
2) The squash plants wander all over the garden.
3) The spaghetti squash just plain died. There was only 1 squash and it had worms. That is the most delicious squash. Why can’t I grow them?
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Doing Instead of Talking
Doing Instead of Talking
I have been so busy catching up from the Shanghai trip that I have not been able to write much. I have been doing garden work instead of talking about it. We are getting lots of everything except tomatoes. The tomatoes are a strange case. I planted some ordinary beefsteak; but most of the tomatoes are either the Porterhouse Beefsteak or Marglobe. The beefsteaks are huge; but they don’t have much flavor. It is like they have enough flavor for a little tomato spread through a big tomato. They will not work for canning in a water bath; because they don’t have much acid.
The watermelon fence is working great except for the few watermelons that fell through. I had to put things under them. Here is a picture of the watermelon fence. It was taken about 4 days ago and I had not cut the grass in the yard then. I have cut the grass since.
We have been getting lots of cucumbers; but my wife missed a lot while I was gone. We cut these huge cucumbers down the middle and took out the seeds. Then we chopped the cucumbers and put them in a jar with onions, vinegar, salt water and olive oil. They are good, good, good.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
I have been so busy catching up from the Shanghai trip that I have not been able to write much. I have been doing garden work instead of talking about it. We are getting lots of everything except tomatoes. The tomatoes are a strange case. I planted some ordinary beefsteak; but most of the tomatoes are either the Porterhouse Beefsteak or Marglobe. The beefsteaks are huge; but they don’t have much flavor. It is like they have enough flavor for a little tomato spread through a big tomato. They will not work for canning in a water bath; because they don’t have much acid.
The watermelon fence is working great except for the few watermelons that fell through. I had to put things under them. Here is a picture of the watermelon fence. It was taken about 4 days ago and I had not cut the grass in the yard then. I have cut the grass since.
We have been getting lots of cucumbers; but my wife missed a lot while I was gone. We cut these huge cucumbers down the middle and took out the seeds. Then we chopped the cucumbers and put them in a jar with onions, vinegar, salt water and olive oil. They are good, good, good.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Bulgarian Tomatoes & Cucumbers
Bulgarian Tomatoes & Cucumbers
The part of Bulgaria where I am staying is a little bit cooler than Charlotte, NC. In Charlotte we traditionally pick our first tomato on July 4th. (last year mine was July 3rd). They serve locally grown tomatoes and cucumbers for every meal here. I have been trying to solve the mystery. They don’t taste like greenhouse tomatoes. I asked one of my students yesterday. His cousin has a garden and a greenhouse.
We have already mentioned that in the greenhouses here the plants are grown in the ground and covered with a plastic tunnel. My student said that the tomatoes taste the same. I asked, “What about in the winter?” My student said “We don’t have tomatoes in the winter.” I am surmising by this that they extend the growing season with the greenhouses. They don’t try to completely pervert it.
All of the students have left. I have a whole hotel to myself. There is a staff of about 30 people and I think there are three other guests. I am sitting on a patio by the black sea, listening to the waves and being pampered to the point of distraction. Life is good.
David Segrest practices international real estate and writes an international real estate blog. Email is david@segrestrealty.com , Web page http://www.segrestrealty.com ,Blog http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
The part of Bulgaria where I am staying is a little bit cooler than Charlotte, NC. In Charlotte we traditionally pick our first tomato on July 4th. (last year mine was July 3rd). They serve locally grown tomatoes and cucumbers for every meal here. I have been trying to solve the mystery. They don’t taste like greenhouse tomatoes. I asked one of my students yesterday. His cousin has a garden and a greenhouse.
We have already mentioned that in the greenhouses here the plants are grown in the ground and covered with a plastic tunnel. My student said that the tomatoes taste the same. I asked, “What about in the winter?” My student said “We don’t have tomatoes in the winter.” I am surmising by this that they extend the growing season with the greenhouses. They don’t try to completely pervert it.
All of the students have left. I have a whole hotel to myself. There is a staff of about 30 people and I think there are three other guests. I am sitting on a patio by the black sea, listening to the waves and being pampered to the point of distraction. Life is good.
David Segrest practices international real estate and writes an international real estate blog. Email is david@segrestrealty.com , Web page http://www.segrestrealty.com ,Blog http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
My Decision
My Decision
The last ending was Good Friday is coming. “To plant, or not to plant? That is the question. This is the answer. I planted cucumber and summer squash and zucchini. I used some of the compost that is not quite finished. Last week when I turned it, it had lots of little squiggly earthworms. This week it had loads of big fat earthworms. They grow fast.
For the cucumbers, I put up a fence of plastic 2” X 4” wire 28’ long. I made a deep furrow down one side of the fence. The soil tested 6.5 to 6.8 ph. Cucumber’s soil should be 6.0 to 6.5. I put a thin line of sulphur in the furrow and then filled it with compost (and earthworms). After covering the furrow with dirt I planted the cucumber seeds about ¾” deep and about 6”s apart.
I planted 6 hills of summer squash (yellow crookneck) and 5 hills of Zucchini. The hills were spaced on 3’ centers. To make each hill, I dug a 6” hole with the posthole diggers. I filled the hole and made a pile of compost about 6” high on top of it. I scraped up the loose soil around this and the plug from the posthole to make a hill about 18” in diameter and 10” high. I poked three holes in the face of each hill just like those in a bowling ball. I put 3 seeds in each hole, filled them with loose dirt and patted them down.
Incidentally, the garlic has come up. The fig trees are putting out leaves. The radishes in the new raised bed are up. I also planted a thyme plant in the new raised bed. Spring is so wonderful. Happy Easter.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
The last ending was Good Friday is coming. “To plant, or not to plant? That is the question. This is the answer. I planted cucumber and summer squash and zucchini. I used some of the compost that is not quite finished. Last week when I turned it, it had lots of little squiggly earthworms. This week it had loads of big fat earthworms. They grow fast.
For the cucumbers, I put up a fence of plastic 2” X 4” wire 28’ long. I made a deep furrow down one side of the fence. The soil tested 6.5 to 6.8 ph. Cucumber’s soil should be 6.0 to 6.5. I put a thin line of sulphur in the furrow and then filled it with compost (and earthworms). After covering the furrow with dirt I planted the cucumber seeds about ¾” deep and about 6”s apart.
I planted 6 hills of summer squash (yellow crookneck) and 5 hills of Zucchini. The hills were spaced on 3’ centers. To make each hill, I dug a 6” hole with the posthole diggers. I filled the hole and made a pile of compost about 6” high on top of it. I scraped up the loose soil around this and the plug from the posthole to make a hill about 18” in diameter and 10” high. I poked three holes in the face of each hill just like those in a bowling ball. I put 3 seeds in each hole, filled them with loose dirt and patted them down.
Incidentally, the garlic has come up. The fig trees are putting out leaves. The radishes in the new raised bed are up. I also planted a thyme plant in the new raised bed. Spring is so wonderful. Happy Easter.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
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