Sky High by the 4th of July

The tomatoes have been enjoying the warm weather. They're now about my height, on their way to Yao Ming's and beyond.

My Front Chard

The giant leaf chard is taking over this box. I'll have to eat it before it crowds out the beets, beans, peas, and cukes.

Time to replant the salad box, which has been growing since last November.

So far, everything has been exceeding expectations. The consistent rain has helped.

Season Two

The boxes are all planted this year: broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, kale, collards, 10 varieties of lettuce, arugula, dandelion greens, chard, 10 kinds of heirloom tomatoes, herbs, eggplant, peppers, carrots, beets, radishes, peas, beans, cucumbers, winter squash, melons.

The tomatoes, cabbages (kale, collards, etc.), peppers, and herbs were all started indoors in March. Everything else was directly planted.

I replaced one set of tomato cages (far right), with a bean, pea, and cucumber trellis.

The bean trellis was constructed with 3/4-inch conduit, cut to two 6'5" pieces and a 3'9" cross piece, and connected using conduit elbows.

Then trellis netting was then tied to each part of the frame.

The nylon netting is incredibly durable and should last several seasons, even if left out in the elements.

Undercover Crop

Pulled back the bed cover, and pulled off the under-cover today and what did I see: Many of the greens I planted in November made it through the winter. Salad in a week or two. Had we been here this winter to oversee things and manage the bed in a timely manner, I have no doubts the crop would have been even more robust.

Where the under-cover blew off (bare spots), the greens disappeared; where it stayed on, the greens survived, if not thrived. These are a mixture of a red leaf lettuce, tatsoi, dandeloin, and bok choi. 

"How 'Bout Them Apples?"

Just placed my spring order today with Seedsavers in Decorah, Iowa. In addition to the many seeds to be sown this season, I ordered five varieties of apple trees which will be grafted onto semi-dwarf stock by the good people at Seedsavers, and sent out in the spring of 2016. I plan to plant at least three of these trees in the parking strip between the sidewalk and the street (after I cut down the two maples that will become firewood). In a few years, apples should be available for picking by passersby.

Apple Tree, Blacktwig 0058 (Paragon). Tennessee, c.1830. Round fruit that is medium to large in size. Flesh is yellow, juicy, aromatic and of very good quality for dessert, kitchen and cider. Ripens late fall; stores well.

Apple Tree, Brown Sweet 0060 New York, 1905. Large, ovate to oblong conic fruit. Flesh is fine textured, rather tender, juicy, very sweet with very good quality. Adds sweetness to cider and also excellent for kitchen use. Ripens mid to late September through October.

Apple Tree, Knobbed Russet 0049CG Sussex, England, 1820. Completely unique, medium size, round to round-oblate fruit that more resembles a bad potato than an apple. Skin is orange yellow with rough scaly grey and black russet welts and knobs. Flesh is greenish yellow, crisp, fine textured, somewhat dry and has amazing intense sweet/subacid flavor. Ripens October.

Apple Tree, Monarch 0076 Essex, England, 1918 introduction. Large, flattish shaped apple. Flesh is crisp, tender, white, subacid to sweet. It has been a very reliable, annual bearer and an excellent pie apple at Heritage Farm. Ripens early September - October.

Apple Tree, Woodard 0095 Origin and history unknown. Large, apple similar in shape and flavor to Golden Delicious. White flesh is juicy and has delicious sweet/tart flavor. Not the Illinois Woodard. Ripens mid-September - October.