Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Cabbage

12 Stonehead cabbage plants in different stages of development and all started under a board.
Just starting to make a head.

Ready to harvest.

Friday, June 25, 2010

Batavia Lettuce

I've been growing Batavia Lettuce for a number of years. These varieties are Nevada (green) and Tiede (red). Tiede has a fine texture similar to most loose leaf lettuce. However the Nevada is very similar to head lettuce. I've also grown Sierra and it is just like Nevada but has some red color. Both varieties do very well in our hot humid Midwest summers.
Tiede
Nevada

This is my third planting of Batavia Lettuce of the season and I'm going to plant a fourth planting today.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Last Pick of Asparagus

Yesterday was the last pick of asparagus for the season and will now let it go to seed. I've harvested between 35 to 40 lbs in a little over months.

The little fence keeps the plants upright and makes it easy to mow around.
No weeds yet!

Monday, June 21, 2010

Weed Free Potatoes

The potatoes now have shaded the soil to the point that no weed can grow. These 6 rows are 36 inches apart 18 inches between plants.

Friday, June 18, 2010

Broccoli and Carrots

The first broccoli is ready to harvest.
Gypsy
Packman Hybrid

Also the first harvest of Danvers carrots. Not big as a beer can yet.

Monday, June 14, 2010

Cabbage and Cauliflower

Here is one of my red cabbage ready to harvest.
Also a Cheddar Hybrid cauliflower.

With veggies like these I don't need a flower garden!

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Brussels Sprouts

When brussels sprouts first start to make little sprouts I break off the lower leaves and stems. I continue this at about 1 week intervals for the rest of the growing season.

I also stake them to a post for wind protection like this and move the wire up a couple times during the season.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Tomatoes

Four La Roma tomatoes in front, four Big Boy next, and two Big Beef on the far end.
The La Roma tomato vines do not get real large and I will not cage them. The Big Boy get quite large and I believe the Big Beef will also get large. The Big Beef was a gift from my neighbor. The mulch is to prevent blossom end rot, and is caused by inconsistent moisture. Irrigate a little in dry weather should cure the problem.

And a wheel barrow full of lettuce just getting ready to be plowed under.

Thursday, June 3, 2010

First Beet Harvest

Looks like those beets could be ready to pull.

Cook them tops and all. The greens are the best part when they are young.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

South 80

The South 80 is the garden that is 80 feet square and south of the house. Sweet corn was planted 2 weeks ago and cultivated once. It will be thinned soon.

Potatoes are doing quite well. They were just rototilled for the last time. I will hand hoe them one more time and hill them up a little more. By then the soil will be shaded enough that no weed will grow. I'm down to my last 5# of potatoes from last years crop.