Garden Notes

 Garden Notes 2015

Frost free- June 8 -  September 6

February 16th - 16 weeks before frost free

Tomatoes - started Feb 20th in mini greenhouses indoors 
                - most germinated by March 8th 
                - First transplant April 17 to pop bottle greenhouses
  • Bison X3
  • Russian Saskatchewan X3
  • Kalinka X3
  • Sasha's Altai X3
  • Early Annie X3
March 9th- 13 weeks before frost free

Peppers - started March 11th in pop bottle greenhouses indoors
              - April 14 - peppers finally up
  • Hungarian Yellow Sweet Banana X4
  • Early Calwonder X2
  • Sweet Cubanelle
  • Pimento
  • Cayenne
  • Guajillo
  • Jalapeno
  • Medusa


March 16th- 12 weeks before frost free

March 22nd - Started roma tomatoes X4 (Greenhouse #2)
                   - Started apple trees X3

April 13th -  8 weeks before frost free

April 17 -Started brassicas (Greenhouse #2)
  • Brussels Sprouts X12
  • Broccoli X27
  • Cauliflower X8
  • Cabbage X27
  • Kale X12
April 20th -  7 weeks before frost free
 
April 21 - started herbs/perennials/medicinals
  • Celeriac X6
  • Seabuckthorn X6
  • Asparagus X12
  • Columbine X4
  • Chamomile X4
  • Chinese Lantern X3
  • Clary X3
  • Echinacea X3
  • Dill X4
  • Elecampane X3
  • Evening Primrose X4
  • Foxglove X4
  • Holly Hock X4
  • Lady's Mantle X4
  • Lavendar X4
  • Lemon Balm X4
  • Lovage X4
  • Marjoram X4
  • Marshmallow X4
  • Morning Glory X4
  • Mountain Spinach X4
  • Basil X4
  • Penny Royal X5

May 4th- 5 weeks before frost free

Start Greenhouse #1 Companion Plants
  • Radish X14
  • Onions X6
  • Nasturtiums X 3
  • Sunflowers X5
  • Romaine X20
 Start Greenhouse #2 Companion Plants
  • Marigolds X4
  • Onions X10
  • Swiss Chard X6
  • Beets X10
  • Spinach X6
  • Radish X6
  • Nasturtiums X4
  • Dill X2
  • Sunflowers X5
Start Greenhouse #3 Companion Plants
  • Onions X12
  • Dill X4
  • Carrots X14
  • Beets X4
  • Radish X4
  • Nasturtium X4
  • Sunflowers X5
Start Greenhouse #4 Companion Plants 
  • Radish X4
  • Nasturtiums X4
  • Sunflowers X4

Start Watermelons X10 (Greenhouse #1)

Start Pumpkins X12  (Greenhouse #1)

Start Far North Melons X10 (Greenhouse #2)

Start Red Seeded Citron X10 (Greenhouse #4)


May 11th- 4 weeks before frost free

Start transplanting Brassicas into Greenhouse #2

Start Garden Veggies
  • Rutabaga
  • Spinach
  • Swiss Chard
  • Radichio
  • Beets
  • Lettuce
  • Mangels
Start Herbs, Flowers and Perennials
  • Sorrel
  • Garden Chives
  • Seabuckthorn
  • Columbine
  • Celeriac
  • Asparagus
  • Lovage
  • Borage
  • Morning Glory
  • Motherwort
  • Sweet Sumac
  • Lavender
  • Lemon Balm
  • Oregano
  • Sweet Marjoram
  • Sage
  • Rosemary
  • Basil
  • Terragon
  • Parsley


May 25th- 2 weeks before frost free

Start Corn X432 (Greenhouse #4)







Garden Notes 2014

Frost free June 8 -  September 6

 March 16- 12 weeks before frost free

Tomatoes - started March 20th in mini greenhouses indoors
                - transplanted May 1st into sour cream dishes 
  • Seek No Further Love Apple X5      (No germination)
  • 2012 Saved Seed X5                      (No germination)
  • Sasha's Altai X5                             (5- t. front tray, top shelf)
  • Russian Saskatchewan X5             (5- not transplanted yet)
  • Sioux X5                                        (4- t. shelf 2, right side)
  • Kalinka X10                                    (6- main tray)
  • Early Annie X5                               (6- t. shelf 2, left side)
  • Bison X5                                         (4- t. back tray, top shelf)
  • San Marzano X5                             (2- main tray)
Peppers - started March 20th in mini greenhouses
              - reseeded some May 1st
  • Pimento X5                                            (May 1 X 5)
  • Medusa X5                                            (May 1 X 2)
  • Cayenne X5
  • Kalia Mirch (Black) X5
  • Peppadew X5
  • Early Cal Wonder X5
  • Anaheim (salsa) X5                                (May 1 X 2)
  • Hungarian Yellow Sweet Banana X10
  • Golden Treasure X4
March 20th in mini greenhouses
  • Aubergine X4
  • Broccoli - green sprouting X10
  • Brussels Sprouts - Long Island Improved X10
  • Kohl Rabi - Early White Vienna X5
  • Kohl Rabi - Purple Vienna X10
  • Cauliflower - Super Snowball X10
March 21th in mini greenhouses
  • Okra Clemson Spineless X5
  • Asparagus Isla X5
  • Onions - Welsh X5
  • Onions - Early Yellow Globe X5
  • Onions - Southport White Globe X5
  • Strawberry - Mignonett X5
  • Strawberry - Woodland X5
  • Soapwort X5
  • Tobacco- Flowering X5
  • Lavender X5
 April 27- 6 weeks before frost free

May 1st in mini greenhouses
  • Broccoli X13
  • Brussel Sprouts X13
  • Kale X13
  • Celeriac X13

 May 18- 3 weeks before frost free

May 18 in garden- peas planted and fence put in.

May 20th in mini greenhouses
  • Cucumbers- Straight 8 X13
  • Cucumbers- Boston Pickling X13
  • Pumpkins- Algonquin X12
  • Melons- Far North X12
  • Sunflowers- 2012 X4
  • Corn- Northern Xtra Sweet X13
  • Kohl Rabi- Early White Vienna X13
  • Watermelon- Cream of Saskatchewan X11
  • Nasturdium X13
  • Calendula X8
  • Marigold X5
 May 25- 2 weeks before frost free

 June 1- 1 week before frost free

 June 8-  frost free

Greenhouse #1
Pickling cukes, brassicas, sugar beets

Greenhouse #2
Straight 8's, Peppers, Tomatoes

Greenhouse #3
Pumpkins, Far North Melons, Watermelons

Frost:  September 12th

Notes for Next Year...

Tomatoes- Start pinching off suckers August 1st.

Peppers- Plant farther away from the tomatoes.  Different greenhouse, maybe.

Pumpkins- Plant all on outer edges of greenhouse.  Start training vines outside right away.

Peas- Start training peas through fence earlier, at 6", to avoid fall-over later.

Potatoes- Plant after black fly season, leave the seed potatoes whole, hill once and ignore.

2013 Garden Notes

Frost Free:  June 8- Sept. 6

Jan. 18th- Started Tomatoes- Bison, Early Annie, Kalinka, Russian Saskatchewan, Sasha's Altai, Sioux; 3 jiffy pots each (20 weeks before frost free)
Jan. 24th- most germinated, only 1 Sioux, 2 Early Annie
Feb. 8th- all germinated except; Early Annie X1, Kalinka X2, Russian Saskatchewan X1, Sioux X2
Feb. 13th- reseeded Early Annie X1, Kalinka X2, Russian Saskatchewan X2 (one looked like a weed, pulled it), Sioux X2
Mar. 13th- reseeded Bison X3, Early Annie X2, Kalinka X3, Russian Saskatchewan X2, Sioux X2 (very little sunshine this year has me wanting a grow light for the first time ever!)
               - repotted to self watering pop bottle planters 
               - Sasha's Altai X3, Russian Saskatchewan X1, Early Annie X1, Sioux X1

Jan. 18th- Started Tomatoes- 2012 Saved Seed; 18 jiffy pots each (20 weeks before frost free)
Jan. 24th- over half germinated
Feb. 8th- all germinated except 3
Feb. 13th- divided and transplanted 3 pots
Mar. 13th- reseeded 5
              - repotted to self watering pop bottle planters 
              -2012 X8

Jan. 18th- Started Peppers- Hungarian Yellow Sweet, Sweet Cubanelle Ramshorn, Sweet Pimento Heart Shaped, Datura Ballerina Double White; 3 jiffy pots each; Cayenne X2, Medusa X4 (20 weeks before frost free)
Feb. 3rd-  germinated 3 Hungarian yellow, 1 Pimiento, 3 Sweet Cubanelle, 1 Cayenne
Feb. 8th- all germinated except;Pimiento X2, Datura Ballerina X2, Medusa X4, Cayenne X1
Feb. 13th- reseeded Pimiento X1(2nd germinated), Medusa X4, Cayenne X1, Sweet Cubanelle X1 (showing signs of dampening)

Feb. 3rd- Started Herbs and Medicinals in Fiber Grow Pots, (18 weeks before frost free) one pot each of:
Borage, Salad Burnet, Dill; Banquet, Chamomile, German Chamomile, Sweet Marjoram, Oregano; HHS, Parsley; Champion Moss Curled, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme; English,
Alaskan Burnet, Allium; Purple Sensation, Anise-Hyssop, Asparagus; Mary Washington, Beardtongue; Dwarf Navigator,
Beardtongue; Cambridge, Bedstraw; Yellow, Bergamot; Wild, Bergamot, Calendula; Orange, Catnip, Calamus, Chinese Lantern, Cicely; Sweet, Clary; Meadow, Clover; Red, Columbine, Coneflower, Cow Parsnip; African, Echinacea; SE, Elecampane, False Indigo, Foxglove; Yellow, Goldenrod; European, Hyssop, Jacob's Ladder, Joe-Pye Weed, Lady's Mantle, Lavendar, Lemon Balm, Lovage; OSC, Maralroot, Marshmallow; Erfurter, Meadowsweet, Mint; Menthol, Motherwort; Siberian, Mountain Spinach, Mullein; Purple, Pasque Flower; Purple 
Feb. 8th- germinated; salad burnet, chamomile, calendula, red clover, chinese lantern, marshmallow, mountain spinach

Feb. 3rd- 2nd tray- Started Herbs and Medicinals in Fiber Grow Pots, (18 weeks before frost free) one pot each of:
Oxlip, Pennyroyal, Prairie-Clover, Radicchio; variegato di lusia, Roseroot, Scullcap, Shepherd's Scabios, Seabuckthorn, Soapwort; Rich, Speedwell, Sweetgrass, Sweet Sumac, Tobacco; Rich, Tobacco; Flowering, Valerian,
Vanilla Grass, Vervain; Blue, Vetch; Crown, Wintergreen, Yarrow; White, Zhi Mu, Morning Glory, Evening Primrose, Agastache; Purple Pigmy, Angel's Trumpet, Four O'Clock; Marvel of Peru, Columbine, Frosted Queen, Geraniums, Iris; Siberian, Hollyhocks x 10, Aster; Dwarf Queen, Rose Beauty, Ericoides, Cupid's DartX2
Feb. 8th- germinated; hollyhock X1, morning glory 

Feb. 13th- Pellet tray- Started Peppers- Black Pearl X2, Early Calwonder X2, Peppadew X2, Golden Treasure X3, Alma X2, Chimayo X2, Guajillo X2, Kalia Mirch X3
Feb. 13th- Started Tomatoes- Bonnies Best X2, Iditarod X3 (only three seeds in the packet), Seek No Further Love Apple X2
Feb. 13th- Started Onions- Early Yellow Globe X25

Feb. 26th- Started Peppers-  Medusa X5

Feb. 26th- Started Brussels Sprouts- X45


Greenhouse #1
May 24- planted cucumbers-Boston Pickling- centre row
            - planted sunflowers- Arikara- between cucumbers

Greenhouse #2
May 24- planted cucumbers-Straight Eight- centre row
            - planted sunflowers- Arikara- between cucumbers

2012 Garden Notes

19 weeks before frost free- Jan 27th (222 day growing season)
Started tomatoes.  3 seeds per disk.
8 jiffy discs with San Marzano tomatoes (2010 seed)- 7 germinated Feb 2nd.Transplanted 11 plants into 6 pop bottles- Feb 29th.  Transplanted 3 plants into yogurt containers, March 21st.
4 Starfire Improved (2009 seed)- all germinated Feb 2nd.  Transplanted 4 plants into 2 pop bottles- Feb 29th.
4 Sweetie (cherry) tomatoes (2008 seed)- 3 germinated Feb 2nd.  Transplanted 4 plants into 2 pop bottles- Feb 29th.
12 with saved seed from 2011 tomatoes.  -all germinated Jan. 31st, most had all 3 seeds germinate.  Transplanted into 16 pop bottle greenhouses Feb 6th, two seedlings per bottle.  Losses to dampening off, 9 bottles remaining- Feb 29th.  Transplanted 11 plants into yogurt containers, March 21st.
Started peppers.  
4 California Wonder (2010 seed), 3 germinated Feb 10th.  Transplanted 2 to sour cream containers- Feb 29th.
16 Salsa Pepper- Annaheim (new for 2012))- 13 germinated Feb 2nd/3rd (most 1 seed per pot).  Transplanted 2 to sour cream containers- Feb 29th.
8 Jalapeno (also 2012))- 7 germinated Feb 3rd (most 2 seeds per pot).  Transplanted into 9 sour cream containers.  Pinched off obviously weaker plants.  Some containers still have 2 plants. - Feb 29th.
Started carrot tops (seed plants) in white tub.  Adding more as we use carrots.
15 weeks before frost free- Feb 26th ( 192 day growing season)
Started Tomatoes from seed exchange.  2 jiffy pots each, with two seeds:
Alacrity (determinate)- germinated March 11th.  Transplanted 2, March 21st.
Pink Oxheart- germinated March 11th.  Transplanted 2, March 21st.
Pink Ruffled- germinated March 11th.  Transplanted 2, March 21st.
Giant Italian Pear- 1 germinated March 11th.  Transplanted 1, March 21st.
Orange Paste- germinated March 11th.  Transplanted 2, March 21st.
Rio Grande- germinated March 11th.  Transplanted 2, March 21st.
Moonglow- germinated March 11th.  Transplanted 2, March 21st.
Russian Size- germinated March 11th.  Transplanted 2, March 21st.
Anna Aasa (cherry)- germinated March 11th.  Transplanted 2, March 21st.
Started peppers from seed exchange. 
2 jiffy pots, one seed each:
Capiscum Annuum Aussie Black- 1 germinated March 14th.  Transplanted 1, March 21st.
2 jiffy pots each, with two seeds:
Creme Red- germinated March 14th.- germinated March 14th.  Transplanted 2, March 21st.
Medusa (ornamental sweet)  - germinated March 18th.  Transplanted 2, March 21st.
Started herbs and companion flowers- Feb 29th.
English Thyme -2 -2 germinated March 14th.
Sweet Marjoram - 2 -1 germinated March 14th. -Dead April 24th.
Oregano - 4 -1 germinated March 14th.
Echinacea -4
Mountain Mint -4 -3 germinated March 14th.  -4th one germinated March 30th.
Dill -4 -2 germinated March 14th.  -Dead April 24th.
Parsley -2 -1 germinated March 14th. -2nd & mystery plant (bad counting) germinated March 30th.  Transplanted to sour cream containers.  -Dead April 24th.
Tansy -2
Lovage -6 -6 germinated March 12th. -5 April 24th.
Nasturdium -3 -2 germinated March 12th. -moved to tray without lid
Marigold -3 -1 germinated March 12th.
Geranium -3 -1 germinated March 30th.
Pennyroyal -4  -4 germinated March 12th.
Started onions (saved seed) in 2 sour cream containers- Feb 29th.  -no germination.  Tossed April 24th.
Started lettuce in 2 sour cream containers- Feb 29th.  -no germination.  Tossed April 24th.
Plant stand has only 1/2 of bottom shelf  available.

11 weeks before frost free- March 22rd (153 day growing season)
Started Herbs in jiffy pots.  (repeats had not germinated or germinated poorly).
Marjoram -3
Oregano -3  -germinated 1 April 24th.
Echinacea -3
Dill -3  -germinated 1 April 24th.
Sage -3 -2 germinated March 30th.
Started Companion Plants & Flowers
Nasturdium -3 -3 germinated March 30th. -moved to tray without lid
Marigolds -3 -1 germinated March 30th.
Evening Primrose -3   -germinated 3 April 24th.
Poppies -3 -3 germinated March 30th. -Dead April 24th
Petunias -3
Geraniums -3 -2 germinated March 30th.
Phlomis Tuberosa -3
Hollyhocks -3 -3 germinated March 30th.
Delphinium -3    -germinated 2 April 24th.
Salad Burnet -3 -3 germinated March 30th.
Started Romaine -15 -13 germinated March 30th.  -Dried out, lost some, April 24th.
Brought in two more plant stands

10 weeks before frost free- March 29th (146 day growing season)
Herb and Medicinal Seeds arrived!
Started Herbs March 30th, jiffy pots.
Vanilla grass -3  -germinated 3
Erfurter Marshmallow -3  -germinated 2
Catnip -3  -germinated 3
White Yarrow -3  -germinated 3
Zhi Mu -3  -germinated 1(grass like?)
Crown Vetch -2  -germinated 2
Red Clover -3  -germinated  3
Chinese Jujube -3
Roseroot -3  -germinated 2
European Goldenrod -3
Prairie Clover -3
Meadow Clary -2  -germinated 1
Calamus -3
False Indigo -3  -germinated 1
Speedwell -3  -germinated 3
Hyssop -3  -germinated 1
Elecampane -3  -germinated 2
Maralroot -2  -germinated 2
Scullcap -3  -germinated 3
Chinese Lantern -3  -germinated 3
Wild Bergamot -3  -germinated 2
Jacob's Ladder -3  -germinated 1
Lady's Mantle -3  -germinated 2
Yellow Bedstraw -2  -germinated 1
Welsh Onion -started 2 sour cream containers   -germinated 2
Joe-Pye Weed -started 2 sour cream containers -tossed April 24th.
Dormant Seeds - started in ziploc bags, in box, sent to cold room:
Sweet sumac
Wintergreen
Sweet Cicely
Blue Vervain
Seabuckthorn
Soapwort
Started Dino Kale -white plastic tray -germinated about 1/2


Seed packets- Peppers (75).  Planning to start the broccoli here.  Almost 4 weeks earlier than last year.  Only planning to put 4 or 5 in the greenhouse this year.  The rest will be put out in the garden, and while most did mature last year, I don't want to trick myself into believing we'll have two beautiful summers in a row.
8 weeks before frost free- April 13th (145 day growing season) 
Seed packets- broccoli (70), tomatoes (76).

7 weeks before frost free- April 24th (134 day growing season)
Started more tomatoes in pop bottle greenhouses
Starfire -3
Sweetie -3
2011 -6
Started cucumbers
Marketmore -6
National pickling -6
lettuce -1
welsh onion -2
green onion -1 white tray
Swiss chard - green long lived -1
                    - fordhook giant -1
Brussels Sprouts- Long Island Improved -1 white tray
Cabbage - Copenhagen market -13
                -Early Jersey Wakefield -13
Kohl rabi -white vienna -13
Okra -clemson spineless -4
radicchio -variegato di lusia -9
sunflower -red sun -5
                -topolino single dwarf -8
Beets -Detroit Dark Red -13

4 weeks before frost free- May 11th (117 day growing season)
Transplanted 1 bunch of English Thyme to perennial bed- May 10th.
Planted saved pumpkin seed, straightneck squash, zucchinitable queen acorn squash, saved radish seed, saved onion seed and tossed 2 bags of white navy beans in the 'oats field'.   It's early yet, but the weather has been really good, the soil is really bad (mostly clay), and the seed is old.  We'll see what happens- May 12th.
Planted saved pumpkin seed around apple trees and throughout forest garden area- May 13th.
Sectioned off square foot rows in greenhouse #2.  Transplanted peppers, onions, and romaine.  Planted beets, swiss chard, dill, carrots. -May 15th.
Transplanted Welsh Onions, Carrot tops to garden tire- May 15th.
 Seed packets- Brussels Sprouts (90), Cabbage (68).  They might make it if I started them here. 
3 weeks before frost free- May 18th (110 day growing season)
Weather is way too warm to be ignored!
Planted yellow pencil pod beans and white navy beans in raised hugelkultur bed.   Added some mangels to let overwinter for next year's seed.  
Tossed white navy bean seeds around pumpkins in forest garden.
Planted two rows mangels, two rows carrots, two rows beets in garden.  May 17th.
Planted 4 rows beans (saved seed), one row lettuce, half row broccoli.  May 18th.
Planted 2 half rows brussel sprouts, half row cabbage, 5 rows beans (saved seed).  May 19th.
Seed packets- Squash (90), Pumpkins (110), Cucumbers(67).  They'd barely be producing when fall frosts hit, IF we got the summer heat.  Not soon enough!
I'll probably be direct sowing/transplanting into the greenhouse here- lettuce, chard, onions, as well as starting peas and beets outside.
Frost free-June 8th (89 day growing season)
The rush is on to get everything else into the garden.  Carrots, potatoes, beans, kale, kohlrabi, radishes, rutabaga, spinach, turnip, and onions, along with all of the transplants.