{:::} Mulberry Farm {:::}: garden

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Sunday, August 28, 2011

Sapomiel Hybrid Melon 2011

The Sapomiel Hybrid

Ordered seeds from Gurney's for $1.28

Item # 75736

from the catalog...

"Buttery flavor combines with creamy firm texture for a refreshing treat! This Piel de Sapo type melon has both a green to gold rind and high yields of football-shaped fruit. Tolerant to fusarium, powdery mildew and holds well in the field. Approx. 15 seeds per pkt."

Estimated days to maturity: 95

Planted 8 seeds in 8 hills in Bed # 11 on June 8th, 2011. Ended up with six plants.

Attacked by squash vine borer. Killed almost all the vines after fruit set and growing. Also had extreme heat wave in July with temps reaching 100 on some days...and very dry July and August.

First harvested on August 18th. The taste reminded me of a pear and cantaloupe. Looked like a white cantaloupe in the inside.

photos taken August 9th

Atlantis Hybrid Broccoli 2011

Atlantis Hybrid

ordered seeds from Gurney's for $1.28.

Item # 80676

from catalog....

"A cross between broccoli and Chinese broccoli, Atlantis keeps producing over a long period. Harvest head 60 to 90 days from direct sowing: tender side shoots are produced after. Delicious fresh or in stir-fry. Also ideal for freezing. Approx. 20 seeds per pkt."

Planted 15 seeds in bed # 5 on June 26th. Way too late in season. Nothing came up. We had an extreme heat way in July which probably killed the seeds right in the soil. Want to try again for a fall harvest.

ETA: never planted again...maybe next year

Snow Crown Hybrid Cauliflower 2011

Snow Crown Hybrid Cauliflower

Ordered seeds from Gurney's for $3.39

Item # 68378

From catalog...

"One of the easiest cauliflowers to grow. Vigorous, rapid growth and long harvest. Snow-white, 2 lb, heads are 7-8" across and very flavorful. Approx. 75 seeds per pkt."

Tried planting 20 seeds on June 26th but was perhaps too late. Soil was hot and we had a heat wave with temps up to 100 degrees. None germinated. Might try for a fall crop.

ETA: never planted again...maybe next year.

Cilantro Coriander 2011

(photo from Gurney's)

From the catalog description:

A favorite for Mexican foods. Use both seeds and leaves. Annual. Approx. 50 seeds per pkt. 45 days.

Height: 16 inches; flowers 24-30 inchesSpacing: 3-4 inches between plants; 12-24 inches btw rowsDepth: 1/4-1/2 inch Spread: 12 inches Sun/Shade: full sun Germination: 14-21 days Days To Maturity: 45

Comments: Annual/Biennial. Leaves are pungent and used fresh or dried. Foliage is used as Cilantro and Chinese Parsley while the dried seeds are known as Coriander. Foliage has persistent 'hot' flavor. Seeds have a sage/citrus flavor. Attracts bees and other pollinators.

We started this from seed inside. It germinated really well, potted up when it had first true leaves...transplanted to garden. This did wonderful. We tried direct sowing some seeds but they didn't germinate. We loved using the cilantro in salsas and salads. And when it went to seed we collected the seeds. We read that coriander is good for insomnia and anxiety. Interesting! Some of the seeds that fell before they were collected have become volunteer cilantro. Definitely want to grow this again!

Seeds started May 7, 2011

Transplanted on June 5, 2011

Birdhouse Gourds 2011

Oregano 2011

Oregano

Ordered seeds from Gurney's for $1.79.

Item # 14592

From catalog...

"Strong, pungent, peppery-there's no substitute for this one!Essential for authentic Italian food. Perennial. Zones 4-9. Approx. 250 seeds per pkt."

These are the tiniest seeds I've ever seen!!!!!!!!!!!

They germinated wonderfully...but I didn't have any successfully potted up or transplanted into garden. Tried direct sowing but by then the soil had heated up and we had a heat wave. Definitely looking forward to this next year.

Sweet Basil 2011

(photo from Gurney's)

From the catalog:

A truly intriguing mix of flavors-- offers subtle hints of mint, cloves, and anise. Extremely popular in salads and vegetable dishes. Annual. Approx. 150 seeds per pkt. 85 days.

Height: 24-30 inches
Spacing: 18 inches between mature plants
Depth: 1/8 inch
Spread: 12 inches
Sun/Shade: full sun to partial shade
Germination: 7-10 days
Days To Maturity: 85
Yield: N/A

Fruit: N/A
Comments: Annual. One of the most popular cooking herbs. Large, 2 inch, dark green leaves. Spicy fragrance and flavor. Prefers warm areas.

Started seeds inside on April 4th and April 25th

Transplanted on May 20th and June 5th.

The plants on the south side of the tomatoes didn't do as well as the ones on the north side. They received too much direct sun on the south side.

Kept pulling flowers off to continue harvest. Enjoyed these on sandwiches, pizza, salads, and sauces. We let the older plants flower and it attracted a lot of beneficial bugs to the garden.

our lil baby basil growing inside in early April

basil on April 27th after being potted up

Basil in late August...let it eventually flower and go to seed. Smells so yummy and is pretty, too.

Same basil in mid September.

This basil was direct sown. This photo was taken September 13th.

I pulled all the remaining basil October 21nd. The basil shown above had not flowered yet...but I wanted to harvest all the leaves before our frost. The older, flowered basil I pulled and we used to hang around the barn near the chickens' coop. When we walk by them we are treated to the sweet scent of basil.

Mammoth Gray Stripe Sunflowers 2011

(photo from our garden)

From Gurney's catalog:

Enormous yellow flowers measure 14 in. across and yield a whopper crop of seeds! High oil content makes for great roasted flavor. Grows 9-12 ft. tall. 100 days.

Height: 9 - 12 feet
Spacing: 2 - 4 feet
Depth: 1 - 1 1/2 inches
Spread: 15-24 inches
Sun/Shade: Full Sun
Germination: 10 - 14 days at 68-86 degrees F
Days To Maturity: 100 days
Color: Orange - Yellow
Foliage: Very rough; to 1 foot long; heart shaped
Blooms: July-September

Comments: Will do well in poor soil. Tolerates heat and dry conditions. Average head size is 10-15 inches, but have reached 20 inches. Extremely large heads on 9-12 foot stalks.

We planted these on May 31st and June 8th, 2011. We had to go back and replant the ones that the chickens destroyed!

These came up beautifully! It was fun to watch them grow. They attracted so many beneficial bugs. We had a swarm of bees take up residence in a mulberry tree, and I believe it was our planting of these sunflowers that enticed them to stick around.