26 June 2006

Organic Farm Tour

Yesterday afternoon I attended the farm tour at Abingdon Organics, led by Anthony Flacovento. Abingdon Organics is a family farm that sells produce at the local farmer's market and to Appalachian Sustainable Development for their food distribution programs, including Second Harvest Food Bank. The group of about 40 -50 people, including home gardeners, farmers, and wannabes, was led around the farm to see and discuss various crops and organic methods of disease and pest control as well as best practices. As a rookie gardener, I learned something almost every time anyone spoke, including the embarassing fact that my cantaloupe (really mush melons) vines are not just slow to get going, they're dead. The same thing happened on the farm when we had the long wet and cold spell in May, however they knew enough to replant while I've been waiting for them to grow after a very meager sprouting. I guess I'll be buying my melons from the farm when theirs are ready in three weeks or so. I also learned about removing the "suckers" from my tomato vines to increase the yield. However, my tomatos are so big now, it's probably too late. I should have started earlier as they were beginning to develop. Suckers come out at a 45 degree angle between the leaf stem and the main stem and can be easily snapped off or cut with garden shears. I'll know next year. They also had great success with gardening in enclosed "high tunnels", structures of steel and plastic that covered about ten rows for about 50 yards long. The added protection enables three season planting and quicker development but requires irrigation since no rain can get in. They're also about $3000 apiece and took four men four days to set up. I guess I'm lucky that my garden is only 4'x8' and I don't have to worry about covering it.

14 June 2006

The setting sun

I came inside to vent rather than charging over to my neighbor. It seems that the sunflowers I had planted next to the chain link fence were cut off at ground level by an errant weedeater whose trimmer line found its way through to my side. Only a couple of the sprouts survived the attack. I can't really be mad at my neighbor since they have a lawn service and don't do the cutting themselves. However, I did tell them that I was going to plant there and even asked if it was ok to train them up the fence. They might have told their lawn people to be more careful.

Yes Virginia, there is a stupice tomato














I'm a proud papa to see that the tomato plants I nurtured from seed have produced their first green fruits of the season. I can't wait to see how long it takes for the first one to mature. I think they're at least a week ahead of anyone else's that I know about locally. The Wall-O-Water really worked to get them out early and beat the cold weather.

Rocquette lettuce has lifted off















I pulled out the arugula (rocquette lettuce) today as it was sending up shoots for seed and likely would be too bitter to eat anymore. It's probably lasted longer than it should anyway, since it's been an unusually cool and wet spring. As you can see, however, from the photos above, the romaine varieties (top) are still looking great. The spinach, however, got a bit too much sun and is beginning to burn up a bit. I still have some more planted in the shady bed that hasn't browned yet but I'm sure it's day is coming. I bought some more seed for summer lettuce from Cook's Garden. They claim it's more heat resistant but I doubt it's as tasty. I'll be putting in the two new varieties this weekend, Pretty Baby Greens Mix (#525) and The Cook's Natural Lettuce Blend (organic, #E358). The new seed was $11.15 which brings the running total to $539.60.