Garden
Planting Planning
03/10/2017 01:06 PM
It's March already and, if that wasn't surprising enough, it's DST weekend. We'll have to sow even faster than before!
Germinators!
03/03/2017 07:58 AM
Four days after sowing, 5 of the 6 red cabbage seeds have sprouted. The leeks are just barely breaking the soil. Morning soil temperatures are 72F. Afternoon should be a bit higher - will check it in the next day or two.
The Farm, 2017 Edition, begins!
02/28/2017 12:55 PM
On Sunday, and on schedule, we sowed the "long lead time" seeds - onions, leeks, and eggplants, as well as those for which we want early production - PEPPERS! They're all under grow lights that turn on at sunrise and off at sunset, with the Nest thermostat set to heat to 78 starting at 9 AM and to turn off at 5 PM. We go (roughly) by the Old Farmer's Almanac dates - the Frost Calculator says April 11th is the 50% last frost date, but we usually wait until the first Sunday in May. We also schedule the sowing based on the planting dates calculator.
Germination
02/25/2017 12:00 PM
A Wemo switch, a Nest thermostat, a little IFTTT, and we have our own microclimate for germinating vegetables.
It pays to check shipping costs!
02/15/2017 06:01 AM Filed in: Garden
200 germination pots from Territorial, plus *$25* shipping, would be $104.85, or $0.52 each.
296 germination pots from Growers Supply, plus $9.95 shipping, is $119.47, or $0.40 each.
296 germination pots from Growers Supply, plus $9.95 shipping, is $119.47, or $0.40 each.
Garlic Sprouting
02/05/2017 11:07 AM Filed in: Garden
We went down to pick some rosemary for a roasted chicken, and were happy to see our purple garlic sprouting!
Can I use Roundup to clear before planting?
01/25/2015 08:00 AM Filed in: Garden
Looks like the answer is yes! Allow 3 to 7 days after application depending on the product and the plant.
From http://homeguides.sfgate.com/soon-can-replant-after-using-roundup-88067.html...
Roundup Weed and Grass Killer Concentrate Plus can be used to prepare an entire vegetable garden plot or remove a lawn, while Roundup Ready-To-Use Weed and Grass Killer III works well on smaller jobs. You should wait a minimum of three days, from the time of the last treatment, with either of the products, to plant edible plants like vegetables and herbs or fruit-bearing plants.
From https://pubs.ext.vt.edu/456/456-018/Section_2_Home_Vegetables-4.pdf
At planting: Trifluralin (Preen Garden Weed Preventer, Miracle-Gro Garden Weed Preventer, or other labeled formulation). Apply at seeding of broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, collards, black-eyed peas, field peas, garden peas, lima beans, mustard greens, snap beans, and turnip greens. Apply before transplanting celery, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, eggplant, peppers, onions, and tomatoes. Apply to established cantaloupe, cucumber, and watermelon that have at least four true leaves. Apply to established asparagus prior to spear emergence. Apply after planting potatoes. Trifluralin will not control existing weeds. It does provide pre-emergence control of annual grasses like crabgrass, foxtail, and goosegrass, and small-seeded broadleaf weeds like purslane and pigweed.
Plant Germination Supplies
01/12/2015 07:45 AM Filed in: Garden
A quick survey of the supply shelf shows I have
68 3-inch starter cups
70 5-inch starter cups
216 peat pellets
and more trays and lids than I shake a stick at.
Last year, I tried to get the timing just right - last frost date for my zip code, subtract the number of days for germination, add a week for growth/hardening off, and germinate accordingly. It didn’t work very well, as the seedlings were still just wisps and the punishing rain that came along right after transplanting was too much for them.
This year, I’m going to err on the side of gangly, strong seedlings, so I think I need more 5-inch starter cups.
68 3-inch starter cups
70 5-inch starter cups
216 peat pellets
and more trays and lids than I shake a stick at.
Last year, I tried to get the timing just right - last frost date for my zip code, subtract the number of days for germination, add a week for growth/hardening off, and germinate accordingly. It didn’t work very well, as the seedlings were still just wisps and the punishing rain that came along right after transplanting was too much for them.
This year, I’m going to err on the side of gangly, strong seedlings, so I think I need more 5-inch starter cups.
Gardening Info for 20171
01/11/2015 08:42 AM Filed in: Garden | Statistics
Last Frost 2014: 9 May
First Frost 2014: 29 Sep
Growing Season: 173 days
Last Frost - 10: 29 Apr
Last Frost - 20: 19 Apr
Last Frost - 30: 09 Apr
Last Frost - 40: 30 Mar
Last Frost - 50: 20 Mar
Last Frost - 60: 10 Mar
Last Frost - 70: 28 Feb
Last Frost - 80: 18 Feb
Last Frost - 90: 08 Feb
Last Frost - 100: 29 Jan
Zip code 20171, Herndon VA is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b: -5F to 0F. Using updated climate data through 2010, 20171 is in the Plantmaps Hardiness Zone 6b: -5F to 0F. The average first frost in 20171 is between October 11 - 20, while the average last frost occurs between April 21 - 31. 20171 is part of Ecoregion 64a - Triassic Lowlands. 20171 averages 31 - 45 days per year where the temperatue exceeds 86°F. The average annual high temperature in 20171 is 66°F and the average annual low temperature is 43°F. The average high temperature in July (Summer) is 86°F, while the average high temperature in January (Winter) is 42°F. Reference
I also came across this interesting statistics page while researching: http://www.zipdatamaps.com/20171
First Frost 2014: 29 Sep
Growing Season: 173 days
Last Frost - 10: 29 Apr
Last Frost - 20: 19 Apr
Last Frost - 30: 09 Apr
Last Frost - 40: 30 Mar
Last Frost - 50: 20 Mar
Last Frost - 60: 10 Mar
Last Frost - 70: 28 Feb
Last Frost - 80: 18 Feb
Last Frost - 90: 08 Feb
Last Frost - 100: 29 Jan
Zip code 20171, Herndon VA is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b: -5F to 0F. Using updated climate data through 2010, 20171 is in the Plantmaps Hardiness Zone 6b: -5F to 0F. The average first frost in 20171 is between October 11 - 20, while the average last frost occurs between April 21 - 31. 20171 is part of Ecoregion 64a - Triassic Lowlands. 20171 averages 31 - 45 days per year where the temperatue exceeds 86°F. The average annual high temperature in 20171 is 66°F and the average annual low temperature is 43°F. The average high temperature in July (Summer) is 86°F, while the average high temperature in January (Winter) is 42°F. Reference
I also came across this interesting statistics page while researching: http://www.zipdatamaps.com/20171
Harvest Stats
09/22/2013 10:00 AM Filed in: Garden | Statistics
Harvest 20130922
2011: 508.02 lbs
2012: 622.79 lbs
2013: 480.95 lbs (ytd)
VegetablePeppersCarrots Turnips Okra Eggplant Beets Cucumbers Zucchini Tomatoes Bell Pepper | Metric1,8081,052 230 386 572 134 2,184 5,776 14,722 76 | English4.02.3 0.5 0.9 1.3 0.3 4.8 12.7 32.5 0.2 |
2011: 508.02 lbs
2012: 622.79 lbs
2013: 480.95 lbs (ytd)
Harvest Stats
09/15/2013 07:46 AM Filed in: Garden | Statistics
Harvest 20130915
2011: 508.02 lbs
2012: 622.79 lbs
2013: 421.56 lbs (ytd)
VegetableTomatoZucchini Okra Cucumber Carrot Spag Squash Sw Potato Pepper Potato | Metric15,4962,700 636 848 226 1,386 792 1,038 1,664 | English34.25.9 1.4 1.8 0.5 3.1 1.7 2.4 3.7 |
2011: 508.02 lbs
2012: 622.79 lbs
2013: 421.56 lbs (ytd)
Harvest Stats
09/03/2013 08:20 AM Filed in: Garden | Statistics
Harvest 20130830 and 20130902
Total: 69.13 lb
Total YTD: 238.32 lb
VegetableBell PepperCarrots Cucumbers Eggplant Habanero Jalapeños Okra Spaghetti Squash Tomatoes Zucchini | Metric183120 8016 82 182 38 496 1592 19176 1468 | English6.54.5 17.7 2.9 6.5 1.3 1.1 3.5 42.3 3.2 |
Total: 69.13 lb
Total YTD: 238.32 lb
Sunflowers in the Morning
Sun[flower]rise in Oak Hill, VA
Of course, you realize...
The vermin have returned!
Even though I buried 1/4” hardware cloth 18” BELOW GRADE, the voles are back.
Protecting the sweet potatoes (and everything else) means we need a 4-pronged approach:
Funny, we haven’t seen our usual horde of deer this morning, either.
Even though I buried 1/4” hardware cloth 18” BELOW GRADE, the voles are back.
Protecting the sweet potatoes (and everything else) means we need a 4-pronged approach:
- Coyote Urine - dispensers hung on 4’ T-posts in each corner, while trying VERY hard not to inhale
- Vibrator Sticks - 2 sonic vibrators buried on the forest side of the garden
- Sticky pads - 2 traps placed under the foliage on the runs from the hole to the tomatoes
- Tasty Pellets - a few teaspoons down the hole, and along the edges of the garden
Funny, we haven’t seen our usual horde of deer this morning, either.
Harvest Stats
08/24/2013 05:46 PM Filed in: Garden | Statistics
Harvest since 20130810
Total since 20130810: 93.59 lb
Total YTD: 169.19 lb
VegetableBeansBeets Bell Pepper Carrots Corn Cucumbers Eggplant Jalapeños Okra Squash Tomatoes Turnips | Metric1,422 g404 g 80 g 292 g 500 g 14,350 g 278 g 528 g 392 g 10,424 g 13,518 g 270 g | English3.13 lb0.89 lb 0.18 lb 0.64 lb 1.10 lb 31.64 lb 0.61 lb 1.16 lb 0.86 lb 22.98 lb 29.80 lb 0.60 lb |
Total since 20130810: 93.59 lb
Total YTD: 169.19 lb
Garden Washout Area
08/09/2013 06:48 PM Filed in: Garden
The hose bib / washout area - before
The hose bib / washout area - after
The hose bib / washout area - after
Harvest Stats
08/11/2013 07:46 AM Filed in: Garden | Statistics
20130810
Total today: 19.0 lb
Total YTD: 75.6 lb
VegetableBasilCarrots Beets Tomato Jalapeño Zucchini Beans Okra Cucumber | Metric1751 g207 g 257 g 178 g 73 g 2000 g 213 g 116 g 3808 g | English4 lb 0 oz7.3 oz 9.1 oz 6.3 oz 2.6 oz 4 lb 6.6 oz 7.6 oz 4.1 oz 8 lb 5.7 oz |
Total today: 19.0 lb
Total YTD: 75.6 lb