Thursday, January 3, 2013

New Year's Day 2013

My first stop the day following my return from TN was my tunnel garden.  There were just enough baby greens (lettuce, spinach and beet) for a side salad. It was yummy!

With the bitter cold temperatures forecast for Tuesday night, it was time..overdue really, to cover the cold frame within the tunnel. So far, things within the cold frame are alive with very little growth. The broccoli, however, was lost to the cold.


Tunnel opened on a warm day shows cold frame.

All closed up. Cold frame visible through the plastic.


Saturday, December 15, 2012

Winter gardening con't.

The PVC 1/2" piping is secured well to the sides of the raised bed with four brackets on either end of each length of pipe. Plus, there's a length of string, not visible in the photo, crisscrossing over the plastic between the pvc. We get some good winds here. It's not had a big test, yet. Waiting for a nor'easter!

There is a thermometer in the tunnel. I'm not able to monitor regularly. But, the temp, on a sunny, warmish (40's) day,  reaches the 60's.

Friday, December 14, 2012

December gardening

Winter gardening has its rewards and challenges.
Buttoned-up

Clips allow for ease of access.

It's great to be eating fresh, home-grown greens in December.



On the other hand..it seems aphids thrive in the enclosed environment. I've lost one broccoli plant. Hopefully, spraying with biodegradable soap will stop the spread of the little buggers.
Aphid eggs..yuck





I've found storm windows to cover my cold frame that is within the tube. The plastic cover doesn't hold up during rain..it collapsed. The glass storms will be great for spring when tube is removed.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Mid November..the season goes on and on!

By now most gardeners in New England may have hung up their tools. The only things left to harvest may be carrots that can be left in the ground all winter. Just cover them with a thick layer of mulch before the ground freezes. You can then reach through the mulch and pull a carrot or two..that is until the snow is too deep!
Kale happily grows in the cold. Brassicas (cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower), beets, lettuce and leeks can manage some cold. 
Broccoli heads forming!






Broccoli and sage plants not in cold frame as they can manage cold. 

My goal: keep harvesting at the Rotary Garden site in Lowell into mid to late December and to commence growing in March.

I've constructed a "tunnel" over my garden. Withing the tunnel is a cold frame. Plants in the cold frame will enjoy double protection.

Ready for the cold!


Opened up on a warm day.




Seedlings, beets, arugula, carrot and lettuce, developing.



My other garden plots are cleaned-up and put away for the winter. I'll not return to the North Chelmsford plot..too much running around. 
The South Chelmsford garden at Sunny Meadow Farm is a keeper. I've gardened there four years. The soil is in great shape now.
The pea bed is prepared for planting as soon as possible in the spring.
Lots was learned from this year's experiences. For instance, no root crops in South Chelmsford. The voles will need to find food elsewhere.
No potatoes this year. I've just got too many! But more tomato plants!  
Corn needs consistent moisture!!
More photos as winter progresses. 








Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Busy season

So very busy cleaning-up/harvesting/processing harvest and preparing to start fall/winter crops.

New cold frame for Lowell garden and material ready to build a tunnel over my raised bed in Lowell.

In the meantime, the nasturtiums are at their prime this time of the season.

A favorite

Fall colors



Soon come with more to say. 

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Problems and Progress

Rotary Garden, Lowell:
Tomato plants developed a fungus. The leaves are covered with gray-brown spots. A leaf sample sent to the state extension service for testing ruled out late blight for which I am very thankful.  The fungus will not kill the plant but will spread if not watered carefully by watering soil without splashing on leaves. However, this damp, rainy weather is not helping. It’s a dilemma. We need the rain badly. 
Tomatoes still developing on the infected plant.
 
Carrot, beet and arugula seedlings are doing well. I will soon plant more carrots and spinach. 

Wotton St. Garden:
Growth is progressing nicely. The bees love the pollen. Ears on the fist planting of corn are developing well. A few more days until harvest. Yummy. 

Go to: Dropbox to see pictures that would not upload correctly here.

Butternut squash plants blooming and spreading. The main broccoli heads harvested, eaten, shared and frozen. Side shoots are large and plentiful.

One last cabbage to harvest.  A small batch of sauerkraut fermenting nicely.


                     



W.F. Lewis Garden
Only one vole caught in the mousetraps set out. The traps are under propped cardboard boxes to conceal the trap from birds. I suspect ants are eating all the walnut bait.
Look at the teeth on that critter!

 The resident hawk is also helping with vole control. 

This is the bugger I found when I went searching my tomato plant for whatever critter was nibbling the green tomatoes and the leaves.

Horned Green Tomato Worm.

Monday, August 6, 2012

Progression of melon growth

These are pictures of one of ~8 melons I've spotted on my vines in the W.F. Lewis Garden, South Chelmsford. 
I'm finding it amazing to watch how quickly it's developing. 

July 20 First sighted

July 25 Just 3 days later (new moon growth spurt)


July 28


July 30




August 3 Close to full size





Aug. 6..sounding hollow when tapped. Stem is still green..waiting til stem stem browns and shrivels.

Anticipation as it gains full size and ripens.