GARDEN4US

The height of summer, its a season that gardeners and locavores revel in. The flowers, herbs and vegetables are going strong, even a bit of time to relax between weedings. The early season crops are just about gone and time to start planning the late season crops you want to plant. Meanwhile the farmers markets are starting boldly this year, the local cherries, peas, lettuces, herbs all looked good this weekend past. There was early garlic and onions available. The markets should be prime for various seasonal vegetables/fruits hopefully though September. The local U-pick farms should be really good for the next 4-6 weeks, local beans, peppers, eggplants and corn by late July. By late August add the tomatoes and we’ll have a salsa fest – look for an article with recipes next month.

If I may wax philosophical for a few, I believe that gardening is like life – what you continue to do is based on the mistakes and success one has had. The good news is that gardening really has no failures – where else can you eat your “failures”? Even then they go back in the compost to complete the cycle. Mostly, I have found that keeping a gardening journal (nothing like recording your mistakes) is a great preventative for future disasters. Every year, while planning next years layout, I have to refer to last years layout for proper crop rotation. Planning around the perennials for optimal plantings and repeating previous misadventure….like when I planted potatoes in raised beds and did not double dig them out in fall……guess who ended up with volunteer potatoes coming up under lettuces the following year? Good thing the lettuces are about done. Another common gardening mistake is not thinning enough – I left my radish’s alone for four days and every one of the stinkers bolted. Now if I would have counted back in the journal to see how many days ago I had planted I would have realized that the radishes were coming 4+ weeks….no wonder…like its their fault. So lesson learned – thin to at least the adult size fruit at harvest.
There are a couple of other “rules of thumb” (no pun intended) about planting in general -
#1 – consider carefully, the right plant in the right place earns long term success.
#2 – keep a planting journal, include dates, temperatures, growth habits, planting success’s and failures
#3 – use that journal to plan for next year – where to amend soil, how to maximize companion plantings and where to rotate crops for best water/sun exposure. Well, so much for philosophy, eh?

Garden report for the last 30 days.

Garlic has been harvested – not bad for 1st year in raised beds – will amend soil with deep fertilizer and more peat to selected area for replanting in early september. Beans are slow, as are the cucumbers (have started feeding weekly). Tomatoes are setting fruit and its time to selective pinch the multi-clusters of yellow flowers after 2-3 per cluster set fruit. That way they have plenty of room to grow and you get nice tomato twins per branching. Collards are coming on, artichoke has set its first fruit and the turnip greens seem to have taken now that its getting hot. Snap peas are setting fruit – will pull the snow peas by the 24th. Will need to harvest herbs very soon – thyme, rosemary, oregano, sage, savory, marjoram and basils are all getting ready to peak. It is best to harvest herbs before they “flower” or bolt. I recommend the freezer method to preserve this harvest, as the herbs are young and prime. My favorite way to preserve herbs is to use the small ice cube trays – rinse the herb and chop, stuff each ice cube cup with the herb and pour extra virgin olive oil over them – cover with plastic and label. Put them in the freezer, it will take two days to freeze, then pop the cubes out into a freezer baggie and label. Toss into freezer until ready for use. This way you have “fresh” tasting herbs for sauces, soups etc. all year.
USU sponsers some great classes through Ogden Botanical Garden and Utah Botanical Garden – check here for offerings

Farmers Almanac General Guidelines

July 2010

17th-18th Favorable for planting peas, beans and other fall bearing crops
19th-21st Extra Good for fall cabbage, cauliflower, green and other leafy vegetables. Any above ground crop For Fall Cabbage, .
22nd-23rd Plant no seeds
24th-26th Good for planting above ground crops.
27th-28th Good Day for killing weeds, pests, poor for planting.
29th-31st Good Days for planting beets, carrots, radishes, turnups and other root crops – probably your best date for our area.

August 2010
1st-2nd Barren Days-Do No Planting.
5th-6th Any seeds planted now will tend to rot.
7th-8th Most Favorable Days For Planting Beets, Onions, Turnips, And Other Root Crops.-probably the last for our area.
9th-13th Barren Time.
14th-15th Excellent for sowing grains, winter wheat, winter oats, and rye. Plant bulbs for next year