DUDE! We grew potatoes!!!

We were so excited that we dug some up before researching the proper way to harvest them....I guess you are supposed to wait til the plant on top dies off...but what do you do when there are potatoes literally popping out of the ground??? it's ok, we'll eat these now and do it the right way for the rest of them. There are still a few more plants growing.

First Cucumber

I'm so excited about my first cucumber. It's a Japanese variety which is super yummy and way better than the English one. I see more flowers so there will be more to come and I will share with you all.

Zucchini Update

I've been hand-pollinating the zukes and they are growing!!! If anyone else has the same problem that I did, you take the pollen from the male flower and rub it on the inside of the female flower (female is the one with the zuke, male just has a stem).

First Peas

Thinking about chicken with a light lemon sauce over pasta, toss the peas in at the last minute....

RADISHES

MY FIRST PICTURE POST!

Mmmmmmmm

Here are some of our beets. Some of these are pretty small, but I was thinning/harvesting at the same time. Just planted another row where I took these out. We are starting to get some peas too. I picked a couple of pods and opened them and the kids ate them right there in the garden. Our peas look a little short though, I thought they'd be climbing more. Anyone had any experience with peas?

Tonight we thinned out the lower part of our tomato plants. They looked so dense down at the bottom, I thought they needed a little air circulation. We do have some immature tomatoes on the plants, so it shouldn't be too long for them!! I hand-pollinated our zucchini yesterday, because we've gotten only one mature zuke. The others turn yellow and stay little. I looked online and it said possibly they aren't pollinating, or that they are missing nitrogen. We'll see what happens! The one we did get was delicious. All the strawberry plants are still alive, hooray!
We have lots of spinach, some baby romaine, and if you'd like to try the beets, let me know ASAP and I'll save you a couple.
Farmer K

Radish

So I will post pictures soon. I know I say that all the time. But last night, we had our first radish. It was delicious!!!!! So far this week, every night I have been able to include something from our garden. I love that. Once the other radishes get bigger, I will be sharing with you all.

Farmer T

First Beet

Farmer K's first beet, ever! YAY!

Here is our pumpkin plant and a flower!

No radishes yet but a cute rock painted by Bridget!

I'm so excited that my hubby built me 2 planter boxes to help our garden along.  I transplanted my very sad tomatoes into the box and planted some roma seeds as well.  Looking for sprouts every day.  I know they wont come for a while and yet every morning I anxiously check it out. Can't wait!

Lettuce Tips

I have a great book called, "The Farmer's Wife Guide to Growing a Great Garden" by Barbara Doyen. She talks about different kinds of veggies, and how to grow, eat, and freeze them. I have never grown lettuce before, and wasn't sure how to harvest it. The Farmer's Wife talks about the differences between leaf lettuce and head lettuce, and romaine lettuce.

Harvesting Leaf Lettuce: Can be started any time. break off out leaves or cut off the whole plant about 1 and a half inches above the ground. The plants keep growing new leaves. Harvest regularly to prevent plant from going to seed. Plant is done if it grows a tall stalk with leaves on it (will be bitter at this point).

Harvesting Head Lettuce: Cut off at the ground. Roots will die.

(she doesn't specify Romaine harvest, so I will look into this a bit. I think you can do it either way)

We have a TON of arugula. My mom told me (after we planted) that arugula can become out of control and a little goes a LONG way. It's growing like wildfire. Please enjoy some of our arugula. Anytime. Also, if you'd like to borrow the book, let me know.

Farmer K

Farmer K's First Harvest

We've had our first harvest! Arugula, and some spinach. Hooray! I'll be having a yummy salad tonight. There is arugula to share if anyone wants any.

Progress: Tomatoes, growing and flowering. Peppers, hanging in there. Zucchini, definitely healthy! Beans and peas, looking good. Basil and Cilantro, eaten by snails :...(

Photos from the Hulls

Our tomatoes: orange cherry, super san marzano, Mr. Stripey, and beefsteak

Three kinds of sweet peppers: yellow, orange and red

Peas

Herb Garden: Cilantro (struggling), Basil, Marjoram, Lemon Thyme, Rosemary, Italian Parsley. I think snails might be an issue here...

Our green beans...they have been plucked by a two-year-old and crushed by a soccer ball....think we need a little fence!

So exciting!

I'm so excited to hear about everyones crops. We also have new sprouts and I think they are green onion, cilantro and something else that I'm not sure of yet. I am still waiting for my tomatoes but I am seriously worried that the cold got to them. I will take pictures of my farm soon and post them since I am the only one who hasn't now.
This should be a great week for the crops. There should be plenty of sunny and warm days! Have fun gardening!!!
Farmer T

Sprouts!

We have sprouted! Sunflowers, romaine lettuce, arugula, beans and beets have all sprouted. Only 4 days in the little greenhouse!
~Farmer K

Our Beginnings

Here's what we have so far! Today the kids and I planted a little of all the seeds we have. Once they sprout, we'll do another round of seedlings for things like carrots and beets...not sure how lettuce works, do I plant more seeds, or when I harvest the leaves, does more grow out of that same plant?

Now a little venting about Home Depot...I know, I know, I shouldn't have gone there but we had a gift card, so what can you do? Anyways, when I finally found the seed area (hiding behind tall stacks of patio furniture) there were no seedling trays bigger than ones that held 12 pots/pellets. Oh, and if you are looking for garden gloves at Home Depot, they are NOT in the gardening section. They are by the tool corral, inside, on the opposite side of the store. Lame.

Farmer K's progress

Farmers, here we are with some empty planter boxes. We will be getting dirt at some point soon, but now I think I must start seeds in the little tiny greenhouse pots. We did get some strawberry plants from Yamagami's, they are still alive but everytime I walk past them they cry, "plant us, plant us!" We are sloooooooow this year! But the boxes are great! Aaron finished them. We have two 4 x 8 foot planter boxes, and have room to put up our green bean poles. Plans, plans.....our seeds are: green beans, baby romaine lettuce, peas, carrots, beets...we also have the afore-mentioned strawberry plants and we plan on buying a few tomato plants, a zucchini, and some arugula and spinach. Grand plans, Farmers! BTW we have oranges and some ugly but juicy lemons available. On a non-edible note: our Japanese Maples are all starting to leaf out, they are beautiful! ~~Farmer K

We Have Germination!

Farmer T reporting on the Bergan Farms Crop.

The following seed has germinated:

Japanese Lettuce (Mizuna) very tasty in salads. Light, crisp taste.
(If you are growing lettuce, protect from snails with cooper wiring).


Farmer A did your basil survive?
Farmer K progress report on planter boxes?

So I tried to modify the blog and have this as the header, but it wouldn't let me make changes, so I'm just posting it.

Farmer A :)

P.S. my poor basil is sad...we'll see if it gets better or if it is dead from the cold...

Beware of Cold Weather

Hi Farmers,

We have been experiencing some pretty cold weather so let's protect our crop. I would advise putting clear plastic over your plants to keep them warm (mini-greenhouse). It would be so sad and a waste if the cold gets to them. Just a thought.

Farmer T

Hi Ladies!  Ok I am a dork.  I decided for fun to take pictures of what my "garden" looks like now so we can see the progress (we hope!)

Here's my new apricot tree from last year.  I have high hopes for this little guy!  I cant figure out how to type between my other pictures so...next are my itty bitty tomato plants, then my peppers and squash, picture #4 is my crazy rosemary bush and the last is my herb wall.  If anyone wants rosemary, thyme or oregano now I have lots going already.  This should be fun...Thanks for including a Ronda girl with you Charlottes!

Message to Members

Please change format and do whatever you want with this blog. 

Welcome to Pocket Coop

Let's share our crops!

Welcome Laugesen Family, Hull Family, and Bergan Family.

This blog was created to share our farming experience and also to update us on coming crops. Please post as you wish.