I took two of last year's offspring and planted them in the old ammo box where a few days ago two younger strawberry plants somehow dried up. While doing so, I noticed that last year's plants have produced a few red fruit. YAY! That means I'll have enough fruit for tomorrow's cereal!
Kevin was busy the rest of the day clearing out the garden beds, planting more beets and turnips in straight rows and spreading steer manure. I can leave next month and know the gardens won't dry up. He's turned into a real farmer with little instruction on my part.
Kevin wants more potato plants, I want more strawberry plants. Can we find a middle ground? The Quinalt strawberries seem quite happy in foot-deep, crowded pots. Another thing we want to do is plant more green peppers. We use four a week; that would mean another 50 plants to satisfy our needs. Do we have the space for another row of potted plants? The peppers that were potted last year and which overwintered in the house thrived and grew new fruit faster than this year's plants.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Things are really growing now.
The Palo Verde now sports yellow blossoms. The mesquite has catkins. The Cleveland sage has one purple flower. The purple sage is really getting taller and bloomier.
The honeysuckle is in bloom.
Kevin stayed home today while I hiked with some friends. He planted beets and turnips and harvested the old ones. He planted Contender beans and some tomato seeds.
The temperatures are slowly getting warmer again. That is good, for at least the tomatoes will start growing.
The honeysuckle is in bloom.
Kevin stayed home today while I hiked with some friends. He planted beets and turnips and harvested the old ones. He planted Contender beans and some tomato seeds.
The temperatures are slowly getting warmer again. That is good, for at least the tomatoes will start growing.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Planted more blue sage
I threw a pack of Meadow sage (Salvia nemorous) seeds in the front yard where last year the pineapple sage grew.
Looks like there's another sumac tree growing on our west side, near the palm tree.
My pride and joy still are the mesquite and palo verde in the front yard. Both are growing into prime specimens.
Red sage continues to grow as well. The flowersa re attracting a few hummingbirds. Cutter bees swarm into these shrubs in the morning.
We had a mild overnight free Tuesday night over Wednesday morning which killed some of the tomato plants. The big boy hybrid lost all its leaves but the stem is still alive. The only tomato that wasn't affected is the determinate Roma tomato. Some of the green beans froze, too.
The big hit lately are potatoes. With some care we may get a nice crop later this year as long as the plants remain in the shade of the palownia. The oldest box of potato plants is just too crowded, but it's too late to weed out the weaker plants. I also planted four strawberries in two old ammo boxes. Three of them looked frost-bitten but there is still life in the stems.
My pepper plants from last year are now growing new fruit! They are growing them faster than this year's new crop of sweet peppers.
Looks like there's another sumac tree growing on our west side, near the palm tree.
My pride and joy still are the mesquite and palo verde in the front yard. Both are growing into prime specimens.
Red sage continues to grow as well. The flowersa re attracting a few hummingbirds. Cutter bees swarm into these shrubs in the morning.
We had a mild overnight free Tuesday night over Wednesday morning which killed some of the tomato plants. The big boy hybrid lost all its leaves but the stem is still alive. The only tomato that wasn't affected is the determinate Roma tomato. Some of the green beans froze, too.
The big hit lately are potatoes. With some care we may get a nice crop later this year as long as the plants remain in the shade of the palownia. The oldest box of potato plants is just too crowded, but it's too late to weed out the weaker plants. I also planted four strawberries in two old ammo boxes. Three of them looked frost-bitten but there is still life in the stems.
My pepper plants from last year are now growing new fruit! They are growing them faster than this year's new crop of sweet peppers.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
More wind!
Boy, this is getting old. My quince tree was knocked over again when I got home. I let it on the ground, knowing it will get knocked over again as long as these winds howl.
Cochise County to see high winds on Wednesday afternoon, weather service says
Published/Last Modified on Wednesday, Apr 15, 2009 - 11:05:33 am MST
SIERRA VISTA — Cochise County is under a high wind warning starting at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.
The warning is scheduled to be in effect until 8 p.m.Winds between 30 and 40 mph and gusts of more than 58 mph are forecast for portions of Cochise County, the weather service said. Cochise County also is under a red flag warning, which is in effect when strong winds combine with low humidity levels to produce an increased fire danger.
Blowing dust is possible this afternoon and evening, the weather service said.For more on the weather, go online to http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/twc/.
Cochise County to see high winds on Wednesday afternoon, weather service says
Published/Last Modified on Wednesday, Apr 15, 2009 - 11:05:33 am MST
SIERRA VISTA — Cochise County is under a high wind warning starting at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.
The warning is scheduled to be in effect until 8 p.m.Winds between 30 and 40 mph and gusts of more than 58 mph are forecast for portions of Cochise County, the weather service said. Cochise County also is under a red flag warning, which is in effect when strong winds combine with low humidity levels to produce an increased fire danger.
Blowing dust is possible this afternoon and evening, the weather service said.For more on the weather, go online to http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/twc/.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
My Peach Tree
I planted my peach tree last spring to replace another peach tree that had died in the same location. This peach tree survived 18 months of neglect while I was in Iraq. It survived getting rain water that came down from the roof and was protected by the northwall of the house.
It did well last summer but somehow the main leader died over winter. I now have several foot-long shooters coming off the root ball and one such branch is now bearing two small immature peaches!
I cut down the dead leader which seems to have made the runners go stronger. I will leave this peach "bush" as is for a few years and then prune off the weaker branches. It's going to be a weird-looking tree but it wants to live and so I'll let it.
The fruitless mulberry tree that I transplanted from the front yard, growing in a not-so-ideal location under a pre-existing tree (which I will remove next summer as it's slowly dying). This little tree has already grown a foot this spring and now stands nearly three feet tall. This tree may be the one to replace the tree it grew under last year. As a mature tree it will provide excellent shade for birds and other plants.
I enjoy seeing my garden go into transition. But like any living garden, the dynamics change from year to year. In 20 years the front yard will mostly be a shady area, a place to relax and enjoy the mountain view from the Adirondack chairs.
It did well last summer but somehow the main leader died over winter. I now have several foot-long shooters coming off the root ball and one such branch is now bearing two small immature peaches!
I cut down the dead leader which seems to have made the runners go stronger. I will leave this peach "bush" as is for a few years and then prune off the weaker branches. It's going to be a weird-looking tree but it wants to live and so I'll let it.
The fruitless mulberry tree that I transplanted from the front yard, growing in a not-so-ideal location under a pre-existing tree (which I will remove next summer as it's slowly dying). This little tree has already grown a foot this spring and now stands nearly three feet tall. This tree may be the one to replace the tree it grew under last year. As a mature tree it will provide excellent shade for birds and other plants.
I enjoy seeing my garden go into transition. But like any living garden, the dynamics change from year to year. In 20 years the front yard will mostly be a shady area, a place to relax and enjoy the mountain view from the Adirondack chairs.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Bees and Butterflies
Wow, let some rain fall and all blooms break out!
I did my daily walk around the garden to look for weeds and pests and what I mostly saw were bees in my fireplant (perhaps the same ones that just a week ago were finishing up the rosemary bush?), black swallowtails on my bottlebrush bush, a flycatcher in my photinia shrubs with what looked like nesting material in its beek and a dusgustingly large four-inch brown pupae of the tomato hornworm in one of the plant boxes I was cleaning out.
I planted some green pepper seeds, seeds that I collected last June. I also pulled out three dead pepper plants from last year's crop. I am still working on broadcasting seeds in that new gardenbed; what will grow will grow. I'd like to have more pepper plants this year as we seem to eat a lot of peppers. What we need are consistently warm nighttime temperatures to get all the seeds growing at once. I only have four tomato plants (out of ten planted two weeks ago) still growing.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Planting corn
About 30 kernels of corn that had sat in some water from yesterday's rain were planted today. I don't know if they will all germinate, but it doesn't hurt to try.
It was noticably cooler today, a mere 38F at 7am.
My ocotillo has three red blooms coming up, although most stalks are still barren. Other ocotillos in the neighborhood are already in full leaves.
We didn't get much rain yesterday. Nonetheless, I didn't do any watering today. I'll save the water for later this week when 80Fs will return.
It was noticably cooler today, a mere 38F at 7am.
My ocotillo has three red blooms coming up, although most stalks are still barren. Other ocotillos in the neighborhood are already in full leaves.
We didn't get much rain yesterday. Nonetheless, I didn't do any watering today. I'll save the water for later this week when 80Fs will return.
Friday, April 10, 2009
My farmer husband
Kevin, bless his heart, is not a gardener. All the garden work is strictly my responsibility. Granted, there are times his manly strength is welcome, like when he built the raised garden beds last summer or helped dig deep holes for some grape vine plants.
Kevin avoids anything that flowers, but when it comes to growing foods, he is right there in the garden with me.
"I only grow things I can eat!" he told me last year, adding that "I am a farmer, not a gardener."
So it was no real surprise when I talked to him last week about successful potato propagation: cut a tuber with eyes into one-inch cubes. Let these cubes dry out overnight, then plant in rich soil. Voila! New shoots will soon surface. The tubers will be harvestable once the plant dries out. Dig up the tubers, then save one tuber for the next crop and the cycle repeats itself.
Here in Arizona the trick with potatoes is to provide them partial shade during the day as potatoes do prefer cooler weather. Heat makes the plant dry up prematurely, or before big tubers can develop.
I have a box in the backyard with potato plants. I have what looks like eight plants growing from what was one cut potato a month ago. A used glass shower door leaning against the box keeps Sadie from digging in the dirt, or Vinnie from pooping in the soil. (I'll remove the glass when the plants get big enough). For really big tubers a 30-gallon tin garbage pail can be used as the bucket, with air holes drilled in the sides.
A few days ago I saw two more potatoes drying on the kitchen windowsill. Apparently Kevin wants to grow more taters! Which means I should get a few more boxes ready and place them strategically in the back yard near the pawlownia that will provide plenty of shade for the taters, blueberry bushes and strawberries.
Kevin has made it clear: he wants a continuous crop of potatoes, tomatoes, peppers and beets, all vegetables he buys the most often. Toms and Peps are hard to grow here year-round unless they are in a greenhouse (hint hint hint) but I did ok with the tats and strawberries as long as they were covered up with mulch during the coldest months. The pot of green peppers from last year survived the winter inside and is now flowering outside! Although some of the stalks are dead, the majority of the plants did live. They aren't as lush as this year's peppers but as long as they produce new edible crops, why bother with aesthetics?
Kevin has made so much progress helping me in the vegetable garden. Now that he's seen success and eaten beets and squash from his own garden, he helps out and listens to me when I show him how to do things right. I'm sure he will do just fine on his own this summer when I am away. He's even promised me he'll water my citrus trees in the front yard.
My nectarine trees are full of fruit this year. I am so delighted!!! Although I lost a few young fruit from the winds recently (more winds are due later today), the fruit growing this year is the best potential crop yet. The trees are approximately seven or eight years old (planted in the summer of 2005 when they were approx two years old). Most fruit trees take 4-5 years to even begin growing fruit, so these guys are a little late in maturing, but better late than never.
I have a nice amount of Contender beans coming up now, and even more snow peas. But the tomatoes are still stubborn and I blame that on the wide fluctuations of nighttime temperatures. Tomatoes are hard to grow when it gets below 55F at night; they need continuous warm soil to thrive.
One thing I would really enjoy is having a small strawberry patch. I have a location in the backyard in mind: the northwest corner of our house! The Quinalt variety has been very prolific and should bare fruit later this summer. Strawberries, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, peas, beets, spinach and cabbage seem to be our best bets. I'm hesitant to try corn again this year, but Kevin is anxious.
I have a wild mint planting growing on our north side. Too bad it's growing right by the sewage hole!
Kevin avoids anything that flowers, but when it comes to growing foods, he is right there in the garden with me.
"I only grow things I can eat!" he told me last year, adding that "I am a farmer, not a gardener."
So it was no real surprise when I talked to him last week about successful potato propagation: cut a tuber with eyes into one-inch cubes. Let these cubes dry out overnight, then plant in rich soil. Voila! New shoots will soon surface. The tubers will be harvestable once the plant dries out. Dig up the tubers, then save one tuber for the next crop and the cycle repeats itself.
Here in Arizona the trick with potatoes is to provide them partial shade during the day as potatoes do prefer cooler weather. Heat makes the plant dry up prematurely, or before big tubers can develop.
I have a box in the backyard with potato plants. I have what looks like eight plants growing from what was one cut potato a month ago. A used glass shower door leaning against the box keeps Sadie from digging in the dirt, or Vinnie from pooping in the soil. (I'll remove the glass when the plants get big enough). For really big tubers a 30-gallon tin garbage pail can be used as the bucket, with air holes drilled in the sides.
A few days ago I saw two more potatoes drying on the kitchen windowsill. Apparently Kevin wants to grow more taters! Which means I should get a few more boxes ready and place them strategically in the back yard near the pawlownia that will provide plenty of shade for the taters, blueberry bushes and strawberries.
Kevin has made it clear: he wants a continuous crop of potatoes, tomatoes, peppers and beets, all vegetables he buys the most often. Toms and Peps are hard to grow here year-round unless they are in a greenhouse (hint hint hint) but I did ok with the tats and strawberries as long as they were covered up with mulch during the coldest months. The pot of green peppers from last year survived the winter inside and is now flowering outside! Although some of the stalks are dead, the majority of the plants did live. They aren't as lush as this year's peppers but as long as they produce new edible crops, why bother with aesthetics?
Kevin has made so much progress helping me in the vegetable garden. Now that he's seen success and eaten beets and squash from his own garden, he helps out and listens to me when I show him how to do things right. I'm sure he will do just fine on his own this summer when I am away. He's even promised me he'll water my citrus trees in the front yard.
My nectarine trees are full of fruit this year. I am so delighted!!! Although I lost a few young fruit from the winds recently (more winds are due later today), the fruit growing this year is the best potential crop yet. The trees are approximately seven or eight years old (planted in the summer of 2005 when they were approx two years old). Most fruit trees take 4-5 years to even begin growing fruit, so these guys are a little late in maturing, but better late than never.
I have a nice amount of Contender beans coming up now, and even more snow peas. But the tomatoes are still stubborn and I blame that on the wide fluctuations of nighttime temperatures. Tomatoes are hard to grow when it gets below 55F at night; they need continuous warm soil to thrive.
One thing I would really enjoy is having a small strawberry patch. I have a location in the backyard in mind: the northwest corner of our house! The Quinalt variety has been very prolific and should bare fruit later this summer. Strawberries, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, peas, beets, spinach and cabbage seem to be our best bets. I'm hesitant to try corn again this year, but Kevin is anxious.
I have a wild mint planting growing on our north side. Too bad it's growing right by the sewage hole!
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Penstemon is dead
The pink penstemon that I got from the Master Gardener Conference in February had been drying and weakening, so it was no surprise that I found it broken off this morning from last night's winds. The penstemon next to it is doing well and in red bloom. (That one was a "stray.")
The Crepe Myrtle is now growing new green leaves. What a relief, as I figured it was dead, too. It's the last shrub to bring up new life in the front yard. So far that means only the three pineapple sages are true goners.
Our recent nighttime fluctuations have stymied much growth. Tomatoes are holding back, and even beans seem to want to hold off on germinating. We are expecting lower temps for the next few days.
Both the yellow palo verde and the mesquite are now leafed out nicely. What worries me now are the four east-side oleanders against the house. They were there when we bought this house in late 2004, but other than grey water I don't spend much time irrigating the shrubs. The oleanders in the back yard, in contrast, have grown and blossomed over the years. If these four shrubs die this year I'll have them all removed and plant some hybrid roses there instead. But other than that, the front yard is coming back to life and so far I haven't put any money into replacing dead growth. What shall be, shall be. There are enough strays popping up that if I let the front yard grow on its own--weeds excluded--the dynamics will change to a more native garden. That's the goal.
The Crepe Myrtle is now growing new green leaves. What a relief, as I figured it was dead, too. It's the last shrub to bring up new life in the front yard. So far that means only the three pineapple sages are true goners.
Our recent nighttime fluctuations have stymied much growth. Tomatoes are holding back, and even beans seem to want to hold off on germinating. We are expecting lower temps for the next few days.
Both the yellow palo verde and the mesquite are now leafed out nicely. What worries me now are the four east-side oleanders against the house. They were there when we bought this house in late 2004, but other than grey water I don't spend much time irrigating the shrubs. The oleanders in the back yard, in contrast, have grown and blossomed over the years. If these four shrubs die this year I'll have them all removed and plant some hybrid roses there instead. But other than that, the front yard is coming back to life and so far I haven't put any money into replacing dead growth. What shall be, shall be. There are enough strays popping up that if I let the front yard grow on its own--weeds excluded--the dynamics will change to a more native garden. That's the goal.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Wind!!!
It's 8:40pm and it's windier now than this afternoon!
___
Southeastern Arizona under red flag warning, wind advisory
Published/Last Modified on Wednesday, Apr 08, 2009 - 12:21:19 pm MST
SIERRA VISTA — Cochise County will feel strong winds and be under a high fire danger on Wednesday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.The weather service issued a red flag warning and wind advisory for the county and much of Southeastern Arizona. Both warnings are in effect until 8 p.m. on Wednesday.A red flag warning is when high winds and low relative humidity levels are forecast, causing a high fire danger.The weather service forecast sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph for Wednesday afternoon. Gust of around 45 mph were possible, too.
Windy conditions are possible through Friday, the weather service said. A chance of rain also is possible on Friday night and Saturday.
http://www.svherald.com/articles/2009/04/08/news/breaking_news/doc49dcf919c296d254980260.txt
___
Southeastern Arizona under red flag warning, wind advisory
Published/Last Modified on Wednesday, Apr 08, 2009 - 12:21:19 pm MST
SIERRA VISTA — Cochise County will feel strong winds and be under a high fire danger on Wednesday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.The weather service issued a red flag warning and wind advisory for the county and much of Southeastern Arizona. Both warnings are in effect until 8 p.m. on Wednesday.A red flag warning is when high winds and low relative humidity levels are forecast, causing a high fire danger.The weather service forecast sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph for Wednesday afternoon. Gust of around 45 mph were possible, too.
Windy conditions are possible through Friday, the weather service said. A chance of rain also is possible on Friday night and Saturday.
http://www.svherald.com/articles/2009/04/08/news/breaking_news/doc49dcf919c296d254980260.txt
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Carrots, Beets and Turnips, Oh my!
Kevin dug up all the carrots today, along with one huge turnip and several beets. I came in after him, retilled the soil, added a fresh top and planted more Danvers carrots and a few white-topped turnips.
Corn is coming up but none of the tomato seedlings are doing well. What is the problem with that?
Corn is coming up but none of the tomato seedlings are doing well. What is the problem with that?
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Red flag!
It wasn't easy gardening today. The wind's pretty intense at times.
Some young corn seedlings are coming up. So are two butternut squash seedlings. I hope they don't mind the cooler temps this week.
Kevin planted some potato skins in 4x4 garden box #1...let's see if they sprout. The other potato plants are growing fast!
Meanwhile the northern Plains are hit with yet another snow storm.
Today: Partly cloudy and windy. High near 70F. Winds W at 25 to 35 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.
Tonight: Mostly clear. Low 43F. WSW winds at 15 to 25 mph, diminishing to 5 to 10 mph.
Tomorrow: Mainly sunny. High around 75F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph.
Tomorrow night: A mostly clear sky. Low near 50F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph.
Friday: Windy with plenty of sun. Highs in the low 70s and lows in the mid 40s.
Saturday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 60s and lows in the low 40s.
Sunday: Sunshine. Highs in the mid 70s and lows in the mid 40s.
___
County under red flag warning on Wednesday, weather service says
Published/Last Modified on Wednesday, Apr 01, 2009 - 10:06:03 am MST
SIERRA VISTA — Cochise County, along with most of Southern Arizona, is under a red flag warning until 7 p.m. on Wednesday.The National Weather Service issued the warning because of the likelihood of strong winds and low relative humidities, which can bring high to very high fire danger.Other areas included in the warning are southeast Pinal County, Graham County, Santa Cruz County, eastern Pima County and Greenlee County.The weather service says sustained wind speeds on Wednesday will be in the range of 25 to 35 mph, with gusts up to 50 mph.
“Areas of blowing dust are possible with these gusty winds during the afternoon hours before they diminish after sunset Wednesday evening,” a according to a wind advisory from the weather service.
Some young corn seedlings are coming up. So are two butternut squash seedlings. I hope they don't mind the cooler temps this week.
Kevin planted some potato skins in 4x4 garden box #1...let's see if they sprout. The other potato plants are growing fast!
Meanwhile the northern Plains are hit with yet another snow storm.
Today: Partly cloudy and windy. High near 70F. Winds W at 25 to 35 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.
Tonight: Mostly clear. Low 43F. WSW winds at 15 to 25 mph, diminishing to 5 to 10 mph.
Tomorrow: Mainly sunny. High around 75F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph.
Tomorrow night: A mostly clear sky. Low near 50F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph.
Friday: Windy with plenty of sun. Highs in the low 70s and lows in the mid 40s.
Saturday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 60s and lows in the low 40s.
Sunday: Sunshine. Highs in the mid 70s and lows in the mid 40s.
___
County under red flag warning on Wednesday, weather service says
Published/Last Modified on Wednesday, Apr 01, 2009 - 10:06:03 am MST
SIERRA VISTA — Cochise County, along with most of Southern Arizona, is under a red flag warning until 7 p.m. on Wednesday.The National Weather Service issued the warning because of the likelihood of strong winds and low relative humidities, which can bring high to very high fire danger.Other areas included in the warning are southeast Pinal County, Graham County, Santa Cruz County, eastern Pima County and Greenlee County.The weather service says sustained wind speeds on Wednesday will be in the range of 25 to 35 mph, with gusts up to 50 mph.
“Areas of blowing dust are possible with these gusty winds during the afternoon hours before they diminish after sunset Wednesday evening,” a according to a wind advisory from the weather service.
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