Polyculture

Polyculture

Welcome!

Anyone can garden-from herbs in the windowsill to pots on the patio to small plots for veggies in your yard.

I actually have more challenges than most-which is why I have such easy solutions! enjoy-and grow more food!


Thursday, June 17, 2010

the first! and a surprise to boot!

I harvested the first zucchini today. this was a surprise as I had thought the squash in the middle of all those pumpkin vines was an English thing-summer pumpkin. so I am grateful and pleased to report we will have zucchini this year! and the little fig tree has arrived-complete with figs growing! so cute! ( a tree you can keep in pots if needed; cover or set in a garage, etc for the winter. convenient.)

looks like the garlic and shallots will be ready in a few weeks. I am trying to wait a few days on new potatoes-so tempting to look inside the bags! we'll be eating the first strawberries soon also ( grown from seed!)

the buttoned ( bitter small heads) broccoli further insulted by getting bug eaten. it's been pulled. I may try fall sprouting broccoli-might work better here.Beans are coming on and finally-some growth from the  cucumber starts.waiting on the last of the turnips. have enough dill and cilantro for an army.( I save the seeds and-resow. keep the good bugs coming!)

when each bed empties, I'll be using more minerals. compost, and a cover crop-then they;ll be ready for fall crops. I use buckwheat in the summer-quick and effective. just cut it in about 30 days and lay it as a mulch and plant your transplants ( or move aside a bit for seeds.) I like the fall mixes later on or something that will completely winter kill, like oats. cover-mulch-in one step. can;t beat that!

multiplier onions seem very happy. if they work out-forget onion transplants. perennials are so much easier!

and did i mention the tomatoes? Japanese trifels(black) are racing the principe borghese ( sun drying tomatoes) to set more and more, and to ripen. the coustralee(red) and manyels( yellow) are not far behind.I count at least 20 on each plant-most have more.I've had to top every one of them ( branches taller than the cages are unsupported and can break) they will start new side shoots soon.( not a problem once you have fruit set)

Onion tomato and cheese sandwiches here we come!

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