"Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant."
Robert Louis Stevenson




Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Garden Update Lots of Pictures!

Easter Egg Blend Radishes
It has been a couple of months since my last update.  After our battle with the raccoons and then replanting the beds three times, it took a while for the vegetable garden to produce. We have been harvesting lettuces, green onions, kale, pea pods and swiss chard the last few weeks.  I will post a lot of pictures to keep my blog up to date on the growth and varieties we planted. All the seeds I used in the garden are from Botanical Interest Seeds.
Bed One

Bed Two

Bed Three has Purple & White Vienna Blend Kohlrabi, American Purple Top Rutabaga, Sugar Snap Peas, and Spinach

Bright Lights Swiss Chard

Red Sails and Tango Leaf Lettuce, and a few Cilantro Plants

Easter Egg Blend Radishes (I picked some earlier)  and Gourmet Blend Beets.  Spring Onion Seeds I saved from last year. These I tossed around in all the beds.

Early Wonder Beets

Q's Special Medley Mesclun Lettuce

Oak Leaf Lettuce

Mache Corn Salad Greens

Kale Italian Lacinato (Nero Toscana)

Brussels Sprouts Long Island Improved Heirloom



these are just about ready to pick

start at the bottom and move upward when picking. The plant continues to grow taller and taller forming new sprouts at each leaf joint.
Kohlrabi Purple and White Vienna Blend

Kohlrabi Purple & White Vienna Blend

Sugar Snap Peas


I also planted Bok Choy and onion sets along with some garlic which I didn't get a picture of.  They are just coming in so I will update that later.

I purchased as many organic seeds from Botanical Interests as I could this year.  I think this spring I will add more seed from Baker Creek and Seeds of Change.  I have used Seeds of Change a few times now for my tomato seeds and have been very happy with them. But I do love Botanical Interest and will always buy the majority of my seeds from them.

We are off to a great start in the winter garden, now that the raccoons are gone. Oh, I forgot to mention; my neighbor caught 8 raccoons and relocated them somewhere.  So far I have not had any more damage to the beds.

I will continue to plant consecutively so we can harvest throughout the growing season, which will end for me around early May. I will need to use some of the beds for tomato plants as I generally get those in around March or April.  Last March we had a hail storm late in the month so I may hold off on the tomatoes until April this year; that will give me a couple more months of winter vegetable planting.

I have already started to pull tomato seeds to plant in pots that I had saved from some of my plants last year.  I will get those going this month.  I also need to get started on replanting the herb garden. I generally do this about every two years and put in some new plants to replace those that may have become overgrown or woody.  The marjoram is due this year. I may just move it as it has the most intoxicating aroma and I love to make wreaths out of the longer stems. Hang one on your garden gate; all those that enter will ask "what is that lovely smell?"

I will end with a couple photos of our Aloe plant that is in full bloom now.

These tower about 6 to 7 feet tall.


You may just get a fleeting glimpse
of golden wings or faint footprints
For gardens whether large or small
Are not quite what they seem at all.


Happy Gardening!

18 comments:

  1. Healthy greens, love the brusselsprouts, unfortunately can not grow them here.
    The Aloe look splendid. T♥

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  2. Lovely pictures, and lovely weather to be still harvesting radishes. I am jealous, as the temp here this morning was just under 13 degrees. You have a very beautiful garden, I will stop by again.

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  3. George, thank you for stopping by and for the compliment on my garden! We grow these veggies in the winter months here. In the summer the temperatures are too high and the lettuces, etc will bolt. I will be by later on to check out your blog.
    Carla

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  4. Hello Titania, it has been some time since I have been blogging. Thank you for taking the time to stop by. I will be by later to visit you.

    Carla

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  5. Carla, Red Sails and Tango are two favorite lettuces that I grow. I found out that I am known as "George of the Jungle" as I let lots of things purposely go to seed. Both of these lettuce self seeded for my fall garden. The volunteers always seem to do so well. Thanks for signing up to follow my blog.

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  6. George, I like both of those also, but my very favorite one is Arugula. I eat it most days when in growing season and buy it at the farmers markets in the summer when it is too hot for me to grow it.

    I will enjoy following your blog. You have fantastic ideas!

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  7. Your garden looks to be thriving, it makes me long for sunshine and the growing season, right now it's cold and windy in the uk and the ground is just mud! I love your Aloe plant too - stunning x

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  8. Yummy...

    Elaine1952

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  9. Great to see your wonderful garden photos again...they keep me going now that our own gardens are covered in snow...the greens look beautiful!

    For now, I am heavy in quilting to stay warm.

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  10. Freerangegirl,
    Thank you for visiting my blog. I am happy to share green photos with you to get you through that cold winter.
    Carla

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  11. taylorsoutback,
    I am glad to be back with something to show! I battled those raccoon for the ground for so long I was beginning to wonder if I was going to have a garden this winter or not.

    Thanks for stopping by!
    Carla

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  12. Hi Elaine! Thanks for stopping in. I wish I could share the goods with you!
    Carla

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  13. Carla, glad to see that you have returned. I must be California dreamin' with your luscious green garden. You will have wonderful salads and I am a bit jealous.

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  14. Carla, Your bottle of Thyme Vinegar is so beautiful. I always think of doing herbal vinegars, then never get around to it. Also think the herbal olive oils sound neat. Have you tried that? On the topic of arugula, have you tried the wild type Sylvetta? Much darker green, lobed leaves, and intense flavor that will knock your socks off. Did not start as easily from seed for me, so I cherish the few plants of Sylvetta that I do have.

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  15. Ann, I know I have been far too lazy with my blogging update. I made a salad yesterday for lunch and boy have I missed the taste of garden greens.

    Thank you for your visit.
    Carla

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  16. George, I just left a comment at your blog.

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  17. Thank you Pamela! I didn't pick the brussel sprouts yet, they still looked a little small, but the lettuce is fantastic!

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Thank you for taking time to visit my blog, I love hearing from you, stay as long as you like, Carla