Planting notes
First some info crossed posted to my FB as well:
A list of seed companies who are Monsanto-owned along with a list of companies who are Monsanto-free. Recommend WITH this aside: choose carefully who you order from. Make sure their policies mesh with your own ideals. Meaning, do not order from a Monsanto-free company if they say support ultra conservative causes, tea baggers or anti-civil rights.
How to Avoid GMO/Monsanto
www.garden-of-eatin.com
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Raised bed 3 which had been empty since Nov of 2009 now has plants in it again. I put down some stuff I scraped up from the local nursery which speeds up the whole waiting for seeds to bloom part.
Planted:
Okra (Cajun)
Cucumbers (no pickling they were too icky looking-loaded with aphids)
Bunching Onions (might plant some reds too as I have a few)
French fingerling potatoes (been in the garage half sprouting for MONTHS will be interesting to see what does/does not come up)
Marigolds (of course)
Radishes (trap crop!)
Two of the small side beds have nothing in them so I am going to try Borage again even though it is late in the season to be planting it. My hope is that it will survive over wintering with a layer of straw on top. Failing that I hope the seeds make it at least. I did put down another gopher repellent plant but will be watching it closely so it doesn't take over too much. These are same small beds that had sweet pea and clover in them. The gophers decimated the clover or something did. Boy I was pissed! This is kind test where I see if this spot is sunny enough for just the sun loving heat plants who can tolerate direct sun for almost 7 hours. As long as they are well watered the cukes should make it. This might be the bed though for the pumpkins next year where raised bed 2 will be left for the watermelons.
I still have russet potatoes along with garlic to plant. I prepped a large container for some of the potatoes but might put the red onions I purchased in with them. They will be more spread out than the ones in the cool crop bed (raised bed 4) which are suffering from some harlequin bug infestation (mostly in the radishes) along with fucking aphids. Got some insecticidal soap for all these bastards but I think adding Neem oil will be helpful as well.
Have about eight tomatoes coming in as well as the fattening up of the pumpkins, marigolds spreading and keeping some bugs away. I think three more ears of corn can come off the stalks so only beans and the pumpkins are left. Herbs came back nicely from their assault by chickens and cold weather. Will rescue them before frost time as well as the other perennials not in the ground. Wonder if that apple is ready yet? Same thoughts for the one pumpkin which is very orange and according to the books should be picked once its fully orange. I am guessing it is hard to tell at first.
That is all from the Desert Plum Homestead!
A list of seed companies who are Monsanto-owned along with a list of companies who are Monsanto-free. Recommend WITH this aside: choose carefully who you order from. Make sure their policies mesh with your own ideals. Meaning, do not order from a Monsanto-free company if they say support ultra conservative causes, tea baggers or anti-civil rights.
How to Avoid GMO/Monsanto
www.garden-of-eatin.com
------------------------------------------
Raised bed 3 which had been empty since Nov of 2009 now has plants in it again. I put down some stuff I scraped up from the local nursery which speeds up the whole waiting for seeds to bloom part.
Planted:
Okra (Cajun)
Cucumbers (no pickling they were too icky looking-loaded with aphids)
Bunching Onions (might plant some reds too as I have a few)
French fingerling potatoes (been in the garage half sprouting for MONTHS will be interesting to see what does/does not come up)
Marigolds (of course)
Radishes (trap crop!)
Two of the small side beds have nothing in them so I am going to try Borage again even though it is late in the season to be planting it. My hope is that it will survive over wintering with a layer of straw on top. Failing that I hope the seeds make it at least. I did put down another gopher repellent plant but will be watching it closely so it doesn't take over too much. These are same small beds that had sweet pea and clover in them. The gophers decimated the clover or something did. Boy I was pissed! This is kind test where I see if this spot is sunny enough for just the sun loving heat plants who can tolerate direct sun for almost 7 hours. As long as they are well watered the cukes should make it. This might be the bed though for the pumpkins next year where raised bed 2 will be left for the watermelons.
I still have russet potatoes along with garlic to plant. I prepped a large container for some of the potatoes but might put the red onions I purchased in with them. They will be more spread out than the ones in the cool crop bed (raised bed 4) which are suffering from some harlequin bug infestation (mostly in the radishes) along with fucking aphids. Got some insecticidal soap for all these bastards but I think adding Neem oil will be helpful as well.
Have about eight tomatoes coming in as well as the fattening up of the pumpkins, marigolds spreading and keeping some bugs away. I think three more ears of corn can come off the stalks so only beans and the pumpkins are left. Herbs came back nicely from their assault by chickens and cold weather. Will rescue them before frost time as well as the other perennials not in the ground. Wonder if that apple is ready yet? Same thoughts for the one pumpkin which is very orange and according to the books should be picked once its fully orange. I am guessing it is hard to tell at first.
That is all from the Desert Plum Homestead!