Posted on 09/24/2022 6:10:59 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
Good deal, a work project!
Good time of year to do it in any case. People are cleaning up their gardens and starting to winterize the house, or, like you, getting your firewood cut and split!
And won't those carmalized cubes be even better with fried bacon and onion, and slightly carmalized brussel sprounts on top! (With a splash of vinegerette or sesame oil on your assembled bowl!)
I grew some Korean golden sweet potatoes in 5 garden bags this year. Not impressed by the yield, but I expect a a reduced yield growing in bags. I have not tasted them yet, they are curing on the back porch. There were a bunch of them but they were smallish with a number of skinny ones. Apparently the skinnies are good for making slips for next year.
RareSeeds Sweet Potato Korean Gold
Covington is a good variety in northern tier states, but I think you already know this!
Jung Seed Covington Sweet Potato
If I had room I would probably grow it (along with a lot of other things!)
It can be grown faster in a controlled setting than in the bog, so some lady is starting to select fast growing varieties and growing it in a green house. Need to save the bogs for the pitcher plants!!
Kohl crops, leeks and onions and scallions, beets, and lettuce! Specifics at the link!
Thanks, Pete!
We’ve had rain all yesterday and last night the skies opened and it just POURED for about 30 minutes, straight.
Felt really bad because it was Homecoming for the local HS kids. :( Hopefully no pretty dresses got ruined, if they got caught in that mess.
Badgers got SLAUGHTERED in football last night against Ohio State. I don’t have cable or a dish, so pretty much the ONE game I got to watch on Free Government TV was a disaster. :( (52-21! Ugh!)
Oh, well. I’ve got apples to deal with, today. Two friends are bow hunting this morning. They arrived at 5am - the Beagle let me know, LOL! I’m hoping to ‘Tom Sawyer’ them into picking the apples I can’t reach when they come back in from the field. ;)
Rain...good for your garden! Sorry for the kids! My lawn is mostly dormant and stands out against my neighbors watered lawn. (Less mowing = less gas = savings to pay for fertilizer and water for my garden!)
Taking advantage of the change to cooler growing conditions!
Cabbage is one of those cheap vegatables that its usually easier to let other people grow, but this year I decided to give it a try, and given how things are going economically I am glad I did!
Since cabbage looper butterflies are still fluttering around (at least here in Z 6b!) and for the start of cool nights, some low tunnel protection: (I put hardware cloth at ends for ventilation on warm days, Rosemary standing watch to confuse the flutterbys!)
September 3rd, planted in the low tunnel: (Groniger and Red Rubine Brussel sprouts left; Fareo and Red Express cabbages to the right (the Sun Side of the bed))
September 21st same plants....The Cabbages are 65 days to maturity...The sprouts 95 to 105....I expect the B Sprouts to get tall enough to get up above the cabbage before they spread out too much....
Amaranth-Brussel-Sprouts-and-Cabbage Planted a few days later: (Chinese Amaranth; Hybrid Kaitlin Cabbage (90-120 days) same B. Sprouts as before)
Lettuce hanging out in a low tunnel! (Lolla de Rossa, Flame, and Winter Density!) I planted some beets inbetween the rows and its starting to come up!
Kohl Crop Variety info:
GRONINGER BRUSSELS SPROUT SEEDS ORGANIC & BIODYNAMIC An old Belgian landrace that produces sweet green sprouts. Sprouts are somewhat variable in size and shape, with some sprouts refusing to head and looking very much like the patented "kalette".
RUBINE is an early producing, open-pollinated, heirloom variety of Brussels sprout that's most noted for the beautiful purple-red color of its sprouts and foliage. Staying about 2′ tall, plants make an attractive border for gardens and also reward you with a good yield of 1-1.5″ round, nutty-tasting purple sprouts.
FARAO is a hybrid green cabbage of the ballhead form, meaning it forms a tight head of dense leaves. The leaves are a pretty, deep green and the heads grow to about 3 or 4 pounds (1-2 kg.). In addition to the compact head, Farao grows a generous layer of looser, protective outer leaves. The flavor of Farao cabbage plants is mild and peppery.
RED EXPRESS CABBAGE: Description The first early open pollinated cabbage to be released in years. A small, compact plant with dense, solid, oval heads that are dark red in color. Heads are 2-4 pounds with good flavor. Great for salads. Ideal for northern climates, but is successful anywhere. . Very flavorful. Excellent for coleslaw, stir fry, and salads. Cuts your growing time in half compared to full-season varieties. Split resistant.
KAITLIN CABBAGE is a large, late-season cabbage that produces a high-quality, high dry-matter white cabbage for sauerkraut. It is a mid-term storage cabbage that will store well until December or January. Kaitlin's interior remains quite white, not green, after storage. Avg. weight: 8-12 lb. High resistance to Fusarium yellows.
I use drip irrigation; cabbage likes moist soil. I had some reflecting mulch which I decided to use here; I Fertilized when planted at the end of August; I fertilized again today with fish emulsion and kelp and Sea90 minerals. . Normally my cabbage is riddled with loopers, but I have not had a problem since using the garden fabric low tunnel!
Yah, garden fabric is a good product, and not that expensive. I got tired of trying of using hoops and anchoring it, and decided to use fencing instead. Works well in my small garden!
Gorgeous photos, Diana in Wisconsin!
Thanks, Pete! Great addition/inspiration. :)
Vicki really captures our little corner of the world. :)
Today, I went out & cut most of the decent blooms that are remaining to dry & use for seeds next year. Many of the zinnia blooms have been picked clean of seeds by the goldfinches. Some are getting moldy, which isn't good for seeds. I've been cutting blooms all summer - once the finches start on them, I cut them so I already have quite a lot saved. I'm glad I cut the blooms today - didn't expect rain and we ended up with some big storms in the late afternoon.
Diana; Beautiful pictures! Thanks of posting. They make a nice end to the evening!
I see you have little yellow in your mix. For some reason I ended up with DOZENS of yellow ‘Canary’ Zinnia. The big, tall ones. They’ve made great bouquets, but I’ve had more than enough of YELLOW, LOL!
Do you want me to save some seed for you? I’ve got plenty, and the Goldfinch haven’t noticed them, yet.
Think we can get them past ‘customs?’ LOL!
Sure - thanks!
The finches are beating me to the tithonia seeds - at this rate, I will have zero seeds! I am going to see if I have some small paper envelopes or something like that, to put over a few so the seeds can mature/dry out & the finches won’t get them. I have lunch bags - good for some of the sunflowers, but too big for tithonia.
I’m a little ‘bummed’ ... I think the majority of our hummingbirds have departed in the last couple of days. I saw one last evening next door on the porch feeder and one on our front maple tree feeder this morning. Tomorrow, I’ll try to keep a closer eye on the feeders. Last year, we still had a few about half way through October so this seems a little early ... wonder what they know that we don’t? I do know some pretty chilly air is coming this week.
Help on garden. I rotate my crops every year and I’m running out of ways to rotate it. Short of allowing my garden to lie fallow, any recommendations on what I can do? I don’t want to use fertilizer, but I want to improve my yields.
I also use a good weed barrier but it needs replacing.
And there's no way to increase yields and have strong, vigorous plants without SOME fertilizing. Can you at least add compost to your beds/garden area? Is it a matter of cost? If so, there are lots of homemade fertilizers you can make from everyday foodstuffs you might be throwing away:
https://constantdelights.com/post/homemade-fertilizer
https://www.thespruce.com/make-your-own-fertilizer-1388159
Hot links:
https://constantdelights.com/post/homemade-fertilizer
https://www.thespruce.com/make-your-own-fertilizer-1388159
Mosquitero, an Ancho Pepper variety will not be replanted. The first 5 peppers were very good, but after that all the plants wilted and I never got any more inspite of fertilization and increased watering. Not planting again. Blot pepper; beautiful, good taste. May plant again. Shishito peppers; Small compact plants, lots of small tasty peppers with quick production. Definitely growing again. Great choice for people with Balconies or garden apartments! Chevna Chuska from Seed Savers next year if they sell them. Which peppers did you grow?
Thinking about using to make raised bed sides I can get a 2'x8' galvanized steel corrugated roofing panel for $21.
1' high x 2' wide x 6' long. Or 2 panels and make the sides 2 feet high. Maybe next year. Cover with frost rated garden fabric and use for a cold frame!
** 12 foot panels are $31!
https://www.homedepot.com/p/8-ft-Corrugated-Galvanized-Steel-31-Gauge-Roof-Panel-13513/202092961
https://www.plantmaps.com/interactive-kansas-first-frost-date-map.php October 21-31. https://www.plantmaps.com/
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