sunflower

The third planting is just starting to poke their heads up. The second planting of beans have grown tall enough to see that the package was mislabeled and unwanted pole beans are growing.  I do not have the capability for pole beans.  I will have to either cut them off at about two feet and…

Taught a gardening class today.  I concentrated on containers with edibles:  dwarf tomato, lettuce, and cucumber with nasturtiums and chives.  Used 8-gallon plastic terra-cotta pots with drainage holes. Cautioned them to use a saucer under so not to stain patio or porch floor.

No, I didn’t plant any pumpkins…they just sprouted by themselves and are huge!  They are putting out only male flowers now, just to entice the bees to visit.    The blossoms are edible:  pick the open blossoms, remove the pollen, wash gently with water, fill with stuffing mix, and bake 15 min.  Delicious.

The heirloom yellow pear tomato seeds have survived the winter and 8 have sprouted in random places in the garden.  When they are 4-6 inches tall, I will transplant to the preferred area and stake them.  They grow tall, no , REALLY tall.  They are small but wonderfully flavorful.  They have tender skins and do…

Checked the dried and storage garlic today and found two that have sprouted little green tops.  They will not keep now (the bulbs get mushy) so I planted them out with the winter garlic. This will test whether garlic should be planted in the fall or if it is ok to plant them in spring.

The Goliath tomatoes I started in peat pots 6 weeks ago are ready to transplant out.  I know, it is really early, but April 15 is our last average frost date here in Virginia.  I put them against the side fence in front of the peas.  The peas will be long gone by the time…