chives

The whole chive patch is starting to blossom. They are beautiful light purple fuzz-balls on foot-long edible stems.  The blossoms are pretty in salads, and edible, too. The stems and blossoms add a nice, mild flavor to scrambled eggs, egg salad, and omelets, too. I plant these close to the tomato plants to keep tomato…

Chard

Some 6 plants came up from last year and we have been eating the new leaves.  Now I see that they are starting to bolt.  That means they are putting up flower stems from which I will get seeds for next year.  They are biennial producers i.e. first year leaves, second year seeds. They are…

green beans

Planted green beans  today.  These are seeds from last year’s bounty that I dried and saved.  I did a sprout test and they did 80% ok.  Beans are critical in a long-storage plan and they have many vitamins and minerals.  And, so easy to cook.  Problem is the arrival of the Colorado bean beetle.  I…

Bugs

Yes, I do ha e bugs eating my eggplant.  They always show up this time of year and eat, eat, eat.  Because I don’t use chemicals, I turn to diatomaceous earth for a preventive powder.  I have to reapply it each time it rains, but it is so safe.

Corn is planted

The first animal corn was planted today because the dogwood is in blossom and the maple tree’s leaves are the size of a squirrel’s foot.  Here in Virginia, that is a sure time to be safe from frosts and warm  and wet enough for corn to sprout.