Garden Update

I haven't posted a garden update in a while.

The weather here has been crazy.  Out of nowhere it got warm.  I was in the 70 and 80's for several days.  Then, just as quickly, we had some nights where it got down into the mid 30's.  Luckily I didn't lose any plants.  I moved all of my container plants inside on the cold nights.  The peppers that were in the ground got covered with buckets.  They certainly haven't grown as much as the ones in the containers.

My upside down tomato plant seems to be doing OK.  There's even something growing out of the top of it.  I have climbed up there to find out what it is.

 These are 9 squash plants and 3 more kale plants.  I haven't figured out where I'm going to plant them yet.

Basil

Pepper plants in containers.

Kale and broccoli plants in the front yard.

The tomatoes have gotten so big that I had to tie them up.

I've planted beans and spinach seeds as well, but they haven't done anything yet.  I'll post pictures of the plants in the back yard some other time.  They haven't done as well.  They don't get enough sun. 

Purple Kale Juice

The other day I ran across redbor kale.  It's kale that has a purple/red color.

My wife was able to find purple kale at the store today.  I don't know if it's redbor, or some other type.  I decided to make juice out of it.

I used the following:

• kale
• 1 pear
• 1 lemon
• 1/2 lime
• 2 carrots
• 4 leaves of Romaine lettuce
• 1 inch of ginger

This is a picture of the finished product.

I thought it tasted good.  I'd say it was a little more bitter than usual, but I've never been able to get two batches of juice to taste the same.

If I can ever find seeds, purple kale is something that I'm going to grow.

BT - I have to see how this works.

I did some reading today and discovered that bacillus thuringiensis, or BT as it is commonly known, is the preferred method for getting rid of cabbage worms.
It's an organic pesticide.  The worms eat it and die.  I picked some up a Lowes today.  At $11, I thought it was kind of expensive.  The bottle is 16 oz, and only need one Tbsp. per gallon of water.  With a ratio like that, this stuff ought to last me a while. 

I mixed some in the required ratio and put it into a spray bottle (also from Lowes).  Then I went around my yard and sprayed the few plants I had left.  I don't know how well it worked.  Some of the plants stayed wet, and others just repelled the water and it ran right off.  I guess I'll just have to wait and see.  The bottle said that it needs to be applied weekly, and that you shouldn't apply it on the same day you harvest (duh!).  From what I read, you can ingest the stuff, but I don't think I'll be taking that chance.  I don't plan on applying the stuff for a week before I pick it, and I'll be sure to wash it before eating.

Caught him red handed.

I wasn't able to get a picture, but I caught the bugger eating my plants.  It was a cabbage worm.  The little critter was green and blended in.  I almost didn't see him.  Anyway, it was about an inch long and fuzzy.  I should do some more research to see what can be done about them.  It's probably too late.  Most of my cabbage plants are too far gone. 

Well that's disappointing...

It looks like something is eating my plants.  It looks like only the cabbage, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts have been affected.  The kale, tomatoes and peppers have been left alone.  I'm disappointed to say the least. 

They even got the plants in containers.

The front flower bed is where most of this stuff was planted.

I have plants in the ground.

I put some plants in the ground the other day.

I planted kale and several other seedlings in the island bed out front.

Two kale plants took up residence under the lamppost.

The cabbage and Brussels sprouts were planted in the front flower bed.  The garlic was planted there last fall.

More plants in the island bed.

Island bed from another angle.

I actually planted these Brussels sprouts in November.  They've done great through the winter.  (What little bit of it we had.)

 

My pepper plant is already producing.  This is actually a holdover from last year as well.  It survived the winter in the garage.

I thought I'd add an update on some of my radishes.  They're ready to pick.

I have never gotten radishes to grow this big before.  They're the size of golf balls.  That's lettuce in the front.  It looks like it's finally starting to do something.

Seedling update - March

It's time for another update on the plants.

These kale plants were the first ones that I started.

These tomato plants have done well since they were potted up.

I'm not even sure what this is.  I think it's kale, but it could be broccoli.

Are these Brussels sprouts?  I think they might be. 

Another shot of the tomatoes.

On days that it's warm enough I move the plants outside in the morning so they can get actual sun light.  Then I bring them back in at night.  On cold days they stay in the garage under the lights.