Falling in to Winter

Friday we harvested Lemon Guavas, Jujubes, Passionfruit, Butternut Squash and Pumpkins. Kyra (my new garden helper) cut down the 15 foot cornstalks in the front yard. I have never seen corn this tall, but this is my first time growing cornmeal corn. It got a lot of attention and comment from neighbors, walkers and cars slowing to gape. Kyra: “How am I going to find your house now?”

We pulled out the watermelon vines and are giving the last to the birds. The Turkeys are just reaching maturity and starting to display. Hanna and the kids are all doing well. The eggs have slowed suddenly down with the cool fall weather so I will put a lamp in the coop soon to extend their light hours back up to summer levels. I read in the last issue of the internationally bestselling “Backyard Poultry” (yeah right) that pumpkin is a natural wormer for birds. Last week I gave a split pumpkin to the ever hungry flock and it was gone in a couple of hours, husk and all. The hens were indifferent and left it mostly to the turkeys- pumpkin being one of their very favorite treats.







Many people are asking what I’m putting in my winter garden. What I have put in is getting dug up every night by a very vigorous raccoon. Last night I set a trap for him or her and oh help me god if I catch a skunk. We caught a neighbor’s cat first at about 10pm. I will go out when it gets light to see what …….

I’ve planted onions and garlic. Onion plants in a 6 variety assortment from Peaceful Valley. Early California garlic, also from PV, and Inchellium Red and Shantung Purple from a garlic farmer I know. I’m experimenting with perennial onions- walking onions, potato onions, multiplier onions and shallots. The coon isn’t digging up these beds. hmmmm…… I do not recommend the onion sets (bulblets) sold at the big boxes and nurseries. In my yard they have gone to seed before they make a bulb. Bad. You can put onions in from seed and have spring onions with full bulbs next summer or you can buy 6–packs at the nursery. Separate the little plants, trim top and roots and plant.

6¬–packs of cauliflower, chard and broccoli are in to get a head start. I will be starting other cabbage family plants in the house as seeds- I should have done this a month ago. This is where you get to plant some unique and wonderful things- Spigariello, Romesco, Broccoli Raab, colored Cauliflowers, Bok Choy, Napa Cabbage, Tatsoi and more.

Parsley and Cilantro- Cilantro grows easily and goes fast – be ready to throw out some more seeds.

Direct seeding- Now’s the time for all the lettuce greens. A good assortment of Lettuces broadcast over a 4x4 ft. area will provide you with months of cut and come again salad. You can plant a fresh patch later in the season. DON’T buy one of those “mesclun” mixes- the more vigorous mustard family plants will crowd out the lettuce. Keep lettuce on it’s own. Plant mizuna, red leaf mustard, arugula, mache, dandelion, curly endive (frisee) and garden cress separately.

Carrots, and radishes. Mix these seeds together to broadcast. The fast growing radishes with be pulled up and gone, leaving more room for the slow growing carrots. The French breakfast radishes are a fave.

Scallions- red and white. Renee’s garden seeds has a good combo at OSH

Peas- oh yeah! Snap, shelling and Snow. Snow Peas grow low so a 4 or 5 ft. trellis is enough. Snap and Shelling need at least 6 ft. but 8 is better. This height is important. Ever since the original snap pea was developed the breeders have been coming up with new ones. They have all kinds of names- Super Sugar Snap etc. Not one of the many I have tried compare with the original. Just Sugar Snap.

Beets and Turnips. My experience with these is mixed at best. If we have a long cool spell with no frosts or heat waves the root crops thrive. But we live in SoCal…. I take my chances because when they are good they are sooooo good. Golden beets are my favorite.

Don’t forget Fennel and Daikon!!

Happy Gardening

A few pictures of the late summer garden

The Turkeys are growing up.



Pumpkin Perfection



The Girls



Hanna and her brood enjoying their breakfast of eggs, comfrey and yogurt



Luxury Pie Pumpkins and Trombone squash



The Volunteer Pumpkins on the roof

Gloria's query - my answer

Now is the time to think about fruit trees you might want to add to your garden. Order now, plant in January or February.


Kazi,

I'm finally placing my order from Bay Laurel for a few bare root trees to plant this winter. I'm only adding 4 this winter. I'm looking at the "low chill varieties" section of their web site. Can you give me some feedback on varieties based on your experience?

Apple---I've heard Anna does well here. What do you grow & like?

Plum---Tempted by "Mariposa" for obvious reasons. Do you have a favorite?

Peach---?

Nectarine---?

I'm going to throw in a Kiwi for good measure too. And lots of different blueberries to try in containers.

Thanks in advance!

G


ok Gloria here are my ideas

As far as apples- Anna needs a pollinator so you would have to get 2 kinds. I love my Fuji best of my 3 apples -which seems kind of average but it does well. Next time I plant I will refer to Kevin Hauser's great site (below) and his list of the best SoCal apples- I've heard him speak and he's inspiring. In my notes from his class Rubinette was his favorite, along with Hawaii. The top 10 of that day included Dorsett, Williams Pride, Gala, Stump, Anna, Fuji, Wealthy, Winesap, Arkansas Black and Wickson Crab. He is a believer in ignoring chill hours when it comes to apples and he has tried literally hundreds of varieties in his Riverside garden.

http://www.kuffelcreek.com/growingapples.htm

Peach is easy- Red Baron on Nemaguard rootstock (NOT Citation) . Stunning tree- great fruit- my favorite SoCal peach so far.

Mariposa sounds great. I love red fleshed plums in general. I would like to plant Mariposa, but haven't tried it. Plums are good on Citation rootstock. Mariposa sounds like a good choice. I have Santa Rosa, Late Santa Rosa, Flavor King Pluot and Elephant Heart. The Elephant Heart and the Flavor King are not very low chill and their fruit set is inconsistent from year to year but they are also my favorites.


As for the nectarines. I am not a fan of the new super sweet low acid ones. I like my fruit with an evident sweet/acid balance, otherwise I find it insipid. I have tried about 4 nectarines over the years and not been happy with any of them. Meanwhile, I managed to steer my friends correctly. I have 3 friends with the old SoCal standby Panamint and I have enjoyed the fruit and the preserves from their trees- on Nemaguard. That will be my next nectarine.


If you want some more opinions go here:

http://www.davewilson.com/br40/br40_taste_files/taste_index.html

Dave Wilson is the wholesale grower that grows most of the trees that Bay Laurel sells and I believe they are the sole distributers for Zaiger genetics- the hybridizers that brought us pluots and many other new fruits. Dave Wilson's taste test results are always informative. A lot of the winners fall into the low acid catagory, but even though that's not my thing, it's fun to look at the results.

fun....I love looking at the Bay Laurel site

http://www.baylaurelnursery.com/

best, Kazi

Chicks

The wily and ever determined Hanna, my English Game Hen, marched out from under the turkey barn 2 days ago with 5 chicks. She was hiding under there for almost a month without me knowing! I gave my last rooster away a few weeks ago, so clearly she managed to get a little action right before he left. He was an Auracana and beautiful. If the chicks make it they should be beautiful too. They were so tiny that they squeezed through 1" chicken wire! Updates to follow.........

What I Built on my Summer Vacation

The New Mexico Solar Crop Dryer






It's not fair for me to say I built it. The great and wonderful Dmitri, along with my brother Wenzel spent 2 long mornings and a few more odd hours with me in the garage to construct this beauty. I had bought all the materials and only had to run to the hardware store 3 or 4 times.... We worked from an old set of plans I got off the web. The plans were typed on a typewriter and illustrated with small sketches, and were"almost" complete. Dmitri's experienced eye and liberal dose of modifications were much appreciated. The plans said it would cost me about $60 to build. This was definitely not the case.

The dryer is sitting in my back yard, drying out in the sun. After the wood dries I will finish the outside with either Watco or Walnut oil- both food safe oils that will harden. It is a "dual system" dehydrator with both direct and indirect heat from the sun. At the toe of the boot shape air enters and is heated passing over and under the flat black piece of corrugated metal. The heated air rises through the screen trays and exits through a screened opening on the top of the back. There is a hinged flap on the top vent that can be adjusted to control the air flow/temperature.

God I hope this thing works well. I tried one tray of tomatoes a few days ago that was very successful. Now I have to do my homework and try a variety of things from the garden as they ripen. It's taller than me, and I'm 6'2", so It doesn't lack for space. The trays are 46 inches wide.

There is something about it's odd shape and the elegant and simple way it works that I find very appealing. I think it needs a name.

Oregon Berry Orgy

My annual flurry of Jan making in Eugene , Oregon was satisfying, even though after all these years I still have trouble getting some jams to set up. Some of those I will redo to firm them up and some I will leave loose and use as syrup.

This year I made:
Benton Strawberry
Raspberry
Black Cherry with Honey and Mint
Sylvanberry
Loganberry (my favorite)
Blackberry
Black Cap Raspberry
Boysenberry
Marionberry
Cherry with Honey and Filberts
Blueberry and Pinot Noir
Black Currant
and, of course, Brandied Cherries

The one berry I couldn’t find and will miss was the Tayberry, which is a cross between the Loganberry and the Black Raspberry. As much as I love all berries it is the ones in the middle of the Raspberry to Blackberry lineup that really make me swoon. The Tayberry, Loganberry and Boysenberry. Each one of these berries has such a unique flavor.

I hit the big farmers market in Eugene as soon as possible after arriving and am most anxious to see if I have arrived in time for Morels. Some years I have been able to get pounds, which I make into duxelles and freeze for the winter. That would be AFTER consuming a sauté pan full of whole morels. I prefer not to let anyone know I’m doing this, but sometimes I am forced to share. This year I was only able to get the last of one vendor’s supply- half a pound at most- which I went home and devoured. I was glad to see a new mushroom vendor coming with 5 or 6 varieties each week . I think my favorite of his was the Maitake.

Here is a photo of my front porch the last day in Eugene. Berry flats on the right, berry boxes in the middle and cases of jam and syrup on the left.

My 2009 Summer Garden List

When you see the list below you will know why I have been too busy to blog. Summer is sailing into sight and the tomatoes and turkeys have started their growth spurt. Drip lines mended, 3 new auto lines added, Cactus repotted(after the shelf and all the pots fell on my arm- a very strange looking injury), flowers, herbs and veggies planted, cages installed on peppers, eggplants and tomatoes, sunflowers tied up, 2 truckloads of mulch spread, compost turned, brush ground up, 2 trees removed, 3 trees got a haircut so I could walk under them and on and on. I am creaky and sore and stiff and my soul is nourished by my hours outside. Here is my 2009 list:

Tomatoes:
Here are the ones I plant every year:
Early girl, Green Zebra, Persimmon, Sungold, Garden Peach, White Queen

Others:
Heinz, Super Fantastic, Copia, Bella Rosa, Mammoth German , Giant Belgium, Black from Tula, Black Brandywine, Golden Queen, Orange Fleshed Purple Smudge (whether it’s good or not, just writing it on my list is satisfaction enough), Victor, Momotoro, 2 unknown Cherry Tomatoes , Prudens Purple is not doing well- we’ll see

And the 6–pack from OSH:
Early Girl, Better Boy, Beefmaster, Celebrity, Cherry Red, and Roma

Hot Peppers:,
Mucho Nacho Jalapeno (come on, who named that one?), Serrano, Habanero, Kung Pao (my best drying pepper), Chile de Arbol, Cherry Big Bomb, Yellow Tabasco, Thai Hot, Hot Santa Fe Grande, Tunisian Baklouti

Peppers, less hot and sweet:,
Shishito, Mariachi, Red Knight, Ancho, Aji Dulce, Purple, Yellow, Brown, and Red Bell peppers

Eggplant:
Little Fingers, Fairy tale, Turkish Orange, Yellow Egg, Nadia

Beans:
Painted lady Runner beans, Giant Cascade, Blue Lake, Yard Long Liana, Lima, Asparagus Pea, Renee’s Purple, Yellow and Green Snap Bean Combo

Summer Squash:
Costata Romanesca, Lebanese White Bush Marrow, Ronde de Nice, Pattisons Jaune et Verte Scallop

Winter Squash and Pumpkins:
Seminole Pumpkin, Musqee de Provence Pumpkin, King of mammoth Pumpkin, Marina di Chioggia, Naguri Kabocha, Australian Butter, Zuchinno Rampicante, Butterbush, Luxury Pie Pumpkin and 1 unknown and very vigorous pumpkin that is already up to the garage roof.

Melons:
Charentais, Verona Watermelon, Golden Nugget Watermelon, Old Original(green flesh)

Corn:
Hickory King Dent, Floriani Red Flint

Cucumbers:
Armenian, Arkansas Little Leaf Pickling, Boston Pickling, Emir(Persian), Homemade Pickles

Misc.:
Rainbow Sweet Potatoes (varieties unknown), Jicama, Jerusalem Artichoke, Cardoon, Red Roselle(Jamaica)

Now, looking at the size of this list, I can only agree with my friends. I am totally insane.

The Flu had me but I'm back in the Garden

Things are moving fast out there—a beautiful late spring garden. We ate fava beans, fresh potatoes, green garlic, and broccoli for John's Birthday this weekend. Another wonderful garden meal. The tomatoes are all finally in and I will give a complete picture soon. Meanwhile I want to share these 2 great photos. The garlic harvest curing and Bruce working the orchard hives in the lovely early evening light.

I Can Eat a Tomato Soon -Part 1

Tomatoes—there’s a subject that will inspire strong feelings. How to start them, how to grow them, how to feed them, how to support them, which ones to grow, what a great tomato should taste like, what’s a good year etc. etc.

I remember one year when my neighbor and colleague Vicki told me that her favorite tomato of the year was Costeluto Genovese. The same tomato had been tart and boring in my yard. So I’ll start out right away by saying that I’m very opinionated on the subject and if you try growing tomatoes my way you will DEFINITELY find that what I say will not work for you. Well…. at least some of it.

Gardening is all about cycles. There is the weather cycle, the moon cycle, the soil micro-organism cycle, the watering cycle, the insect hatching cycles, the sun strength cycle, the when you get around to weeding/feeding/mulching cycles, the are you paying attention cycle and the did you harvest at the right time for all the other cycles cycle. If you are lucky you will plant, care and harvest with the cycles in a way that strengthens your plants and gives you a bumper crop. One good tomato year my dear friend Adela came to visit. I had a huge shopping basket that was full to the brim with tomatoes and I told her she could have some. Much to my surprise, after she left, I discovered she had taken them all. That was ok. I went back out in the garden and filled it up again. Last year was abysmal and I couldn’t have filled that basket to save my life. I didn’t do anything differently.

Recently, in one of my gardening groups, there was a heated and unfriendly discussion of whether tomatoes should be started in a sterile potting medium or in a home concoction that included organism rich compost. Jeeeeeeeeeeez When I was done following it I felt like I had just read the damn election voter pamphlet. You read it all and you still haven’t a clue what to do. Some beginners read this stuff and give up before they even start. In some ways they were better off sticking a plant in the ground that Aunt Edith gave them and following her instructions.

So—if you want to plant some tomatoes still this year— get yourself down to OSH and buy one of their great 6-packs that have 6 different tomatoes in it for $2.19 and stick them in the ground in the sun. While you’re there get a couple bags of compost and fix up your soil a little. And maybe some organic fertilizer that has very little nitrogen in it (the first of the 3 numbers is the lowest i.e. 5-10-10 or 2-6-6) As they grow tie them up to something and water them well a couple times a week- more when it gets hot.. End of story. I admit this is the short version. I’ll share the longer one soon, but there is no reason why that much information couldn’t get you some great tomatoes.

Farm Life

When I got my first batch of chicks about 5 or 6 years ago, my friend Renee said “keeping chickens is hard” Why? “because they die”. That seemed like a strong statement at the time but it’s true- birds are fragile. I lose the odd chicken. One who stayed out all night in a hidden nest and got nabbed by a raccoon. One who keeled over for no apparent reason at all. One who got “bound”- their egg laying apparatus stuck on hold. My nephew up the street has lost big numbers on more than one occasion to predators and disease. I feel that my losses have been reasonable.

Occasionally there are birds saved from doom that become like mascots- often the only ones to get real names. Sophie, the scapegoat chicken, was always getting attacked by the others. She ended up living outside the chicken yard and provided endless entertainment. For starters she was a Silver Laced Polish and made me smile by her very existence. She looked like Phyllis Diller in one of her ridiculous hats. She would follow you around on garden chores and even occasionally knock on the door. I’m not kidding. Or Peggy, who had what I guessed to be some kind of inner ear/balance problem as a young chicken. She couldn’t hold her head up straight. It always listed to the right. Sometimes her head would turn farther and farther until she just flipped over on her back. It was sad and funny at the same time. She would stay that way for awhile, sort of passed out. I had to separate her out to keep her safe and I didn’t have much hope for her. To my surprise she grew out of it and is back with the flock, but comes running happily to meet me at the gate and seems to enjoy being held.

Today I lost 2 four day old turkey poults. Mysteriously and quickly. There is a lot of guessing and trying this and that with raising birds because, just like with gardening, there is a wealth of contradictory information. Organic solutions include Dr. Christopher's Plague tonic, Rawleigh Internal Liniment, comfrey leaves, raw milk, colloidal silver, probiotics, garlic and apple cider vinegar. This is more appealing to me than veterinary Liquimyacin, Agri-cillin, or Sulfadimethoxine. But when those sweet little creatures die all of a sudden you want it all and you want it now.

Chickens, Mayday in the garden, A dying Banana's last gift

The herb garden and a little pest control

Some lessons need to be repeated.......

When I cook Indian food the curry leaves I find in the store are often tired and don’t add much flavor. I ordered 2 Curry leaf plants from Horizon Herbs ( my current favorite- http://www.horizonherbs.com/ ) along with Chinese licorice, Chamomile and Zaatar Oregano. Although native to India, the Curry leaf is “a reasonable choice for outdoor cultivation in Southern California” Sounds good….. I returned to the site to confirm a good location for these little plants and noticed “tropical to sub-tropical deciduous tree to 18 feet” Oops- didn’t see that. Curry Leaf Tree. They are now in big pots that will dwarf their growth (like my Bay tree). I don’t think I need 18 feet of Curry leaves. Not to be confused with either curry spice mixes or the Curry plant, whose leaves smell a little like curry spice.















The herb garden is so beautiful right now. Note the handmade ugly temporary sprinkler- only until I dig in a line and attatch it to my system......... Didn't I say that last year?














Tarragon, Lemon Balm, Marjoram,Thyme and Lemon Thyme, and Chives














3 different sages, Oregano, Rosemary, Winter Savory, Salad Burnet, Onions, and gleefully bolting Celery


Bugs bugs bugs

Today I installed pheromone traps in the apples and pears for Codling moths, a different pheromone trap near the citrus trees for Leaf Miners, fly traps in the chicken yard and Tanglefoot around the trunk of the Giant Fuyu tree. I am desperate to keep the mealybugs from ruining my favorite Persimmon. Next bug chore will be spraying for Fire Blight. Very few things in my yard need fighting, thankfully. Most of the problems are in the fruit trees and all my solutions are organic. Out damn pest. Don't mess with my fruit.

Another delivery from Zeke the Sheik, The Guru of Poopoo

The new chickens are 9 weeks old today and can still squeeze through a 2” x 4” opening in the fence. Those that make it into the great wide world get put into chickie jail for the day. Chickie jail is a 2’ x 4’ cage that is full of the most delectable and desired chickie treats- the plan being to fatten them up so they can’t fit through the damn tiny hole any more. It’s always the same 7 little escapees, so hopefully a few more days of constant eating will widen them.

Today I planted 2 seed flats- 1 entire flat of Zinnias. The other is a hodge-podge of Celosia, Basil, Summer Savory, Chives, Cardoon, Jicama, and Thai Red Roselle. Thai Red Roselle, the flower found in Latino stores here in L.A., is the main ingredient in the drink “Jamaica”. The great and wonderful Lulu makes this often in the summer- very refreshing. This is what Baker Creek (my seed source) says about it:

Thai Red Roselle
(Hibiscus sabdariffa) A valuable plant for making cranberry-flavored bright red beverages, jelly, pie and tea. Much grown in Asia and the mid-east as the flavor is wonderful. A tasty sauce can be made by boiling and sweetening the fleshy calyxes, the leaves are also used to make a drink. The entire plant of this Hibiscus is red and very beautiful. Start early, unless you live in the far-south. Citrus-flavored flowers are delicious on frozen deserts. This plant has too many uses to name here. Collected in Thailand.

Tomorrow I will plant the “three sisters” in the front yard. According to Iroquois legend, corn, beans, and squash are three inseparable sisters that support each other in several ways. The beans climb the corn and are light feeders next to the hungry corn. The squash rambles over the ground, shading it from the hottest sun and helping the soil retain water.

Planting food plants in the front yard is tricky. Authors Kelly Coyne and Eric Knutzen ( L.A. residents) address this subject in their interesting book The Urban Homestead. They recommend planting either unfamiliar plants (weird greens) or super abundant plants (cherry tomatoes) in the front yard. The unusual ones won’t get stolen and the abundant ones are fun to share. I will plant a Hickory King flint corn- multicolored and intended for corn meal. The beans will be Scarlet Runner beans- beautiful flowers and not a familiar shape. The third sister will be Musquee de Provence pumpkins and Australian Butter squash. I hope these three sisters are unusual enough for a safe front yard planting.

The transitional spring garden











Pakistani Mulberries just starting to color











The pullets really getting into their food











The chicken yard

April 21, 2009

A great day to start my garden musings.  My daughter's birthday.  A record high temperature for the second day, leading me (and many farmers in Cal.) to fear for my avocado crop. Last year's crop was lost to a brutal heat wave right at blossom time. Standing under the trees you can still hear the roar of thousands of bees in the blossoms, which are all the more abundant from having had a year off. 

 Today thousands of bees were clustered on the front of the hives in a great wide pile- I don't know why.  The 8 week old chickens were already finding ways out of their new yard while the older hens watched with jealousy and annoyance. They couldn't squeeze out through the same  tiny gaps.  

The last of the winter garden is  drooping in the heat. My snow, snap, shelling and sweet peas won't take much more of this.  The first pumpkins are up. The pepper seedlings stubbornly refuse to sprout.  The potato bed is the best it's ever been.  It's the first year I took the time to search out a great selection of good quality seed potatoes.  My gamble to leave a few pepper plants in last summer payed off.  Our mild winter only killed off a few of them and the survivors are exploding with new growth- a great jump start on production.  The favas are covered with blossoms.  In a flurry of heat wave watering, out of practice, I managed to miss the key lime which is not yet hooked up to the system.  It will spring back, but has lost most of its leaves.  

It was a gorgeous April day- perhaps my favorite L.A. garden month- a good time to begin,  Dream away.....