tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34901397337061454152024-03-05T08:38:59.802-05:00Manhattan Rooftop Garden ProjectLaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18228841323715699186noreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3490139733706145415.post-24033423528637881542012-06-09T18:56:00.005-04:002012-06-09T18:56:43.983-04:00All tasty things come to an endLife has its twists and turns... Mine has taken me to sunny California and so, the NYC rooftop garden is no more! My parents came in from Long Island with a flatbed trailer and we loaded it up entirely with plants. Seeing them drive away with my garden, you would have thought they were professional landscapers =)<br />
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Good luck to everyone out there continuing to roof garden! This blog will stay up as a good resource. For now, I will be container gardening in Palo Alto =)Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18228841323715699186noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3490139733706145415.post-41047308617622398892011-08-28T23:48:00.003-04:002011-08-29T04:52:02.580-04:00Hurricane Harvest Irene!Well, I harvested all of my watermelons, yellow squash, Chimayo peppers and scallions ahead of the hurricane on Saturday morning. I was worried I might lose everything to the wind. This morning, I woke up to an almost sunny day and thought, gee all that fuss was about nothing!
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVX6m_d0b4gIWrnQl9V0zMUDuqGGO7izcgsNmFIjPuKgIRJuRGx5v2pxUYFH7dbpiVUy5UyA_86sgnwFlTSdUo1fOmCGxAfTs9i3InBQ3Il-KPF_yntGI_H6Yh_Vb9yUBw8CD2S40G5V4/s1600/20110827_1_HarvestIrene.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVX6m_d0b4gIWrnQl9V0zMUDuqGGO7izcgsNmFIjPuKgIRJuRGx5v2pxUYFH7dbpiVUy5UyA_86sgnwFlTSdUo1fOmCGxAfTs9i3InBQ3Il-KPF_yntGI_H6Yh_Vb9yUBw8CD2S40G5V4/s512/20110827_1_HarvestIrene.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645578878082498610" border="0" /></a>First I tasted a pepper. I took a tiny nibble of the tip and thought, Hmm, that wasn't hot at all. I took a bigger bite and it tasted like a sweet pepper. Then, I took a bigger bite towards the top and was like, Hmm, actually... this is hot. Ha! Still, it was a nice slow burn and I liked it! I'll have to think of something to cook them in.
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<br />I knew that the small watermelons weren't quite ripe when I harvested them, but what can you do when a hurricane is bearing down on you. I ate the red parts of this mini guy and it was tasty!
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIgC5-c16cB0wH8DV1tZxxMLhvWZkLGreSnSJ1jSBUBEcMYNz9d94rXWG3lzNVU8-n_8dibPYNE6S1L39n4vhPZ6pMTTHy4qzcx0J9cSqYMx6Ik4VMkwdPu9m1Y4LOP5Oo8FACKKIEpMw/s1600/20110827_2_MiniWatermelon.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIgC5-c16cB0wH8DV1tZxxMLhvWZkLGreSnSJ1jSBUBEcMYNz9d94rXWG3lzNVU8-n_8dibPYNE6S1L39n4vhPZ6pMTTHy4qzcx0J9cSqYMx6Ik4VMkwdPu9m1Y4LOP5Oo8FACKKIEpMw/s512/20110827_2_MiniWatermelon.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646195814688475906" border="0" /></a>The yellow squash are just a little old, but I skinned one, sliced it very thinly and fried them up to put on a home-made pizza. Mmmmm!! I also stuffed the squash blossom with goat cheese and fried it up in an egg. Mmmm!
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<br />I don't know what to do with all those scallions!
<br />Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18228841323715699186noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3490139733706145415.post-34947784572908360472011-08-19T15:02:00.003-04:002011-08-29T04:50:58.250-04:00Chili Peppers! 2011 Watermelon!As always, I've been a bit lax with the garden and the blogging by this point in the summer. But, there are successes despite me! I have a nicely sized watermelon for the first time since 2008! This is really an accomplishment. I sure hope it tastes good! You can see that the leaves are yellowing and spotted, so the plant is definitely on its way out. My other watermelon plant looked about the same and has 2 smaller watermelons growing. =) They'll be nice little softball sized treats, I hope.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHXNXx5pHoDNswml75JpcuofClpfCvsPJG0frSHdVTxWD3ssL-4-3z0rjJMvLMmDNNxAg2BNhc4wzAeLDPxt6zo4ORtT_JZsleJ7SA7vYBOxPqm7tgle_WmAX8Sk-JsJdG5YDTYfD1kh8/s1600/20110819_1_Watermelon.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHXNXx5pHoDNswml75JpcuofClpfCvsPJG0frSHdVTxWD3ssL-4-3z0rjJMvLMmDNNxAg2BNhc4wzAeLDPxt6zo4ORtT_JZsleJ7SA7vYBOxPqm7tgle_WmAX8Sk-JsJdG5YDTYfD1kh8/s512/20110819_1_Watermelon.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642645597008547842" border="0" /></a>And for the first time ever, I have peppers! These are Chimayo chili peppers, a variety from New Mexico. I'm excited to try making something spicy with them! They are extremely prolific, despite all of my neglect.
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibAXVCjAJTLwF_eAemHqO3sQkp6RtAfjcuN2jTgah-6p69n98DMmuiUyqNZfRRDjiub6WAYeMyJRT2VyxQzVl-zXULcKvp35mQJ5s0PbVZJO-ttQSGiIpG2jvbXnes0YslC9IOlneJvhQ/s1600/20110819_2_ChimayoChiliPeppers.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibAXVCjAJTLwF_eAemHqO3sQkp6RtAfjcuN2jTgah-6p69n98DMmuiUyqNZfRRDjiub6WAYeMyJRT2VyxQzVl-zXULcKvp35mQJ5s0PbVZJO-ttQSGiIpG2jvbXnes0YslC9IOlneJvhQ/s512/20110819_2_ChimayoChiliPeppers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642645597666861538" border="0" /></a>My yellow squash is putting out fruit, even without hand pollination. I'm going to eat this baby. You better believe it.
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVNWGllVOOfzXmuV5-WYUTDyCqKbPuZy0BMWtZkIQJFSFn1IyPgNHILKeAMC5cBZFlAKjKvo0JMKC_JD2H4ThDlFu8gn_WRnCpjWivfH53LYUXX5VmlUndmUmVOFUkfHSv1quhIwr-c3g/s1600/20110819_3_YellowSquash.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVNWGllVOOfzXmuV5-WYUTDyCqKbPuZy0BMWtZkIQJFSFn1IyPgNHILKeAMC5cBZFlAKjKvo0JMKC_JD2H4ThDlFu8gn_WRnCpjWivfH53LYUXX5VmlUndmUmVOFUkfHSv1quhIwr-c3g/s512/20110819_3_YellowSquash.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642645594579968338" border="0" /></a>Zucchini, too! Though, it's not doing quite as well as the yellow squash, I think. I really have to watch the curcubits better. I should probably fertilize them more than I do. That's probably part of why the watermelon vines are dying sooner than I'd like.
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfrjY3OmvuoDhGCFPxt8vFQo_CCaf9zaL_5LSh94-x909tM-gTd3dINzLGD4v_wXkAWLrESKzf1oVZloaIoj-Jrh8KI5b7E1NL-Gew4FMzCVaKmLfMaAhGq-1uOr1FpbYIZ8f73DOrR1U/s1600/20110819_4_Zucchini.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfrjY3OmvuoDhGCFPxt8vFQo_CCaf9zaL_5LSh94-x909tM-gTd3dINzLGD4v_wXkAWLrESKzf1oVZloaIoj-Jrh8KI5b7E1NL-Gew4FMzCVaKmLfMaAhGq-1uOr1FpbYIZ8f73DOrR1U/s512/20110819_4_Zucchini.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642645591302172466" border="0" /></a>Tasty fun times await!!
<br />Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18228841323715699186noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3490139733706145415.post-23631761709834184242011-08-17T20:37:00.005-04:002011-08-17T20:54:06.924-04:00Featured in the Village VoiceLast month Celeste Sloman, a photographer for the Village Voice, contacted me about a slideshow she was putting together on rooftop gardens. She came by as I was putzing around the garden on a normal Saturday morning, July 23rd. I had a lot of weeding and cleaning up to do! Check out <a href="http://www.villagevoice.com/slideshow/new-york-citys-greenest-roofs-33999109/8/">slides 8-13</a> and also the other slides showcasing roof gardens all around the city!
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.villagevoice.com/slideshow/new-york-citys-greenest-roofs-33999109/8/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgojmZsQvjaQDfs5vh_FsBCNuJpYqLbI29kmRd7TNuWV6jziB1twQqe9TX2qF-RPocvGngq_-fWuu46PQL8QFevbBahWO73s_33zO4Bue-d4t3lEzG-wY6XZ_Es4mP7iiD9QIaprL_BZNw/s512/20110817_VillageVoice.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641991132553528082" border="0" /></a>These scallions are out of control! I need to eat them. Also... boy do I look like a dork!
<br />Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18228841323715699186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3490139733706145415.post-45918442464312040832011-08-05T20:27:00.002-04:002011-08-17T20:36:57.704-04:00Featured on TV: Joy in Our TownBack in June, a representative at the Trinity Broadcasting Network contacted me about participating in a piece on their local public program, Joy in Our Town. I jumped at the chance to be on TV and talk a bit about rooftop gardening!
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<br />The program aired on August 1st and August 5th, and the Trinity Broadcasting Network was kind enough to send me a DVD with the full episode and let me post it here:
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<br />Please do excuse my washed out pastiness! I didn't realize how much makeup one needs to look acceptable on TV and I had just pulled an all nighter at the office. Ooof! Enjoy!
<br />Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18228841323715699186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3490139733706145415.post-61985868578995977382011-08-01T20:09:00.004-04:002011-08-17T20:27:41.414-04:00Featured on ReutersIt's been a very busy summer for me, part of which has involved some media attention for the garden! Recently, Chris Michaud from Reuters contacted me for some information on roof gardens and quoted me in his article <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/01/us-gradens-roof-idUSTRE7701UM20110801">here</a>:
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/01/us-gradens-roof-idUSTRE7701UM20110801"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV_FifNQ9EE8APX22AYvaBk6aG39U5LUvsnqFbvv0JPYE312ep4XkSz7TFRYQYyz1JOTpL21LiBQ_oZeUQYwU7z9IdWat1VIFd21xnTVOATEXYblmP0E2cYgpP6PacdQb8Pf3CRohD1pI/s512/20110801_Reuters.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641984531095120066" border="0" /></a>Lots of other news outlets picked up the article around the world, including a popular site in <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=newssearch&cd=2&ved=0CDEQqQIwAQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.stuff.co.nz%2Flife-style%2F5398976%2FRoof-gardens-soften-hard-edges-of-city-living&rct=j&q=laura%20yip&tbm=nws&ei=CVhMTqroMI7ogQfi5ZVz&usg=AFQjCNFeI61oy7oqTw0a-M2nVN6q3mfPnQ&cad=rja">New Zealand</a>. Check it out! And welcome new readers!
<br />Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18228841323715699186noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3490139733706145415.post-87407400891626365652011-06-10T18:50:00.008-04:002011-06-12T00:57:41.765-04:00Big June Update: Early Red Tomatoes!<div>Well, May came and went without taking any pictures in the garden, but I did get up there enough to plant these gorgeous nasturtiums (got them at the Union Sq. green market) and do enough watering to keep things alive. Last Sunday I even got around to weeding, pulling up my spent pea plants and planting some new things in their place.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPJkgIUKs78KX1Jpxvc1qujxcJMODHw5HLoJ34ygPtb53wJB88iRmuPs-XSxeH4iZHIlaQEp2ISsmL-58UNR8u7Y1U6MTDxzk5qgkcv3FVnAuZl4XsmcVXicBJmTw6cVrId-R9mfoiWzA/s1600/20110610_01_NasturtiumsLilies.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPJkgIUKs78KX1Jpxvc1qujxcJMODHw5HLoJ34ygPtb53wJB88iRmuPs-XSxeH4iZHIlaQEp2ISsmL-58UNR8u7Y1U6MTDxzk5qgkcv3FVnAuZl4XsmcVXicBJmTw6cVrId-R9mfoiWzA/s512/20110610_01_NasturtiumsLilies.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617108025764890818" /></a>And here are the earliest red tomatoes I've ever had!! They're not quite ripe, as I like them really dark red, soft and fragrant. But they're almost there! Now if only the weekend would be hot and sunny...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRW-D2CqDnVOcO0F1Wc1ejPx7Ka4eVGC6SLM-Ox0ABTwCdhsK6Hdc1sUWgZ4GUVAoKBut9laiI5tS7YRX63TGY-YjJtvQwMHi4LYNGTnQrzvyG_e-kamfQnuq9sRamhjBOSVdv9Y3YAyc/s1600/20110610_02_RedTomatoes.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRW-D2CqDnVOcO0F1Wc1ejPx7Ka4eVGC6SLM-Ox0ABTwCdhsK6Hdc1sUWgZ4GUVAoKBut9laiI5tS7YRX63TGY-YjJtvQwMHi4LYNGTnQrzvyG_e-kamfQnuq9sRamhjBOSVdv9Y3YAyc/s512/20110610_02_RedTomatoes.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617108018110945650" /></a>You can see how much the tomato plants have grown. The other 2 are just as big as this one. I set up the automatic watering system on Sunday (June 5th, I know... too late like last year! but at least I had been watering a little). This plant had looked like it was going to die. I was worried that these red tomatoes would be the only ones I'd get because I'd underwatered. But, it looks like the watering system did it's job and I can't even tell it was ever in mortal danger! On the left is one of the white potatoes I planted in April. Seems to be doing well, though I honestly don't know much about growing potatoes so we'll just have to see when it's time to harvest.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKuX3PykBXaIRF748HKtVaV8GHlLi6mEBW4CvDC4J2zzSBlZSDpAUE3M5kCvPWFBxDz4M7erSYUWntZO7xqiby3v85MLKrweU-Vb4mp7A8gB5XfwyU6EUaUyUkdEt551ywFDjn4dvbzj4/s1600/20110610_03_WhitePotatoTomatoPlant.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKuX3PykBXaIRF748HKtVaV8GHlLi6mEBW4CvDC4J2zzSBlZSDpAUE3M5kCvPWFBxDz4M7erSYUWntZO7xqiby3v85MLKrweU-Vb4mp7A8gB5XfwyU6EUaUyUkdEt551ywFDjn4dvbzj4/s512/20110610_03_WhitePotatoTomatoPlant.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617107516445781202" /></a>Here are the blue potatoes. They suffered a bit down below because I didn't add soil when I should have, but I did add soil on Sunday. So, hopefully I'll have more potatoes than I planted =)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIOWMCD_6c586GyaVzv5Qd2695vxYoYAoqTeOv32mT9hpjgVvPtglgB2V-YeyUCxpLWAFSPV1naW1f2-dIAdp1a2ZRECYVj-dQADrHfKlE0YqSfA-WgDE8zufRUeTjVtF1CNbMC9LyjqI/s1600/20110610_04_BluePotatoPlants.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIOWMCD_6c586GyaVzv5Qd2695vxYoYAoqTeOv32mT9hpjgVvPtglgB2V-YeyUCxpLWAFSPV1naW1f2-dIAdp1a2ZRECYVj-dQADrHfKlE0YqSfA-WgDE8zufRUeTjVtF1CNbMC9LyjqI/s512/20110610_04_BluePotatoPlants.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617107513819967794" /></a>I got around to planting this watermelon seedling on Sunday, which had been growing on my windowsill for a while. I had some trouble with my watermelon seeds getting killed by fungus. On Sunday, I direct sowed a few more seeds in the hope that I can get a couple more plants growing. This one seems to be doing decently, though. I'm sure it's happy to be planted properly in the sunshine and heat we've been having.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinhDN17aAOom0tlizmNMezIeGzTbzXlOmInmDL6oGouY8gVgxV6o0pFME7-YnZtvblUuFNaMTV3Ay9bejsMv-T4e6sBwMJxtJZX80Et5U9LBBEYxMC9aOWKoofNd51G6JQ2nj-ScplpF4/s1600/20110610_05_WatermelonPlant.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinhDN17aAOom0tlizmNMezIeGzTbzXlOmInmDL6oGouY8gVgxV6o0pFME7-YnZtvblUuFNaMTV3Ay9bejsMv-T4e6sBwMJxtJZX80Et5U9LBBEYxMC9aOWKoofNd51G6JQ2nj-ScplpF4/s512/20110610_05_WatermelonPlant.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617107502488132514" /></a>I think these are the black beauty zucchini seeds I planted on Sunday.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggVaCsSp7PXiSrJ7O8tEUh3WrPHNxb9lKkGaW5NQy-2Wxbz3Y425wBxHlwDo-9w9_l_CuJde64Fu40j3e3-Xu9CuA1bxwWtbWML3AVxK-PH_YoOU1F4n5BAQFt7i2nSfXH-mon3c1F5p8/s1600/20110610_06_ZucchiniSeedlings.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggVaCsSp7PXiSrJ7O8tEUh3WrPHNxb9lKkGaW5NQy-2Wxbz3Y425wBxHlwDo-9w9_l_CuJde64Fu40j3e3-Xu9CuA1bxwWtbWML3AVxK-PH_YoOU1F4n5BAQFt7i2nSfXH-mon3c1F5p8/s512/20110610_06_ZucchiniSeedlings.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617107500151659602" /></a>I think these are the yellow prolific straightneck squash I planted on Sunday. I always mix them up with the zucchini because they look so similar.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUBo6AVVjc9ooidTJRuPpm4nCEEpnFJ0ZxbA7rBLQ8grTrRPOEF-FADyltcvhlK3LodjFH2AmGbQlZ45uCs_27dNOKDzaBj-wzLywQSW_a9ihsz9KBkVEFPoR2VGkAEvNvgepq2iEALM/s1600/20110610_07_YellowSquashSeedlings.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUBo6AVVjc9ooidTJRuPpm4nCEEpnFJ0ZxbA7rBLQ8grTrRPOEF-FADyltcvhlK3LodjFH2AmGbQlZ45uCs_27dNOKDzaBj-wzLywQSW_a9ihsz9KBkVEFPoR2VGkAEvNvgepq2iEALM/s512/20110610_07_YellowSquashSeedlings.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617108015428710946" /></a>This year, I tried something new and sowed some pepper seeds. I had some trouble getting them to start, but eventually got 2 plants, which I planted out on Sunday. One is a chimayo hot pepper plant from seed someone friendly sent me back in 2008. One is a King of the North red bell pepper I bought from seed savers exchange. I also mixed them up and don't know which one this is, but it has one tiny pepper forming! I hope it grows fast, as it was a bit stunted indoors.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnLnhH6rnoDfXq4vxmspWA00vHVpGLKvnKfvSgysZZfr7NtTnPOBrqZQHiU2sfVnmqONWDZ4w-GQyiIUxHYOYVzaiURERBIhs1aWFSJhwDd125nMeNJXvjhAd8NL-OEOnPkPswi3_S62Y/s1600/20110610_08_PepperSeedling1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnLnhH6rnoDfXq4vxmspWA00vHVpGLKvnKfvSgysZZfr7NtTnPOBrqZQHiU2sfVnmqONWDZ4w-GQyiIUxHYOYVzaiURERBIhs1aWFSJhwDd125nMeNJXvjhAd8NL-OEOnPkPswi3_S62Y/s512/20110610_08_PepperSeedling1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617107483061265970" /></a>Here is a beet plant next to my other pepper plant. We'll see which one is sweet and which is spicy when they grow up =)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMhjdsU218-FeIa2oolIn1q-OvyBxKRfFrUbwAexdaDQuwaeoI9kjQHaNYvk715Zc93AypiK3S7GONOMBgJCzM_6MRy_UrfJlez4flf4dxsZowsX8uF2SzNUye01nVz65BoPCZIjRn0vA/s1600/20110610_09_PepperSeedling2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMhjdsU218-FeIa2oolIn1q-OvyBxKRfFrUbwAexdaDQuwaeoI9kjQHaNYvk715Zc93AypiK3S7GONOMBgJCzM_6MRy_UrfJlez4flf4dxsZowsX8uF2SzNUye01nVz65BoPCZIjRn0vA/s512/20110610_09_PepperSeedling2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617107049501399170" /></a>This might look like weeds to you, but it's actually asparagus! When I received the asparagus plants in the mail, they looked like a bag of dried roots. The directions say to plant, water and wait. I waited for quite a while and they finally came up out of the soil. They actually looked just the way asparagus looks when you get it at the store, but they were much smaller and thinner. When first planting asparagus, I have read that you should let the plants grow without cutting them to eat for the first 2 seasons. This allows them to "fern out" the way they have here and gather energy to grow more next year. When you buy asparagus at the store, the "spear" is what has grown here and turned into feathery leaves. Who knew?!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRx0QAmhzfTXMF1LyxevjBnh-mWt4JqI6P_ikdpW6VU03xl03XGCIEo67T3ByM-P5MRWTdel5ObtvKdjOPGQRIRT0RbTtX-GG5hnC2qaR2EH7RKqsJgOEMe4GHkkDdJCZO3qSyEmZo6nc/s1600/20110610_10_Asparagus.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRx0QAmhzfTXMF1LyxevjBnh-mWt4JqI6P_ikdpW6VU03xl03XGCIEo67T3ByM-P5MRWTdel5ObtvKdjOPGQRIRT0RbTtX-GG5hnC2qaR2EH7RKqsJgOEMe4GHkkDdJCZO3qSyEmZo6nc/s512/20110610_10_Asparagus.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617107043200777186" /></a>On Memorial Day weekend, I went home to Long Island to help my parents in their garden. For my efforts, I got a pot of well established and delicious chinese chives (gao choi). They came out of a garden bed that we reclaimed from an awful amount of ivy. You see how the bottoms of the plants look whitish-purple? Where the plants start growing green is where I had cut them on May 29th!! They've grown a ton in just 13 days. Very strong plants. Chinese people have a saying that goes "strong like gao choi." I can see why.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdesJ3n890LIAouYttfuTrmkxlsWj5gcUJTxkTmqSw-LzE65xlR68JtEtpqvfeckQ_12jM9gloCA23OZ_G8Bgx7Kgjz54ZLZqs4Xr5sihmaJPWcK0D-N9asPmqah4lA76sVD4qRTtBR3k/s1600/20110610_11_GaoChoi.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdesJ3n890LIAouYttfuTrmkxlsWj5gcUJTxkTmqSw-LzE65xlR68JtEtpqvfeckQ_12jM9gloCA23OZ_G8Bgx7Kgjz54ZLZqs4Xr5sihmaJPWcK0D-N9asPmqah4lA76sVD4qRTtBR3k/s512/20110610_11_GaoChoi.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617107041359639778" /></a>Those scallions I planted at the end of April also grew like gangbusters. I should chop them and cook something.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdhKhIN3jL4wWRrIfhPV6Buuo462lcn8ooMzrgUlxsjbJZKQ1o2KI54-d6TPvVUqM8HqYVwJpfFK49xeQM6XZv9wic65cw9jjtELdIcq-P-m1aLuIFRJHEZYwm4rSful_W9F-fymxmhDI/s1600/20110610_12_Scallions.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdhKhIN3jL4wWRrIfhPV6Buuo462lcn8ooMzrgUlxsjbJZKQ1o2KI54-d6TPvVUqM8HqYVwJpfFK49xeQM6XZv9wic65cw9jjtELdIcq-P-m1aLuIFRJHEZYwm4rSful_W9F-fymxmhDI/s512/20110610_12_Scallions.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617107032766432546" /></a>Now an update on a few well established plants. These are my Northsky and Chippewa blueberry plants. As large and lush as they have grown, they remain a disappointment and I realize now that it's because there are no bees to pollinate them and they are not self-pollinating. Every year, they get covered in flowers and I have so much hope!! But then my hope is dashed when the flowers are gone and no blueberries form. What to do? Hand pollinate? Or just pull them up and start over with something else? Start a bee hive? Wah.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn3AAxYctzRd62KX-jYi6WBjYAv368udTLoxY6BCHBKDgBA1ae6aA9jrxvykpfKUNOJtuJwGLgrw9EtaJWuu4kUP2g0uVm3LU1Gs4AttYjgRhW_q0LH0ACtjTU5CHMjREniWnEMK5elok/s1600/20110610_13_BlueberryPlants.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn3AAxYctzRd62KX-jYi6WBjYAv368udTLoxY6BCHBKDgBA1ae6aA9jrxvykpfKUNOJtuJwGLgrw9EtaJWuu4kUP2g0uVm3LU1Gs4AttYjgRhW_q0LH0ACtjTU5CHMjREniWnEMK5elok/s512/20110610_13_BlueberryPlants.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617107026764606098" /></a>This Briteblue blueberry plant is much smaller but at least it produces something for me to eat!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEzyQZmktdLBWtBxNyFIWvWdXyxEqOvx0RsdtMhCbUD-TOro7uhyTWgEaz6wYjqwwf4228ppregFIMPsjidc6NxpM0dDtn-OYC3UkCYfu2FPdPRptMy70riV-OyX05odP_3xiEuNnmzdg/s1600/20110610_14_HighbushBlueberries.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEzyQZmktdLBWtBxNyFIWvWdXyxEqOvx0RsdtMhCbUD-TOro7uhyTWgEaz6wYjqwwf4228ppregFIMPsjidc6NxpM0dDtn-OYC3UkCYfu2FPdPRptMy70riV-OyX05odP_3xiEuNnmzdg/s512/20110610_14_HighbushBlueberries.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617104911148732050" /></a>These Loch Ness blackberries suffered last week from my lack of watering, but there are still some on the plant. They should ripen up nicely.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_KC28-vM4v4diCpFj9bQOt9-7ByLk27SZTJJSFkfwsr5wTflOGAHSwdwHMPWb79XgngulVnwcNCKjwD_fdbhcsOVHEdZe_pD4730K9i2_7rrMyt67d_7Y286cTmSgNOlCLC4D3_C5kHY/s1600/20110610_15_LochNessBlackberries.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_KC28-vM4v4diCpFj9bQOt9-7ByLk27SZTJJSFkfwsr5wTflOGAHSwdwHMPWb79XgngulVnwcNCKjwD_fdbhcsOVHEdZe_pD4730K9i2_7rrMyt67d_7Y286cTmSgNOlCLC4D3_C5kHY/s512/20110610_15_LochNessBlackberries.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617104906835395330" /></a>This Arapaho blackberry plant did not suffer as badly and is covered in these pretty little fruits. It'll be a while yet before they are large and black and yummy! My summit and anne raspberry plants are growing nice and lush as well, but I probably won't have fruit from them this year. Next year should be plenty!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6a17gHZx9781VYOpvCLw0Nk94Huc0gDmtEHgC1v1Uo8KiGBDiR9-1CFnrnbgYyXcXEY4vtjFTctZt2AvHpUF7JAx1DDIqPBwkMp-5vT-o8O4rlhk9oO2c7EeSrCj68HSVCaSRH9-ePOc/s1600/20110610_16_ArapahoBlackberries.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6a17gHZx9781VYOpvCLw0Nk94Huc0gDmtEHgC1v1Uo8KiGBDiR9-1CFnrnbgYyXcXEY4vtjFTctZt2AvHpUF7JAx1DDIqPBwkMp-5vT-o8O4rlhk9oO2c7EeSrCj68HSVCaSRH9-ePOc/s512/20110610_16_ArapahoBlackberries.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617104898897927346" /></a>This lilac I planted in April is doing very nicely =)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtd0je-kW_h3pnhiK8DqquqNmGMB-OgIYkwMHzRzaSvNWEmYY3-dL9hN2x7L4_hLfhORaIP_nToZDQchtYyRbSKRtVbQIWjaxDFNN_qBHswCbclwC63ECoBcTuS72ad1eBRXVO2e9dGuI/s1600/20110610_17_Lilac.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtd0je-kW_h3pnhiK8DqquqNmGMB-OgIYkwMHzRzaSvNWEmYY3-dL9hN2x7L4_hLfhORaIP_nToZDQchtYyRbSKRtVbQIWjaxDFNN_qBHswCbclwC63ECoBcTuS72ad1eBRXVO2e9dGuI/s512/20110610_17_Lilac.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617104896805751394" /></a>Here's a shot of the garden as a whole. Doesn't look as nice from far away! But, things are growing. In the near corner, you can also see a cold frame my father made me this spring. =)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDyqInVHW0ed2ZDnTaVqHGC-pspOSh30Lnmcm426PtgLtcR64alaLQctqzKtMOEPnf7KIKifSADP2GOpHtqG9NegNg3gPfVCnp5XL_goFY2j421jQ1Eb0U9SPZr_Vk6AHHRFv9sGM3Hek/s1600/20110610_18_Garden.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDyqInVHW0ed2ZDnTaVqHGC-pspOSh30Lnmcm426PtgLtcR64alaLQctqzKtMOEPnf7KIKifSADP2GOpHtqG9NegNg3gPfVCnp5XL_goFY2j421jQ1Eb0U9SPZr_Vk6AHHRFv9sGM3Hek/s512/20110610_18_Garden.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617104893329127074" /></a>That's a wrap for now!Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18228841323715699186noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3490139733706145415.post-62084327613275619872011-04-30T18:35:00.000-04:002011-06-12T00:54:47.579-04:00Hydroponics Results<div>Well, I have put an end to my rooftop hydroponics experiment. While the air pump was bubbling in the hydroponic setup on the roof, I had kept one lettuce back, mostly because there was no more space for it in the tray on the roof. This one, I left on my windowsill and hand watered just about every day, just enough to leave a little pool of water in the holding tray. Every day, the lettuce either used up the water or it evaporated. The result is the much larger lettuce you see on the left side here. It had been planted at the same time as all of the others but is clearly much larger! I think that means the rooftop hydroponic setup was a failure. I think it is probable that there was simply too much water and the plants were drowning. They need more air around their roots to breathe. The only other thing I can think of is maybe the roof is too sunny for lettuce to grow nice big leaves? I have read in some places that some plants grow smaller leaves when they have lots of sun, but I'm guessing it was mostly the drowning.</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 475px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHvg6lF_gd4n9F8_r13EmFvUbJ8sGnpS6YtSwHxFbs1W0Tlw1y8ZiBhubcBc-Yv3EPQvttj3e7kwaXjPYdOgQ2kw7sLKyqaBTLi2TqC0Htx3nEI9EbQoBCIfM5nfp3wwg_4bz9fA3BDic/s512/20110430_HydroponicsResult.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617094569061747522" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18228841323715699186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3490139733706145415.post-38703993163269555542011-04-24T18:07:00.005-04:002011-06-12T00:55:56.932-04:00Planting Time!<div>It's April 24th and these Stupice tomato plants have been sitting on my windowsill, growing faithfully for 2 months. Started back when there were feet of snow on the ground, here they are! They already have flowers in full bloom! Don't they look ready for the outdoors? =) I'm hoping for the earliest tomatoes I've ever had. Stupice has been my favorite and most successful variety since 2007, when I had 1 plant gifted by a generous gardener in the West Village. That year, it had been covered in healthy tomatoes all slightly larger than a normal cherry tomato. They were delicious, hardly ever split from a rainstorm and never had blossom end rot or pests. I'm hoping for more of the same!</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAsN8tKuEbSoD72wQM4slcpGO-8deuKPheUCX2na1KEWpkdYdCKLyBVSjMjrVK24CICBmHK50Ls1lvZWYdY9xkiIpV7DWQQmlWcZkSXk8uDZ_pZjs1_HPoCWS2nDjPMJCJdJlJF4qNxUw/s1600/20110424_1_TomatoPlants.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAsN8tKuEbSoD72wQM4slcpGO-8deuKPheUCX2na1KEWpkdYdCKLyBVSjMjrVK24CICBmHK50Ls1lvZWYdY9xkiIpV7DWQQmlWcZkSXk8uDZ_pZjs1_HPoCWS2nDjPMJCJdJlJF4qNxUw/s512/20110424_1_TomatoPlants.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617091163538031250" /></a>I put each plant in its own bucket, where it will grow out the rest of the season. As usual, I buried the plants as deep down as I could get them without covering the healthiest leaves and flowers. In the planting hole, I put a healthy amount of crushed egg shells and bone meal. (It got dark out in the middle of the afternoon.)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjloMNjiGAgCZUEhPjWPdiiEXMRJrbTACgQj3U6roKQatcPTW9ne01KMXC2orQ0fU750_VFoVLGvK1gNoFOgOSm53C8hwrmrHQRLTNYbp_Qso8AmPWOprNFDzdLXq_N2ENZZMmX1fWtnzE/s1600/20110424_2_TomatoPlanting.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjloMNjiGAgCZUEhPjWPdiiEXMRJrbTACgQj3U6roKQatcPTW9ne01KMXC2orQ0fU750_VFoVLGvK1gNoFOgOSm53C8hwrmrHQRLTNYbp_Qso8AmPWOprNFDzdLXq_N2ENZZMmX1fWtnzE/s512/20110424_2_TomatoPlanting.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617091152510050978" /></a>Then the sun came out again! Doesn't this tomato look so happy?<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKizpLad2raA_HhHQJT-Evw-PBF8VDWtrwsAXmij1kPfgiZhzfdOqY76RSiSCLddLamRn3au-gtc0rveAbxtFzQG0H1M6NqtOJ0Z3DYtfVZVE3nBJ2pQ55bSqPtXmVgpulK4pFvJfRLXo/s1600/20110424_3_PlantedTomato.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKizpLad2raA_HhHQJT-Evw-PBF8VDWtrwsAXmij1kPfgiZhzfdOqY76RSiSCLddLamRn3au-gtc0rveAbxtFzQG0H1M6NqtOJ0Z3DYtfVZVE3nBJ2pQ55bSqPtXmVgpulK4pFvJfRLXo/s512/20110424_3_PlantedTomato.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617091147703247026" /></a>I decided to try something new this year. Scallion seeds didn't grow for me, but I remembered that the scallions in the supermarket almost always have little roots at the ends. I bought a bunch at the corner market, chopped the tops for some food and decided to plant these.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQndXxYTA3s-N9r65oQYxXpuzCIbTf0bYy7YnX4ZtK1Jpw9lmOQD8G8uP7FXBVm-2A518T99oBELXwzGnVi94zO9UkseW3Ymb_91yNYGhbgORrYgJGqeHNX9toZVtIs7tG0Kpg-mBA7Yk/s1600/20110424_4_ScallionSets.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQndXxYTA3s-N9r65oQYxXpuzCIbTf0bYy7YnX4ZtK1Jpw9lmOQD8G8uP7FXBVm-2A518T99oBELXwzGnVi94zO9UkseW3Ymb_91yNYGhbgORrYgJGqeHNX9toZVtIs7tG0Kpg-mBA7Yk/s512/20110424_4_ScallionSets.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617090318446915634" /></a>Here they are, planted with some tiny chive and chinese chive seedlings. We'll see if the seedlings make it.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjsVCkkYVr99_oJmtvl7ytpYmG1mXiISBgAhAps269y86tAX9Nv-snBAcE0xqkEs5VhyphenhyphenPS6-Dm9YOrUo2-rkPw1Rn9gmtU4SKPTyhZyIIZsl9O5IuJpzwapCCwU7fv5beeS89jeKH4uV0/s1600/20110424_5_ScallionsChivesGaoChoi.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjsVCkkYVr99_oJmtvl7ytpYmG1mXiISBgAhAps269y86tAX9Nv-snBAcE0xqkEs5VhyphenhyphenPS6-Dm9YOrUo2-rkPw1Rn9gmtU4SKPTyhZyIIZsl9O5IuJpzwapCCwU7fv5beeS89jeKH4uV0/s512/20110424_5_ScallionsChivesGaoChoi.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617090313778847634" /></a>Also new in the garden are 2 Josee reblooming lilac plants, which are supposed to grow only 4-6 feet high. I'm hoping for some nice screening of my neighbor's windows and fragrant flowers. I bought a big bag of bark mulch at Saifee Hardware and have used some in this pot.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4jmIZivGd_3r_jctZguKiMv2BWjm2066691aFgSEuefyotuvsuuFfvneGVnGe8-K9QZ8FjWEhGxIZje-_ZaQrVSRfVa_rYs8Vvssn6wBszD5eA7s61I9_-OF8KHQGpvXss8nKjKvRSCw/s1600/20110424_6_Lilac1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4jmIZivGd_3r_jctZguKiMv2BWjm2066691aFgSEuefyotuvsuuFfvneGVnGe8-K9QZ8FjWEhGxIZje-_ZaQrVSRfVa_rYs8Vvssn6wBszD5eA7s61I9_-OF8KHQGpvXss8nKjKvRSCw/s512/20110424_6_Lilac1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617090312711381378" /></a>Here's my other lilac in the closer pot. The other pot is something my neighbor planted and left on my roof. Not sure what it is.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisvWHsrWxSNWxCWnYHCik2jSoJN-67EGv2siyDot8lE3lNosj1BqceF_yteR_xCHcuTQ44b3CjOZt3CN68nkqPGhfykq6R8g97BeNWOPPvfFqoJplrIqUbKsXt_aSMGyaZV72TFH8H1FM/s1600/20110424_7_Lilac2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisvWHsrWxSNWxCWnYHCik2jSoJN-67EGv2siyDot8lE3lNosj1BqceF_yteR_xCHcuTQ44b3CjOZt3CN68nkqPGhfykq6R8g97BeNWOPPvfFqoJplrIqUbKsXt_aSMGyaZV72TFH8H1FM/s512/20110424_7_Lilac2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617090288912431122" /></a>Finally, here are squash and zucchini seedlings I started. Hopefully they'll stay alive until the peas are done and I have space to plant them.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm2iXogfMaRhuuxO1z-2mq7C7ONEv3lcSY_U3gf9yvjk88e817kMoo-dz6xVx9Q3q6uskSeo6enEe5A8imaGNkBXwTJqrFxOT26Fy4d0DX5If-DO1rxpT2G_HhlmMsNCqH3al_7rrnOLM/s1600/20110424_8_SquashZucchiniSeedlings.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm2iXogfMaRhuuxO1z-2mq7C7ONEv3lcSY_U3gf9yvjk88e817kMoo-dz6xVx9Q3q6uskSeo6enEe5A8imaGNkBXwTJqrFxOT26Fy4d0DX5If-DO1rxpT2G_HhlmMsNCqH3al_7rrnOLM/s512/20110424_8_SquashZucchiniSeedlings.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617090283301945794" /></a>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18228841323715699186noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3490139733706145415.post-21799379957866114332011-04-09T17:44:00.005-04:002011-06-12T00:56:29.118-04:00Hydroponics Update<div>A week later and my hydroponic plants have grown a little, but not incredibly.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxFyqvlfcsOLUH2Iu4_zFNHOSLiQinx6lL6AyS6CPjaihUDa4LFB1jOtOUl11fgx7kPXLpri3SqgErvzLbp6BpVX_YO1D4L6mJdNw26Gv8smRvOGVL8xhC_qaRoN-ddZDU4eoVRehFAxg/s1600/20110409_1_Hydroponics.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxFyqvlfcsOLUH2Iu4_zFNHOSLiQinx6lL6AyS6CPjaihUDa4LFB1jOtOUl11fgx7kPXLpri3SqgErvzLbp6BpVX_YO1D4L6mJdNw26Gv8smRvOGVL8xhC_qaRoN-ddZDU4eoVRehFAxg/s512/20110409_1_Hydroponics.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617084759486340642" /></a>Here's a close-up of some red lettuce and a swiss chard in the right corner.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhejArSFOx8evPj0_5zT3oEesFByFIoJoFRPYJY-dRXnQTBxcEvfMgAgNYC29DA1Um519WzzywVSKBYAebja0V1U3j_DW_hfFkdO54cqdjNx2fDiaPvJbkoOEuJinFuIpHoslIYduhnslY/s1600/20110409_2_HydroponicRedLettuce.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhejArSFOx8evPj0_5zT3oEesFByFIoJoFRPYJY-dRXnQTBxcEvfMgAgNYC29DA1Um519WzzywVSKBYAebja0V1U3j_DW_hfFkdO54cqdjNx2fDiaPvJbkoOEuJinFuIpHoslIYduhnslY/s512/20110409_2_HydroponicRedLettuce.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617084745005953170" /></a>Here's a close-up of a speckled lettuce. Maybe it's speckled trout lettuce, but I can't be sure because it came in a packet of mixed lettuces (Rocky Top Lettuce Mix from<a href="http://www.rareseeds.com/"> Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds</a>).<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPXj8Kbrl5OQAeKzl28nQKV-qI9MMycQHtbdURJhbyyswVaOv0ErqWohtolGfaE6pzZ8DivNIW_ItTcT1mM1K54IjIkFirC0lxV2rZ1_15km65mCmiwo1RDH-BbUtS1sngTS_C5O19HZg/s1600/20110409_3_HydroponicSpeckledLettuce.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPXj8Kbrl5OQAeKzl28nQKV-qI9MMycQHtbdURJhbyyswVaOv0ErqWohtolGfaE6pzZ8DivNIW_ItTcT1mM1K54IjIkFirC0lxV2rZ1_15km65mCmiwo1RDH-BbUtS1sngTS_C5O19HZg/s512/20110409_3_HydroponicSpeckledLettuce.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617084742524238370" /></a>I picked this red lettuce up out of the tray and there were long roots growing out of the bottom of the solo cup. I guess that's what I made those holes for.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh9BteNX6gx00qEFkhOaaKqpPHT3lDvMKma37I4DaaceXxDCRM8vIhPnwtR7p1tyfa5p361roFXhrI9aGC8zWcdlbqZG2c8x879wvnRmuwE1BUS5SJGrAF9-HlhXszK3FWJAAR3lzBs88/s1600/20110409_4_HydroponicRedLettuceRoots.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh9BteNX6gx00qEFkhOaaKqpPHT3lDvMKma37I4DaaceXxDCRM8vIhPnwtR7p1tyfa5p361roFXhrI9aGC8zWcdlbqZG2c8x879wvnRmuwE1BUS5SJGrAF9-HlhXszK3FWJAAR3lzBs88/s512/20110409_4_HydroponicRedLettuceRoots.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617084741104949362" /></a>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18228841323715699186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3490139733706145415.post-6744479683783227682011-04-02T19:04:00.004-04:002011-06-12T00:57:28.812-04:00Good News, Bad News<div>There's some good news and some bad news in the garden today. I'll start with the good news. Last year, I didn't hook up the automatic watering system until June 5th and depended on mother nature to water all my plants. That resulted in many dead plants, including (or so I thought) my Tulameen Raspberry plant, which I do dearly love. Turns out the Tulameen survived after all! You can see new leaves popping up from the bottom, here, surrounded by darker strawberry leaves. I'll be removing the strawberries after they have their season.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwDxUooheW2bu6hUBzZ78jPpcIrdZc379SrvmhqDziA8vr2G7TfSRZLnmB0xTkAmdMOE-K8V7zvYEAYCl2AJHIaNAiajNnfMugzIiGCUb3LVTIrD_7AyUDYE2QdCehfiI2LmxA5tzIYss/s1600/20110402_1_TulameenRaspberry.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwDxUooheW2bu6hUBzZ78jPpcIrdZc379SrvmhqDziA8vr2G7TfSRZLnmB0xTkAmdMOE-K8V7zvYEAYCl2AJHIaNAiajNnfMugzIiGCUb3LVTIrD_7AyUDYE2QdCehfiI2LmxA5tzIYss/s512/20110402_1_TulameenRaspberry.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591126551970775858" /></a>More good news, I planted my potatoes! Here are the white potatoes I got from FreshDirect, didn't eat, and let sprout on my window sill. Many potatoes that you buy at the supermarket will have been sprayed with some kind of anti-sprouting agent, to keep them edible for longer. These were probably sprayed, as not all of their eyes have sprouted, but a few did and I want to experiment.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHthpLHwK8-qGHlDgjisM5pfSCiSDqIpYAF5K-YqM2fmJ2s2ykBQEPsWo2K70-mgGAXenb1Je6s6A-fVk1ZHwl0pPZC_eOlZ3B-GuAM8MXbYi0ytgZx6gz2UJSHyZJ-pHd2xuAsL_jScI/s1600/20110402_2_WhitePotatoes.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHthpLHwK8-qGHlDgjisM5pfSCiSDqIpYAF5K-YqM2fmJ2s2ykBQEPsWo2K70-mgGAXenb1Je6s6A-fVk1ZHwl0pPZC_eOlZ3B-GuAM8MXbYi0ytgZx6gz2UJSHyZJ-pHd2xuAsL_jScI/s512/20110402_2_WhitePotatoes.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591126544655827938" /></a>They went into a half-filled 5-gallon bucket. I covered them with about an inch of soil after this picture was taken. Here's to hoping! When planting potatoes in containers, I've read many recommendations that you add soil as the plant grows because the potatoes grow from the stem of the plant. If you add soil, more potatoes will have the chance to form. I read one recommendation that you should aim to have 1 foot of growth above the soil line throughout the growing season. I won't get to add MUCH more soil, but maybe another 10 inches or so. These may also be spaced too closely, but it's an experiment. We'll see what happens =)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSKDRfZVqV8_W7af8lZUptPcO_Mlg5pvNSUPdBHjYiUn6Nbq5L7nQP6zBsWm6Q-W-_ySiMOqev7h4YP_tcVX7JIvtz_VG_giwymZdwrjXLeJiAErssHg2w4X0P_sbQveTPddpnAkXXVcQ/s1600/20110402_3_WhitePotatoesPlanted.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSKDRfZVqV8_W7af8lZUptPcO_Mlg5pvNSUPdBHjYiUn6Nbq5L7nQP6zBsWm6Q-W-_ySiMOqev7h4YP_tcVX7JIvtz_VG_giwymZdwrjXLeJiAErssHg2w4X0P_sbQveTPddpnAkXXVcQ/s512/20110402_3_WhitePotatoesPlanted.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591126416947006530" /></a>These are my blue potatoes, which are planted in a large blue bucket my neighbors left on my roof. I covered these with more soil after taking the picture. They will also be covered with more soil as they grow taller. I've read that potatoes like acidic soil. These are planted with some compost made from orange rinds, so should be plenty acidic!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCkwvH03rjRnK42Rssimr947E49uP2F3-qEd1BWYSoHbdnA3zMIZdfMRde8NnMD4jZQP2FNTbeke5p_FRyTzgQi2-tAi3yszCQTjVUquiHW12-kM9P8yMUMmcfBD0ORzyBSRPKURkx9Vo/s1600/20110402_4_BluePotatoesPlanted.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCkwvH03rjRnK42Rssimr947E49uP2F3-qEd1BWYSoHbdnA3zMIZdfMRde8NnMD4jZQP2FNTbeke5p_FRyTzgQi2-tAi3yszCQTjVUquiHW12-kM9P8yMUMmcfBD0ORzyBSRPKURkx9Vo/s512/20110402_4_BluePotatoesPlanted.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591126417952950498" /></a>More good (or at least not bad) news! The hydroponic veggies are not dead. They have even grown a tiny bit! But, they did appear to be drowning a little, so I raised them all slightly out of the water, by adding a small piece of bamboo stick between the peat pots and the styrofoam. It lets the peat pots sit just a bit higher out of the styrofoam hole than they were previously. I'm waiting for some exponential growth now =)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiYyqXGouxEdvcZo4UWX9aAwxcha6rdAOLxmONabxP-GPBjCPLSHtYgZ98-X8keSMU9vB7T6M1Q9nOkpcrWQ2m1F-XTlqln-C8N96DQztZzGzuj-roURZAGo7jZ56288bGXxqVdlIMzI0/s1600/20110402_5_Hydroponics.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiYyqXGouxEdvcZo4UWX9aAwxcha6rdAOLxmONabxP-GPBjCPLSHtYgZ98-X8keSMU9vB7T6M1Q9nOkpcrWQ2m1F-XTlqln-C8N96DQztZzGzuj-roURZAGo7jZ56288bGXxqVdlIMzI0/s512/20110402_5_Hydroponics.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591126413364308962" /></a>Ok, here's the bad news. The pigeons got to the peas! I HATE THE PIGEONS. They sometimes chomp on the peas and sometimes pull them right out of the soil and let them die above ground, like this one:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiucbrSqfku7alBCVJR9DGTRjGy5uelvUATCwjZC-VVqTqHQExgOPryctd_gYs5VU_3Qd1gyHBuCC27Shdg-bBm0T9nGjRdYFRnh6wgg3CYP4pOR-bgXPqQToxlSSqn1U0S_ugj_pvn2ns/s1600/20110402_6_DeadPea.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiucbrSqfku7alBCVJR9DGTRjGy5uelvUATCwjZC-VVqTqHQExgOPryctd_gYs5VU_3Qd1gyHBuCC27Shdg-bBm0T9nGjRdYFRnh6wgg3CYP4pOR-bgXPqQToxlSSqn1U0S_ugj_pvn2ns/s512/20110402_6_DeadPea.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591126412126270258" /></a>A couple of years back, I bought bird netting, but I was just too lazy to actually put any up. I've gotten over my laziness now. It doesn't look pretty, but vegetable gardening isn't always a glamorous thing. Function over form, people. Function over form.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8uE0o37XgHXXgUiJH0fs_PB_0WtCP5ogCKOGkj_tWDTUjWyOMfxaoh6zmILFGUlJHPnf7t_Vt3s2PmNJ8TwKxp-Pmifc80Gl-21q2GyGtwJvsnSOT10SBX3z6OpxulXo8I4u97GYnRK0/s1600/20110402_7_BirdNetting.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8uE0o37XgHXXgUiJH0fs_PB_0WtCP5ogCKOGkj_tWDTUjWyOMfxaoh6zmILFGUlJHPnf7t_Vt3s2PmNJ8TwKxp-Pmifc80Gl-21q2GyGtwJvsnSOT10SBX3z6OpxulXo8I4u97GYnRK0/s512/20110402_7_BirdNetting.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591126409057335698" /></a>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18228841323715699186noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3490139733706145415.post-62594797482221337402011-03-27T23:59:00.005-04:002011-06-12T00:58:10.040-04:00Strawberry Tower<div>I've been ridiculously productive today. Aside from cleaning up a ton in my apartment, I also planted up this experimental strawberry tower. The spacing isn't really ideal, as the space around the edge of each pot might be too small... but the idea is that the strawberries will grow out of that space, sort of like a strawberry pot. Here's to hoping. I transplanted some of my existing strawberries into the top container. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-8BROJ2baesKLZAywJWnsQfNEkPdMOHZZoH-ePPjuoAD9oNEbqCZQ7WeNI7J43VJFKTML-fjlfZyhSn6SzCZXmtSD0fIzKqIDVTp1aKT4c2L46BAjGahPf1rkkPC4HGZbeFV2MOQrR8/s1600/20110327_StrawberryTower.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-8BROJ2baesKLZAywJWnsQfNEkPdMOHZZoH-ePPjuoAD9oNEbqCZQ7WeNI7J43VJFKTML-fjlfZyhSn6SzCZXmtSD0fIzKqIDVTp1aKT4c2L46BAjGahPf1rkkPC4HGZbeFV2MOQrR8/s512/20110327_StrawberryTower.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588975623462758642" border="0" /></a>In other news, I also added some arugula, spinach and lettuce seeds to the hydroponic setup. Hope they sprout and that none of the plants drown. As of today, they were still alive. Haha! Also, I think all of my seeds from the seed experiments have failed to sprout. More to get rid of, more space for new seeds? =DLaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18228841323715699186noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3490139733706145415.post-20831558897296560872011-03-26T20:15:00.004-04:002011-06-12T00:59:36.756-04:00New Experiments in the Garden<div>Today was a busy gardening day! Or at least, labor intensive, as I lugged a large bag of mulch, some bone meal and a bundle of bamboo sticks home from Saifee Hardware on 7th street. I have a push cart I can use for these things, but I didn't expect to get such a large bag of mulch. Unfortunately, when I got to the store I found they didn't have any smaller bags, so it was time to show my commitment to this roof garden =) I'll be sore tomorrow.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here, you can see the snow peas I planted out on Thursday morning. The seedlings I had in the start tray didn't seem to grow any in the last week, possibly because the tray was dry and I couldn't tell. I'll have to watch more closely next time. You can also see the mulch and the bamboo sticks I brought home today. On the mulch, I'm finally taking my own <a href="http://www.shelterpop.com/2009/06/25/an-urban-veggie-garden/">advice</a>! The bamboo will provide support for the peas as they grow taller. They send out twining tendrils that search for objects to climb.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE2-2uNGtqueT_nq777ERahD37KfbVxJgLIV14Y3VB5uYw4EClusgdu1nolxBGCXWXZ7toZy7u93YEw4up10dSah8mgG5WD5GW_YKoWgLUCwa3JsgWBD4uyeFhGZ8L1XEASA_91gXKo9c/s1600/20110326_1_Peas.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE2-2uNGtqueT_nq777ERahD37KfbVxJgLIV14Y3VB5uYw4EClusgdu1nolxBGCXWXZ7toZy7u93YEw4up10dSah8mgG5WD5GW_YKoWgLUCwa3JsgWBD4uyeFhGZ8L1XEASA_91gXKo9c/s512/20110326_1_Peas.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588546966255260290" /></a>Because I'm trying to grow more large plants and permanent plants in my pots, I've felt that growing leafy greens in my 5 gallon pots isn't the best use of space/soil. I've seen people grow leafy greens successfully in hydroponic setups. Specifically, the <a href="http://nysunworks.org/">NY Sunworks </a>Science Barge showed me that you can grow bok choi floating on tank full of tilapia fish. So, I decided to run a hydroponics experiment on my leafy greens. Those lettuce and spinach plants from last week, plus a canary yellow swiss chard that overwintered in a pot, were all transplanted into small peat pots of perlite in this (really ghetto) hydroponics setup. I've filled this pan with a mixture of water from my aquarium and from a bucket of compost that filled with water over the winter. The green line in the upper right is an air tube connected to a small aquarium air pump in my apartment. I ran the air tube up through a sky light and onto the roof. The peat pots of perlite sit in a piece of styrofoam that floats on top of the water. Perlite is generally recommended as a good hydroponics medium because it provides good moisture retention and air flow. Here's to hoping this experiment works =)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqssA9TulHUJPwGtRy0mRcVPBZaviFEkAkLCHsxLYjFuUUuYaoLqR273AO5ePY1kC5iMwlvTrc6z238D9lO9UigE1oWpLraH5IbsEFNQYbHmR7KbAM2xuZzKUoDZ0Ei6Zk-PJP-OFSOBQ/s1600/20110326_2_HydroponicLettuceSpinachChard.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqssA9TulHUJPwGtRy0mRcVPBZaviFEkAkLCHsxLYjFuUUuYaoLqR273AO5ePY1kC5iMwlvTrc6z238D9lO9UigE1oWpLraH5IbsEFNQYbHmR7KbAM2xuZzKUoDZ0Ei6Zk-PJP-OFSOBQ/s512/20110326_2_HydroponicLettuceSpinachChard.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588546960960672242" /></a>Thursday morning, I also planted this Anne Raspberry plant, which should yield sweet yellow raspberries. It's hardy to zone 3, which is better than the other two raspberry plants I had planted, which I believe are both now dead. We'll see if the Tulameen raspberry manages to come back, but it's looking pretty dead right now.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqV2hfTEIwqIrC_zs0lmezgJYL9ZBl_UiOUymeD5OrTuJwodR-A3_v9gxYJcnREoHITmTlVsZRpFPU2uVlv9_czE0lFz0JFJk38O9Patpu1QRCth4rLCSPcBx0uTiw80fZMWd0L-FpRvQ/s1600/20110326_3_AnneRaspberry.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqV2hfTEIwqIrC_zs0lmezgJYL9ZBl_UiOUymeD5OrTuJwodR-A3_v9gxYJcnREoHITmTlVsZRpFPU2uVlv9_czE0lFz0JFJk38O9Patpu1QRCth4rLCSPcBx0uTiw80fZMWd0L-FpRvQ/s512/20110326_3_AnneRaspberry.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588546962103188146" /></a>The blue potatoes I ordered arrived last week and have been sitting on my windowsill to sprout. In case you didn't know what a potato sprout looks like, here it is. I was pleasantly surprised to find that blue potatoes have dark blue sprouts, too! Not so with the white potatoes I have sprouting in the background, which are growing a normal green.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUkVcf_tPsr7wsV2V1GfMEhXWgM68_j8KfA-A9nghTYPccqrMlMxRG34-4qviR47WLN703Qup7VD3mSca2sSYo3VMG8JhhQpsPMZvv_eGO1TJsbKUCGY48kN74micSDwXjFlMgTvEM_Ks/s1600/20110326_4_BluePotatoSprouts.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUkVcf_tPsr7wsV2V1GfMEhXWgM68_j8KfA-A9nghTYPccqrMlMxRG34-4qviR47WLN703Qup7VD3mSca2sSYo3VMG8JhhQpsPMZvv_eGO1TJsbKUCGY48kN74micSDwXjFlMgTvEM_Ks/s512/20110326_4_BluePotatoSprouts.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588546954208783058" /></a>Today, I potted up the Stupice tomatoes, as well. They were a little spindly, but I buried them "up to their necks", as more roots will grow from the stem that has been buried. This will make for a stronger plant when these are ready to go outside. =) I think they're looking lovely.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfvP1ycoYnu3IZzgVlbhQ90XHkkXOo3J9wuqhrRd4Q-pu5wWI1WBYWcYtCkhBOogzeczDh6K62t0yI59LlHYUFCL_nP19CUL8mFzXLjZZIjg7zuKi6KQnMDCdvHgnQU7qqitkAlQAQCS8/s1600/20110326_5_StupiceTomatoes.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfvP1ycoYnu3IZzgVlbhQ90XHkkXOo3J9wuqhrRd4Q-pu5wWI1WBYWcYtCkhBOogzeczDh6K62t0yI59LlHYUFCL_nP19CUL8mFzXLjZZIjg7zuKi6KQnMDCdvHgnQU7qqitkAlQAQCS8/s512/20110326_5_StupiceTomatoes.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588546953840544754" /></a>Busy spring time in this Manhattan roof garden!Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18228841323715699186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3490139733706145415.post-17568315167766538222011-03-18T20:07:00.001-04:002011-06-12T01:00:39.685-04:00Earliest seedlings ever!<div>I've got my earliest seedlings ever and I'm proud =) They're looking luscious and have been spending time on my fire escape under the clear plastic lid of this starter tray. Here are some snow peas, which are looking fairly happy.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVRPVzi2SDqGSt5RAA6VPVjJBJ-9qHHSQaKjJHZpPllq6FatJFiMH5GttD8nfaN0-e2qAlpy-1RsYddVsxNWlZhjCcjlA3-tap0MkN9YFKoZQeH7bwLBNXDJfghPNPoxdUv6V4AsQVBLE/s1600/20110318_1_Peas.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVRPVzi2SDqGSt5RAA6VPVjJBJ-9qHHSQaKjJHZpPllq6FatJFiMH5GttD8nfaN0-e2qAlpy-1RsYddVsxNWlZhjCcjlA3-tap0MkN9YFKoZQeH7bwLBNXDJfghPNPoxdUv6V4AsQVBLE/s512/20110318_1_Peas.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588545212532364642" /></a>Some lettuce seedlings, the most organized looking lettuce I've ever had.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt5UX5p2Xfn8xEJJuVacUUZd3qw6l6LEcCq5YlSSJMWcKOtMX2IN8jwNgasLTCq1LvZxioHkwr7XtWGWm04Qn1HADOnP8YqE9vACZxbEzfBjnZrTwoDfKfSdQ2D0MuvmYI1xO-bZ5G9Xc/s1600/20110318_2_Lettuce.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt5UX5p2Xfn8xEJJuVacUUZd3qw6l6LEcCq5YlSSJMWcKOtMX2IN8jwNgasLTCq1LvZxioHkwr7XtWGWm04Qn1HADOnP8YqE9vACZxbEzfBjnZrTwoDfKfSdQ2D0MuvmYI1xO-bZ5G9Xc/s512/20110318_2_Lettuce.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588545211229395890" /></a>And some spinach seedlings. I love how they look like rabbit ears =)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-V5KyP6SIJ7bHSKwVawXAzk2402IpJODR9pwTbAyLuOXgJEMKZIjxMg2bqq-MeeKM3KQ_1EsH9RloP53OBSMsA4-WVprXNKgYkk_qRW-odYplWK6LZigFosCgANp7ddErIDNAveIHhq4/s1600/20110318_3_Spinach.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-V5KyP6SIJ7bHSKwVawXAzk2402IpJODR9pwTbAyLuOXgJEMKZIjxMg2bqq-MeeKM3KQ_1EsH9RloP53OBSMsA4-WVprXNKgYkk_qRW-odYplWK6LZigFosCgANp7ddErIDNAveIHhq4/s512/20110318_3_Spinach.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588545210827162002" /></a>I didn't have a 100% success rate starting my seeds, maybe because the seedlings were attacked by fungus or something. These few plants may not be enough to sustain me, but they will do for now. Everybody always says you should plant in succession anyway =)Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18228841323715699186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3490139733706145415.post-73057975042622320572011-03-17T23:49:00.000-04:002011-03-26T19:52:57.470-04:00Seed Experiment Continued<div>Well, the last seed experiment definitely failed. After 9 days, not a single seed had sprouted and some were getting moldy. So, I call it a success! Now I can get rid of all of those packets =) </div><div>And, here is seed experiment #2, in which we have 2 types of beans that were also from those really old seed packets, but I read that beans and peas stay good for decades, so I had more hope for these. Also here are several chinese vegetable seeds collected by my family over the years, some from our own garden. So, starting from the small dark seeds at 1 o'clock:</div><div>1) supposedly Brassica Juncea (chinese mustard greens) which came in some kind of store-bought packet</div><div>2) Garden Bean (Burpee Stringless Green Pod, whatever that means)</div><div>3) some kind of seed we collected at home, larger than the mustard greens, maybe Gai Lan</div><div>4) Blue Lake white-seeded beans (pole, green snap)</div><div>5) small seeds we collected at home that look just like the Brassica Juncea, but might be Choy Sum</div><div>6) Possibly winter melon seeds that came in a small brown envelope stamped in Chinese. I'll have to check again with my mom to see what it says.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQlaYUVZ5lE0g44u6d4xSfqy2X8RnraQirX__G6zHIKlRKqtfWmlz67hPYDJrmvKVLVzqNXo_LVbylOpwcT4jvWwqWFUr10bc0hyphenhyphengOUdtC_mtW13TqKzDvNTg3MvNwfJ9IYpmssjJeIV4/s1600/20110313_SeedPlate.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 475px;;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQlaYUVZ5lE0g44u6d4xSfqy2X8RnraQirX__G6zHIKlRKqtfWmlz67hPYDJrmvKVLVzqNXo_LVbylOpwcT4jvWwqWFUr10bc0hyphenhyphengOUdtC_mtW13TqKzDvNTg3MvNwfJ9IYpmssjJeIV4/s512/20110313_SeedPlate.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585293489703192754" /></a>And so, the experiment continues! If some of these sprout, I might have to find a place to plant them! They're all things I would be interested in eating. =)Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18228841323715699186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3490139733706145415.post-47245660328642632812011-03-08T00:35:00.003-05:002011-03-08T00:57:49.755-05:00Seed Experiment<div>So, I was inspired by this <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/24/garden/24seed.html">NYTimes article on seeds</a> from your kitchen, to just do an experiment on some seeds I happen to have. They're not exactly from my kitchen, but they were IN my mom's kitchen for about 15 years. All of the seeds on this plate date from 1996-1999. I wanted to see if any of them are still good, as I am pretty sure the scallion seeds from this batch that I tried to grow a couple weeks ago are no good.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPuck-DUSmMQaGbWUOHrRyLxrhC0I_xi-OBCtkbZL9Y7RqZaplKrJNW3XPUwRcAAFfTjpDYzwIoFYt-6iAEpmy7nOqz1NXqYDec-arhQV6EjTyRvVBJV8Qs5J-VU3cQ680JnPKQ_wkodk/s1600/20110308_SeedPlate.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPuck-DUSmMQaGbWUOHrRyLxrhC0I_xi-OBCtkbZL9Y7RqZaplKrJNW3XPUwRcAAFfTjpDYzwIoFYt-6iAEpmy7nOqz1NXqYDec-arhQV6EjTyRvVBJV8Qs5J-VU3cQ680JnPKQ_wkodk/s512/20110308_SeedPlate.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581579158157998434" /></a>From 12 o'clock, going clockwise in alphabetical order, I have Beets (Early Wonder), Cantaloupe, Carrots, Celeriac, Celery, Dipper Gourd, Easter Egg Blend Radish, Endive, Lemon Cucumber, Lettuce, Onions, Parsnips, Squash (Early Summer Crookneck), Swiss Chard, Tomatillos, Watermelon (Sugar Bowl), Zucchini.<div><br /></div><div>Let's see if any of them sprout! I won't be surprised if many do not, but then I can just throw that seed packet away and stop letting it take up space =) And if some sprout, I can plant them or at least know that the seeds will work. =)</div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18228841323715699186noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3490139733706145415.post-90307463812604428872011-02-21T23:47:00.011-05:002011-02-22T01:47:10.053-05:00Garden Season 2011!!<div style="text-align: left;">I know. It's February. There is snow on the trees. But, I don't care. It's time to grow! This is probably the earliest start I've ever had and I think this is for the best. My plan this year is to stick with some tried and true staples, while branching out into fields uncharted!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I started these stupice tomato seedlings around February 15th and sowed them today. Although I've never grown these from seedlings, I did receive one plant from a very kind gardener back in 2007 and it was the most prolific and easy to grow cherryish tomato I've had. This will be my only tomato variety this year:</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh40cd8dEHxE2fMKEaPUBoMgCBbCwh58VrdCP7VPocScGHIltHMUc-e5sLNJLzg-SAgBXALWBiEujHPxTLxz22pYfDhr0kXF3pIscNdugrzZpV2zqA648lyYN5vn6TY56G-U_Kb3tTMcQE/s1600/20110221_1_StupiceTomatoSeedlings.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh40cd8dEHxE2fMKEaPUBoMgCBbCwh58VrdCP7VPocScGHIltHMUc-e5sLNJLzg-SAgBXALWBiEujHPxTLxz22pYfDhr0kXF3pIscNdugrzZpV2zqA648lyYN5vn6TY56G-U_Kb3tTMcQE/s512/20110221_1_StupiceTomatoSeedlings.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576389983951877282" /></a>Another basic staple is some sweet basil, sown a couple weeks ago, and struggling a little, perhaps from fungus in the soil, but I'm hopeful these will be ok. Besides, I'm in no rush for basil. I just harvested a plant that has been growing for almost a year and made a nice batch of pesto I'll save for later:<br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXYRiOiKojVgMIeFeCLWenGJFo5lz493yFqufMsJ0PbajbggdNokWQrkbHb7vlacoPWhSBRarfXTX6vTMs3moVggejmQ32ckkVWWGq6TpOlxa5kHww1A1tW_jeJJDRrrFwYqXKOWJiigw/s1600/20110221_2_BasilSeedlings.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXYRiOiKojVgMIeFeCLWenGJFo5lz493yFqufMsJ0PbajbggdNokWQrkbHb7vlacoPWhSBRarfXTX6vTMs3moVggejmQ32ckkVWWGq6TpOlxa5kHww1A1tW_jeJJDRrrFwYqXKOWJiigw/s512/20110221_2_BasilSeedlings.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576394372446654322" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;width: 475px; " /></a>Now, the new items I am trying this year!!</div><div>- King of the North red bell peppers (seeds started on 2/15)</div><div>- Blue potatoes (ordered from <a href="http://www.seedsavers.org/Details.aspx?itemNo=846(OG)">Seed Savers Exchange</a> and arriving when it's time to plant)</div><div>- Asparagus (ordered from <a href="http://gurneys.com/">Gurney's</a> and will take 2 years before first harvest)</div><div>- Anne Raspberry, a yellow variety (ordered from <a href="http://gurneys.com/">Gurney's</a>) to replace the Summit Raspberry that died in its first season.</div><div>- Scallions (seeds started 2/15, but not sure if they'll sprout. Seeds are old and the chives and gao choi below already sprouted.)</div><div><br /></div><div>Also, things I haven't tried to grow from seed before (seeds started 2/15):</div><div>- Chives (I just love those purple flowers and aphids ate mine to the ground last year)</div><div>- Chinese Chives (Gao Choi) (These are a must with shrimp and eggs. Sounds weird but tastes amazing)</div><div><br /></div><div>In fall, I also want to try growing Crocus Sativus, whose stamens are the source of saffron, the world's most expensive spice. I want my own supply of saffron!!</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm sure there will be other new things to try this year, as well. I'll be replanting my strawberries, as those that are planted have been growing a bit wild. I've read that you have to replant strawberries every few years, as the runners and plants start to return to the wild strawberry state. These are tiny and strange, and I've noticed this is happening to mine. I'm going with 100% Honeoye june-bearing strawberries. I believe these are the kind that my family enjoys best. Hope I'm right!!</div><div><br /></div><div>I'll be starting lettuce, spinach and peas shortly. These ought to be the first to go outside. Look for more posts as the season goes on!</div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18228841323715699186noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3490139733706145415.post-6649264746751324372010-07-24T09:45:00.005-04:002011-06-12T01:02:53.537-04:00Everyone's Got Issues<div>Seems like everyone has issues these days, including my plants, though I suppose 80% of this blog discusses my plant issues. Something's always going wrong! At least it's still fun and seeing new problems forces me to learn more about gardening in order to try and come up with solutions. </div><div><br /></div><div>Today, I went up on the roof and the first thing I saw was the shriveled and rotten looking tomatoes on this plant! They look fearsome!</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdbAWn3hjMN9g5bh4mu26Fnx6Xy5PT0giTQfeCgbxVw8QV7HY7FaLZbBP0MnlF1v_Ne8OCBjb8iYUrysuXlOVjAfdBBG1VQyWZKiNX8chj5rzsUEOuKi6DMb6jAEggKU5nRetMqlP4oDE/s1600/20100724_1_RottenTomatoes.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdbAWn3hjMN9g5bh4mu26Fnx6Xy5PT0giTQfeCgbxVw8QV7HY7FaLZbBP0MnlF1v_Ne8OCBjb8iYUrysuXlOVjAfdBBG1VQyWZKiNX8chj5rzsUEOuKi6DMb6jAEggKU5nRetMqlP4oDE/s512/20100724_1_RottenTomatoes.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497468893284425858" /></a> And it's not blossem end rot because it didn't start from the bottoms and in fact, the other tomatoes on the plant are fine.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMDWpiNrx5KTiRJ6pE2Q-Uz-YptYIDzhuAuaMDVb4cx2BvhshcHg9TjNjR227y8Xht3k2QASZOzZ7-rVq6mJu8q8xWFr6igzIWpmGqsy1ZF-2p34G1nEuGUdGQpLadbOE0yVRoD0iSO0E/s1600/20100724_2_HealthyTomatoes.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMDWpiNrx5KTiRJ6pE2Q-Uz-YptYIDzhuAuaMDVb4cx2BvhshcHg9TjNjR227y8Xht3k2QASZOzZ7-rVq6mJu8q8xWFr6igzIWpmGqsy1ZF-2p34G1nEuGUdGQpLadbOE0yVRoD0iSO0E/s512/20100724_2_HealthyTomatoes.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497468788376970034" /></a>When I tried picking the branch off the plant, the larger rotten tomato smashed to the ground with a disgusting splat. This came off and upon inspection, a round little hole... Must be some kind of insect! WAH! I bet it's still eating up my tomato from the insides. I guess I'll just hope this doesn't spread. I don't have that many tomatoes!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYUUnkAybJjGkCf6Mr7ClbUOBdQ4fr4W_CuPmS4mb4InKP0FgxoGL2Ll5rf7F3vcn51BNecTY0jzMz8DVcxCnGvVxB900xtuLMj2XPrBlNJQVtl76vhl8mqwTqWUtx0f-HDWRO96f6W8c/s1600/20100724_3_TomatoWithHole.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYUUnkAybJjGkCf6Mr7ClbUOBdQ4fr4W_CuPmS4mb4InKP0FgxoGL2Ll5rf7F3vcn51BNecTY0jzMz8DVcxCnGvVxB900xtuLMj2XPrBlNJQVtl76vhl8mqwTqWUtx0f-HDWRO96f6W8c/s512/20100724_3_TomatoWithHole.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497468778802367922" /></a>Another issue I found was that the zucchini and squash I saw last week have shriveled up and died! The yellow squash is a total goner. This zucchini is larger but shriveled. I don't think it will ever look right. My suspicion is inadequate pollination, once again. It was a problem with the watermelons and these related cucurbitae also require large amounts of pollen to grow fruit properly.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9T4sckgzCl78AeH4L0TVHrL7rqiIjenJxTC_dPVxD7hFtzbBo-5BM8QPHI0XqmDH3f3SZtrdVGrbx0cZozjD5R_UlebirH_ZPpaWijWqAkZBHBqKM2cEYK72RCA4pvZJNIJZ1qUlc-0I/s1600/20100724_4_ShriveledZucchini.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9T4sckgzCl78AeH4L0TVHrL7rqiIjenJxTC_dPVxD7hFtzbBo-5BM8QPHI0XqmDH3f3SZtrdVGrbx0cZozjD5R_UlebirH_ZPpaWijWqAkZBHBqKM2cEYK72RCA4pvZJNIJZ1qUlc-0I/s512/20100724_4_ShriveledZucchini.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497468770995575154" /></a>After some googling, I have learned that these flowers can be hand-pollinated in the mornings. This yellow squash is probably a goner, as the flower is already dried up and I don't think there are any pollinators around. It's probably not too late for the little one next to it, though. Another issue could be that the plant is stressed from the heat, inadequate nutrients, or other issues and the female flowers are not opening up. I will try to get on the roof early every morning to check the status of the flowers and hand-pollinate if things look right and sexytime. Another alternative I may try later is planting lots of bee-attracting flowers (though that may not help if the bees are too lazy to visit the cucurbits and if the flowers themselves are not opening because they are stressed). I could also start a bee hive, though that seems a little scary!! I wish my neighbor had a bee hive I didn't have to take care of... =) (sorry about the blurry pic. I was standing awkwardly and couldn't see what I was shooting at.)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYq3kpFds-0y1UrG6mpT4a9hjcX0nu1_1PFYoPvn5hdtp-RxVu5oTVSXBQqadmhX7Nc2VFPhAMeVmdePuvz9NGWn4B7tT1Hy7nS5501PrdCd_4tUTmt1BuaRc1wzQbUd_7OcIKhDc0vzI/s1600/20100724_5_DriedSquashFlower.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYq3kpFds-0y1UrG6mpT4a9hjcX0nu1_1PFYoPvn5hdtp-RxVu5oTVSXBQqadmhX7Nc2VFPhAMeVmdePuvz9NGWn4B7tT1Hy7nS5501PrdCd_4tUTmt1BuaRc1wzQbUd_7OcIKhDc0vzI/s512/20100724_5_DriedSquashFlower.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497468764935312850" /></a>This blueberry plant is still making tasty berries! The only issue here is not enough berries!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFQBCFntsWVNlowda85men3_EQdwntj4x5RT5ZdPAnxEcqPF5hqAcKjZXk1b-hgLa_4Iv79cTca3CtGSM4skAMhzIAOuRILrOHhGLdjQ4U4w0jD_uMHHzQ_HCkNmUPyya-_gfuLyDB1-8/s1600/20100724_6_Blueberries.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFQBCFntsWVNlowda85men3_EQdwntj4x5RT5ZdPAnxEcqPF5hqAcKjZXk1b-hgLa_4Iv79cTca3CtGSM4skAMhzIAOuRILrOHhGLdjQ4U4w0jD_uMHHzQ_HCkNmUPyya-_gfuLyDB1-8/s512/20100724_6_Blueberries.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497468767097376034" /></a>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18228841323715699186noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3490139733706145415.post-19619634683135707442010-07-17T22:50:00.008-04:002011-06-12T01:04:58.748-04:00Weedy July, Ground Cherries!Life didn't used to be so busy =) Now, it's a regular thing to go a month without visiting my garden! Sad! But, thank goodness for automatic watering systems. From far away, the garden looks green and growing!<br /><a target="_blank" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBxoep2xnDsmXLSEVW-f3G3TpYdaI83cqF72gyxl5A3sLLOt8SU4MkolOAb1B363IngiCgdfLO9zCQo0wztDfQueXm7Z-ysRwrVGt67xJgFpEJ95VQP1A7J5-Qd96DXKlF9hp8mh3YWFY/s1600/20100717_01_Garden.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBxoep2xnDsmXLSEVW-f3G3TpYdaI83cqF72gyxl5A3sLLOt8SU4MkolOAb1B363IngiCgdfLO9zCQo0wztDfQueXm7Z-ysRwrVGt67xJgFpEJ95VQP1A7J5-Qd96DXKlF9hp8mh3YWFY/s512/20100717_01_Garden.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Close up, though, it's clear that a LOT of the green is grassy weeds. But, the good thing is that most other things are growing despite the weeds, including all of my berry plants! Not a single one died from the drought last time! Here, you can barely make out the basil among the tomatoes and the grass. Grass weeds are the bane of my garden's existence...<br /><a target="_blank" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-238XvUaLV2cR3TxOej0GKsHaqLhtYceC3jToBSKyO-p_gsqE7lBHnr3zovCJBEC7bLi4TDGrLqy6_adBSEVK9d_lc7jNeNc7ZKaU4pWjLmb_ELHhWDOLn9ezNx3h5cqP7C4e0uEs_c/s1600/20100717_02_WeedyTomatoBasil.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-238XvUaLV2cR3TxOej0GKsHaqLhtYceC3jToBSKyO-p_gsqE7lBHnr3zovCJBEC7bLi4TDGrLqy6_adBSEVK9d_lc7jNeNc7ZKaU4pWjLmb_ELHhWDOLn9ezNx3h5cqP7C4e0uEs_c/s512/20100717_02_WeedyTomatoBasil.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>But, this tomato plant managed to grow mostly weed free. Pale tomatoes... I wonder what color they'll end up? The options are pink, red and blackish. Maybe these will be pink! They look too pale to be the red ones.<br /><a target="_blank" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX7wUWlUdQBOoadafhkUGeT1RZKx7-ggO3gk_Yx3OAN9DgjD7GbabcVUM4oVbvsCvjXx8f1RnKjy7fHrcyVdrJSiFz1XEnLKrevzhXh7RISN_lYc_XaAftExrgmIOCZYiwFbcRBg8H8lA/s1600/20100717_03_Tomatoes.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX7wUWlUdQBOoadafhkUGeT1RZKx7-ggO3gk_Yx3OAN9DgjD7GbabcVUM4oVbvsCvjXx8f1RnKjy7fHrcyVdrJSiFz1XEnLKrevzhXh7RISN_lYc_XaAftExrgmIOCZYiwFbcRBg8H8lA/s512/20100717_03_Tomatoes.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>But this plant is also with pale tomatoes! 9 of them, to be exact =)<br /><a target="_blank" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCPeRiULwMPGaxauTUfSiZ1fGRR4GsZEE4t_WPdXog9WknUAziB3d7h9fChRnc6V_C40d092vnsLrIPvH2mN6ardzNua77VWemuzwTUIAG0ousRrWkQOLwRD76EgOi037i_6Ojchb0KeM/s1600/20100717_04_Tomatoes.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCPeRiULwMPGaxauTUfSiZ1fGRR4GsZEE4t_WPdXog9WknUAziB3d7h9fChRnc6V_C40d092vnsLrIPvH2mN6ardzNua77VWemuzwTUIAG0ousRrWkQOLwRD76EgOi037i_6Ojchb0KeM/s512/20100717_04_Tomatoes.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Strange things have also been growing in the garden. Apparently after a few years of runners and seeds or whatever goes on with the strawberries, they start going feral. Tiny strawberries in the middle of July! I didn't eat this one, but maybe I'll try it tomorrow.<br /><a target="_blank" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdlTKIWR-Fs8naFONqhR1cx24V9OOZdFbYx-ygCXurXTkIO_9XWJJWRplC5UlPr7YlBIvL4yoCKvi8arA2iaPOmvFfafM-x3RrESctjV7AALvwz0Tzb4yz5s4CBJX7JFfnU0HC-zi2jSI/s1600/20100717_05_SmallStrawberry.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdlTKIWR-Fs8naFONqhR1cx24V9OOZdFbYx-ygCXurXTkIO_9XWJJWRplC5UlPr7YlBIvL4yoCKvi8arA2iaPOmvFfafM-x3RrESctjV7AALvwz0Tzb4yz5s4CBJX7JFfnU0HC-zi2jSI/s512/20100717_05_SmallStrawberry.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Blueberries in July, too! I did eat this slightly damaged blueberry, the first I've ever tasted from my garden. And let me tell you, it was good...<br /><a target="_blank" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYDWOBlZbQRTKXGbmQkqdJzB0ElS3opuNMcl4zwfcTqiLi-307OMtbceB3RZ-3MGDo3euMk3_KtKFz-XDC3mMAn59uBC30i-ZbR_x26u_Art2DA58NCRdMN3s7agu6YCqVnCS3biTS2SA/s1600/20100717_06_Blueberry.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYDWOBlZbQRTKXGbmQkqdJzB0ElS3opuNMcl4zwfcTqiLi-307OMtbceB3RZ-3MGDo3euMk3_KtKFz-XDC3mMAn59uBC30i-ZbR_x26u_Art2DA58NCRdMN3s7agu6YCqVnCS3biTS2SA/s512/20100717_06_Blueberry.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>More to come! I wonder if they are supposed to take this long to ripen.<br /><a target="_blank" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ0tp_hPMDnYWNGlbtfGVErFL5pYlarf3m5dRwqAWh2ucqN1-ThC516Y2b5svYrsOfCnTpNyz6L497CRo8YY9RMS__PMh8GjlF9X0ukJ5UiXVmxViMWkUGB0ArZAJRlQSOCHc3uUoKwj4/s1600/20100717_07_UnripeBlueberries.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ0tp_hPMDnYWNGlbtfGVErFL5pYlarf3m5dRwqAWh2ucqN1-ThC516Y2b5svYrsOfCnTpNyz6L497CRo8YY9RMS__PMh8GjlF9X0ukJ5UiXVmxViMWkUGB0ArZAJRlQSOCHc3uUoKwj4/s512/20100717_07_UnripeBlueberries.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>And remember that strange volunteer I posted about last? Well, it looks like a little tomatillo plant! How odd! Still no idea where it came from. But, some of the husks fell down, meaning their fruit are ripe.<br /><a target="_blank" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4vf9emmrPvJDCOpMOuQDbHh-jZIFvIs1MiJQhgGxRcABBsiCArVneKIofbar4wCbCZGe0tqqr1H-m1X72yQFcbG7RHi1WjWbmtJKj1fz-hlhpP21nHLm8RgCYduAsSI_lHV2R4RUpeT0/s1600/20100717_08_GroundCherryPlant.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4vf9emmrPvJDCOpMOuQDbHh-jZIFvIs1MiJQhgGxRcABBsiCArVneKIofbar4wCbCZGe0tqqr1H-m1X72yQFcbG7RHi1WjWbmtJKj1fz-hlhpP21nHLm8RgCYduAsSI_lHV2R4RUpeT0/s512/20100717_08_GroundCherryPlant.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Cool!<br /><a target="_blank" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3eeHDMdOEf7SQLnD210hfQuD0X47FaPk4QdyHwOzJ3HudbW4xbDHboegyRSFKgPMuK9aPgzKHPhhW8ci1DIzBQ7tuEi-4eUtZCguz6sdLhINNd5vka4a1m2YaG_h6qV0JlP3fX6eG84/s1600/20100717_09_GroundCherryHusks.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3eeHDMdOEf7SQLnD210hfQuD0X47FaPk4QdyHwOzJ3HudbW4xbDHboegyRSFKgPMuK9aPgzKHPhhW8ci1DIzBQ7tuEi-4eUtZCguz6sdLhINNd5vka4a1m2YaG_h6qV0JlP3fX6eG84/s512/20100717_09_GroundCherryHusks.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>And inside, a yellow fruit! Kind of like a tomato or cherry. When I came down to google, I decided it might be a ground cherry. One has to be careful with nightshade plants as some are poisonous. I ate this one though, and it was good and I'm not dead yet. Not even vomiting.<br /><a target="_blank" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAByQfNmwVm4nAdgOA0FXLeGR8fQWcK7vaffh9lY2FTkzg1qhj6YLntLVt7rrydA_lxBmF7jnUQO9bk4oc22pEDILLFV5WO-3PQcizTvD-P9UheP1vSeg-WosOvt2FavBBEM5NtxJoRK8/s1600/20100717_10_UnwrappedGroundCherry.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAByQfNmwVm4nAdgOA0FXLeGR8fQWcK7vaffh9lY2FTkzg1qhj6YLntLVt7rrydA_lxBmF7jnUQO9bk4oc22pEDILLFV5WO-3PQcizTvD-P9UheP1vSeg-WosOvt2FavBBEM5NtxJoRK8/s512/20100717_10_UnwrappedGroundCherry.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>I'll won't eat them all at once though, because I'm a little nervous...<br /><a target="_blank" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVab60_AbAXxMgy-4ljJzrvhXkttKExsBZCqbPeJ_Ru4ayu9dWSIHXwo2RYVp6dWs6hocxjTyYiPC18Rb9tzjuTJ08pbUqOE93Dp209bZ2EGztCRPN0uu5ZpVv-Kk0kISNH1MAT4ks-cE/s1600/20100717_11_GroundCherryHarvest.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVab60_AbAXxMgy-4ljJzrvhXkttKExsBZCqbPeJ_Ru4ayu9dWSIHXwo2RYVp6dWs6hocxjTyYiPC18Rb9tzjuTJ08pbUqOE93Dp209bZ2EGztCRPN0uu5ZpVv-Kk0kISNH1MAT4ks-cE/s512/20100717_11_GroundCherryHarvest.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Also growing well, my squash and zucchini! The watermelons didn't make it and their pots are full of grass weeds, but these look like they're doing fine.<br /><a target="_blank" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjni9O9vtVB6aKB9c1AA9aJ3Emr6JVEZ6_JC2bIqt_l67pq8fESY8mxjPepqttY95_8pn27Ki0HcxjxzepReYQYXa7tJltuJZBTDrUULimGYu4MVTnKUjBI0KZEdyNOBzm26SG_2mukafo/s1600/20100717_12_YellowSquashZucchiniPlants.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjni9O9vtVB6aKB9c1AA9aJ3Emr6JVEZ6_JC2bIqt_l67pq8fESY8mxjPepqttY95_8pn27Ki0HcxjxzepReYQYXa7tJltuJZBTDrUULimGYu4MVTnKUjBI0KZEdyNOBzm26SG_2mukafo/s512/20100717_12_YellowSquashZucchiniPlants.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>My first yellow straightneck squash. I think the timing is just about perfect as the seed packets usually say 45 days.<br /><a target="_blank" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7dlKzFG555qpRn3e9llBWjv7x4D-bwOgCr6itzcBde_CkCjHyP_SlNBKxYMweC348Rf2e1oIlU1wPHDoww0wn_1oJSCflWgvqO13ZtCBzwmoP5S3QVBzHV_BGH0yodrFvbgOYfRUjbVg/s1600/20100717_13_YellowSquash.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7dlKzFG555qpRn3e9llBWjv7x4D-bwOgCr6itzcBde_CkCjHyP_SlNBKxYMweC348Rf2e1oIlU1wPHDoww0wn_1oJSCflWgvqO13ZtCBzwmoP5S3QVBzHV_BGH0yodrFvbgOYfRUjbVg/s512/20100717_13_YellowSquash.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>My first zucchini ever! I hope it grows nicely =) I want some yellow and green stir fry.<br /><a target="_blank" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOGpOG13Dl5bK3s4KudQIjXNwHMJ5NENUfWH0emaO5wrNhR7E7gKuqgI7Jdo8XichbVaoWANf7Ajq-mUxqpSMatS6_WDCA1X840BdzKPJlAL7uueC6DW9LuZOaBqCvIrtYOdBE-Udiu40/s1600/20100717_14_Zucchini.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOGpOG13Dl5bK3s4KudQIjXNwHMJ5NENUfWH0emaO5wrNhR7E7gKuqgI7Jdo8XichbVaoWANf7Ajq-mUxqpSMatS6_WDCA1X840BdzKPJlAL7uueC6DW9LuZOaBqCvIrtYOdBE-Udiu40/s512/20100717_14_Zucchini.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Gardening is good for the soul. I didn't finish cleaning out all the weeds today. Didn't want to get too tired in the heat. I'll do the other half tomorrow and maybe figure out what to plant in the several empty buckets I have at the moment.Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18228841323715699186noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3490139733706145415.post-70176513814476975042010-06-12T22:08:00.006-04:002011-06-12T01:06:21.382-04:00Little update, Tomato Attacked!I'll start with the bad news first. It seems like every year, I lose one of the tomato plants early, or at least it gets severely damaged, and thus stunted. Also, it's always in the same pot. I'll call this the bad luck pot from now on.... This year, it seems like a hungry pigeon decided it wanted to chomp the tips of each branch off. =( This will mean even later tomatoes from this plant.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6uH4yPamwbaz58byNMJ4C2m4gvUgzmFplO68Gb0fymD-2_T5dOHsY_XmKxlx_0bmJgPXiwQ1Affk2LURl9fymkN7D_So19nLGy2wenFcA0oURuhFUDdg53Z88nxZ2W6UhO58Dr6GXeaA/s1600/20100612_1_TomatoAttacked.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6uH4yPamwbaz58byNMJ4C2m4gvUgzmFplO68Gb0fymD-2_T5dOHsY_XmKxlx_0bmJgPXiwQ1Affk2LURl9fymkN7D_So19nLGy2wenFcA0oURuhFUDdg53Z88nxZ2W6UhO58Dr6GXeaA/s512/20100612_1_TomatoAttacked.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495066893054679154" border="0" /></a>Luckily, I still have 2 healthy tomato plants. I have no clue which variety each is any more. Good job documenting, Laura...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBtbNMIfmeI36tdTpkqwb0zQ0ImrbGvT_fg1N6PWirCwN3SLq_oD1SATHwpzslaEuUpsvgID2KYh09HqBpdx0CaCTMlQEPKCubqiMqXTGHeBsVYQm2XCdkm9Ge-BJjwq8ChKPcWYrETG4/s1600/20100612_2_TomatoPlant.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBtbNMIfmeI36tdTpkqwb0zQ0ImrbGvT_fg1N6PWirCwN3SLq_oD1SATHwpzslaEuUpsvgID2KYh09HqBpdx0CaCTMlQEPKCubqiMqXTGHeBsVYQm2XCdkm9Ge-BJjwq8ChKPcWYrETG4/s512/20100612_2_TomatoPlant.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495066094545798898" border="0" /></a>Strange things grow in the garden when you let them. This looks like some kind of squash or nightshade plant. It already has flowers growing from the center. There is another one of these growing in another pot and I don't know where they came from. I figure I'll let them grow and see if they make any tasty fruits.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi87LPdqwGi09YEE6R13JkxbGMpCFyqOAVPwRuhJhCWNwyhtcvBSksTU3lJ4HgKwh5kq4iWK9UyIyqPgoeiTvhdcLg9wS2fw0nmXt1KmiM3Z8sjYI5wDB2QayduRJrxlUFrz3owkFDMH4/s1600/20100612_3_StrangeVolunteer.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi87LPdqwGi09YEE6R13JkxbGMpCFyqOAVPwRuhJhCWNwyhtcvBSksTU3lJ4HgKwh5kq4iWK9UyIyqPgoeiTvhdcLg9wS2fw0nmXt1KmiM3Z8sjYI5wDB2QayduRJrxlUFrz3owkFDMH4/s512/20100612_3_StrangeVolunteer.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495066089979577234" border="0" /></a>The squash seeds I planted last week have sprouted.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGyukldg2apTuPvejdfOaYJxOI47WeF62bmmvj5ufe46YyhewdIlGoKmtutlgtrg2Ow65ipDWhyVltsCuOWTtNGBIWRos94EbBp2q8SHwEtbO6tYpWdOGb9KlfUBYbDmicZheRW4LFLe8/s1600/20100612_4_SquashSprout.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGyukldg2apTuPvejdfOaYJxOI47WeF62bmmvj5ufe46YyhewdIlGoKmtutlgtrg2Ow65ipDWhyVltsCuOWTtNGBIWRos94EbBp2q8SHwEtbO6tYpWdOGb9KlfUBYbDmicZheRW4LFLe8/s512/20100612_4_SquashSprout.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495066086968644114" border="0" /></a>Watermelon seed is juuuust starting to sprout.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjedZM6AWN1e_QMykWYXTq3atDY1tu70cnFrkDS_IgfGi6z89_ifQQuO5bbgW0o8yBPveBE445c2zVnZTR7IdEqYK3RIMZgcH0EW0eMSdkN2RXYwvTxz6GJfz6Aj0D_ubJg3CDGJbxx9Io/s1600/20100612_5_WatermelonSprout.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjedZM6AWN1e_QMykWYXTq3atDY1tu70cnFrkDS_IgfGi6z89_ifQQuO5bbgW0o8yBPveBE445c2zVnZTR7IdEqYK3RIMZgcH0EW0eMSdkN2RXYwvTxz6GJfz6Aj0D_ubJg3CDGJbxx9Io/s512/20100612_5_WatermelonSprout.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495066081440606338" border="0" /></a>And, the lilies are blooming =)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKabzXDwDVsBxO_SguKhfakS7MyGIOSo7bUaygDYJc9AiokcnA3zzESkXMxqUsmqsrPypGmOHkwnYFdWA95sDd-kCisH3hyr2hLAt6oqKCZ3Dbeqct4QaI01JR9gOADabxxw-4aSz8Hnc/s1600/20100612_6_LilyFlower.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKabzXDwDVsBxO_SguKhfakS7MyGIOSo7bUaygDYJc9AiokcnA3zzESkXMxqUsmqsrPypGmOHkwnYFdWA95sDd-kCisH3hyr2hLAt6oqKCZ3Dbeqct4QaI01JR9gOADabxxw-4aSz8Hnc/s512/20100612_6_LilyFlower.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495066074555833938" border="0" /></a>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18228841323715699186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3490139733706145415.post-17709762717425416662010-06-05T23:03:00.003-04:002011-06-12T01:08:41.582-04:00Note to self: June 5 is TOO LATE for setting up the water systemI had a visitor with me today, the first time on the roof since April 24th, and because there was a witness to the devastation in the garden, I feel it would be dishonest not to blog about it, too. My laziness caused this!! A pot of very dead raspberries.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFaoG_Xk-a2ierzW84DDbl6jTtn6P8rEoZUeC3d2dXhlDwDVTh2MYd0ouueIaSxGOkkb83_BD9saXWhP1qB4THhmDtbu9wShzEzWIeN-SiY_TyTC0O7X-7BylJt4XkxIFMqlFsxJf_O56r/s1600/20100605_1_DeadRaspberries.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFaoG_Xk-a2ierzW84DDbl6jTtn6P8rEoZUeC3d2dXhlDwDVTh2MYd0ouueIaSxGOkkb83_BD9saXWhP1qB4THhmDtbu9wShzEzWIeN-SiY_TyTC0O7X-7BylJt4XkxIFMqlFsxJf_O56r/s512/20100605_1_DeadRaspberries.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479864112413925042" border="0" /></a>There were a lot more casualties than that and some more that are on the fence and may still pull through. But as always, there are surprising survivors. A few of those peas I planted back in April grew all by themselves and had some peas the perfect size for picking =)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuYhkxCwowI8pLQ5ML_fA_S0rzxJKvqnva_gYErv1PRkKN324BvHr0hYORkUL_e-kb0_z6AKrx2Xv_SUjddOvBx13hx4IEv1CiehNrLzINZ7kWKlp3lzU1rj4adsOEFAX3oAujlpwFmflk/s1600/20100605_2_SnowPeas.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuYhkxCwowI8pLQ5ML_fA_S0rzxJKvqnva_gYErv1PRkKN324BvHr0hYORkUL_e-kb0_z6AKrx2Xv_SUjddOvBx13hx4IEv1CiehNrLzINZ7kWKlp3lzU1rj4adsOEFAX3oAujlpwFmflk/s512/20100605_2_SnowPeas.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479864106462748898" border="0" /></a>One of my blueberry bushes could be a goner... One suffered some damage, but is still alive. This one is still healthy with a few berries growing, but they're not blue yet =)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXGiklPsW0lKYR4Oi_hdNvezi7cgH-GgQ061mk6lTSySNHkofeEFFwqzgd4rIejRKsrEkJdskx2hed9DJR1iaINraXQ5ALhzUoeKMniemyDxUo6UthhHE2edyxfLXR7I0lQ1wmJEner12D/s1600/20100605_3_Blueberries.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXGiklPsW0lKYR4Oi_hdNvezi7cgH-GgQ061mk6lTSySNHkofeEFFwqzgd4rIejRKsrEkJdskx2hed9DJR1iaINraXQ5ALhzUoeKMniemyDxUo6UthhHE2edyxfLXR7I0lQ1wmJEner12D/s512/20100605_3_Blueberries.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479863439342629826" border="0" /></a>More small pea plants. Maybe with water and some more time they'll grow, but I'm not sure. We'll see. I also planted some swiss chard seeds in here, which should be grown and ready to pick by the time the pea plants are definitely expired.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH6AWhMZpHQ1DMwr-yiuv7bijNfDjMy1PSkrMVVEs1pNtxn8pr5PIcyozX_VH50HDIOzxbKZY0tGwzQipiXy5bA_kbeWiCVQOJbvLN0eI4O935Ux6d7LP04_khAxuLuAEtDrX59PbMpag8/s1600/20100605_4_SnowPeaPlants.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH6AWhMZpHQ1DMwr-yiuv7bijNfDjMy1PSkrMVVEs1pNtxn8pr5PIcyozX_VH50HDIOzxbKZY0tGwzQipiXy5bA_kbeWiCVQOJbvLN0eI4O935Ux6d7LP04_khAxuLuAEtDrX59PbMpag8/s512/20100605_4_SnowPeaPlants.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479863433476189634" border="0" /></a>This pot of had some pea plants and another plant, which could be a weed or perhaps a volunteer squash plant? I'm not sure, so I left it. We'll see what it grows into.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip6xxxGwakx_KGmLDCFz0uEPA9RX6AOciLaBTCJCrdjS_H4HAf4-laV-0CcHJbnmkIS6t3PQKicervvJ0YO1IPIUt0GKWF7rZS-Ug5b_eNIkLcjagMoWVoi7PoF7Vt1zNl29VSsN2fTI0r/s1600/20100605_5_SnowPeaPlantsPossibleSquash.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip6xxxGwakx_KGmLDCFz0uEPA9RX6AOciLaBTCJCrdjS_H4HAf4-laV-0CcHJbnmkIS6t3PQKicervvJ0YO1IPIUt0GKWF7rZS-Ug5b_eNIkLcjagMoWVoi7PoF7Vt1zNl29VSsN2fTI0r/s512/20100605_5_SnowPeaPlantsPossibleSquash.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479863430896580370" border="0" /></a>My visitor helped me clean up the dead and get new things planted. The empty buckets near the front are planted with zucchini, yellow squash, and watermelons. I planted some yellow and hot pink swiss chard. I'll be excited to eat those =)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja2HVs1EJixHhm0KJUNYHSYyunFaMkohnrNe5BAJ8f_FjQ-8k7CQeoEfWcsGawkVLnEELrXOJF46_Z77l-aiqy7m9IXF6L9gIQwYyXDbRJbe4c-0pnPTQwZcXhzgdy0N7mi_Wp63_l4_3K/s1600/20100605_6_Garden.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja2HVs1EJixHhm0KJUNYHSYyunFaMkohnrNe5BAJ8f_FjQ-8k7CQeoEfWcsGawkVLnEELrXOJF46_Z77l-aiqy7m9IXF6L9gIQwYyXDbRJbe4c-0pnPTQwZcXhzgdy0N7mi_Wp63_l4_3K/s512/20100605_6_Garden.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479863419827566098" border="0" /></a>I snipped the lower leaves and branches from my tomato seedlings and planted them low in the buckets with some egg shells and good compost that's been collecting in a bucket on my fire escape =) All 3 seedlings look pretty happy now, even if planted late. I'm optimistic I'll have some tasty tomatoes in August. I planted some basil seeds along with the tomatoes, too.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7LvRXSEuCEmDzq2ry_SdWfJUDnuOxXZAef3e97sPDkj6BC5sgYt9QFg_139tkCfzKWUewTwqtqcmuPcIw0PZMmoiPa4b9sffvEyVZ1X7ArR-6rOJrNR0Qy1bFL6_qZuyHNzELWyV7POHt/s1600/20100605_7_TomatoPlant.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7LvRXSEuCEmDzq2ry_SdWfJUDnuOxXZAef3e97sPDkj6BC5sgYt9QFg_139tkCfzKWUewTwqtqcmuPcIw0PZMmoiPa4b9sffvEyVZ1X7ArR-6rOJrNR0Qy1bFL6_qZuyHNzELWyV7POHt/s512/20100605_7_TomatoPlant.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479863413246328418" border="0" /></a>It seems like I let my garden fall into a disastrous state every year, but it's always ok to plant more and keep going! Starting over on some things isn't the end of the world =)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3490139733706145415.post-33080845296856361952010-06-03T20:40:00.008-04:002010-07-17T22:49:21.862-04:00Welcome Apartment Therapy Readers!!I've followed <a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/">Apartment Therapy</a> off and on for a while now, mostly for inspiration on how to redecorate my apartment =) Imagine my shock when I found a comment from a reader who said they found this blog through Apartment Therapy! At first I thought it must be a mistake, but here I am #10 on a top #10 NY Gardening Blogs list! Admittedly, they've chided me for not posting of late... Eek! Duly noted and repentant. I'm quite proud to be the only one listed in Manhattan, though =)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/gardening/best-new-york-gardening-blogs-roundup-118590?image_id=1484111"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc-hNnYztqAIrtafvZshoHhUtwtzMLckF5ZvtUElP2w9GSUAT5lG4IGFkS34hPPWuhhpWmJ4KQzbiE70ChcaZ5V-4Qmdsgfz2-jOsTt4GFKiCkVYcg35fUyUMUeeiQiY0gAQG5kyRnu3MK/s512/20100603_1_ApartmentTherapy.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478712905119958738" border="0" /></a>I haven't been on the roof in a while, but that's the plan this weekend. I'm preparing for disaster, though, as it's been quite hot and I haven't watered at all. We'll see what survives and what doesn't! I'll leave you with an update on my tomato seedlings, though. They've been growing happily on my window sill, but desperately need to be planted out! They're already developing flower buds.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSiEIHiZzXdYu4RcD9-4d9FChfTwUukWt7Q-S-fzc4VWW2c3EIJPNP5Xly4ouIrkVmQFH-XDSXMnfJQyvEQnjvhwlM5qB5qN5YvlDZaMazTrg8U7kbB_QlOBLZzQuVKypQd2sxgFvKjYKD/s1600/20100603_2_TomatoSeedlings.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSiEIHiZzXdYu4RcD9-4d9FChfTwUukWt7Q-S-fzc4VWW2c3EIJPNP5Xly4ouIrkVmQFH-XDSXMnfJQyvEQnjvhwlM5qB5qN5YvlDZaMazTrg8U7kbB_QlOBLZzQuVKypQd2sxgFvKjYKD/s512/20100603_2_TomatoSeedlings.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478712902222408738" border="0" /></a>Thanks for visiting! Please do come again!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3490139733706145415.post-6060683376930889082010-04-24T19:53:00.010-04:002011-06-12T01:11:11.052-04:00Early Surprises, New ExperimentsThis is going to be a little out of order, but I couldn't really contain my excitement over the surprises I found on the roof today! The late afternoon light, was also delightful for pictures =) Blueberries laden with flowers:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh38Jg3yG5WoJ_T5JOJOPl-83M_4czNRVH3iuPzD7G0CNPQmJa8LK0wBD0w-ubGNKzD-NK-BlQWGOPl6e4UjkckF2S3s1w8r1efjB_xHKvW1Ep28gJyC6qojt34uGMRJlOwrzzq6dz_LpJx/s1600/20100424_01_BlueberryFlowers.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh38Jg3yG5WoJ_T5JOJOPl-83M_4czNRVH3iuPzD7G0CNPQmJa8LK0wBD0w-ubGNKzD-NK-BlQWGOPl6e4UjkckF2S3s1w8r1efjB_xHKvW1Ep28gJyC6qojt34uGMRJlOwrzzq6dz_LpJx/s512/20100424_01_BlueberryFlowers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478704580153720018" border="0" /></a>Window boxes abloom with ground covers I stole from my mom last year!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkeJo8M7nSBYeNqBKSMB94AyKp4DBetXQZWyD4rADjB1IN4Fz5GThtWXIIVr42JRj5gZwJOb09Nou3Ssty_ZFIepb8MVxVaeRDWOiBIgIjIiQYQbTMRNmw2naIHjGip5HqQ1xwkBM39lUN/s1600/20100424_02_FlowerBoxes.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkeJo8M7nSBYeNqBKSMB94AyKp4DBetXQZWyD4rADjB1IN4Fz5GThtWXIIVr42JRj5gZwJOb09Nou3Ssty_ZFIepb8MVxVaeRDWOiBIgIjIiQYQbTMRNmw2naIHjGip5HqQ1xwkBM39lUN/s512/20100424_02_FlowerBoxes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478704343288403202" border="0" /></a>Despite neglect and a fence falling on them, the Loch Ness Blackberries monster on.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsNsrDKc-O4Pz64skn6t6H05X8_a2g7EsvoSkbYZ7oLocYuQGCNIuEQ6dq5EPuJjB_PIzerZQ-7-piLmfyR3s4yyhGHBDwTD6vvlozWVx-QhV_nrYblI1o7kuQ4qeQmbySYp3eioDOF3VO/s1600/20100424_03_LochNessBlackberryFlowers.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsNsrDKc-O4Pz64skn6t6H05X8_a2g7EsvoSkbYZ7oLocYuQGCNIuEQ6dq5EPuJjB_PIzerZQ-7-piLmfyR3s4yyhGHBDwTD6vvlozWVx-QhV_nrYblI1o7kuQ4qeQmbySYp3eioDOF3VO/s512/20100424_03_LochNessBlackberryFlowers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478704337809643490" border="0" /></a>Strawberries already getting bigger! I can't believe they're so early!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPkt2ppR5JrV5hPKk5ph00dJJHPwnhHHvTBbcbbmFo8ZROk87zMtLadch8ZcwlVjmCea6jFupOw8rh0jA-bmRIIbyYptoFrfyczmVxAcLwnU78X2eLcGyA0jTWxLsNl03eSdpjco0HggZ8/s1600/20100424_04_Strawberries.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPkt2ppR5JrV5hPKk5ph00dJJHPwnhHHvTBbcbbmFo8ZROk87zMtLadch8ZcwlVjmCea6jFupOw8rh0jA-bmRIIbyYptoFrfyczmVxAcLwnU78X2eLcGyA0jTWxLsNl03eSdpjco0HggZ8/s512/20100424_04_Strawberries.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478704333028704002" border="0" /></a>Lettuce I never planted! This garden just doesn't let me kill it =)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeAf0bj5A3GfgdYH0z3GfVV0T8-cmG5UKn8F0abpmVFL4Nb-imogJbn1LjzmILb0UDDutVYlRB9PmB5SBt_0zbUX6y5xKFBP76FgBfCv1Qr-h21XhOw-6ndSwPcEC1mQEkHaho5B_5Pahg/s1600/20100424_05_Lettuce.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeAf0bj5A3GfgdYH0z3GfVV0T8-cmG5UKn8F0abpmVFL4Nb-imogJbn1LjzmILb0UDDutVYlRB9PmB5SBt_0zbUX6y5xKFBP76FgBfCv1Qr-h21XhOw-6ndSwPcEC1mQEkHaho5B_5Pahg/s512/20100424_05_Lettuce.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478704327780991506" border="0" /></a>Back indoors, my tomato seedlings are growing on. Imagining sun-ripened juicy goodness, now...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgip_7aP6EnEORV0nasxv4MEYHmmBPPk0pWrdjogIJC-sJttBtGocLX4R3Hl0WiMvSmTiJhG-FX_aeelZcgh8TFPV5wNClqD6ieGbjdPBKOowHPOh7avg5gUhDMutlLoKgaUT1AmtgZ3Ue7/s1600/20100424_06_TomatoSeedlings.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgip_7aP6EnEORV0nasxv4MEYHmmBPPk0pWrdjogIJC-sJttBtGocLX4R3Hl0WiMvSmTiJhG-FX_aeelZcgh8TFPV5wNClqD6ieGbjdPBKOowHPOh7avg5gUhDMutlLoKgaUT1AmtgZ3Ue7/s512/20100424_06_TomatoSeedlings.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478704326978394642" border="0" /></a>My experiment of splitting the herbs and growing some in pots to be transplanted to the roof appears to be a success as far as everything surviving the split. Things are looking good!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGSOO0Hk0w8Vr3j-_xmrZObCDGBtLeVzEdPO4ExG6povfgjjxbqWx7mshQIsfTj8PIR-q5APV7DnoFtOJncNPQQruC4pAeKzMOZPpIkh3GB5c6idXavBXK-4KLaIr7KFLtlGbsBemq5fFX/s1600/20100424_07_IndoorWindowBox_OreganoRosemarySpearmint.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGSOO0Hk0w8Vr3j-_xmrZObCDGBtLeVzEdPO4ExG6povfgjjxbqWx7mshQIsfTj8PIR-q5APV7DnoFtOJncNPQQruC4pAeKzMOZPpIkh3GB5c6idXavBXK-4KLaIr7KFLtlGbsBemq5fFX/s512/20100424_07_IndoorWindowBox_OreganoRosemarySpearmint.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478703843149279650" border="0" /></a>The thyme is growing in wild little bushes, a little basil seed I thought had failed decided to sprout up after all! The afternoon sun makes everything in my apartment a little golden =)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA5jroF5yIEEfHPx-cOmZ-36XCuTgTvw7uX4k8eOK7-kzAq20EVDOWdV5pi4pIHQ5Ren203GAsVczCvF00YHktVw6E3xQVxSgV973ii2_QPnbsRfZ-NBosWTPSCCCy0IYRbESb_F7mJTeF/s1600/20100424_08_IndoorWindowBox_ThymeBasil.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA5jroF5yIEEfHPx-cOmZ-36XCuTgTvw7uX4k8eOK7-kzAq20EVDOWdV5pi4pIHQ5Ren203GAsVczCvF00YHktVw6E3xQVxSgV973ii2_QPnbsRfZ-NBosWTPSCCCy0IYRbESb_F7mJTeF/s512/20100424_08_IndoorWindowBox_ThymeBasil.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478703841618190706" border="0" /></a>A new experiment this year is the use of rooting hormone. I've always been curious about the stuff, and never really knew what form it would take. My friend at work and I were trading plant cuttings and she mentioned having some extra, so she gave me some in a little pharmacy bottle. Now it looks like I have illicit drugs...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOTTprVS4L_TSR4jfgktnNqMf8ZbDqTlHgkno45X4a8L6WYCPSK4ITJKoXDznUrXIwuhLI8kqzLaCMVt4EDPJFNrjVSCcEwNLdzKsaxeT6ixgmEZSAMNauIh7FwYksb7z0lq7Z4S4LjFA/s1600/20100424_09_RootingHormoneOregano.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOTTprVS4L_TSR4jfgktnNqMf8ZbDqTlHgkno45X4a8L6WYCPSK4ITJKoXDznUrXIwuhLI8kqzLaCMVt4EDPJFNrjVSCcEwNLdzKsaxeT6ixgmEZSAMNauIh7FwYksb7z0lq7Z4S4LjFA/s512/20100424_09_RootingHormoneOregano.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478703834106087842" border="0" /></a>Anyway, I think you just dip the ends of a cutting in the stuff and plant it. Above is a sprig of oregano and below, some rosemary.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ6oU5dAEPBQXqoKSPL7j7aNzG9o2hYmIucG42aa246hbg8b3XF1tK88QgG2r3gTONTXhwgpWj4d1uWubIaxRcKOakyEfyU3c8waoTIJDrRa3QHNwx0ty3Qys_3dE-U6ePn10m38Ww4yWl/s1600/20100424_10_RootingHormoneRosemary.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ6oU5dAEPBQXqoKSPL7j7aNzG9o2hYmIucG42aa246hbg8b3XF1tK88QgG2r3gTONTXhwgpWj4d1uWubIaxRcKOakyEfyU3c8waoTIJDrRa3QHNwx0ty3Qys_3dE-U6ePn10m38Ww4yWl/s512/20100424_10_RootingHormoneRosemary.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478703826772710834" border="0" /></a>I started some snow peas the other day and these might actually be a little rotten because I left them in water too long before planting them. I brought them up on the roof and used the soil inoculant (mycorrhizal fungi for proper nitrogen fixation in the pea roots. Peas are legumes!) again. We'll see if they grow!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWl4tEwRSJJVpJRjD4vV72JUFaxBcYWbnskUTZtyd0znOV-sKEH721SRrqKf3xHdOsiqNEDkKQHuO45cd0EROUFt2LibZcjcMT5EJSogFAHvpR1CD9hMhAdVoSmM4Uel-Ijd7Vu7eqxCN8/s1600/20100424_11_SnowPeaSeeds.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWl4tEwRSJJVpJRjD4vV72JUFaxBcYWbnskUTZtyd0znOV-sKEH721SRrqKf3xHdOsiqNEDkKQHuO45cd0EROUFt2LibZcjcMT5EJSogFAHvpR1CD9hMhAdVoSmM4Uel-Ijd7Vu7eqxCN8/s512/20100424_11_SnowPeaSeeds.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478703824607141410" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3490139733706145415.post-67624995912423297772010-03-28T22:25:00.004-04:002011-06-12T01:12:47.789-04:00Finally SowingLeaving my plants for 3 months means relying on nature to take care of them as best she can, and when indoors, relying on family. Guess who did a better job? Before I left, my thyme and rosemary were thriving indoors and I had a bumper crop of window basil. I came home to find them all crispy. Somehow, it seems to happen every year, whether my fault or my parents'. So, Friday, I headed to Union Square Green Market and picked up some herbs from the same seller I trust every year. 3 pots for $5, but I guess earlier in the season some types sell for a premium so this thyme was 2 pots for $5. I have lemon thyme to the left and silver thyme to the right. I split a small piece off of both plants in order to keep some inside. I kept the larger portions buried in small containers to make it easier to remove them when it's warm enough to plant out on the roof.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFQblzqDTWBdlirhAOVK5-MOU4Q8sdsw5rneq5pcjnH-kXnFfU0wl4avDLwnitL3U0T_HnpUeKSASyHVyKg1bTfnuootBVzHUasrw23c7YKMS6CPrcij3VUyHSYMKPRTSJxqV9RsChNyVv/s1600/20100328_1_IndoorWindowBox_Thyme.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFQblzqDTWBdlirhAOVK5-MOU4Q8sdsw5rneq5pcjnH-kXnFfU0wl4avDLwnitL3U0T_HnpUeKSASyHVyKg1bTfnuootBVzHUasrw23c7YKMS6CPrcij3VUyHSYMKPRTSJxqV9RsChNyVv/s512/20100328_1_IndoorWindowBox_Thyme.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453877812765577858" border="0" /></a>Here from left to right, I have italian oregano, rosemary, and spearmint (3 for $5). I did the same splitting thing to the mint. The oregano and rosemary will have to be propagated by cutting later. Usually, I'm growing basil as well, but I'm all out of seeds. I tried to save seed last year, but it appears that all of those seeds are duds. Maybe indoor basil doesn't pollinate itself very well, even though it loves to send up flowers.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1V6KEzcalwS-JOqomrqv91K4wJcW12zCfcCNO-c0yPWElty4lecPHuATCOEIip-LpamZ5ZYaTJ9NBQ37R_rGqWx0GpiqDy7uwCoozpJGvO53TB-Vyv6G8Hw4v8z3GXrFR74ugZbcK66cF/s1600/20100328_2_IndoorWindowBox_ItalianOreganoRosemarySpearmint.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1V6KEzcalwS-JOqomrqv91K4wJcW12zCfcCNO-c0yPWElty4lecPHuATCOEIip-LpamZ5ZYaTJ9NBQ37R_rGqWx0GpiqDy7uwCoozpJGvO53TB-Vyv6G8Hw4v8z3GXrFR74ugZbcK66cF/s512/20100328_2_IndoorWindowBox_ItalianOreganoRosemarySpearmint.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453877806637762562" border="0" /></a>And, finally, I sowed my tomatoes to the left, lettuce bottom right, and spinach top right. When I'm not growing my own salads, I get 1lb containers of baby spinach from whole foods and I realized they might be perfect for starting small seedlings. They seal completely, so I can leave them on the fire escape when they sprout, without fearing that the street exhaust will get all over them, though I'll have to remember to open them every day for some air exchange. I got the container for tomatoes from a package of kiwis my family bought from Costco. Perfectly, it has 6 separate pits for the different plants and plenty of headroom for early growth. I've grown 3 varieties, Black Krim (my favorite from last time), Bloody Butcher (because again I have no Stupice seeds) and Pearly Pink (an intriguing new variety from my tomato seed archive).<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI991YtB1jDegrT2xYep6szta61E1eTVCUQzDMj6vNzgBpwm0v0e965n6Na24B66M5GcrK10edz6CqrbP6MMQBubDtkRqoUdRQX0cWqfpjbYnVaO_6d7UxaghothfTKlKEF9CztOYqBdBQ/s1600/20100328_3_SownTomatoesLettuceSpinach.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI991YtB1jDegrT2xYep6szta61E1eTVCUQzDMj6vNzgBpwm0v0e965n6Na24B66M5GcrK10edz6CqrbP6MMQBubDtkRqoUdRQX0cWqfpjbYnVaO_6d7UxaghothfTKlKEF9CztOYqBdBQ/s512/20100328_3_SownTomatoesLettuceSpinach.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453877800261294770" border="0" /></a>When I accumulate more containers, I'll start some arugula. Normally around this time of year, I also start my sugar ann snap peas, but I'm all out of seeds and if I were to wait any longer, they'd be too late. Instead, I do have several new varieties of beets I'll grow this year. More to come on those in a future post =)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3490139733706145415.post-75124767927803976582010-03-26T22:03:00.002-04:002010-06-04T22:37:12.271-04:00Spring means back to the weirdest gardening there isBefore getting to the garden part, I thought I'd share just how ODD gardening on a Manhattan rooftop can truly be. I came out of my roof hatch to find 2 full pairs of one-piece booted coveralls, covered in mud, right by the hatch. As if there is a pool of red mud somewhere nearby my building? (definitely NOT). Is there some fishing stream I just never knew about? Perhaps they came from a portal to another dimension... my roof has a wormhole!!! Or maybe New Yorkers are just plain freaky.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVP52znKDRWv_xEjkdyUVqggWwOVmEpa134RVWtiyimJFTT1o2_ChhS46vPMugkICdcyVAvhxH9Ye0wWTbUmMWxewSovHYtSS5buacDNlXloJu4izxJIN8c1odavz2ZAxTRHxzXMTSHWvz/s1600/20100326_1_MuddyBootCoveralls.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVP52znKDRWv_xEjkdyUVqggWwOVmEpa134RVWtiyimJFTT1o2_ChhS46vPMugkICdcyVAvhxH9Ye0wWTbUmMWxewSovHYtSS5buacDNlXloJu4izxJIN8c1odavz2ZAxTRHxzXMTSHWvz/s512/20100326_1_MuddyBootCoveralls.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453872459910221314" border="0" /></a>There isn't a ton going on in the garden, but that's to be expected. The blueberries are covered in flowers, but with my blueberry luck, I won't get a single berry. I think the problem last year was poor pollination due to inadequate pollinators in early spring.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBPUsXTZMhK6U5Q5Ns8N-XDtRBhYbVpQeU3NDkd0ExC9kpvRCmbEQYYtjORjDCklTZl5SMuinFeB5-5i5nvikF0Kv_JOS3q4hDY7Z8Dg3t9ctX-nR6aLsUe6BVOzhqLpGAiiqkLiQdWWjS/s1600/20100326_2_BlueberryPlants.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBPUsXTZMhK6U5Q5Ns8N-XDtRBhYbVpQeU3NDkd0ExC9kpvRCmbEQYYtjORjDCklTZl5SMuinFeB5-5i5nvikF0Kv_JOS3q4hDY7Z8Dg3t9ctX-nR6aLsUe6BVOzhqLpGAiiqkLiQdWWjS/s512/20100326_2_BlueberryPlants.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453872453413500050" border="0" /></a>The window boxes have really come into their own, though it's hard to tell here. But, almost every inch of soil is grown over with something I planted on purpose! There are lots of low growing, creeping ground covers that should flower throughout the spring and summer. A lot of my lavendar plants didn't make it, but the 2 that did look strong and I'll try dividing them at some point. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGIr4ftgSlHPs_s2K3K01M3AF6YgKKe0BsjevKRiK0AQ0rFWX1m5hLgreRxgprx4O9XiNIxYrJqMwutmONOGQnXup9lLKm88gBdFDbfsHEr4S9bAursZjtqFBH6SHsYwpoP0_bhiR3BjZt/s1600/20100326_3_FlowerBoxes.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGIr4ftgSlHPs_s2K3K01M3AF6YgKKe0BsjevKRiK0AQ0rFWX1m5hLgreRxgprx4O9XiNIxYrJqMwutmONOGQnXup9lLKm88gBdFDbfsHEr4S9bAursZjtqFBH6SHsYwpoP0_bhiR3BjZt/s512/20100326_3_FlowerBoxes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453872451847552642" border="0" /></a>Next to some creeping phlox, this little low-grower will soon send little 6" stalks into the air, topped with small pink flower balls.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYpjNBa4Cd1RAOPeObDoV_GiHaLuyzCQjJ4nOtfIM6RjZmVi19YiATilrBiD5wdoqv9BOlMCpQ4AXghNu5j4RW81asJz_JJEOqAP9N5N58kWV0wwzJ-apTOilxwwgdt1erkYmJ9Ajottss/s1600/20100326_4_PinkBalls.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYpjNBa4Cd1RAOPeObDoV_GiHaLuyzCQjJ4nOtfIM6RjZmVi19YiATilrBiD5wdoqv9BOlMCpQ4AXghNu5j4RW81asJz_JJEOqAP9N5N58kWV0wwzJ-apTOilxwwgdt1erkYmJ9Ajottss/s512/20100326_4_PinkBalls.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453872440465743986" border="0" /></a>The branch of juniper I chopped from my mom's plant and abused heartily before planting seems to have made it. There are a bunch of brown parts, but these are definitely new buds of growth.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisaCJEkbv6Vt62roDnXXROTkBRfER_tk0webT8uNZPW3cVN8oIhFmQKJblglt7tcszic_dSOIarItAktKOPwagfcnAwIBWmV5Gf_uxONHiyjhjeCpKUpoeA66Hreb7S6Ns9cB4m0uoGcdN/s1600/20100326_5_Juniper.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 475px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisaCJEkbv6Vt62roDnXXROTkBRfER_tk0webT8uNZPW3cVN8oIhFmQKJblglt7tcszic_dSOIarItAktKOPwagfcnAwIBWmV5Gf_uxONHiyjhjeCpKUpoeA66Hreb7S6Ns9cB4m0uoGcdN/s512/20100326_5_Juniper.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453872435557968930" border="0" /></a>More to come as the season goes on. I'm already behind schedules compared to the last time I planted tomatoes! Being a lawyer makes me a lousier gardener, but I'll keep trying.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0