Tomato haiku, by Lindsey:
A Siamese fruit,
You’re two tomatoes in one.
I have saved your seeds.
Tag: gardening (Page 13 of 14)
If you grow tomatoes in your garden (or if you plan to in the future), you might be curious about saving your own seed. I really love seeds for some reason, and I used to trade seeds on gardenweb.com about 10 years ago. The lovely gardening community at gardenweb (wonder if it even still exists?) was the source for many of the heirloom tomatoes I still grow in my garden. Tomatoes that are called “heirloom” or “open pollinated” are genetically stable, and will produce offspring consistently like themselves (unless they’ve been cross pollinated with something else in your garden, which does happen occasionally!). Hybrid tomatoes are much less stable genetically, and if you save seed from them, you never know what their offspring will be like (which can also be great fun!).
(Click below to continue reading…)
It even attracts beneficial kitties into the garden...
Queen Anne’s Lace! Also known as Daucus carota, or Wild Carrot. Beneficial insects are an easy method of organic pest control, and the beneficials absolutely LOVE these white, lacy, umbrella-shaped flowers! None of the other flowers I grow get quite as much attention as the Queen Anne’s Lace. (Click below to continue reading…)
Michelle Obama's Vegetable Garden (click for larger picture)
What’s a trip to Washington, D. C. without a stop at the Presidential Victory Garden And Beehive!?
While the garden itself was just a little anti-climactic because it was so far away from the fence, it was still pretty cool to see it in person. (Click below to continue reading…)
The onions have finished curing, and are ready for storage in the fridge.
I love growing my own onions and garlic. They’re such easy crops, and they store really well in the fridge. During the summer, I’m always overwhelmed with produce that must be eaten NOW, so when I harvest these crops, I’m always grateful for their long storage capabilities!
Onion & Garlic Harvesting 101:
When the leaves (“tops”) have mostly died back (turned mostly brown…no longer green and growing…though there may still be some green in a few of the leaves), pull or dig the onions or garlic out of the garden. (Click here to find out exactly when to harvest your garlic.)
Thoroughly wash off any clinging soil.
Put your harvest into baskets in one layer — so that air can circulate around them — and leave them in a shed, garage, or on a covered porch for 2-3 weeks. Make sure neither water nor animals can get to them. After 2-3 weeks, cut off the dead leaves and inspect each onion for softness or mold. Expect to lose about 10-20% of your harvest to softness or mold. Transfer the rest into a bag in the fridge (or wherever you store your onions & garlic).
Harvest garlic & onions when tops have mostly turned brown. Put them into baskets in one layer (unlike the picture above!) and leave in a sheltered, outdoor place for 2-3 weeks to "cure."
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