Easter Grass

I had been wanting to try to grow our own "Easter Grass" for the past two years, and finally I am doing it this year. The reasons for doing so, are that we can  not stand the fake plastic grass that gets everywhere, and want a more sustainable natural method of decorating the kid's Easter baskets. They were very excited to grow grass for their baskets, and helped fill the little tray with soil and put down a layer of wheat berries and then sprinkle them with water. We currently have a 5 gallon bin of wheat that we intend to grind into flour, so I was able to steal a few handfuls to use for the Easter baskets. Below is picture of the wheat six days later.

Irrigation System

This spring I decided to expand my irrigation system with a micro sprinkler system. It is by the same brand as the drip irrigation system that I installed last year for my potted plants in my patio, and connects to the timer. For the last few years I had been using a soaker hose for the non-potted plants, but been having to replace the hoses pretty much every year. So when I was going to buy a new one for this year, I started looked at other options, as the base system for the micro sprinklers is slightly more than twice as much than the soaker hose, I decided to try it, with the thought that this will last me much longer than the soaker hoses had been, and will be cost effective in the long run. I have been happy with the level of control that this gives me. I can adjust the amount of water getting to different plants in ways that the soaker hose never allowed. We'll see how it does in the heat of the summer.

Blueberries

 Last summer our then two year old blueberry bushes gave us over 2 pounds of measured berries (there were many that never made it to the scales, as they went straight into the mouths of Antonio and Julia Belén). It was a joy to have the bushes in our yard.

The kids really got excited about going out and checking the bushes, and watching the progress of the berries, watching as the grew in size, and turned from green to a nice dark rich blue. Once the berries were ready, we had a few weeks where the kids would constantly take little breaks from playing and you would find them elbow deep into the bushes picking juicy snacks.

Natural Sugar Snap Pea Supports

First, I apologize for the lack of posts. We have been very busy lately with the birth of our third child, but I intend to get into the habit of posting more. This past weekend we started our working on our spring garden. Antonio and Julia Belén helped me put together the supports for the sugar snap peas we had soaking from overnight. We used the trimmings from our hydrangea bush that I had purposely kept for this very reason. I like the natural look the exhibit, as well, can't beat the fact that they are free. After we put the branches into the raised bed, and I tied off the tops, the kids sowed the peas for me, the plants may end up coming up in clumps, as Julia Belén didn't quite understand the concept of the spacing, but she at least kept the peas in their correct squares in the raised bed.

Carrots

This weekend we finally decided to harvest the rest of the carrots we had in the raised bed. Antonio and Julia Belén were very excited, as they both remember sowing the seeds and were able to watch them grow, (also doesn't hurt that Curious George grew carrots as well). We harvested almost 36 ounces. The carrots taste wonderful, both Julia Belén and Antonio can't get enough of them.

Wintersown.org Seeds

I am excited about the seeds we received from Wintersown.org this past weekend. I guess as a thanks for sending them some seeds I had collected from my tomato plants, they fulfilled my request with my 6 choices and my 4 alternates. And then for good measure included an ornamental pepper and Basil 'Napolitano Bolloso' seeds. Here is a list of what I received in my self addressed, stamped envelope.


Tiny Tim ~ Abundant, yum red cherries on dwarf plants, nice for containers and planters, DET, 58+ DTM

MoneyMaker ~ Good cropper for hot and humid regions, has quite tasty red fruits, most about 4 ounces, IND, 75+ DTM

Great White ~ Large creamy-white heirloom beefsteak, beautiful and delicious, large plants, IND, 85 DTM

Gartenperle ~ Dwarf plants crop loades small red cherries, novelty for containers and baskets, DET, 75+ DTM

Golden Cherokee ~ Delicious bicolor version of Cherokee Purple, nice fruit set, can weigh over 8 ounces, IND, about 80 DTM

Cuore di Bue ~ Italian oxhearts can weigh eight ounces, excellent flavor, yum for slicing or sauce, IND, about 80 DTM

Alternates:

Bradley ~ Makes loads of 10 ounce red fruits, fine for fresh eating and nice canning type too, Semi-DET, about 80 DTM

Indiana Baltimore ~ 1930s farm variety produces loads of oblate scarlet-red fruits, reliable and yum cropper, IND, 75+ DTM

Islea ~ Venezualan variety crops loads of ruffled, oblate, dark pink-to-red fruits, juicy and yum, IND, 75 DTM

Azoychka ~ Lemon-yellow beefsteaks can weigh about a half-pound each, crops early and has great flavor, IND, 70+ DTM

Last Harvest Before Frost

We are expecting our first frost tonight, with it dropping into the upper 20's by Saturday night. So this evening Antonio, Julia Belén and I went outside to harvest all the remaining tomatoes. We brought in 162.4 ounces.

While we were in the garden Antonio recognized the carrot tops protruding from the soil, so he pulled out two that looked ready. And Julia Belén was very excited to bring them into the house.