I heart swiss chard, it's mild, hardy and rainbow colored. I have heard it is essentially a "beetless" beet. Which is pretty cool, dude.
Overview:
Swiss chard is a genial sort, it can get through cold times, and doesn't get chrochety during hot times. Can be harvested at any size.
Problems: Pests and regular issues that are usually due to poor growing conditions.
Planting: Direct sow two weeks after last frost, or can be started indoors.
Harvest: Whenever you like, good sir.
This year I am growing Five Color Silverbeet. Harvestable in 50-60 days. Min. soil temperature should be at least forty degrees before planting.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Arugula Informant
It's rocket! I love just eating something often referred to as rocket. Who needs caffeine, right? Arugula is not the most popular in the house, it can be a bit peppery. But I do love it. In fact, I once had an arugula-intense phase. All salads and greens had to be ARUGULA. Now I have chilled, but we are still friendly-like.
Overview:
Arugula is a tough bastard, and can be put out as soon as the soil can be worked. Cold crop, will bolt in the heat, but flowers are also edible. Can be planted as a fall crop as well. Use scissors to cut leaves when harvesting. The hotter it is, the more bitter the greens will taste.
Plant:
As soon as soil can be worked and danger of a hard frost is gone.
Harvest:
Best when picked young. Re-plant every three weeks throughout the summer.
Self-seeding and hardy. Can harvest in 40-45 days.
Overview:
Arugula is a tough bastard, and can be put out as soon as the soil can be worked. Cold crop, will bolt in the heat, but flowers are also edible. Can be planted as a fall crop as well. Use scissors to cut leaves when harvesting. The hotter it is, the more bitter the greens will taste.
Plant:
As soon as soil can be worked and danger of a hard frost is gone.
Harvest:
Best when picked young. Re-plant every three weeks throughout the summer.
Self-seeding and hardy. Can harvest in 40-45 days.
Cucumber Infomatics
Ahh, the cucumber. I had one year where I was swimming in cucumbers! Because of my previously mentioned baby-eaten-brain, I did not think to pickle them. So I mainly put them on the counter to languish until they became pathetic, then they went in the compost. So I basically grew compost. Sometimes my husband comments that I buy a lot of compost as well, in the form of bagged salads and uneaten, mushy avocados. We have award-winning compost, it's fabulous. Anyway, I like a good cucumber, though aside from that one amazing year, the cukes have been a bit, eh. They come down with powdery mildew and then get really sad. So here is to 2011 - Year of the Cucumber (and the rabbit, so I have heard).
Overview:
Cucumbers like sun, but can survive in 4-6 hours of daylight. Prefer a wind protected area, and like being up by a heat absorbing wall. They like a lot of water, and can be bitter and scraggly if they don't get enough. Cukes will need even more water as the fruit begins to mature.
Probs: Powdery Mildew!! Ugh. And bleh. Good ways to avoid the powder plague: create good air circulation, and avoid soil drought. Also, a crazy disease called the mosaic cucumber virus, brought on by by pests. Rotate crops to confuse the little buggers. No potatoes nearby, please!
Planting - Start cukes indoors, two-four weeks before last frost. Transplant outdoors well after last frost, when temps are at least 75 degrees. Plant with compost, be careful with roots, and plant on grey day.
Harvest: Pick daily for best growth.
This year I am growing Japanese Climbing Cucumber. Fruits are 7-9" long and 3" in diameter. Plant will bear all season if consistently picked. 58-65 days for harvest.
Overview:
Cucumbers like sun, but can survive in 4-6 hours of daylight. Prefer a wind protected area, and like being up by a heat absorbing wall. They like a lot of water, and can be bitter and scraggly if they don't get enough. Cukes will need even more water as the fruit begins to mature.
Probs: Powdery Mildew!! Ugh. And bleh. Good ways to avoid the powder plague: create good air circulation, and avoid soil drought. Also, a crazy disease called the mosaic cucumber virus, brought on by by pests. Rotate crops to confuse the little buggers. No potatoes nearby, please!
Planting - Start cukes indoors, two-four weeks before last frost. Transplant outdoors well after last frost, when temps are at least 75 degrees. Plant with compost, be careful with roots, and plant on grey day.
Harvest: Pick daily for best growth.
This year I am growing Japanese Climbing Cucumber. Fruits are 7-9" long and 3" in diameter. Plant will bear all season if consistently picked. 58-65 days for harvest.
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