OmahaJB's 2010 Garden Journal

[OmahaJB]

Hi all. Wasn't planning on creating a journal this year, but what the heck. Since I'm hoping for much better results with improved soil, composted cow manure and MG garden soil, plus some grow bags filled with good container soil, I may have better results to write about this season. Plus, keeping a journal helps me to refer back to dates of transplant and other things I might want to reflect on.

BTW, I'm posting this here because this thread would get buried too quickly in the general discussion area, and I've started everything from seed, except for the rhubarb I bought this year. The variety is Valentine, a variety I'm excited to grow, based on the description of it. Last year I started Victoria rhubarb from seed, and can see it's already looking good this year, much better than it's first year for obvious reasons. I'm worried about the Valentine roots as I received them about a month ago, so not sure they have survived. Will be planting them this week, probably Tuesday. Various reasons for not planting out sooner.

Besides my Victoria rhubarb looking good, I have about 50 or so head of garlic growing. Both hard and soft neck types. This year will let them go an extra week or two. Last year probably dug them out a week early. They weren't as big as they could have been, but that was partially from inadequate soil. Will most likely be a problem this year as well. Goal this year is to greatly improve the soil in all growing areas. Cost is a hinderance, but slowly taking care of it.

Almost forgot, daylilly plants are looking really good. Hoping for flowers by mid-summer for the first time. Started them from seed last year.

And my two alpine strawberry plants are filling out and looking great. Hoping I get the strawberries this year, rather than the critters.

This week will be transplanting a few pepper plants, and one dwarf project plant. Last year only had one pepper plant, and wanted many more. Peppers liven up so many dishes, even just as a topping on pizza. Just totally changes the flavor for the better. Had planned on more last year, but many of my seedlings died, including most tomato and pepper.

Thanks to "Mom" here on Mother's Day. Last year she wanted nothing to do with the seedlings, but this year she has been helping a great deal. I transplanted many of the peppers and one tomato into 8" plastic cups, took them to her house, where for the past two or three weeks she has been taking care of them. Even puts them outdoors a few hours a day so they can harden off.

Yesterday I drove many of the tomato seedlings over there for her to set by her window. Not convinced they'll get enough light, but can't keep them here. This time of year mold spores kill them. As I explained in last year's journal, my apartment sits halfway underground, and has poor air circulation even with the windows opened and a small fan on. Don't have problems until usually late April and worse yet in May. Anyways, thanks to her efforts the seedlings may be saved. There has been some damage but I'm hoping I got them out of here in time. The tomatoes need probably another 2 weeks before being transplanted. Got a little bit of a late start. But considering we may have frost tonight I don't mind transplanting a little late.

Off the top of my head, a few of the varieties I can remember that I'm growing:

Eggplant: Diamond, Rossa Bianca

Peppers: Blockbuster, Socrates X3R, and others I can't recall off the top of my head. Will write the names down when I transplant.

Tomatoes: Black Cherry, Boronia F5 dwarf project), Brandwine (both Cowlick's & Sudduth), Toedebusche Pink (have to check the spelling), Emma Pink, 'Not' Emma Pink F2 (outstanding taste), Pattiewhacker (large red cross from PattyB), Stump x Guido (Only one germinated this year, after losing all last year before plant out. Really want this to survive to see what it gives. It wasn't one of my 13 strongest that I took over to my mother's, so is still in danger of getting hit with mold spores.), and others I can't recall off hand. Actually had a couple each of Cowlick's and Sudduth Brandywine. Expecting big things from those two.

Cucumber: Only started Delikatesse this year. Not crazy about cucumbers. Like pickles but don't plan on pickling, so why bother really. Planting this one just to see how they taste. Last year I think poor soil hurt my cucumbers like it did everything else. Poona Kheera was the only productive variety I had.

Squash: Very much looking forward to having success with both squash & melons. Something that did not happen last year. Started some indoors, but also will be direct seeding to see what works, if either does for me. Musquee De Provence and Amish Pie are the two I've focused on so far.

Melons/Watermelons: Ali Baba, Charentais, Cream of Saskatchewan, Orangeglo, and Petit Gris de Rennes (or something like that). So far the old seed I have for Ali Baba and Orangeglo have not germinated. The Charentais seed was just purchased yesterday, but the other two varieties have germinated.

I did start 'peach' dahlia from seed sent to me by PattyB. The seedlings are doing well. I'll chose a garden spot carefully as they get loaded up with constant visitors of bumblebees, hornets or wasps, bees, and others I'm sure that are equipped with 'stingers'. They didn't bother anyone last year that I know of, but would prefer planting them a ways from the garden.

Have sunflower seeds for Mammoth Russian. Started a couple from seed but think they'd be better off direct sown.

Can't say that's all I'll try growing. I have some early squash varieties a kind trader sent last year, that would be smart to grow. Problem is I only have so much space. But we'll see. I'm really thinking about overdoing it with Charentais melon hoping some grow for me, but then I think of everything I have to make room for. And I haven't even talked about growing pumpkins for the youngest great-niece and nephew for Halloween!

Well, once I transplant I'll post for recordkeeping's sake.

Could be alot of changes in my life this year, including a job change, so gardening will give me somewhere to escape to and find peace.

With luck we'll get enough tomatoes to can, and peppers to freeze some to use next winter.

Good luck everyone with your gardens! Now, I need to actually get to work on preparing the garden soil this week. It's one thing to talk about it.....and another to get off my rear and get to work.

Jeff