less than a week...

[camochef]

Hey guys,
Here we are, less than a week into winter and I've got the bug...bad! Garden catalogs are arriving daily, both in the mail and online. Not helping at all.
While December hasn't been bad here, so far. November was much worse, temperature wise, although we did see the sun back then. I think we've only had one sunny day this month, so far. Have had plenty of rain and I'm thankful it hasn't been snow. Winds have been extreme, to say the least.

I managed to till up gardens back in the fall, and hope to be able to till in leaves, if they ever dry out some. I don't know which I'm looking for more, being able to get back into the gardens or just looking for sunshine.
Hope everyone has a great gardening season ahead. I'm planning on much less tomatoes this year, but increasing my greens, especially spinach, squash, beans, and cauliflower and broccoli and yes, even Brussels sprouts. Of course more shallots and other alliums.
Have a great year ahead and enjoy!
Camo

[PaulF]

I have threatened to reduce the number of tomato plants several years in a row, but always end up with the maximum the garden space will hold. So many interesting varieties.... This year I am already a month ahead of usual and looking forward to the growing year. This year adding another watermelon.

[shelleybean]

Now that Christmas is over, I'm ready for spring! Trouble is, I have to get through January and February first. Yuk. Parsley can take a long time to germinate so I've sown that seed this week, but the rest will have to wait a while. I, too, am ready to get going on the 2015 garden!! The planning is half the fun, I think.

I devote the most garden space to tomatoes and beans, but I've decided to keep a year round bed for greens and a year round bed for root vegetables, too, now. When it's too hot for greens, I'll fill in with beans. I do a 3 year rotation with beans/greens, nightshade/okra, and cucurbits/root veggies.

Now I have collards, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, kale, escarole, beets, carrots, winter radishes. I keep hearing this winter will be as bad as last year and if that's the case, some of these things won't put up with that kind of cold. Last year only the kale really stood up well to it. I usually clear everything out in February and get a good layer of mushroom compost on all the beds and start over from scratch. I have another small bed with shallots in it and that's all that I'll keep into the new season.

I don't try nearly as many new varieties as I used to. When I find something that works well for me, I usually keep the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" attitude. I switch things up from season to season and I do try a few new things, but I go back to a lot of old favorites.

Good luck to all of us in the New Year!

[Labradors2]

I'm holding my breath and waiting for Camo to come out with his list of (only) TEN varieties that he plans to grow in 2015!!!!!

Linda

[Sun City Linda]

Originally Posted by Labradors2

I'm holding my breath and waiting for Camo to come out with his list of (only) TEN varieties that he plans to grow in 2015!!!!!

Linda

Aint THAT the truth!

[camochef]

Originally Posted by Labradors2

I'm holding my breath and waiting for Camo to come out with his list of (only) TEN varieties that he plans to grow in 2015!!!!!

Linda

Linda,
I've already tilled what is going to be 2015's tomato garden. Got that done back in the fall. Its what used to be garden #2, and hasn't had anything planted in it for a few years now. Looking at it, I think it will hold more than 10 tomato plants.
Therefore, I will plant some of my favorites such as Cowlick's Brandywine, Brandywine-Glicks, German Johnson-Benton strain, and that German Johnson-Benton strain unknown black cross, which I suspect to be a Bear Creek cross. Also Bear Creek, and that Cherokee purple that I brought back last year. Can't leave out DDR. That's seven!
I also want to plant some that Darlene sent my way, which include:Margaret Curtain, Rebel Yell, Weisnicht's Ukranian, Not Purple Strawberry, and a few others she recommended. Depends on the amount that will fit in whats been worked up.

Garden #1, the old tomato garden will be devoted to Spinach, Beans, Squash, Cauliflower, Broccoli, Brussels Sprout, Alliums and whatever other seeds I get between now and spring. I'm hoping that a lot of last falls spinach will over-winter but planning on buying much more spinach seeds. I've come to love fresh spinach as much as tomatoes.
Those growing spinach, remember to prime your seeds before planting, it makes quite a difference.
Enjoy!
Camo

[peppero]

Camo exactly what is meant by priming? Presoaking?

jon

[camochef]

Originally Posted by peppero

Camo exactly what is meant by priming? Presoaking?

jon

Jon,
Here's some info I posted last week:

Fall spinach requires a bit more effort than spinach planted in the spring. it's best to prime your seed before planting.

About a week before planting, soak spinach seeds in room temperature water for 24 hours. Place the wet seeds on a paper towel, and allow to dry at room temperature for a day or two. Shift the seeds to an airtight container, and keep in a cool place for up to a week. (not the refrigerator.) The primed seeds will retain enough moisture to complete the first two stages of germination. After planting, primed spinach seeds germinate in only 5 days, compared to 10 or more days, for seeds straight out of the packet.
Good Luck and enjoy!
Camo

[b54red]

Camo I used to go through all kind of steps to get spinach seed to germinate but since I started using Ultrasorb I have had no trouble getting near 100% germination. I just fill up the cells in an egg carton with Ultrasorb and then set the trays in water to moisten the DE. Oh yeah, don't forget to poke some holes in the bottoms of the egg carton cells so the water can penetrate and they can drain later. I then place two or three seeds in each and cover with a thin layer of the Ultrasorb and when it is moist I place a sheet of plastic wrap over it and take them out of the water tray. The spinach usually germinate in 3 to 7 days. I then remove the plastic and allow them to develop until I can see which seedling looks the best and then thin out all but one per cell. After they have been up about a week I feed them with a dilute fertilizer and when they are large enough I just scoop them out of the egg cartons with a spoon and transplant into the ground.

Camo I also had a cross with some type of black tomato with my German Johnsons last year and had two plants that produced a light black tomato. It was my best tasting tomato this past season so I saved the seed and hope it will grow out true this year.

Bill

[crazyoldgooseman]

I get about 40% germination on my spinach planting directly in the garden so I really appreciate the hints on getting it up faster and better.

As far as greens, I normally have spinach, bright lights swiss chard, bok choy, kale and turnip greens. This year I will adding sunflowers to the garden and maybe some cotton and tobacco just to see what it looks like.

As far as tomatoes this year I will be growing Cowlicks Brandywine, Suddith's Brandywine and KBX for slicers for our tomato and mayo sandwiches, and San Marzano Redorta, Costuluto Genovese, and Romas for sauce. This year we have 22 gallons on sauce frozen.( I am even thinking of buying bulk pasta.) We eat a lot of deer meat, pasta and greens and sweet corn when we have it.

I have to agree after Christmas I'm ready for spring also. And yes those darn catalogs don't help at all. I got my seeds already, organza bags to bag blossoms to save seed and I am waiting on my 1000ft of drip line from UPS. And now I wait........................................... I may do a fall/winter till this week if the weather is dry enough.

Its been a good year and I have a good wife that puts up with me.

[camochef]

Originally Posted by b54red

Camo I used to go through all kind of steps to get spinach seed to germinate but since I started using Ultrasorb I have had no trouble getting near 100% germination. I just fill up the cells in an egg carton with Ultrasorb and then set the trays in water to moisten the DE. Oh yeah, don't forget to poke some holes in the bottoms of the egg carton cells so the water can penetrate and they can drain later. I then place two or three seeds in each and cover with a thin layer of the Ultrasorb and when it is moist I place a sheet of plastic wrap over it and take them out of the water tray. The spinach usually germinate in 3 to 7 days. I then remove the plastic and allow them to develop until I can see which seedling looks the best and then thin out all but one per cell. After they have been up about a week I feed them with a dilute fertilizer and when they are large enough I just scoop them out of the egg cartons with a spoon and transplant into the ground.

Camo I also had a cross with some type of black tomato with my German Johnsons last year and had two plants that produced a light black tomato. It was my best tasting tomato this past season so I saved the seed and hope it will grow out true this year.

Bill

Bill,
I'm not familiar with Ultrasorb, but whatever works, is the way to go. I thought that priming spinach seed was a great improvement, without any additional expenses and made a significant improvement on fall planted crops.
I'm especially interested in seeing what happens with my German Johnson-Benton Strain x unknown black cross. It was the best tasting tomato last year, from among ALL my favorites, and it had some stiff competition.
This year it will be going against the very best of them again plus some of Darlene's favorites that she sent me seed from. Looking forward to trying Margaret Curtain and Rebel Yell, as well as a few others that she sent.
Good Luck with yours, and may we both be happy with our results.
Enjoy!
Camo

[camochef]

Originally Posted by crazyoldgooseman

I get about 40% germination on my spinach planting directly in the garden so I really appreciate the hints on getting it up faster and better.

As far as greens, I normally have spinach, bright lights swiss chard, bok choy, kale and turnip greens. This year I will adding sunflowers to the garden and maybe some cotton and tobacco just to see what it looks like.

As far as tomatoes this year I will be growing Cowlicks Brandywine, Suddith's Brandywine and KBX for slicers for our tomato and mayo sandwiches, and San Marzano Redorta, Costuluto Genovese, and Romas for sauce. This year we have 22 gallons on sauce frozen.( I am even thinking of buying bulk pasta.) We eat a lot of deer meat, pasta and greens and sweet corn when we have it.

I have to agree after Christmas I'm ready for spring also. And yes those darn catalogs don't help at all. I got my seeds already, organza bags to bag blossoms to save seed and I am waiting on my 1000ft of drip line from UPS. And now I wait........................................... I may do a fall/winter till this week if the weather is dry enough.

Its been a good year and I have a good wife that puts up with me.

Good Luck with all that your planting this coming season.
I've been growing Cowlick's Brandywine, along with Brandywine Sudduth's and Brandywine-Glicks and various Brandywine Crosses for the last 8 years or so, ever since I discovered Cowlick's Brandywine, and have finally decided to eliminate Brandywine- Sudduth's from the coming years garden. Not that it isn't a tasty tomato, for it is...but it's production doesn't compare to Cowlick's. Brandywine. Glicks falls in between the two.
The past few years has seen major reductions in my amount of tomato plants grown, going from hundreds each year to just 41 last year. That requires me to eliminate many favorites. That's what happened to both Kelloggs Breakfast and the potato-leafed KBX. Both tasty tomatoes also, but...I've found better tasting and more productive over the years.
Last year I brought back a Cherokee Purple after having eliminated it for a number of years. It was the best tasting tomato among my favorites, until I tasted that first German Johnson-Benton Strain x unknown black tomato cross. Best tasting tomato yet! Not just my opinion, but also that of my friends.
Now the original German Johnson R.L. was already a yearly winner in the past, as was the grafted German Johnson P.L. the following year, but neither one compared to this unknown black cross. I guess my point is, there's always something better to try out there. Even something that had been eliminated in the past.
I did away with paste tomatoes years ago. Always a problem with BER. My best tasting sauce ever was a blend of Cowlick's Brandywine and Cherokee Purple canned years ago. It may take a little longer to cook down, but not only better tasting, but also produces much more sauce.
Just some opinions from an old man who grows less tomatoes now than he ever did. The important thing is to keep growing! Then form your own opinions.
Enjoy!
Camo

[AlittleSalt]

Originally Posted by camochef

Hey guys,
Here we are, less than a week into winter and I've got the bug...bad! Garden catalogs are arriving daily, both in the mail and online. Not helping at all.

Camo

I know what you mean. I just spent the past few days picking and choosing through the Baker's Creek catalog. After adding varieties and taking some off my list - I've come up with $31.75 worth of seeds to order. The most different named variety I chose is a pepper called, "Paradicsom Alaku Sarga Szentes". I think I'll abbreviate it and call it the "PASS pepper".

[Tomato Beth]

Well camochef, I live only about 30-ish miles east of you, and yesterday I told hubby "Honey, less than 3 months til I can plant peas!!" I have have some herb pots and a mandevilla in the bow window and a dwarf Meyer lemon inside overwintering. In a few more weeks, I'll be able to start some of the pepper and tomato seeds from all the trades I participated in this fall. I bought a number of bean, pea, and herb seeds already since I wanted to make sure to get the varieties I really wanted. Last spring, I waited too long and too many places were sold out. Not this year, though!

I probably will make up some homemade seed tapes for the beets and carrots during January. That might hold off the cabin fever a little while longer.

[camochef]

Tomato Beth,
I guess that puts you just this side of the river. Weather should be very similar. I finally got to mulch up all the leaves that had come down this past month, too much wet weather to get it done sooner. Anyway, I filled all three compost bins, and still have plenty to pick up. It at least gives me something to do besides cooking and baking in the kitchen.
Also shows me how out of shape I've become the past few months since cleaning off the gardens.

I'm hoping for an early spring this year, after all we had more winter-like weather in November than we did in December this year. We're due for an early spring. Or is that just wishful thinking on my part?

Hoping you have a very successful season ahead, whenever things get growing again.
Enjoy!
Camo