Todd's Garden at GardenStew.com

Asparagus..... the journey begins

Todddumke1 — Wed, 14 May 2008 21:17:02 -0400

Author: Todddumke1
Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 1:17 am (GMT 0)

to grow asparagus, is to make a long term commitment. I, for some strange reason, have decided to embark on this idealistic journey. It is a seemingly simple decision; I really really like really fresh asparagus, I really like to garden. Looks good on paper, let's launch the new plan in two weeks. The confident, adventurous gardener that I am, I could use a good challenge. and oh the benefits of harvesting a few weeks worth of the most tender, succulent spears a man could ever hope for.
I will surely enjoy reading this in a year or two, when I may find myself cursing the very thing I was once wishing for.
here are some of the very first sprouts of the very first year. and then a few shots of the rest of the spring garden.
I think i will do a couple different things to control weeds. First. since this part of my garden is the least fortified with any mulch, compost or the like, I will plant a living mulch - clover. I will build up the rows and bed them up a little bit as the plants get bigger. finally use straw to help as well.

may garden work

Todddumke1 — Tue, 06 May 2008 12:11:33 -0400

Author: Todddumke1
Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 4:11 pm (GMT 0)

This could possibly be one of the prettiest over all spring seasons I can remember. The south is notorious for moving from winter right into summer!! this yeas it has been cool, it has rained regularly at least once a week for the last month or so, with each rainfall bringing at least an inch or two at a time.
that being said it makes for a very beautiful and healthy spring garden!!! i love digital photography!! take as many pictures as you want, delete then ones that don;t come out good and the rest make for great blog shots!! here are some of my lettuces

this is going to be a favorite here!! freckles Romaine is the variety!!

I hope to update you soon with more good news! i was given some asparagus crowns, i planted 4- 25 ft rows!!! the weed control may be tough since it will be organically grown.
i also planted 24 tomatoes this past weekend. 18 San marzano- a paste variety for sauce!! 4 "Cherokee" purple 2 "brown berry" black cherry tomatoes.

Last year I made a blog entry for my giant pumpkin initiative. I managed to kill them all. I am pretty sure i over watered the plants. the funny thing is, I grew amazing long Island variety pumpkins out of my compost pile. where i had composted some rotten ones the previous year. the ones that grew out of my pile I never watered, never did anything to, as a matter of fact I walked over stepped on and broke off many of the vines because they were in the way. So this year I replanted "Dill's Atlantic giant". and I am planning on not doing too much with it.
let it go and see what happens!!
onto other more light hearted things more pictures!!!
including my herb garden which is in its third year.

carrots

herb garden pictures

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

On strawberry Jam

Todddumke1 — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 00:10:11 -0400

Author: Todddumke1
Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 4:10 am (GMT 0)

today was a fun day! I processed 25 pounds of strawberries today. turning them into 17 pints , 2 half pints, and 1 quart jars. there were 18 pints, but one of them cracked in the water bath during processing. ( I have had that happen from time to time)
I got all my organic berries as "culls" the ugly ones the farmer picked out before packing them. he gave them to me after I ever so humbly asked him what he would do with the ugly ones.... and asked if there were any available.
and here we are.

I took a few photos of the process. I used pectin. I like the fact it cuts down the cooking time in half. I do see a value in not cooking the berries to death. they seem to taste better, and certainly the jam is not as dark.

here is my process, which is ever evolving. the last two times I made jam it came out syrupy. it was not thick enough for a Sandwich; which by the way is my real motivation for the Putting up of jam, my peanut butter sandwiches are so much better than when I use store bought jam. It is also quite good on oatmeal... but we cannot go on about its never ending usefulness..

recipe called for crushing the berries, to release some of the scant pectin in strawberries, I ran them through the blender lightly. chopped them a bit. It worked well and left me chunks of fruit.

It has been said.. do not rush the jam making process or double your recipe, it will adversely affect the setting of the jam. Easy solution, use two pots!!! if you can handle stirring two of them rapidly.

Looks like I got a good set this time! Follow the directions!! All components need to be in their prescribed proportions for a good "set".

look at all these jars!!! finished the day with 3 splatter burns on my hands and 2 gallons, 3 quarts all together. during the processing phase in the water bath, i lost one jar when the bottom cracked off as mentioned before.

this ought to get me through the year........ I hope!!!

CHEERS!!!! and happy berry season!!!!

spring 2008

Todddumke1 — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 20:22:11 -0400

Author: Todddumke1
Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 12:22 am (GMT 0)

It was exciting to get planted this spring.
My soil is far better now than when I found it. after a summer cover crop, and the application of 1/2 inch of home made compost. The dirt was dark and spongy when I Tilled it. Rain has been plentiful and the "drought" we had is in effect over, It wasn't as bad as most might have you believe. A good start, yes but to my dismay, the bugs have found me. I grow organically, no chemicals!! I don;t really even spray organic pest control. I may have to though.
This photo is of my Tatsoi. I love it, it's so buttery/smooth and sweet to eat. raw in salads, or lightly wilted on grilled ..... well, anything! Flea Beetles found me this year, I have never had to deal with them before.

this is one i deemed good enough to take a picture of. A total failure this year. But that's good, right. i grew it because i love the challenge of learning a new plant, how it will react to what i feel is good care. I have more seed, I'll try again this fall.

the next few shots are of the overall spring garden.
3 types of Beets
5 lettuce varieties
2 types of carrots
sugar snap peas which germinated poorly this year. perhaps 75%, which for 2 10 foot rows, is a bit much for my liking.
i am also trying salsify this year. its an annual that is harvested for its root. its called an "oyster plant" i have cooked with it before. its crunchy, mild, nutty. not unlike the texture of a water chestnut or a sun choke. the flavor isnt too much like either, however. it has germinated well and seems to be off to a good start.
i tried red onions from seed, may not be the best decision i have ever made. ive got a couple from the first planting, and maybe 10 from the second planting. perhaps a dozen total, in a 15 ft row.

the peppers and tomato seedlings are patiently waiting their turn.
more to come!!

on spring gardens and orchids

Todddumke1 — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 11:33:32 -0500

Author: Todddumke1
Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 4:33 pm (GMT 0)

early march and 70 degrees.. makes a fellow want to work the soil. i got my garden tilled this past weekend. it is looking good, this is my third year working this plot. after cover crops, composting and organic fertilizer, its is now looking more like good garden soil, rather than the red "martian" clay i turned over 3 seasons ago. I have a friends' greenhouse i use to start the early items. I have a few lettuces, tat soi, red onions, and heirloom variety of purple cauliflower ( Violetta italia) and an experiment of spring brussels sprouts , of which i do not expect much, as it gets too hot too fast around here. but hey i got 300 seeds so why not try 10 or so.

and now for something completely different........
my orhpan orchid has fully bloomed. 8 flowers this time!!! I would have never believed i could have gotten so many!!

happy gardening!!

WINTER 2008 AND ORCHIDS

Todddumke1 — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 11:21:50 -0500

Author: Todddumke1
Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 4:21 pm (GMT 0)

Well here we are in the supposed depths of winter in 2008. however here in the sunny south it is 75 today. which always makes me want to get started thinking about spring gardens.... so i just had to get a few seeds atarted yesterday. for a spring crop this year i have moved over to almost all "heirloom seeds" i am trying to grow varieties i have never grown before.
These will include "Violetta Italia " Cauliflower, a purple heading cauliflower, (of course when cooked it will turn green) i started some lettuces , romaine, and red deer tongue( butterhead variety) and some onions and Brussels sprouts.
the brussels are more of an experiment as it usually warms to quickly here in the southern US to grow them as a spring crop. but hey where is the harm in trying 8 plants to see what happens.

the ground is too wet to work over in my garden and I will be taking my soil samples to test the ground soon.
This past summer i cover cropped 75% of my garden with Rye and with field pea (forgot the name just now) and that has really added alot of spongy organic material to the soil.
onto a different topic. My orchid has bloomed for the second time in a year!!!! bot did i finally find the right place for this to live!!! here are some photos. all the blooms have not opened yet. when they do I will certainly post more photos. lastly i left the old growth stem from the last flowering period on the plant. I had heard or read that occasionally they re-bloom. Well they set 3 more flower buds on that stem. so far they are considerably smaller blooms, but since they aren't opened yet, hard to tell.
Happy Gardening!!!

peppers: a great variety

Todddumke1 — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 16:01:15 -0400

Author: Todddumke1
Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 8:01 pm (GMT 0)

i have begun harvesting my new favorite all around variety of peppers. the Corno DI Toro or "horn of the bull. i grew the red variety last year for fun. The plant was almost 5 feet tall and yielded what were the huge super sweet peppers, almost candy like sweetness. The largest pepper was over 9 inches long and 5 inches around. so this year i planted more...and added the yellow variety.. i set a ruler near the pictures for scale... yes that one is 8 inches long..

until next time!!!!

the WHOPPER 7/18/07

Todddumke1 — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 15:42:01 -0400

Author: Todddumke1
Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 7:42 pm (GMT 0)

i had to take some pictures of this tomatoes before i eat it all up!! i hope i was able to show the scale of the size of this tomato... 1 pound 7 ounces
biggest tomato I have ever grown.

ok so maybe this was a little over kill with the pictures and all.. but hey its awesome and i am hungry!!!
and you're jealous!!

over due update

Todddumke1 — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 15:25:16 -0400

Author: Todddumke1
Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 7:25 pm (GMT 0)

well now that sumer has hot full on. I guess a lot has changed. I have mowed and tilled the spring section of garden and planted a cover crop of cow peas and millet to suppress weeds and provide organic matter for the soil. i will then plant that in late AUG for fall lettuces and brussels sprouts and a couple other things.
here are some pictures from current gardening time
i am collecting seed from my spring lettuces this picture shows my butter head lettuces with flowers.

these next two shots are of tomatillos. my first venture with these, the plants are huge and covered with fruit.. very prolific and can't wait to make green salsa.

ohh yeah before i forget... the giant pumpkin project i blogged earlier..... dead!! they all died.. i have tried pumpkins twice here and both years they never made it... ohh well we try and try again....
until next time!!!! happy gardening

here are a couple shots of sunflowers i planted

tomatoes and the related troubles...
DR neal variety. this one yielded me a whopper!! 1 pound 7 ounce fruit...

the tomato patch

san marzanos..huge paste tomatoes... marinara here i come

its not all fun and games i got hit with a case of tomatoe spotted wilt virus. according to folks an insect transmits this disease and it has no cure..
here is what the stages look like
brown , black spots, yellowing leaves

then dying limbs

then the plant goes next

ohh well i lost 5 plants... but over planted so i still have many left.
few random other shots
watermelons

peppers galore again.... anaheims and Corno Di Toro

garden issues

Todddumke1 — Wed, 16 May 2007 14:44:30 -0400

Author: Todddumke1
Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 6:44 pm (GMT 0)

as promised from yesterday i have taken some photos to address my issues in the garden this year .
first ill show you how the cauliflower is coming along, i do not think it will mature at all this year, remember i lost 20 of 24 from the late freeze this year.
some is alive but not doing anything really..

my real concern this year however has been my tomato and peppers. i start my own seeds, they are well over a month old and very small , very yellow and sickly,

as you can see the one in the foreground above it nice an the one behind is a lil droopy

tomatillos are also in bad shape

this next shot if of my remaining peppers

these too are well over a month old and not ready .
this is my mainstay for my garden to make salsa and tomato sauce, this will be a hard pill to swallow if they fail.
so my early hypothesis is that i have bad soil. i bought a cheap potting mix. DON'T do it!!! i think it may be acidic and locking up nutrients.. i watered the remaining peppers with a mix of fish emulsion (SUPER STINKY) today. to see if i can help them along. the tomatillos and tomatoes i planted at that really small size, to see if they do better in my soil which i know is at least more balanced, due to my soil report this year. i hope they kick in and do well. i am babying them so they make it in the soil that early.
now for a lighter entry, the FUN STuff
here is my giant pumpkin mound

this is one of my best raddichio plants i love watching it grow, its pretty

i have been eating out of the lettuce patch all week!!!!

here is an overview of the spring section, beets, snap peas, carrots, lettuces

here is a better look at the beets and carrots, i hope to eat some this next week or two, not really ready...just yet... patience grasshopper!!!

i planted watermelon and my second corn plating this past weekend
corn patch here, first planting 2.5 weeks old, new planting 3 days old

the giant pumpkin initiative and other garden ventures

Todddumke1 — Mon, 14 May 2007 15:27:20 -0400

Author: Todddumke1
Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 7:27 pm (GMT 0)

Ok I have recently been biten with the grow a giant pumpkin bug. I purchased some "Dill's Atlantic Giant" pimpkin seeds, composted two mounds, and sewed the seeds on sunday, May 13th. I will post a record of my journey as well. I have read up on growing them. I would love to hear from any of you who have tried this in the past or are currently tryingto produce one. wow how involved will this venture be? huge I suppose. but fun I'm sure. There is a wealth of information from the heavy hitters in the giant pumpkin world out there... I grow organically and have to come to terms with the fact that these behemoths cannot be produced with out chemical pesticides at the very least.... one small vine borer and no biggie pumpkin!!
On a different note, I have been posting all these success storis as of late and have a few I will enter as my recent dissapointments or rather shall I say "realities" of gardening. I'll take some photos and share soon.

May 1st part 2

Todddumke1 — Tue, 01 May 2007 15:06:24 -0400

Author: Todddumke1
Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 7:06 pm (GMT 0)

almost forgot to mention that on April 29th i planted my first planting of Silver queen corn, yellow wax beans and Kentucky wonder pole beans.
second planting will go in in to weeks or so last year i had 145 ears of corn in one week. trying successional planting this year to enjoy it longer.

may 1st garden entry

Todddumke1 — Tue, 01 May 2007 14:37:49 -0400

Author: Todddumke1
Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 6:37 pm (GMT 0)

92 degrees here today... a far cry from the freeze three weeks ago. three days in the low 20's. i lost 20 out of 24 cauliflower plants, all my gold and chiogga beets, and snap peas were slowed to a halt. the peas have recovered somewhat. Here are some early pictures.
tall type "trevisio: radicchio

tomato starts

i am playing around with flowers from seed. this is an early germination of sunflowers, zinnia, coreopsis, cosmos and foxglove

second planting of lettuces, broadcast direct seeded, three weeks behind others.

early tomato plants

a couple of lone rangers after the freeze ( surviving cauliflower)

two weeks it is SALAD time

my second year on the perennial herb garden

3/15/07

Todddumke1 — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 14:32:51 -0400

Author: Todddumke1
Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 6:32 pm (GMT 0)

Holy cow 80 degrees today!!! new photos from my garden; these are of the drip irrigation i installed the other day.

the irrigation is for the beets, carrots and snap peas i planted this last weekend.
here are some seedlings i am hardening off to plant this weekend. lettuces, radicchios and cauliflower.

well here's to spring!!!! my word for the day is GERMINATION!!!!
happy growing

garden update

Todddumke1 — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 13:09:02 -0500

Author: Todddumke1
Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2007 6:09 pm (GMT 0)

i put 40# lime down, and 15 # all purpose organic fertilizer down yesterday and had the garden tilled in one more time. This weekend, (weather permitting) i will be direct seeding two varieties of carrots Thumbelina and Nantes. two varieties of beets, golden and Chiogga. for an experiment i will seed some salsify ( also known as oyster plant). and sugar snap peas. in a friends greenhouse i have cauliflower, 4 varieties of lettuces, which will include a galactic( red Lolla Rosa) butter head, green and red leaf varieties. i may if i have room try to plant some fennel. i also have two types of radicchio i am trying out this year for fun, they are the tall trevisio and the small round chiogga varieties.
Happy growing

Orphan Orchid photos

Todddumke1 — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 12:58:32 -0500

Author: Todddumke1
Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2007 5:58 pm (GMT 0)

here are the photos of my orphan rescued orchid that finally rewarded me with a flower this year. 3 years of TLC. looks like many more flower sites as well. hope you enjoy. If any orchid enthusiasts would care to share any tips or suggestions i am open to it.

orchid photos

Todddumke1 — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 15:41:05 -0500

Author: Todddumke1
Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 8:41 pm (GMT 0)

Orchid and friend

close up look at the detail of this flower!!

forgot my camera today..... I'll submit the pictures of my new blooming baby tomorrow!!!!

Orchids not veggies

Todddumke1 — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 13:58:38 -0500

Author: Todddumke1
Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 6:58 pm (GMT 0)

Ok so as I wait "patiently" for spring. i spent some quality time with my orchids over the winter. I have a short story to share.. a couple years ago (3) i saved a dying orchid from a dark office. the poor thing was yellowing, wilted and sad. i took it home, re potted it. and put it in a window. it lived... but thats about all it did. it would kick out new leaves and air roots. but nothing else. i am not even sure what kind it is. i moved it to my office at work, which has a south facing but rather drafty window. it has been doing well. especially since i never forget to water it since it sits directly in front of me a mere three feet away. well over valentine's day my sweety gave my a Hawaiian Orchid "Phaphiopedium" love song Variety. It is amazing. i put it with it the other yet to be named variety and low and behold the orphan orchid shot out a flower stem shortly there after. Today it opened i have a beautiful yellow/white orchid flower. my first orchid i have ever gotten to flower i am so excited...... I'll post photos for you to see very soon.

posting 06 garden pictures.

Todddumke1 — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 12:23:49 -0500

Author: Todddumke1
Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2007 5:23 pm (GMT 0)

i worked for two seasons gardening with uncleJabba who has a blog here. last year we worked our own gardens. i think i have figured out how to post pictures here. this is last years work.
Watermelons!!

corn and melon patch

yellow wax beans!!

lettuces

heirloom tomaotes!!

california wonders!!

more letuces with beets and carrots!

peppers

peppers and corn

January work

Todddumke1 — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 14:15:26 -0500

Author: Todddumke1
Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2007 7:15 pm (GMT 0)

This Garden was a filed of weeds and grass at the beginning of last year. i tilled it in the late winter with a reverse tine tiller and added 40 pounds of all purpose organic fertilizer, and 80 pounds of organic high calcium lime. I grew 3 varieties of lettuces, 2 of carrots, chiogga beets and forono beets. i added in early summer romano bean and yellow wax beans. also 7 types of heirloom tomatoes, 4 types of swete peppers, including my favorite.. the "corno Di Toro" awesome huge plants and peppers!! i grew a block of "peaches and Cream" sweet corn and watermelons. My only Failure was my pumpkins, which i started two weeks too late and the vine borers go to and ate!! This year i added 2 inches of leaf mulch and tilled it in. i currently have a late cover crop of Crimson clover and a patch of hairy vetch mixed with rye for the later crops. i have began composting my load of leaf mulch with old produce for some good green matter and a late season top dressing for the soil. will be starting seed in a gren house shortly and getting this years soil sample started. Here's to a great season!!
photos to follow once i figure it out.[/img]