http://www.durgan.org/URL/?QPBSG 30 May 2010 Self retracting clothesline.

Walking through a hardware store, I found what is the ideal string for making straight rows in a vegetable garden. The device is a self retracting clothes line. The string is about 3/16 inch in diameter, and quite strong. I did a sample run and found it to be most practicable.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?KXDQI 30 May 2010 Blackberry (thornless)

This is the third year for these two thornless blackberries, and the first full harvest is expected. The plants are loaded with flowers.There were many honey bees sampling the flowers, which were most welcome. The name was not on the cultivars when I purchased, so have no idea of the variety. A few berries were sampled last year and they were excellent in flavor and size. The trellis is two, 4 by 8 foot reinforcing concrete wires with six inch squares. The plants are well mulched, and I throw a five gallon of rainwater on the roots periodically.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?KXBWF 30 May 2010 Spiderwort (Tradescantia x andersonia)

I have three of these hybrid perennial plants in different locations. The pretty blue flowers have the appearance of eyes peering at you from a short distance. This plant can use almost any amount of water, but also does well with less. Flowers appear new each morning for about six weeks, and the vegetation is rich in appearance.
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?TBCCX 3 June 2010 Spiderwort (Tradescantia x andersonia) Tremendous growth after a heavy rain.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?XVMCM 29 May 2010 Weigela florida ‘Red Prince’

A very pretty shrub with attractive flowers and leaves. It needs regular watering – weekly, or more often in extreme heat. Hummingbirds are attracted to the flowers.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?QSKQL 29 May 2010 Summer Wine Ninebark Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Summer Wine’

This tree was purchased from a nursery and placed in the garden today. There was an ideal place for this tree, so not much effort was required. The pictures depict the tree and planting procedure. URL to details about this plant. http://www.durgan.org/URL/?YUSOP

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?HLBRW 29 May 2010 Lucy Rose Of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus ‘Lucy’)

The snowball bush in the front yard was dug out. and replaced with Lucy Rose of Sharon. I liked the snowball bush, but it has been attacked two years in succession by the viburnum leaf beetle, and was unsightly. Apparently this Lucy Rose of Sharon has red blossoms and is remarkably beautiful.The pictures depict the work accomplished, which might be of interest to some.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?DOOWG 27 May 2010 Coral Bells (Heuchera)

This pretty perennial flowers almost all summer. It is a pretty delicate flower, and the flower stalk is usually gently swaying to and fro.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?UUMBR 27 May 2010 Dame’s Rocket (Hesperis matronalis)

This non native wildflower is starting to bloom throughout the countryside.The dame’s rocket is similar to phlox, and many people confuse the two. Dames’ rocket flower has four petals, and phlox has five.The flowers have a wonderful odor, but the plant is considered an invasive species, and for good reason, since at this time of year it is everywhere.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?GCFUI 27 May 2010 American Pawpaw (Asimina triloba) Two trees are in the garden, planted three years ago, purchase with about three years of growth. Both appear to be doing well this year. There are many more leaves showing. One tree is in partial shade during part of the day, and the other is in full Sun.

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/proceedings1993/v2-505.html Details of this North American native fruit tree.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?THFRO 27 May 2007 Diatomaceous earth, This was purchased today at a Seed and Feed Supplier. Cost 13 dollars for 25 pounds.

This is a non toxic pesticide. http://eap.mcgill.ca/publications/eap4.htm Attribute URL
Probably the most effective naturally occurring protective powder is diatomaceous earth. This is a geological deposit made up of the fossilized skeletons and tests of siliceous marine and fresh water organisms, particularly diatoms and other algae. These skeletons are made of hydrated amorphous silica or opal. When crushed, they break up into tiny pieces of glass” (so tiny that the material feels like talcum powder). This is easily picked up by the hairy bodies of most Insects. whereupon it scratches through their protective wax layers; and they also absorb some of this material. the result being that the insects lose water rapidly . dry up and die Further protection is provided by the powder’s property of repelling many insects. A similar principle probably accounts for the fact that birds frequently take dust baths, presumably to rid themselves of parasites.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?DUARS 27 May 2010 Planting carrot seeds using the board method.

Carrot seeds are often hard to germinate for several reasons. Drying out, and temperature too high above about 28C. The board over the seeds keeps moisture present, and controls the temperature, particularly on a hot sunny day. Thinning will not be necessary, since some care is taken in placing the seeds in the traverse trenches. Watering is accomplished by can dispersal on top of the board, and allowing the water to trickle underneath. This can be checked by flipping the board for an inspection. The board will be left in place for about five days, then checked thereafter daily until germination occurs. Experience had indicated that carrots germinate under good conditions in about 11 days. The length of the row is 25 feet. The soil is almost perfect, fine and friable to about ten inches.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?DNJHE 3 June 2020 Carrots germinated in 8 days under the board

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?HNICR 26 May 2010 Columbine (Aquilegia)
Columbine is an early perennial, Spring flower and adds some color to the garden area.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?OUPZZ 26 May 2010 Bigleaf golden-ray Ligularia dentata ‘Othello’

The plant in full Sun protects itself by drooping and twisting the leaves. After the heat of the day and the Sun disappears, the plant returns to normal. It likes much water, which still has little to do with the drooping of the leaves. Later in the season it produces an orange flower cluster above the vegetation. It is grown mostly for the attractive large leaves. Snail and slugs eat holes in the leaves, and it is protected by spreading bait under the foliage. There are two plants in the garden.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?PCGHZ 26 May 2010 Shirley Poppy

This is the first Shirley Poppy for 2010. There are several growing at random throughout the garden. The delicate flower is always a welcome sight.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?CHJDW 26 May 2010 Juice.

The current mantra is to eat more fruit and vegetables. The fruit and vegetables chosen is whatever is available. Pineapple and melon are available year around in my area. The produce is prepared and blended with water to the consistency desired, mixed in a pot and blended again to make homogeneous. The finished product keeps well with no deterioration for about ten days in sealed containers in the refrigerator. A glass or two per day is consumed. Preparation time 40 minutes.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?EMUAN 25 May 2010 Hilling Potatoes

Potatoes were fertilized with compost between the plants in the small trench where they were planted. The soil between the rows was rototilled to loosen the soil and the surface area was smoothed over. The seed potato is covered with about six inches of soil. This will be the first and final hilling. After the next heavy rainfall the ground area will be covered about threes inches deep with wood chip mulch to retain moisture. Each potato plant was marked with a stake, since the vegetation is gone when digging and this will identify the center of the tubers. There are five varieties.Varieties are; Russian Blue, Agria, Viking, Alaskan Sweetheart, Chieftain.

This is a bit of an experiment with hilling and the addition of mulch. The new tubers will be weighed to ascertain the production per plant.

For reference here is how a potato plant grows.
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?ZELNG 21 August 2009 How a Potato Plant Grows The pictures literally speak for themselves. Clearly there is no advantage in carrying out excessive hilling when growing potatoes. The purpose of hilling is to insure the tubers are covered. Solanine is produced if potatoes are exposed to light. This is harmful if ingested, and is indicated by the tuber green color. The green is not solanine but chlorophyll.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?CFIAT 23 May 2010 Transporting Downspout Rainwater
Moving small quantities of rainwater can get tiresome carrying in five gallon pails. The two wheeled car in conjunction with a five gallon pail eases the burden. The lid on the five gallon pail eliminates spillage.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?QKICA 23 May 2010 Mixing Compost Heap

The compost consisting of all the vegetation accumulated from last year on 0.4 of an acre, plus grass clipping from three adjacent properties. This constitutes only about 3 cubic yards of finished compost. The vegetation is added as it is taken from the garden area and put through a chipper/shredder to make small pieces. No special efforts are taken as to layering. The rototiller makes stirring relatively easy. The material will be placed on the garden beds in the Fall.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?RJBGW 22 May 2010 Clematis (Multi Blue)

This clematis is on a raised bed, which was built when my garden area was a quagmire, before installing drainage trenches. Flowering seems to be about a week early this year. The plant needs little care, just a bit of top trimming in early Spring. Pruning was not done this year, since I was away and new growth had started, when I was available.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?GSXVO 22 May 2010 Planting Carrot Seeds
The type of carrot is Chantenay Red.
Carrot seeds require constant moisture and cool temperatures (Less than 80F or 27C) to germinate. The top layer of soil on a bright sunny day can exceed this temperature. Germination takes from about 11 to 22 days. Thinning carrot seedlings is not a pleasant chore and is very inefficient, since one is often pulling the desired more vigorous plant.

By enclosing the seed in s small piece of toilet paper and wetting, the seed is enclosed in a wet environment, and spacing is much easier to achieve. Adding the softwood bedding wood chips will prevent the soil surface from drying and getting excessively hot when the Sun is bearing down. I will be posting a follow-up on this method as to efficacy as time progresses.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?HIWAY 21 May 2010 Tomato Ring Support

The tomato ring is supported by half inch diameter rebar. Rings can be added as the plant grows, and at first look appears to be the best support that i have encountered, with minimum effort required. A ring was placed on each of the 21 tomato plants. This is the first year using this type of support. I have used all systems over the years, and all had various deficiencies.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?JMRZU Rings ordered from this site.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?XYJHY 21 May 2010 Snowball Bush (Viburnum opulus)
There are two shrubs in my yard. The one in the back yard is in full bloom, and has as beautiful appearance.. The one in the front yard was attacked by the Viburnum Leaf Beetle Pyrrhalta viburni, which devastated some leaves until it was sprayed with a contact insecticide (Malathion). These larvae are so numerous that a shrub can be skeltonized in about two days. This bug appeared in Canada about 1978.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?WMRTE 20 May 2010 Planting Tomatoes outdoors.

Twenty one tomato plants were removed from their pots an placed in the outdoor garden. The area was heavily mulched using chip bedding. The plants will be staked using rebar and the new type tomato support. The temperature today was sunny 26C and no frost is expected until the Fall.

This is the support which will be used this year. http://www.durgan.org/URL/?HSTRY New Type Tomato Plant Support

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?PACBL 19 May 2010 Preparing Small Seeds for Planting
The small seeds are wrapped in toilet paper, wetted and ready to plant. This makes spacing relatively easy, and the seeds have an envelope of moisture, probably enhancing germination. The sample seed is lettuce.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?MTQAO 19 May 2010. Test to determine quantity by weight of four Yukon Gold potatoes.

A box 4 by 4 feet by 11 inches high was made in ideal soil and location to determine the quantity of potatoes by weight that can be produced. Each plant has about a foot on each side to insure minimum crowding of the root system. The seed potato was planted just below ground level and covered with soil about two inches on top.

Soil was placed in the corners for the first hilling. After the first hilling the growing plant will be covered adequately with bedding wood chips until the end of the season.

This test is to establish by weight the quantity, and size quality of potatoes that can be grown in a small space.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?YJSOC 26 June 2010 Yukon Gold Potato Growth in 4 by 4 foot Test Box
The potatoes were hilled once and heavily mulched. A string was tied around the vegetation to keep upright. The premise being that the more vegetation exposed to the sun feeds the new tubers. This opposed to deep hilling and hiding the vegetation.