Rhubarb

Posted on June 3, 2013 by Durgan

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?GPTFT 3 June 2013 Rhubarb
The rhubarb from six plants was pulled and made into juice, mixing with one pineapple to ameliorate the sour flavour somewhat.The stalks were cut into short pieces, about two litres of water added to the pot containing one pineapple and cooked for about 15 minutes. The cooked mixture was blended using the hand tool to make the mixture homogeneous.Rhubarb is very sour and the pineapple helps modify the sour flavour.I don’t use crystal sugar or its substitutes.The cooked mixture was put through a food mill to separate out the rough cellulose. The output of the food mill was put through a Champion Juicer to extract all the nutrients.Seven litres was pressure canned at 15 minutes at 15 PSI, my typical procedure for long term storage. About two litres was stored in the refrigerator for immediate use. The total rhubarb used was 15 pounds and the pineapple was four pounds. Each litre of juice contains about 1.5 pounds of rhubarb.

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Bird Protection

Posted on June 1, 2013 by Durgan

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?DLUUZ 1 June 2012 Cherry Tree Cage Bird Protection
Bird Protection.A cage was built 8 by 8 by 12 feet tall covered with chicken wire and roof was fibre glass screening.The birds devastate the cherries without protection. The choice was simple either remove the tree or add protection. The tree is completely enclosed and there is a 4 by 4 foot entrance.

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Okra

Posted on May 31, 2013 by Durgan

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?HWRZY 29 May 2013 Okra
These 7 okra (Clemson spineless)(AKA lady’s fingers, bhindi or gumbo) plants were purchased in flats and put into individual pots in the greenhouse for about two weeks to strengthen the root structure. Okra requires warm temperatures and in my area June meets this condition.The okra was planted without disturbing the roots,then the row was heavily mulched with wood chips, as is all the garden.The area selected is along the board containing the garlic, and gives some extra heat, which okra thrives on. Okra seeds can be directly sown with good results if weather conditions are adequate in my zone 5.I use the pods, with most of my juice preservatives, which are very tender if picked about four inches in length.

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Corn

Posted on May 26, 2013 by Durgan

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?PKFJY 30 May 2013 Corn planted. Seneca Horizon and Seneca Arrowhead
Remainder of corn germinated and was planted under a raised board.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?OQZIL 29 May 2013 Planting Corn
About 50 kernels of Seneca Arrowhead corn was planted using the board method. The spacing was about eight inches under a raised board.The kernels were starting to sprout covered in a wetted Kleenex. Some kernels have not sprouted so will be given more time and planted later.The planting board was raised slightly with cross pieces, and will be removed when the plants emerge.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?HLTTE 26 May 2013 Preparing Corn Bed.
A sweet corn bed was prepared by fertilizing with compost and some Urea(Nitrogen). The rows were marked with boards and the area was covered with mulch.The corn seeds are now being soaked until they sprout then will be planted under the boards. The boards serve two purposes. They keep the seeds damp and prevent birds from stealing the seed corn. The corn chosen is Seneca Arrowhead and Seneca Horizon. About 80 plants will be grown. A small patch should be relatively compacted as shown to have good pollination as opposed to row growing.

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Tehranivee Cherry

Posted on May 26, 2013 by Durgan

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?DLUUZ 1 June 2012 Cherry Tree Cage Bird Protection
Bird Protection.A cage was built 8 by 8 by 12 feet tall covered with chicken wire and roof was fibre glass screening.The birds devastate the cherries without protection. The choice was simple either remove the tree or add protection. The tree is completely enclosed and there is a 4 by 4 foot entrance.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?SPBZF 26 May 2013 Bing Cherry
There is one cherry tree in the garden. It was planted in 2007, purchased in a pot from a nursery. It is named Tehranivee Cherry. The fruit is abundant this year. In 2012 frost killed all the buds and there was no cherries within miles.I have had three relatively good harvests and the quality is excellent. The birds wreak havoc on the cherries,particularly robins.A chicken wire net will be installed.
Tehranivee Cherry
A new mahogany coloured self fertile sweet cherry with black-red juice. Tehranivee has excellent flavor as well as size, sweetness and firmness.Bred by famed Canadian researcher Gus Tehrani, it was released in 1996, from the Vineland Ontario Station and is a cross of Van and Stella. This beauty will be a winner for American home orchardists.

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Cucumber

Posted on May 26, 2013 by Durgan

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?PHVUY 30 May 2013 Cucumbers planted outdoors
Four pots of cucumbers grown about six weeks in the greenhouse were planted outdoors. Roots of cucumbers should not be disturbed when transplanting, since it inhibits growth severely.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?YHEXF 26 May 2013 Preparing Cucumber Bed.
A cucumber bed was prepared for about eight plants now in the greenhouse. The area was rototilled, two wheelbarrows of compost added and rototilled into the underlying soil.Mulch was added as is my normal gardening practice. A trellis of two 4 by 8 concrete reinforcing wire three feet apart connected to five foot posts and tied with plastic ties was installed. The cucumber plants will be trained to the trellis. This system contains the plants and makes the fruit all green since none touch the ground.It is still too cool to place the plants outdoors. Cucumbers don’t grow if it is too cool.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?ZXGDP 16 April 2013 Cucumber.
Four pots of cucumber (National Pickling) were started in the greenhouse. Pictures depict the germination procedure.The plants will be placed in the outdoor garden about the end of May. This method gives the plant an early start, and cucumbers are harvested about a month earlier than seeding directly in the ground. Cucumber seeds germinate at a high temperature around 85F plus.When planting the roots are not disturbed, even if this means cutting the side of the pots.

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Snowball Bush

Posted on May 26, 2013 by Durgan

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?RCXIU 26 May 2013 Snowball Bush (Viburnum opulus ‘Roseum)
This year there is no sign of Viburnum beetle damage.The tree is flowering in all its glory.

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Honeysuckle

Posted on May 26, 2013 by Durgan

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?LIZVZ 26 May 2012 Honeysuckle(Lonicera tatarica)(Arnold Red)
This pretty shrub flowers yearly. There is no scent to the flowers. No bugs attack this plant. Very late blooming this year. Strictly ornamental.

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Potatoes

Posted on May 25, 2013 by Durgan

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?TMVNT 11 June 2013. Potato Growth to Date.
Potatoes are thriving in spite of very cool weather since planting. No Colorado Potato Beetles have been seen. Touch Wood.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?BNMTU 29 May 2013 Mulching Potatoes with wood chips
A perfect rain last evening and the soil is damp down to below the seed potato, consequently a perfect time to mulch the area. A lawyer of wood chips was applied about three inches thick.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?QLCXO 25 May 2013 Hilling Potatoes
My three rows of potatoes were hilled. There are 16 Russian Blue, 19 Viking and 16 Yukon Gold.The space between the rows was rototilled with the small Honda FG110 to loosen the soil and to hill around the plants. The valley created was filled with compost and raked smooth.The new tubers have about six inches of soil in which to develop.Later after a heavy rain the area will be heavily mulched with wood chips.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?FCTSE 12 May 2013 Yukon Gold Potatoes Growing
Yukon Gold potato row thriving.
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?AIAPG 18 April 2013 Planting Yukon Gold Potatoes
Nineteen Yukon Gold tubers were planted at 14 inch centres in the row and the rows are 20 inches apart.Depth is about five inches in a trench, and the tubers are covered with about three inches of soil. Each tuber was marked with a wooden sick. No more fibre rods left. This facilitates digging, and established a focus point when watering using the Magic Water Wand. As the potatoes grow they will be hilled and mulch will be added. Expectation is six pounds per plant. These tubers were quality purchased seed potatoes.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?ZXSDU 12 May 2013 Viking Potatoes Growing
The row (17 Plants) of Viking potatoes is growing well.It has been cool with adequate rainfall.
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?OOVNX 18 April 2013 Planting Viking Potatos
Nineteen Viking tubers were planted at 14 inch centres in the row and the rows are 20 inches apart.Depth is about five inches in a trench, and the tubers are covered with about three inches of soil. Each tuber was marked with a fibre rod. This facilitates digging, and established a focus point when watering using the Magic Water Wand. As the potatoes grow they will be hilled and mulch will be added. Expectation is four to six pounds per plant. These tubers were excellent quality purchased seed.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?GNWBT 12 May 2013 Russian Blue Potatoes Growing
The row of Russian Blue potatoes are growing well in spite of the cool Spring. No bugs to date.
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?BRNRE 18 April 2013 Planting Black Russian Potato (aka as Russian Blue)
Nineteen Black Russian tubers were planted at 14 inch centres in the row and the rows are 20 inches apart.Depth is about five inches in a trench, and the tubers are covered with about three inches of soil. Each tuber was marked with a fibre rod. This facilitates digging, and established a focus point when watering using the Magic Water Wand.As the potatoes grow they will be hilled and mulch will be added. Expectation is three to four pounds per plant. These tubers were excellent quality saved from my last year’s crop.

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Pak Choy

Posted on May 23, 2013 by Durgan

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?SBNXR 23 May 2013 Pak Choy
The flea beetle makes holes in the leaves. My defence is neem oil and insecticidal soap mixture.It eventually removed the flea beetle, but they still did much visual disfigurement of the leaves.
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?BPQFI 1 May 2013. Pak Choy 10 plants moved to outdoor garden.
The flea beetle attacks this plant, so they were sprayed with Neem oil in an attempt to defeat the attack.The plants did well in the greenhouse.
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?EBGPB 12 March 2013 Pak Choy. Germination Method
Eight Pak Choy seeds were planted. The seeds were wetted on a Kleenex for 48 hours so the seeds just sprouted, then planted in small containers and placed in a plastic bag until germination. The containers were placed on a heating pad in the greenhouse. The plants will be placed in the outdoor garden in the first week of May.

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