Farming Year Round

LAST BOUQUET OF THE YEAR - October 20, 2010




CIDER MAKING IN THE KITCHEN
(Which turned out to be a brilliant idea as it was a cold, windy day and the pressing went well into the evening.)



Yes, perhaps it is a bit slower around here lately. At least I know that I am moving slowly. After essentially taking October off to prevent farmer break down, I started regaining my energy and usual good spirits. Phew! And guess what? There was plenty to do around here once I got back on track!

It's been a busy November and December. Stacking wood, cider making, planting garlic, starting to plan the layout of next year's garden, tilling the garden (after fixing the tiller), cleaning out the chicken coop for the winter, saw a moose, and more. Yesterday I ordered my first batch of seeds so I will have my onion and leek seeds ready to plant in January. Today we plan on putting up the Christmas tree but already I have plans to put the seed starting shelves in the same spot once the tree is down. I am grateful and pleased to have my energy and stamina return. Also lucky that the ground stayed open and tillable/plantable so late this year. Also impressed and grateful to Robin for all the help he has given this fall. (Quite a few of the accomplishments listed above were actually the result of his efforts and interest. Thanks, Rob!!)

The fall garden was a delight. I didn't do anything special to keep things going but we still were picking lots of delicious mesclun well into December. Also spinach, daikon radishes, arugula, mustard greens, dill, cilantro, salad turnips. Plenty of encouragement to plant in August next year and put up some tunnels to keep the food going even longer. Spinach and garlic omelets were my favorite breakfast this fall. And the young hens started laying in earnest in September, giving us over 2 dozen eggs a day. The farm egg customer list expanded and so far, I have been able to provide eggs to all who want them. Made a cute sign, too.



EGGS FOR SALE!

Another really cool thing is that out of the blue a young woman who lives in Leyden called to volunteer to work at the farm on a regular basis next season. Hip Hip Hooray! Sarah is a fantastic person and it will be great to have her help and to get to know her better. Thank you, Sarah!!

The farming never stops. I love it.




PLANTING GARLIC FOR 2011
First planting for next year's harvest. 450 feet of garlic. New varieties: Deerfield and Phillips




LATE FALL MESCLUN - PLENTIFUL AND TASTY!
I'll be planting more of this in 2011 for sure.

CLICK HERE for more farm photos.

Garlic Curing

Somehow this makes me feel more like a real farmer:

Wedding Salad

Well, I did it! I managed to grow over 8 pounds of salad greens for the wedding tomorrow, as requested. And it was ready on the right day. Part planning, part experience, and part luck. I feel a lot more relaxed just knowing there are 8 pounds of greens all picked and washed and waiting in the frig. Tomorrow I will pick and wash some radishes and then it will time for the wedding!

Congratulations to Allison and Jan- Erik! I wish you joy and health.

After this blogging and tea break, my next project is to take down the poor, sad looking greenhouse frame, (crushed by our last snow storm - two feet of very wet, heavy snow), set up a support fence for the sweet peas, prep the beds for tomatoes and plant pole beans! I am hoping that the tomatoes will be in by late Sunday. We'll see. There is just so much to do right now. And I mean RIGHT NOW!



Thanks for the photo, Sheila!

2010 CROPS

This a list of all crops for 2010. I am listing them in groups by type. (tomatoes, spinach, kale, etc.) and each variety will be followed by its "days to maturity", if known, (ie 70d) and its planting date(s). If the planting date is in a parenthesis then it was planted inside. I'll add to the list from time to time, as I plant. Depending on who you are, this could be riveting or incredibly boring. This is the kind of thing I love.

(Includes what has been planted through May 6; lots more to follow!)

ARUGULA
Rocket 47d 4/4 4/15 5/5
Sylvetta 50d 4/15

ASIAN VEGETABLES
Chinese Broccoli - Candlestick Gai Lan 4/21


BEETS
Bull's Blood 5/2
Chioggia 4/2 5/2
Flat of Egypt 4/2 5/2
Golden 5/2
Red Ace 4/2
Touchstone Gold 4/2 5/2

BRASSICAS
BRUSSEL SPROUTS
Diablo (4/29)
Falstaff (4/29)
Franklin (4/29)
Long Island Improved (4/29)
Roodnerf (4/29)
CAULIFLOWER
Fremont 62d (3/12)
Chedder (3/12)
BROCCOLI
Gypsy 58d (3/12)
Beaumont 75d (3/12)
Veronica 85d (4/28)
CABBAGE
Deadon 105d (4/28)
Late Flat Dutch 100d (4/28)
Ruby Ball 78d (3/12)
Savoy Ace 70d/80d? (3/27)
Savoy Perfection 90d (4/28)
Storage #4 95d (4/28)
KOLRABI
Gigante 130d (4/29)
Kolibri (3/12)
Korridor (3/12) 4/11
Winner 45d (3/28) 4/11

CARROTS
Adelaide 4/2 5/2
Amarillo 70d 4/2
Mokum 54d 4/2 5/2
Napoli 58d 4/2
Nelson 56d 4/2 5/2
Purple Haze 73d 4/2 5/2
Yellow Sun 5/2


CELERY
Tango (3/12)

FAVA BEANS
Grand Violetto 4/12
Supersette 100d 4/12
Windsor 4/12 4/23




FENNEL
Mantovano (3/17)

GREENS
COLLARDS
Champion 60d (3/17) 4/15

CORN SALAD/MACHE
French 4/40
Jade 50d 4/30
Vit 50d 4/30


ESCAROLE
Bordeaux 65d (3/17)

KALE
Breedy's Camden (3/17) 4/15
Fizz 40d (3/17) 4/15


Rainbow Lacinato (3/17) 4/15
Red Chidori 4/15
Red Russian 50d (3/17) 4/15
Tuscan 62d (3/17) 4/15
White Russian (3/17) 4/15
Winter Red 4/15

NEW ZEALAND SPINACH 4/30

SPINACH
Giant Winter fall 09 4/5 5/1
Joker Asian 4/5
Tyee 4/5 5/1


EGGPLANT (3/12)
Listada de Gandia 80-90d
Ping Tung 70d
Millionaire 54d
Thai Long Green
Thai Long Purple

KOLRABI
Korridor 42d 4/11
Kolibri 4/12
Winner 45d 4/11


LETTUCE
HEAD LETTUCE
BUTTERHEAD
Flashy Butter Oak (4/29)
Grandpa Admire's (4/29)
Key Lime 63d 4/20 (4/29)
Marvel of Four Seasons (3/5)
May Queen (3/17)
North Pole 50d (3/31)
Red Butterworth 4/20 (4/29)
Red Ridinghood 65d 4/20
Trocadero (3/17) (3/31) 4/20
Yugoslavian Red Butterhead (3/5)
BIBB
Susan's Red (3/5) (3/17) (4/29)
Buttercrunch 65d (3/5) (3/17) (3/31) (4/29)
Summer Bibb 62d (4/29)
Speckled Amish 55d (3/31)
ROMAINE
Cimmaron (3/5)
Claremont 46d 4/20 (4/29)
Crisp Mint 70d (3/5) 4/20
Dazzle 35d (4/29)
Forellenschuss 50d (3/5) (3/17) (3/31) 4/20
Jericho 55-60d (4/29)
Plato II 53d 4/20
Red Rosie 56d 4/20
Rouge D'Hiver (3/17)
Dazzle (3/5) (3/17)
Tin Tin 70d (3/31) (4/29)
CRISPHEAD
Anuenue 50d (4/29)
Ciucca (3/17) (3/31) 4/20
Crystal 4/20
Reine des Glaces (3/5) 4/20 (4/29)



Continuity (3/5) 4/20
Nevada 48d (4/29)
New York 85d (3/31)
Summertime 68d (4/29)
Webb's Wonderful (3/5) (3/17) (4/29)

LEAF LETTUCE
Black Seeded Simpson 46d 4/2 4/15 5/5
Cracoviensis 4/2
De Morges Braun 64d 4/2
Gentilina 4/2
Italienisher 55d 4/2
Lollo Bionda 46d 4/2
Lollo de Vino 56d 4/2
Mascara 4/2
New Red Fire 51d 4/2
Red Sails 45d 4/2 4/15 5/5
Red Salad Bowl 28/51d 4/15
Revolution 4/2
Rouge D'Hiver 28/58d 4/15
Royal Oak Leaf 50d 4/2
Ruby 4/2
Salad Bowl 28/49d 4/15 5/5
Tango 45d 4/2

MESCLUN
(My mesclun includes these items plus whatever else is tender and tasty, changing with the season. Kale, chard, mustard, spinach, radish thinnings, and more.)

Agano Mustard 4/16
Chicoria Spadona da Taglo 4/16
Chicoria Zuccherina Di Trieste 4/16
Endive Frisee Neos 45d 4/16
Giant Garnet Mustard 21/45d 4/16
Golden Frills Mustard 21/45d 4/16
Komatsuma Tendergreen 4/16
Mizuna 21/40d 4/16
Purple Mizuna 21/40 4/16
Red Komatsuma 21/31 4/16
Red Russian kale 25/50d 4/16
Ruby Streaks Mustard 21/40d 4/16
Senposai 40d 4/16
Upland Cress 50d 4/16
White Russian Kale 4/16
Wrinkled Crrinkled Cress 4/16
Yukina Savoy 21/45d 4/16


OKRA
Millionaire 50d (3/17)


ONIONS
Giant Musselburgh Leeks (3/5)
Prizetaker Leek (3/12)
Shimonita Asian Onions (3/5)

PARSNIPS
Half Long Guernesey 4/4
Javelin 4/4
Andover ___? 5/5

PAK CHOY
Extra Dwarf 4/21

PEAS
Canoe 53d 4/21
Carouby De Maussane snap peas 4/11
Dwarf Grey Sugar (for shoots) 32d 4/20
Green Arrow 65d 4/12
Maestro 4/12 4/25
Mr. Big 58d 4/11
Oregon Giant Snow 4/25


PEPPERS
HOT PEPPERS (3/12)
Ancho Magnifico
El Jefe
Thai Red Chili
Pasilla Bajio
Georgia Flame
Romanian Hot
Hungarian Hot Wax
Big Bomb
Joe's Cayenne

SWEET PEPPERS (3/12)
King of the North
Quadrato D'Asti Rosso
Quadrato D'Asti Gialo
Gourmet
Buran
Lipstick
Orange Bell
Wonder Bell
Jimmy Nardello
Sweet Chocolate
Ace
Yummy
Antohi Romanian
Chervena Chuska

POTATOES
Banana Fingerling 4/2 (bin)
Kennebec 5/5
Red Norland 4/2 (bin)
Superior 4/2 (bin)
Yukon Gold 5/5

RADISHES
Brightest Breakfast 28d 5/2 5/5
Crunchy Royale 28d 4/2 5/2 5/5
D'Avigon 21d 4/2 5/2
Ravenello 19d 4/2 4/4 5/2 5/5
Roodkapje 4/2
Zlata 30 4/2


SQUASH
SUMMER
Black Zucchini 50d 5/6
Costada Romanesco 52d (3/28) 5/6
Horn of Plenty 45d (3/28)
Magda 48d (3/28) 5/6
Trompacino 60d 5/6
Zephyr 54d (3/28) 5/6

TOMATOES (3/17)
QUICK
Beaverlodge 55d
Early Cascade 62d
Moskvich 60d
Red Sun 72d

PASTE
Amish Paste
Black Plum
Polish Linguisa
Scatoline
Striped Roman
Super Marzano

SMALL
Black Cherry
Blondkopfchen
Green Grape
Peacevine
Sungold
Sweet Million
Yellow Pear
Zebra Cherry

SLICING
Aunt Ruby's German Green
Bear Creek
Black From Tula
Black Giant
Carmello
Cherokee Purple
Crinkovic
Dad's Sunset
Green Zebra
Malakuhitovya
Marmande
Pantano Romanesco
Paul Robeson
Pink Grapefruit
Pruden's Purple
Santa Crus Kada
Soldacki
Topaz
Violet Jasper

TOMATILLOS (3/17)
Verde
Aunt Molly's Ground Cherry
Pineapple Ground Cherry

TURNIPS
Gold Ball 45d 4/23
Hakurei 38d 4/4 4/23


FLOWERS
Cosmos -
Rubenza (3/28)
Sea Shells (3/28)
Sensation (3/28)
Old Spice Sweet Peas (3/5) 4/12




Sweet William (3/5)
Canterbury Bells (3/12)
Aureus Yellow Lupine (3/17)
Zulu Prince Cape Daisy (3/17)
Gaillardia Dazzler (3/17)
Ageratum (3/17)
Evening Scented Stock (3/17)
Marigolds -
Crackerjack (3/28)
Harlequin (3/28)
Lemon Gem (3/28)
Orange Hawaii (3/28)
Moonflower (3/27)
Nasturiums - Dwarf Jewel 55-65d 5/1
Sunflowers 3/20
Calendula 3/20
Centaurea 3/20
Zinnias -
Benary's Giant 3/20 (4/21)
Candy Cane (4/21)
Giant Cactus Flowered (4/21)
Red Spider (4/21)
State Fair 90d (4/21)

HERBS
Italian Giant Parsley (3/5)
Basil -
Finissimo Verde A Palla Basil (3/28)
Genovese Basil (3/28)
Lemon Drop Basil (3/28)
Red Lettuce Leaf (4/29)
Red Rubin Basil (3/28)
Sacred Basil (3/28)
Borage 5/2
Cilantro 4/4, 5/5
Dill - Hercules 4/4
Dukat 50-60d 5/5

The planting begins!

SOME RECENT SEED ARRIVALS:



Today I planted:

132 head lettuces -
Butterhead: Marvel of Four Seasons, Yugoslavian Red Butterhead,
Bibb: Susan's Red, Buttercrunch,
Romaine: Cimmaron, Crisp Mint, Forellenschuss, Dazzle
Crisphead: Reine des Glaces, Continuity, Webb's Wonderful

150 Old Spice sweet peas
300 Giant Musselburgh leeks (a bit on planting these so I am saying a little prayer that they will get big)
550 Shimonita Asian onions (sort of a cross between scallions and leeks)
12 Italian Giant parsley
small flat of Sweet William