My New Greenhouse

 

Here's a peek inside my new greenhouse.  This is heirloom tomatoes all lined up in a row.  They're waiting for the weather to be just right.  Then, I'll put them out in the garden.  It's warm enough that I am opening the vents on the greenhouse.  Although there was a little freeze about a week ago.  That's the problem with March....unpredictable!   There usually is a few more cold days here in March.

 

I am very happy with the greenhouse.  I got a small one...you know...making sure that I am going to like having a green house.  I'm happy to report.   I love my green house.  Love, love, love.

 

I am growing Pineapple, Cherokee, Brandywine, Cour Di Bue, Egg Yolk, and Amazon Chocolate tomatoes.  My favs are Pineapple (large, juicy, luscious and sweet) and egg yolk (small yellow (golf ball size) sweet, prolific and just keep on producing right through our heat, I also find they are more resistant to pests.) 

Shot's of the seedlings.

Artichoke

Large plants on the floor.

Here is how I grow my seedlings.  First I make small soil blocks (google them "soil block makers" you can buy them numerous places).  When the seeds sprout I make larger soil blocks with a indention that fits the smaller soil block.  Then I put the small soil block in the larger one.

I find this saves seeds, space and soil.

The small soil blocks are on the right the large ones on right already planted with sprouted small blocks.

A small sample of what I am still harvesting:  Carrots, cabbage, radishes, turnips, parsley, broccoli sprouts, green onion, Swiss chard, and collards.

 

Seeds to plant directly in the garden now (If you live in the New Orleans or Gulf Coast region):

cucumbers
melons (all kinds)
squash (all kinds)
beans (all kinds)
corn
potatoes
gourds
summer annuals:  morning glory, sunflowers, zinnias, marigolds
herbs:  basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, green onion, bay, mint
okra

Plant transplants of:
tomatoes
eggplant
peppers

Hmmmm....I think that's it.

Don't forget....you can plant small and bush varieties in pots!

Planting in August...and my Granny Square Afghan

July is done with.

Vacation is done with.

August is here and it is time to plant.....To me this is the very best time to plant in our area.  It's been extremely humid.  The rest of the country is in drought and we're slogging around the yard.  The driveway is sopping and I almost got stuck today when I drove slightly off the rocks.

One worry is the lack of water coming down the Mississippi.  Plaquemines has actually declared a "state of emergency".  Whatever that means...because salt water is intruding up the river and has came further than the drinking water intake.   They're now barging in fresh water.

Maybe there isn't enough water up river...but here there's too much.  On vacation we felt as if we were dragging around a rain cloud.  Everywhere we went it rained...these aren't places known for their rain.  When we were at the Chaco Culture World Heritage Site in New Mexico...It rained!  It was an amazing sight to see.  The water cascaded over the edge of the mesa in multiple water falls.  They only receive 8 to 10 inches of water a year and it rained while we were there!  Here we've received eight inches of rain in one hour before.  Yet thousands of people once lived in Chaco.  Amazing.

I've started pulling out the seeds I am going to plant.  Here is a list of what to plant now if you are in the New Orleans area.

Irish Potatoes - Plant whole small potatoes.

Tomatoes, peppers and eggplants - Plant transplants.  (You're eggplants may look good still.  Mine do.)

Plant the following in small pots or soil squares:  Broccoli, cabbage, Chinese cabbage, cauliflower.

Plant the following straight in the garden:  Swiss chard, collards, cucumbers squash, beans, mustard, green beans, southern peas, turnips.

This year in the spring my neighbor planted Camellia Red beans in her garden as a cover crop.  They produced well and she gave me a bag.   Fresh red beans are awesome!  I never really thought much of red beans and rice.  It was nice occasionally, but nothing I craved.  Fresh red beans are totally different!  They are so much better than the dried ones.  Soooo I bought a bag today and I am going to plant some in my fall garden.  I certainly will plant some in February as well.  I'm impressed.

Here is what I have done with the granny squares I recently started making with remnants of bright cotton yarn.  I did most of these while traveling in the car on vacation.  Umm that's a moon and stars melon in the bowl (my centerpiece).  Love my little piece of the 70's.

It was so much fun to make and easy...and the colors are a lot more fun than the mauve and blue ones all matchy I remember hating as a child.....it's still drafty....I remember hating that as a child to....but if I ever get that VW van...I'll have the perfect cover for the loft bed.....

If you wanna learn here is a link to a cool tutorial...

Good tutorial on how to make a basic granny square. Lots of pics...

Too Much

Water is an almost daily factor to consider when living in Louisiana.  At least where I live the more extreme southern tip of Louisiana.  On the left is the Mississippi River, the other the Marshes, behind is the Intracoastal canal, and in front the Gulf of Mexico.  To get out of Plaquemines parish you must cross a bridge or take a ferry...no exceptions.  It makes for a very safe Parish.  There's no where for criminals to run to!

But on days like this you not only have to consider the water you see everyday, but the water flooding the roadway, puddling in your yard, filling your shoes, DROWNING YOUR GARDEN!!!!

Really, honestly....I'm not complaining.   This is just what it means to live here!  I try hard, but don't often succeed in understanding the plight of those who live in drought prone areas.  I just can't imagine not having enough water. 
Water is life!  I know hurricanes and floods scare the heck out of people who aren't from the deep south..., but not having enough water scares the heckaroo out of me!  Often I've thought I would just love living in Wyoming...but when I think of the snow ....well....I change my mind completely.  Maybe that's how people from there feel about here and our hurricanes. 

It just rained over four inches in just a matter of hours.  The rain drops were so large that the few feet I ran from the front door to the car left me soaked.  If you've never driven or been in a Louisiana rain it can be pretty scary.  The above picture is of a culvert near where our drive meets the hwy.  In the fifteen minutes I sat waiting with Tera for her bus, I watched the culvert go from half way covered to almost all the way covered.  I wouldn't want to fight the current that was created from the rushing water flowing into that pipe.

So after getting the girls off to school I walked around the garden to survey what if any damage the high winds and heavy rains caused.  Not so much actually.  My only concern is that the sun may come out before the standing water has had time to recede and scald the plants.  It's still early in the year so it likely will not get hot enough. 

There's even standing water in the raised beds.  The heavy rains is another reason why raised beds work much better for me.

I have to look out for snakes while trudging through the flooded paths.

Eeeeks....oh well,  I think they'll perk back up soon.

....yep....It's drenched.

Around The House And Garden

The seeds I planted a while back have grown and are ready to transplant.  If I just took them outside and planted them straight in the garden they wouldn't do very well.  Very likely they would die...ackkk!  Sooo... instead of throwing those babies out in the garden and praying for they best you should gradually acclimate or "harden" them off...which is what I am now doing....

 ...on the front porch....Hi wittle baby plants!  The first day I put them out for a few hours,  then all day, then all night and day.  It's best to choose an overcast day to do this.  If no overcast day is available, well put them in the shade and gradually move them for a few hours at a time to a sunnier location.  Until they're ready! yea-uh!  If your thinking (whining)  "That's a lotta work"  Remember...they're babies.  Babies always take more work, but if you take the time and do it right they grow up to make you very proud. 

 I have these old black iron column pot stands that I bought second hand from a florist that was going out of business.  They've been standing around my back yard for some time.  I thought they were cool and just knew they would come in handy some day...the day has arrived!  I'm going to plant up some pots with...

 STRAWBERRIES!  ...and turn those columns into Strawberry towers!  I'll post a pic when finished.  I'm hoping the strawberries will fill out and eventually hang over the edge of the pots, keeping them from rotting.  It is so humid here that I haven't had much luck with strawberries in the ground.  This may be just the trick.

 I planted up the pot in the front garden with green onions and creeping jenny.  I use green onions a lot and thought I'd save my self about 25 to 30 extra steps by doing this....hee hee...actually I think they're pretty!

 The orange trees are growing like crazy.  See those oranges on the ground.  They fell during a wind storm.  I'm not being wasteful...promise.  The oranges from my tree weren't that great.  There were lots of dry pulpy spots.  I think it's a combination of the young age of the trees and the lack of rain we had at times this past year.  My Mom-in-law's tree produced absolutely DEE-liciouscrumptuous oranges.  My mouth is watering.  Her tree is a good ten years older.  My babies are only three.

 Love, love, love this water lily flowered camellia.  I bought two of them and they are going on either side of the gate on my property in Mississippi.  Camellias and Mississippi...can you get any more southern than that?

 My red camellia bloomed beautifully this year but it's leaves don't look that great.  Guess research is required.

 Can you believe...figs already?

 It's amazing how much fruit is setting on the trees right now!  The loquats are actually producing ripe fruit.  The birds are loving it.  I better get myself outside and pick a few.  As the tees get larger and the shrub cover gets bigger in my garden I am seeing an amazing variety and amount of bird life.  Oh,  I'm just loving it.

 The mulberries are setting....

 ...and the pears are blooming!

 Even my Oldham bamboo is shooting out some nice sized canes...sigh!!!!

 This antique rose I bought at a local flower show is just gorgeous.  Look how it makes these double blooms sometimes!

 An overall pick of the veggie garden.  I just mulched it for spring and the seeds and transplants are going to be planted during the next few days.

 Luscious...even in early spring!

 We chopped up the kid's Rainbow play system in the back yard.  No matter what they tell you...they don't last a lifetime.  Ours lasted maybe ten years, and the last two weren't that great.  No matter, Byron's making me some great recycled things from the lumber...like this pole corral.  Now I don't have to trip or trip my visitors on piles of poles laying in the path!  Thanks babe!

Gardening in The New Orleans Area and Lemons

Again, two topics - one blog post. 

I receive lots of questions about gardening in our zone and unique environment.  Gardening is very different here than most of the United States.  We have very few freezes and can grow all year long.  Generic gardening books aren't that helpful.  So I am going to do a series on gardening in zone 9a (although I think some of my micro climates are a little warmer than this). 

Each land area is very unique and affected by bodies of water, mountains,  forests, etc...so it's very important to know your zone and try something new and different even if it may not be recommended.  Go HERE to find out your zone.  Talking to other gardeners and visiting gardens in your area is soooo important.  I often visit our local botanical garden and take notes on what I like and what's blooming or fruiting at that time.  Journals are invaluable.  That's one reason I started this blog.

Also, my eyes are always checking out what's growing in the yards as I travel through different areas of town.   I love to see what's growing in the community gardens of Bywater and at times the crape myrtles carpet the streets with hot pink blossoms and large clumps of banana trees hang heavy with their large purple blossoms and tiny growing green bananas.  The formal gardens of the garden district landscapes specialize in the contrast of color and form to accent their historic grand homes.  The Chinese fringe trees framing the wedding cake house are magnificent.  So spy on your neighbors.  It'll help you know when to plant.

Most of all....don't be discouraged by failure.  Use your failure as a learning tool.  Wear failure like a badge.  Because it means you weren't afraid!  But soon your successes will far outweigh your failures.

January Garden Notes:

Plant seeds for spring transplants (tomatoes, eggplant, peppers and herbs)
Prepare beds for spring planting by removing dead and finished plants (compost them)
Apply organic fertilizer to beds
Keep winter weeds at bay (do not allow to seed)
Plant any quick growing winter crops such as lettuce, radish, beets and greens (feel free to push the envelope with other types of crops if you wish)
Begin to keep a garden journal (include photos, and seasonal notes as well as dreams and wishes)

Personal January Garden Details and Plans:

Currently in the garden:  A recent frost nipped the tropicals so they are tinged with brown.  I am weeding the raised beds and putting cardboard down on the paths to prepare for spring mulching.  I'm going to remove the dead bean vines and other plants that are ready to go and prepare those beds for planting by heaping compost and chicken manure on top.

I am going to try planting a late winter crop of lettuce and beets.  I always plan to faithfully plant lettuce every few weeks during the winter to keep a steady flow of ready lettuce, but I've been a bit lazy in that matter.  I'll plant a little now and a couple of weeks later I'll plant more and etc...until about the end of February.  Once temperatures reach 80 degrees the lettuce will taste bitter.  I do allow my lettuce to go to seed and collect the seed.

I also am preparing for spring planting.  I am planting tomato, pepper and eggplant seeds inside.  That way the transplants will be nice and large  by March.  I will plant them outside mid-March.  The tomato varieties I chose are Brandy Wine Pink, Pineapple (my fav),  Cherokee purple, Cour di Bue, and some seeds I received at a seed exchange:  Australian Heart and Amazon Chocolate.  Eggplant varieties are Cambodian Green and Fengyuan Purple.  My fav eggplants are the long thin purple Asian varieties.  I just like the flavor best.  I went a little wild on the peppers but I'm planting:  Cayenne, Thai long sweet, India Jwala, Spanish Mammoth, Tampiqueno, Anaheim, Texas Bird Pepper, and Fish Pepper Whew....

I plan to plant the corn near the end of February and keep my fingers crossed.  The corn does so much better when I get it in the ground early.  Virtually no pests.  This year I chose two non GMO varieties:  Cherokee White Eagle, Golden Bantam and some Red Flint corn I got at a seed exchange.

The large row garden is weeded and I plan to lift the plastic and add chicken manure and compost.  I am trying to keep this garden going without any tilling by using plastic mulch to keep the weeds at bay and each spring and fall I plan to add compost, mulch and manure to raise the rows and fertilize.  I'll let you know how my no till method is working for me.

Soon I will do a post on my complete planting schedule.

Pics of some of my seeds I am planting now.

A few of the companies I bought seeds from.  I also love seed exchanges.  You prepare little packets of seeds you grew and bring them labeled with the date (not everyone does this but I do as a convenience for others).  Bring empty envelopes and a pen for labeling for yourself.  Then exchange with those there to your hearts content!

Lemon crop is bountiful!  So I gotta save 'em.  The freezer in ice cube trays is easiest for me.  I then make what I want with the juice throughout the year.  I do believe I am going to look into canning the juice...you know those hurricanes and power outages aren't nice to the stuff in the freezer.

Look to the right...see what's laying again!  The chickens are laying again!

Cut in quarters, peel and juice!

Freeze in trays...

Save....

...and make lemon curd, lemon bars, lemonade, lemon yogurt....and Lemon Sour Cream Pound Cake!  Possibilities...endless!

Festival Loot

Happily there were soil block makers for sale at the Heritage Festival.  I've always thought they looked pretty cool when I seen them on the Internet, but wasn't quite sure if they'd work well. The Gardeners Workshop had a booth and was demonstrating them.  You could even try your hand at making a set of soil blocks.  I was sold and bought the small size to try at home first.  If it works as I think it will....I won't need to purchase the large block maker. 
The soil block maker is a device that makes little soil cubes for starting seeds from a specially mixed soil that holds together.  The benefit is there is no plastic pots to mess with and the roots do not become pot bound...they simply grow out of the block.  The only caution you must take is when watering. You must water the blocks from the bottom gently as not to wash the soil blocks apart.

Here is a link to The Gardener's Workshop if you might like to purchase one....I'm going to explore the site some more later...it looks like it might have a lot of interesting information.

I bought a small bag of already mixed soil so I could start sowing seeds as soon as I arrived home from the festival.  September is a huge planting month here.  Yesterday I planted 5 carrot varieties, 6 onion varieties. and 5 squash varieties.  I know it seems a little late to start squash....but I'm trying something a little different.  Our occasional light frost or freeze doesnt' really happen until late December or January.  I'm betting I can get a crop before then, and if I protect the plants they may keep producing right until spring.  These seeds I directly sowed in the garden.  In my soil cubes I sowed 4 types of lettuce, 6 types of cabbage, 2 types of kale, cauliflower, Romanesque, broccoli, cilantro, leeks, celery...um...I think that's it....anyway I think all around the soil block maker is going to make sowing certain seeds and spacing them much easier....and less wasteful of the seeds.

Here is a picture of the soil block maker and the left over soil!

Soil blocks.

Two days after and seeds are already sprouting.

I also bought a couple of books I've wanted for while.  It's amazing how often I look at things on the Internet and never buy them...but if I get them in my hands....well...I can tell right away if it is worth the money or not.  These two were....others...not so much.

The Solar Food Dryer by Eben Fodor.  It contains complete plans for making a sturdy long lasting solar dryer as well as solar info, tips and recipes.  Byron loves it.  He already has plans to make a dryer.

This is a book I've thought about for a while.  I compared it to a more extensive book on growing grains and figured this good overview is my style for starting.  I've purchased rice seeds and am determined to grow them.  I'll let you know how that goes even if I fail....failure is something I'm no longer afraid of ....we're good friends....he  boosts me up to help me succeed the next time...KEEP TRYING AND TRY AGAIN!

An added picture of a Monarch chrysalis we found on an okra pod in the garden....My friend Mary is going to be thrilled when I send her this pic!  Look at the gold on it...