Sweet Potato Harvest

I kid you not--these came from my front-yard garden, and some pots on our stairs all summer!  Can you believe it?  City spuds?  :)  I almost forgot about them, they looked like an uglier version of the decorative sweet potato vines people grow for looks.  They were wound in around my tomatoes and curving all over my stairs.  (The big ones came from the plant that got a lot of sun and was in the ground).  But the little ones from the pots did well enough that I will actually bother next summer.  

I started them from slips in May.  To find somewhere to buy them I had my mom ask around in Lancaster at nurseries and people she knew who might know.  Then we drove down a rural road in Lancaster where she heard that an Amish farmer sold them until we saw a sign outside of a farm advertising them.  It was a culturally surreal experience.  We pulled up to their house around lunchtime and didn't see anyone around.  One of the kids came outside to ask if she could help us and then told us to knock on the door of the smaller house right next to theirs where her grandparents lived.  So then her grandmother graciously interrupted her dinnertime (usually the big meal of the day for Lancaster farmers) to pull us some slips growing behind her house for a very modest price.  I actually bought more than I should have because they were so cheap--which led to the temptation to put in too many per pot.  Next year, one to two, MAX!  

I have two pots left to harvest yet, I just need to beat the frost.  Overall, considering my expectations of tiny potato marbles only, a smashing success.

North Philly "Paradise" Lost

Anyone who's been to my house in the spring or summer and walked down the path between mine and my neighbor's house will have noticed the flowers on her side contrasted with the vegetables on mine. I created my neighbor's flower garden by taking flowers out of my garden, since she was interested in having one but at a loss for how to get started (and perhaps needed a little boost to get going?). It actually worked out really well because in my vegetable obsession I was taking out all kind of flowers and putting them in her bed. She'd add some touches herself each year, but I'd have to do a lot of the weeding.

Anyway, my neighbor has moved out. And the house is being managed by an asset manager. And one day a week or two ago, a truck pulled up and a bunch of guys got out with their yard tools. And after picking some daisies for his wife from the garden, the project manager had the guys cut down all of the flowers (except for the daisies and a very few other clumps). I watched through the window, open-mouthed, as they razed the garden to the ground. I thought about interfering or getting hysterical as I watched beautiful sections being cut down (after thinking, "Oh, surely they'll leave those flowers"). But I was stopped in my reflections by a loud cry of distress and genuine weeping from the basement. Micah was playing down there and saw all of the flowers being cut down and wanted to know, "Mommy! Why are they cutting down all the flowers??!" So I comforted him instead of indulging in my own distress for a while. Let me tell you, it was very hard to explain to a five year-old why those flowers had to go (and I was certainly not the best one to do it, since I thought it was all ridiculous).

This is what's left of the butterfly bush that was in bloom.

There were beautiful arching white flowers under the bay window. There were also irises, but they'll come back. The arching white flowers are not all gone. I watered as an act of rebellion after they left, and at least next year they should be beautiful again. The salvia will recover also. And they did leave the small crepe myrtle. I'm not sure how a bare dirt patch is more of a selling point. In fairness, there were weeds mixed in with the flowers. But now there are no flowers to compete with the weeds. And weeds recover from a "mowing" much quicker than flowers do.

I wish I would have taken a picture of the view of our gardens filling that passageway before--I didn't know the destroyers were coming or I would have.

I had just picked flowers from the garden the day before they cut them down. After my neighbor moved out, I decided I should start doing that regularly. The roses and arching white flowers were my favorites to pick. I actually cut the big butterfly bush bloom off the top of their "scrap pile" before they threw all of the flowers out.

Night Gardening

One of my favorite things about long summer days is that I still have about an hour and a half of daylight after the kids are down for the night. A few days ago, after putting down the kids, I watered thoroughly (all this predicted rain has just not been happening lately); spread almost-ready compost over parts of the garden (this is the compost to which I had previously added the horse manure my uncle gave me to improve my raspberry soil--thank you, Uncle Darry!; picked peas; put "compost tea" on my grape vine (a euphemistic name if I've ever heard one); and examined the progress of some of my plants.

The zucchini is getting one last chance with me this year. Every year I give up on it because of mildew mold, and my plants have got it again this year, but I'm going to wait and see. I decided if my plants do not produce at least five zucchinis before all is said and done, I will give up on growing zucchinis for at least the next few years.

The green beans are actually doing significantly better since I raised the bed where I was growing them.

I found a great recipe for this broccoli rabe, combined with the bok choy I'm growing in another bed in the book The Vegetable Dishes I Can't Live Without by Mollie Katzen.

My cucumbers did really terribly last year, so I planted extra this year. The plants I started from seed indoors turned yellow when I planted them out and had to be pulled. So I put some seed right in the ground and also bought a few cucumber plants. Anyway, it's looking like they're doing alright so far this year. We ate our first cucumber tonight. I'm so excited. I can handle not getting any zucchini far better than no cucumber.

The lettuce has been providing us with quite a few salads. It's a little more bitter at this point, but we're still eating it.

I put up a string trellis behind my tomatoes in the front yard. I'm trying a different system for staking them this year. I hope they just sort of grow up onto my porch posts.

Cuban Urban Farming . . . How Inspiring!

The Greens Have It

From left to right: swiss chard, redbor kale, white russian kale, bok choy (pac choi on the packet), and broccoli rabe

We're starting to harvest the greens now.  The arugula is over, it went to seed.  The lettuce is finally thriving (we've got multiple salads out there waiting for harvest, hilariously I have to use up the lettuce I bought first).  And the kale and swiss chard is actually looking big enough that I feel like I can pick it.  I'm really excited that my broccoli rabe is filling out, it looked a little peaked for a while.  I used the above greens and cooked them in bacon grease with mushrooms and we ate them beside our bacon, arugula, mushroom pizza last weekend.  Pretty amazing, I must say.  It'll be really exciting to have enough of each of those to make a monochromatic side of just broccoli rabe or bok choy, for example.  The distinct flavor of each green is lost in a mixed bag greens saute.  Still, it was an exciting first step.  And Abigail has been eating our steamed kale and swiss chard this week, which will hopefully help her slightly low iron levels.  I can't wait until the garden gets to the point where I can wander outside at 4:00 to see what I find for supper.  What's your favorite part of the spring harvest?

My Mediterranean Fruit Garden

A dramatic side angle shot of the new space.

So, some of my readers (well, OK, one that I know of) thought that the chopping down of the butterfly bush a few entries back was very sad.  And I realize that I have been neglecting the flowers for the vegetables these days--but I am happy to show the end result for a little corner garden next to my patio out back.  The aforementioned butterfly bush used to stand where the fig tree is now featured above.  [On a side note, I do expect the fig tree will not remain a large upright twig as time passes.]  The bush used trail over into the kids' sandbox and onto the backs of our heads while we sat at the patio table.  The new sleek Mediterranean fruit gardenette is both beautiful, less crowding, and--we hope--richly fruitful.  The rhubarb, which thankfully survived the tree/bush removal, has much more room now, and looks lovely between the fig tree and grape vine.  And the flower gifts I got from my sweet Easter guests look wonderful in front.  An edger and a little mulch (thank you Owen, another item from his Spring break list) and . . . viola!

The daisy close-up.

Micah gives it his seal of approval.

Micah actually found FIGS on our stick of a fig tree!  We are beside ourselves with excitement . . . that is, Micah and I are.

A Thing of Beauty is a Joy . . .

. . . until its place is needed for food production.

I thought I'd take you all through the grim steps of removing my butterfly bush (which my neighbors pointed out did attract a lot of butterflies) to make room for a fig tree, which I will be purchasing later this week.

First I chopped off the branches.

Then I dug all around the roots.

This job was complicated by the little rhubarb stalks coming up--this is our second plant we're attempting to establish for our rhubarb supply; I was praying that I wouldn't knock off the stalks while digging.

Viola!  Mission accomplished!

And then there was none (though there was still rhubarb!).

Raised Beds . . . HOORAY!

This narrow bed in the backyard will leave the kids' playspace intact but allow for peas, beans, or other taller crops.

I am overwhelmingly, ridiculously, in fact, pleased to announce that I have installed raised beds.  Not single-handedly--let credit be given where credit is due!  

Groupon (online local business specials) had a $50 gift card on sale to Primex (garden supply store) for $25.  I told Owen we should buy it and he naively said, "Well, we wouldn't be able to spend $50."  I assured him that we most certainly could, since I wanted to buy edgers and install raised beds (what can I say, everyone else is doing it!).  So Groupon in hand, Owen's parents (who were visiting, and who wonderfully drove their pick-up in order to support their crazy Yankee daughter-in-law's gardening mania) assisting with the three kids in tow, Owen and I set about collecting for our garden needs.

I must confess to a rush that addictive shoppers must experience when I walked in there.  I felt, "Ooo, I must have all of this.  And then I will be a Gardener with Accessories and Bountiful Harvest!!"  I did not buy it all, but I did manage to spend three times the amount of the Groupon.  Gloves that fit like a second skin, hoses that do not leech phthalates into the water, edgers, onion sets, complimentary pansies, seedling trays!  Ah, bliss!  

Our free pansies, next to our new raised bed in front of our porch.

 Our next stop was compost collection.  Thank you, Rachel, for directing us to some!  We took Owen's parents' pick-up and loaded up (two trips) on enough compost to fill raised beds in the front and back of my house.  Now if we could just make one more trip . . .

My transplants aren't looking so good, but I added seeds also--and some of them should make it, especially with rain all next week.

Owen's dad helped me wrestle the edging into the ground (after watching me fight with the roll of it in a comical, cartoon-like fashion as it coiled up after me around the yard), and then I stayed outside until night fell.  The next morning, dressed in my snowpants against the 30 degree weather, I finished spreading all of the compost in time for Owen and I to go get our second load.  My seedlings are worse for the wear, but will no doubt be happier in their new raised quarters.

With the raised beds ready, planting was a snap this week.  

I planted all of my early spring crops (shell peas were February):

• kale
• swiss chard
• pieracicaba non-heading broccoli (rabe)
• snow peas
• pac choi
• mesclun mix
• tatsoi
• onion sets
• cilantro
• three varieties of head lettuce
• parsley
• raddichio

Strawberries have multiplied beyond my wildest dreams in my side garden.

I planted seeds, pruned my raspberries, wrote down all of my plantings and seed types in my gardening book (and drew in where I placed each variety on a garden map).  Now I just need to start my tomato, zucchini, and cucumber seeds indoors . . . and then I'll get to take a rest, which, quite frankly, I need.

Rocks

When I tell people that I've already been outside gardening for a good chunk of time this spring, they probably imagine that I've actually planted a good deal of seeds or plants.  But mostly what I mean by "gardening" is actually rock retrieval.  The former owners of my home decided that a nice rocky beach home look would really do it for the front yard.  And so I have spent days over the years just sifting handful after handful of rocks the size of grapes out of the soil.  Each spring I find that the freezes of winter have brought yet more rocks to the surface.  And each spring I head outside with seeds and seedlings only to leave them sitting day after day while I plod through rocky, rocky soil.  I must say I often think of the previous owners this time of year and wonder why they chose to do what is so very difficult to undo to achieve a look I feel was quite lacking in curb appeal.

Seed Order Time

On the off-chance that it will help someone, here is a copy of my seed order to Fedco Seeds (a very affordable seed cooperative which provides non-genetically modified seeds especially suited for the Northeast U.S.)  Their website is a bit daunting, admittedly, but you can order online and my shipping was free.  I didn't order french breakfast radishes, green beans, or arugula because I already have a shocking supply of each.  A few of the odder varieties below make impressive claims to doing well in winter. 

The order:

1226 - National Pickling Cucumber ( A=1/16oz) 1 x $0.80 = $0.80
1232 - Calypso Pickling Cucumber ( A=1/16oz) 1 x $1.00 = $1.00
1402 - Eight Ball Zucchini ( A=1/8oz) 1 x $1.70 = $1.70
1409 - Raven Zucchini ( A=1/8oz) 1 x $1.80 = $1.80
2042 - Scarlet Nantes Carrot ( B=1/2oz) 1 x $2.50 = $2.50
2551 - Tyee Spinach OG ( B=1/2oz) 1 x $2.40 = $2.40
2712 - Black Seeded Simpson Lettuce OG ( A=2g) 1 x $0.90 = $0.90
2731 - Cracoviensis Lettuce OG ( A=1g) 1 x $1.20 = $1.20
2786 - Red Tinged Winter Lettuce OG/BD ( B=2g) 1 x $2.60 = $2.60
2791 - Tango Lettuce OG ( B=2g) 1 x $2.00 = $2.00
2992 - Mesclun ( C=4g) 1 x $3.20 = $3.20
3034 - Perpetual Spinach or Leaf Beet ( C=1/2oz) 1 x $2.60 = $2.60
3036 - Bright Lights Chard ( B=1/8oz) 1 x $2.20 = $2.20
3102 - Verte de Cambrai Mache ( B=1/8oz) 1 x $1.60 = $1.60
3192 - Broad-Leaved Sorrel ( A=1/16oz) 1 x $0.90 = $0.90
3228 - Early Mizuna ( A=1/16oz) 1 x $1.10 = $1.10
3270 - Prize Choy Pac Choi OG ( A=1/16oz) 1 x $1.40 = $1.40
3327 - Piracicaba ( B=4g) 1 x $1.80 = $1.80
3452 - Redbor Kale ( A=0.5g) 1 x $2.90 = $2.90
3459 - White Russian Kale OG ( A=2g) 1 x $1.50 = $1.50
4055 - Rutgers Tomato OG ( A=0.2g) 1 x $1.20 = $1.20
4059 - Cherokee Purple Tomato OG ( A=0.2g) 1 x $1.20 = $1.20
4149 - Heirloom Tomato Mix OG ( A=0.2g) 1 x $1.20 = $1.20
4414 - Sweet Basil ( A=4g) 1 x $1.00 = $1.00
4517 - Caribe Cilantro OG ( C=28g) 1 x $3.20 = $3.20

Subtotal: = $43.90

Our Fall Garden

Welcome Fall!  Fall is welcome after such a hot summer--particularly since we've still been able to get a few crops in that are thriving (quite honestly, we were able to get in only the barest few since fall planting corresponded with Abigail's birth--and these got in a little late, so we're barely getting ripe crops as the weather is getting colder).

Radishes are beautiful this time of year--not too many vegetables can beat radish for vivid color.

 Arugula grows like a weed at our house--it is, in fact, our weed of choice.  Considering how much they charge for it at the grocery store or farmer's market, I'd say arugula growing is a well-kept secret.  I literally scatter seeds onto raked earth and then rake a little more.  Viola!  Crop!

The winter lettuce I planted is so beautiful, I just wish I'd planted more of it.  This little patch is perfect and healthy (just too little).

Since my nursing daughter is up at night if I eat cruciferous veggies, I'm trying to maximize on these last few days of green beans.  We've got a beautiful crop just coming in--I'm trying to let them get just a little longer. . . but I feel like I'm playing chicken with Jack Frost.

Harvesting Limas in the City

So how many urbanites could report picking lima beans last weekend?  I mentioned it in a previous post, but felt that pictures were needed to capture such a cool event from our fall.  We didn't get too many (for some reason, heat? stinkbugs?) we didn't get any crop until October.  Here's the harvest and a picture of the boys in front of the overgrown lima bean teepee in our neighbors' backyard (they offered to let us extend our garden into their yard--we split the booty).  Fun times, I still can't believe it!  Do you know how much they charge for these in the farmer's market?  I figure we grew at least $10 worth, even with most of the season being a flop.  Urban gardening . . . gotta love it!

Peas, strawberries, and RASPBERRIES!

Sugar peas and pod peas are actually on their way out, after that hot, hot sunny weather we had in Philly the last few weeks (it's finally cooling off tonight, but it's too late for my peas, I'd guess).  But I was really pleased this year with my pea success.  The kids would pick sugar peas on the way to or from the car (since they're growing along the fence in the front) and we'd eat them raw in the car or for a lunch addition.  But the last two weeks my kids have really been excited by the pod peas.  Those we grew on the back fence behind the house, and if my mom hadn't stood up for them I was actually in favor of ripping them out for more tomato space.  I'm so glad I gave them a chance, my kids were ecstatic to pop them open and pull the peas out (partly because they were so sweet, I'm sure). 

Strawberries have been averaging about a quart a week from our plants (which translates to about $7 worth in Philly).  And now the really exciting development is the raspberries ripening.  I thought they'd be a July crop for some reason, but here we go!  I put 2 or 3 in everyone's granola yesterday, but today I decided to save them.  When we get a pint (or at least half of one) I promised the kids what I consider to be the ultimate dessert: black raspberries on vanilla ice cream.  It's the only way to eat them, as far as I'm concerned (though I've never complained about eating the jelly or pie made from them either). 

I don't know if I can properly express my excitement and thankfulness to be able to produce real crops that actually affect our family's diet a little (especially some of these more expensive items: pod peas and strawberries were selling for $7 a quart at the farmer's market this weekend, black raspberries will likely sell for $5 a pint if they have them at all, and after our major construction needed in our basement due to water and termite damage, we need to cut corners where we can).  I think our strawberry crop would have been substantially higher had I not inadvertantly planted their enemy crop, arugula, around about a third of my plants.  I searched online after both plants were so stunted and yellow that I suspected I had found enemy crops.  Next year I will not make that mistake. 

Tomatoes are forming on my plants, so they should start coming a little bit before Baby Davis #3 arrives.  That will save us a fortune.  Ever since I read about BPA in cans of tomatoes I've felt like I should buy fresh, and anyone who reads my blog will know I feel like I have to get local ones, so I've been buying these early expensive ones to tide us over until mine are ready.  Why do I feel like tomatoes are essential for about half of what I make?  And how much better are sandwiches with a good old slice of ripe red tomato?  Oh boy, am I ever ready for ours to ripen!

Urban Gardening Planting schedule (zone 5b)

Here in Philadelphia, we're at the beginning of the spring planting.  I put in a few things in March, but hope to get most of the seeds in in April and some of the plants in the ground around Mother's Day.  From what I've heard and read (and contrary to what I thought before), the early bird doesn't always catch the worm.  Even if your plants survive the nights, they might not be as healthy if they are too cold in the beginning.  I think my planting schedule will look something like this:

March: 

• peas, arugula, spring onion, sugar peas, and broccoli rabe (seeded in ground)
• tomatoes, eggplant, crookneck squash, buttercup squash, zucchini, cucumber, celery (indoors)

April - early May

• green beans, radishes, lettuce, swiss chard, kale, basil (seeded in ground)
• tomatoes, eggplant, crookneck squash, buttercup squash, zucchini, cucumber, celery (seedlings put outside) . . . and pepper and herb plants I'll have to buy since I didn't start those from seed
• (plant raspberries and strawberries if you didn't last year)

June

• second planting of green beans
• carrot, kale, arugula, leeks (seeded in ground, to harvest in fall or spring)

Crafty Trellis for the Garden

This was an idea that I actually took from a kid's magazine.  I usually like to come up with my own ideas (aka: reinvent the wheel).  But this was an idea I've been meaning to try for a long time.  Last time I bought paint I took an obscene amount of paint sticks, so we should have some more of these for some summer climbing vegetables.  I spent a really long time tying it together, then got into a fight with hubby when he picked it up and it fell apart.  The staple gun solution was a great idea of his.  The kids colored the paint sticks with crayons (I didn't want paint in the garden) for the decor.  I think it came out well.  :)

The artists are posed with the trellis below; I'm really excited about the raspberries starting to leaf out behind Jesse's head.  I'm less excited about the lily-thinning I'm going to have to do.

PEA PLANTING TIME!

Now I obviously have no idea if this is true, but today my mom's neighbor told her:

"It's the fifth warm day of March in a row, today's the day to plant peas."

My mom told me this news this evening.

Coincidentally, I had planted my first round of peas today.  The ground was moist but not mucky and it was lovely outside.  The weeds and rocks were less than lovely, but you'll have this. 

Since I really have no idea what I'm doing and just realized, "Oh dear!  Peas are supposed to go in early!" I'm really quite reassured to know that this was the day my mom's neighbor felt peas should be planted.  It's nice to happen to align with someone's schedule.

Here's hoping he knows what he's talking about!

BLIGHT!!!

My trash can is full of cucumber, cantalope, and zucchini plants--and my one grape tomato plant and sunflower. Bummer. It looks like blight, from what I can deduce from my online research. I don't know, things didn't look so healthy, that's what I do know. Which means I can't even have the satisfaction of composting the vines. I have a feeling my remaining zucchini, cantalope, and tomato plants will meet an early end as well. Serious bummer. On the bright side, this opens up room for the fall planting I meant to do (I got a late start in the spring because I had not yet realized I was going to become a 4 Season Harvest girl--yes, yet another reference to Eliot Coleman--and you have to have your summer crops out of the way by early August if you want to have room for broccoli rabe, rutabagas, red beets, carrots (for overwintering), leeks, spinach, and what have you. So this empty patch (where my cucumber and some cantalopes once grew) will hopefully be a burgeoning plot of broccoli rabe in a few months. I wasn't really prepared for the great loss that an organic farmer can have in a growing season. That cucumber was my joyful companion each time I gazed out my kitchen window. I had such high hopes . . .
Maybe this is my rite of passage.