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Saturday, July 25, 2009
bearing fruit...
My Roma tomatoes have started ripening like mad, and I'm having a problem catching them at the right moment before they get squishy spots. Four were ready today and i think I caught them at the perfect time...  Next year, I think I'll look for an heirloom variety that's small and cooks up well without too much pulp (since those are the qualities I like in my tomatoes, based on how they get used). Maybe they'll fare a bit better if they're bred for NC. I'm also nearly ready for a pepper harvest. The cayennes need to still turn a bit red before they're ready, but the jalapenos are a pretty dark green now and ready to go any time.  I've been knitting away at my lace scarf, and it's going quite quickly. I love the turmeric color and the pattern's shaping up quite nicely...  Thursday, July 02, 2009
the benefits of email...
I got this recipe in my email inbox the other day from delight.com. As if it were meant to be, it called for handfuls of sugar snap peas...the very thing that's ripe in my garden right now! And so dinner tonight was this Quick Veggie Rice Bowl. We cooked a bit of chicken in a skillet before heating the sauce with it, and it was a nice addition. Next time I think I'll add just a touch of honey to the sauce, but regardless it was a delicious meal! Friday, June 26, 2009
i spy with my little eye...
...PEAS!  I'm getting it a tizzy of anticipation for the sugar snap peas that have appeared in the last day or so. Yes, I am easily excited. No, that is not as embarrassing as it should be. The tomatoes are starting to turn red, and I have little tiny infant bell peppers. I want a home-grown stir fry!   Oh, and salsa!   Labels: garden Wednesday, June 17, 2009
finally...
...those snap pea plants of mine that have been rocketing towards the sky have finally put out a few flowers! The promise of tasty stir fries is in the air...  (Please note that these plants are nearly 5 feet tall...in a pot!) Labels: garden Wednesday, June 10, 2009
doing battle...
The garden is flourishing (literally) lately with all the sun and rain. My snap peas are nearly 4 ft. tall, and the basil crop is really taking off. Plus, this is the first year that I've had dill actually survive to flower!   I've got the beginnings of hot peppers, and a nice crop of lettuces. And if you look closely, you'll see nearly a dozen tomatoes ready to start ripening...  But earlier this week, to my dismay, I noticed a few buggies hanging out on my bell pepper plant...APHIDS!!!  I admit I had way too much fun picking them off with scotch tape. There weren't too many, only a few dozen, and I know they won't do too much damage to the peppers, but I worry about some of the other plants. So after a bit of research, I've made a bug brew of steeped rosemary, basil, and sage that I'll be spritzing the plants with occasionally.  Why exactly the infusion will help more than the presence of actual rosemary, sage and basil plants, I'm not exactly sure. Adding a dash of dishsoap is suggested...I'll try a bit of Dr. Bronner's peppermint, since it seems a bit safer for edibles (hey, if you can technically brush your teeth with it...). Meanwhile, I've started the second batch of lettuces in an old mixing bowl on the kitchen table. Hopefully keeping it out of the direct heat of the day will help it not bolt as quickly. I planted these guys on Sunday, and they're already sprouting like mad!  Sunday, May 31, 2009
lazy sunday...
A few shots from the day...  I like to call my gardening technique "container terracing". The space for lots of sun minus squirrels is very limited, so I'm pioneering the practice of putting little pots on top of and inside big pots to maximize output. It should be quite a harvest...  We took the bikes out to the velodrome for a trial run today. Here's Paul putting the finishing touches on his new set of wheels...  Labels: garden Friday, May 29, 2009
Saturday, May 16, 2009
bearing fruit...
Although the plant itself is still rather small, today revealed the official first tomato of the year! He's diminutive too, but filled with promise...  and the snap pea plants that were seeds less than 2 weeks ago are reaching their little tendrils up for the trellis. Just a few more inches, fellas!  Meanwhile, the lettuce and arugula are going gangbusters (yes, this is an official gardening term), just need some thinning.  And of course the herbs are all doing well! The basil crop will be especially hearty this year...we'll be in the pesto business soon!  Wednesday, May 06, 2009
parsley, sage, rosemary...
...and thyme. And dill, basil, and cilantro, and oregano, and mint, and lemon verbena. Saturday involved braving the rain and the crowds at the WNC Farmer's Market annual Herb Festival. If I had actual ground to plant a bunch of stuff in, I probably would've come home with more pepper plants, edible flowers, and a bunch of crazy medicinal herbs like astragalus, boneset, and wormwood. But since I'm mostly limited to pots on the fire escape and windowsill, I'm only growing things I can eat...   In addition to all the herbs, I've also got some tomatoes, a bell pepper, loads of lettuces, and some sugar snap peas. A few more weeks and we'll be swimmin' in salad! Thursday, April 16, 2009
the lure of green things...
Yesterday I got out my green thumb prosthesis...  The fire escape gets full sun for most of the day, so I'm loading it up with herbs and veggies. It's only just past the last frost, so I'm taking a gamble with the tomatoes and peppers, plus, I'm starting a TON of basil and cilantro, since I tend to use tons of it fresh all year and freeze pesto for later. Labels: garden |
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© 2005, 2007 by Julie M. Carter |