Jody Headlee, longtime Oakland Press reporter and gardening columnist died Friday morning. She was an inspiration to many, including me. Here is a link to The Oakland Press story by Diana Dillaber.
www.theoaklandpress.com
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Weather stays good
The forecast calls for continued frost-free nights in Oakland County through Friday. We might even have another warmish weekend!
I picked beans Friday, Oct. 8, the latest I remember ever picking them. We didn't always plant pole beans, like we have the last two years. It seems they produce longer than bush beans.
We haven't had any ripe tomatoes for a week, there are some green ones out there, so I didn't pull the plants. Also, I left the top Brussel Sprouts till after the frost. I've heard we were supposed to wait to harvest any of them until after frost (tastes better), but it looked like mold was attacking them, so I picked all of the bottom sprouts. At farmer's markets, I've seen stacks of whole stocks with the sprouts still on. If I had a bunch, that's the way I'd pick them.
If you want to grow garlic next year, you could plant that now, before the ground freezes. Be sure to have a dedicated spot. Many times we've planted stuff for next year and forgot about it, then planted over it. Along a fence line is a good safe place for garlic. You could also plant cover crops. Here's an article about it. Organic Gardening
I picked beans Friday, Oct. 8, the latest I remember ever picking them. We didn't always plant pole beans, like we have the last two years. It seems they produce longer than bush beans.
We haven't had any ripe tomatoes for a week, there are some green ones out there, so I didn't pull the plants. Also, I left the top Brussel Sprouts till after the frost. I've heard we were supposed to wait to harvest any of them until after frost (tastes better), but it looked like mold was attacking them, so I picked all of the bottom sprouts. At farmer's markets, I've seen stacks of whole stocks with the sprouts still on. If I had a bunch, that's the way I'd pick them.
If you want to grow garlic next year, you could plant that now, before the ground freezes. Be sure to have a dedicated spot. Many times we've planted stuff for next year and forgot about it, then planted over it. Along a fence line is a good safe place for garlic. You could also plant cover crops. Here's an article about it. Organic Gardening
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Indian Summer sticks with us
The next 10 days look safe for plants. This is great! I might get another picking of beans and the tomatillos which started late, might actually ripen. The weekend forecast looks nice and sunny. That will be good for spending time outdoors, cleaning up the yard. It's amazing that we haven't had a frost, it is late for this area.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Possible frost Sunday and Monday nights
Pick your tomatoes and cover your fair weather plants that are still bearing fruit, because here comes the frost. Frost is predicted tonight and tomorrow night in northern Oakland County. It might not be a hard frost, if any, but it's good to be ready for it. The forecast doesn't predict frost temperatures again for the rest of the week.
Here's the 10 day forecast for Pontiac weather:
http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/USMI0681
If it does frost, a good remedy is to water the plants before the sun hits them. This works as long as the plants haven't frozen hard. Orchards use giant fans to keep air circulating, which prevents the frost from setting in on the trees and fruit.
Here's the 10 day forecast for Pontiac weather:
http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/USMI0681
If it does frost, a good remedy is to water the plants before the sun hits them. This works as long as the plants haven't frozen hard. Orchards use giant fans to keep air circulating, which prevents the frost from setting in on the trees and fruit.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Welcome Indian summer
It looks like we are having an Indian summer, with no forecast for frost within the next 10 days. The Old Farmer's Almanac predicted a hard winter, though when it does get here.
I had been scurrying around like a squirrel burying nuts: making salsa, canning tomatoes and freezing enough to make my freezer bulge. Now, I am just enjoying the delightful result of continued high temperatures, and eating beans off the vine. So far, no sign of deer. The Swiss chard will last till Thanksgiving, if the weather cooperates and the deer leave it alone.
Our Brussel sprouts produced a bumper crop. I left the top sprouts on, because they are smaller and the plant is hardy enough to endure pretty cold temperatures, well past our first frost.
A disappointment was our zucchini plants. They had beautiful leaves and blooms, and I would notice a zuke growing, then it would be gone in a few days. I finally saw one in the process of rotting. The zukes would grow to a small size, then shrivel up and decompose. By the time I realized it, its too late. I've never had a problem having way too much zucchini until this year. I'll be on watch for that next year.
I had been scurrying around like a squirrel burying nuts: making salsa, canning tomatoes and freezing enough to make my freezer bulge. Now, I am just enjoying the delightful result of continued high temperatures, and eating beans off the vine. So far, no sign of deer. The Swiss chard will last till Thanksgiving, if the weather cooperates and the deer leave it alone.
Our Brussel sprouts produced a bumper crop. I left the top sprouts on, because they are smaller and the plant is hardy enough to endure pretty cold temperatures, well past our first frost.
A disappointment was our zucchini plants. They had beautiful leaves and blooms, and I would notice a zuke growing, then it would be gone in a few days. I finally saw one in the process of rotting. The zukes would grow to a small size, then shrivel up and decompose. By the time I realized it, its too late. I've never had a problem having way too much zucchini until this year. I'll be on watch for that next year.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Farmer's markets and orchards locations
Here are links for locations and hours of farmer's markets and orchards in Michigan.
The Michigan Farmer's Market Association at www.farmersmarkets.msu.edu/ has a good list of markets with addresses and open times here. Click here for Oakland County: Find your local famer's market
Here's a good list of apple orchards by area: http://www.allaboutapples.com/orchard/mi.htm
The Michigan Farmer's Market Association at www.farmersmarkets.msu.edu/ has a good list of markets with addresses and open times here. Click here for Oakland County: Find your local famer's market
Here's a good list of apple orchards by area: http://www.allaboutapples.com/orchard/mi.htm
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Get the Ball Blue Book Guide
Get the Ball Blue Book Guide to Home Canning, Freezing & Dehydration. It is a very good, easy-to-reference guide, and it only costs around $5.99 at www.freshpreserving.com and at Meijer in the home canning section.
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