Dreaming of Growth
Two Red Kuri Squash and bunches of Danvers 126 carrots grown from High Mowing Seeds.
My seeds came in the mail today! I ordered them from High Mowing Organic Seeds. This is my fourth year working with the garden.
Every fall at the end of the growing season Ryan and I rake up leaves from two maple trees in our backyard and pile them on to big black tarps that we drag and dump all over the garden beds. I have been using pine shavings mixed with goat manure to fill the pathways between the garden beds. My hope is between the leaves and decomposing plant matter in addition to the pine shavings and goat manure, we are providing enough material to feed the soil in and around the 15 permanent garden beds.
Last year I planted King of the North Peppers, Shisito Peppers, Watermelon and tomatoes indoors and transplanted them outside on May 13th. They were all killed by a frost on May 23rd. That’s what I get for planting the garden prior to Memorial Day in Vermont. I think the frost killed 90% of the Concord grape vine fruit as well. Also last year, I did not put the garden fence up right away and I think a lot of the Oregon Sugar Pod Snow Peas were enjoyed by rabbits.
Danvers 126 carrot, Hong Vit Radish Greens, and Winter Density Lettuce did well. As did Red Kuri Squash, Black Futsu Pumpkin, Roy’s Calais and Painted Mountain Corn, and Seychelles Pole Beans. German Butterball and Yukon Gold Potatoes did well too. We had some Adirondack Blue Potatoes and Yukon Gold Potatoes as volunteers left over in garden beds from the previous growing season.
Last year was the first year I planted Black Magic Kale and Champion Collards. They eventually did well. They had a slow start and were shaded out by volunteer Black Dye Hopi Sunflowers planted in the garden bed the first year. I didn’t feel like cutting them out because they looked happy and birds love them. We ate Kale and Collards in the fall and the goats loved eating their leaves too.
This year I’m experimenting with growing Greek Oregano, Thyme, and Sweet Marjoram herbs. Additional seeds I am experimenting with are: Blue Coco Pole Beans, Benning’s Green Tint Summer Squash, Bull’s Blood Beet Greens, Red Russian Kale, and Marigold Pinwheel.
Regulars in the garden and included for 2024 are:
Potatoes: Yukon Gold, German Butterball
Winter Squash: Delicata, Honeyboat
Snow Peas: Avalanche, Mammoth Melting
Sunflowers: Hopi Black Dye
Cinderella Pumpkin
I also bought Medium Red Clover seeds to throw around the yard. Typically I walk around and throw down clover seeds where I find muddy gaps in the lawn or our fields. I think skunks turn over the grass by the garden boxes and compost bin creating giant dead zones perfect for seeding red clover.
I hope the 2024 growing season is productive and abundant for the grapes. The garden smells so delicious when the Concord grapes are ripe. Also, birds really love them!
