Winding down

I think I am going to try some Canadian roses next year.

This spring I planted a floribunda rose I got at Walmart. It was a pink one called Gene Boerner. The crazy thing is still blooming even after some -5 temperatures. It has no fragrance to it at all but it sure has pretty blossoms.

You might want to try and find it.

GK

Megan, I have a brain-dead rose, too -- it's an old one, climbing up the structure of the old well that's still on the property here.

It's LOADED with blooms right now -- so I don't have the heart to cut it back yet. It bloomed it little heart out this year (I think I'm the first tenant in a few rotations to give it any love, and it's responding!) -- so I'll hold off until the frost, then I'll prune it for winter.

Most everything else is hanging tough -- we're supposed to be down to the high 30s this week, so I have my fleece at the ready...and the greenhouse is already built and ready to place over the new plantings.

Speaking of brain-dead roses... in my back yard (the domain of tree roots and massive shade), there is a rose bush. Apparently the previous owners planted it there; why, I have no idea. We have aggressively ignored it. Seriously, we have not done a single thing to it in the last 10 years besides look at it, scratch our heads, and wonder that it still grows there. It has spread (I have no idea how it did that) into several bushes, and blooms changed color, which I assume means it has gone back to its rootstock. But it is still there. That is perhaps the one reason I hold out any hope for SFG'ing in the backyard... if that rose could survive in the partial light there, surely I can grow a few other things.

If anyone local really loves roses and has the know-how to dig that silly thing up without killing it, they are welcome to it. I haven't the heart to cut it down....but it is going to be in the way come springtime.

It sounds like a vigorous plant and could probably tolerate heavy pruning, then see what the spring brings. It may just be a lovely addition to your garden if you can get it under control.

Ok I'm using a ton of server space here...

Garden October 1, 2010


Another angle, October 1, 2010


My most productive 4'x6' bed, October 1, 2010


6 Gilbertie tomato plants stripped to the 10' vine; peppers in front. 10/9/10


Hidden in the pepper plants, Poblanos! 10/9/10


nearly empty bed 10/9/10


Last veggie yield 10/9/10


Plus the last square of basil


planting garlic 10/12/10


A little BS


Garden is ready for a cold night 10/10/10

Look at those cute little sprouts!! Camprn when did you plant your Brussel Sprouts?

Aub wrote:Look at those cute little sprouts!! Camprn when did you plant your Brussel Sprouts?

I put 5 BS seedlings into the garden on May 2, 2010. I planted them every other square because when they are young they do take quite a bit if space; they are in the 3rd bed away.


Here is a stalk on October 1, 2010

I am planning on leaving them in the garden until I need them. They can freeze on the stalk.

Here's how my BS looked before I pulled them out 2 weeks ago...

Aub, I don't see a picture?

Let's see if this works...


Yes, no?

I see a picture!

but it is not a picture of brussel sprouts is it?

That's what he wanted to be when he grew up.

Aub wrote:That's what he wanted to be when he grew up.

Not sure if I should laugh or cry at that!

I planted some garlic on October 3rd and when I pulled out the broccoli plants in the adjacent squares (so I can put a cover over the box) I disturbed one of the garlic cloves and it has roots! That is good, right? I buried it again, sharpish.

I've still got carrots and parsnips growing in another box, plus some sweetpeas which have flowers on so I haven't the heart to pull them up.

No getting away from the fact that summer is over though. The temperature is supposed to drop to 3°C next week.

We're expecting first frost tonight, Icemaiden...supposed to warm back up a little and not frost again for a while, but brr.

Winding Down?

Howdy Folks:

I'm Winding Up! Building 4X4 Table Top boxes, converting 2X8's to Table Tops, propergating strawberries (600 so far), mixing MM, going out and getting more horse, goat and municipal compost. Gathering supplies to make weed proof landscaping for under the boxes etc. Onions re-sprouted from the spring plantings. One squash plant still making squash, tomatoes have slowed down and only a few plants left. Cabbage looks great. Un-harvested potatoes from the spring have suddenly put up new green tops. And yesterday found where a nursery had tossed out summer plants in quart size containers and got as much as I could haul away. The plants are done for but the soil in them is almost MM so we will mix that in with our home-made MM. Yep, I'll wind down in a bit, but, right now I'm having a blast.

God Bless, Ward and Mary.