Re: Second Year SFG in Canada

**trolleydriver** 8/1/2016, 7:43 pm

I need to get moving on planting empty squares for a Fall crop. I just counted 18 (out of a total of 104) squares that currently are empty. I've only got a couple of days before we head off on another trip. I will be sowing seeds directly in the MM and because we will be away for 10 or 11 days it's going to be hit or miss as to whether or not they germinate. While we are away, the only watering will be in the form of rain which could be a problem.

I may try starting some things in seed trays with a mini plastic greenhouse covers to keep the moisture in. If I do this I'll place them in a shady area where they will get light but no direct sun.

I checked some planting charts for my location and it looks like I could sow arugula, beets, carrots, kale, lettuce, onions (overwinter), scallions, pac choi, peas, potatoes, radishes, spinach, swiss chard and turnip.

**Kelejan** 8/3/2016, 12:51 am

Give them all a good soaking and hope for the best. You are just as likely to have some heavy rain. Not much really that you can do about it I think.

Going somewhere good. Mr. & Mrs. TD?

**trolleydriver** 8/3/2016, 8:11 am

Kelejan wrote:Give them all a good soaking and hope for the best. You are just as likely to have some heavy rain. Not much really that you can do about it I think.

Going somewhere good. Mr. & Mrs. TD?

Yup ... lots of water for the SFG beds and other gardens. There does not seem to be much rain in the forecast.

Our trip will be to the Toronto-Hamilton-Niagara areas. Planned activities include

Visiting our daughter and her family including three of our grandchildren ages 4 to 8
Spending time with a friend who lost his wife to cancer earlier this year
Doing a mini vacation with another couple we vacation with every year (this year includes a dinner cruise on the Grand River and the Cirques du Soleil show in Toronto)
Pick up my 90 year old Mom who lives near Niagara Falls and bring her back to Ottawa for a visit with us

**trolleydriver** 8/3/2016, 3:11 pm

Harvested the last two kohlrabi ...

Second Year SFG in Canada - Page 19 IMG_2372_zpsxfnjkr6b

Second Year SFG in Canada - Page 19 IMG_2373_zps5g51aicx

And here is one for "Only a Gardener Would ..." thread. I mowed the lawn and spread out the grass clippings to dry for future use in the compost bin.
Second Year SFG in Canada - Page 19 IMG_2379_zpsxdqo6gt4

Second Year SFG in Canada - Page 19 IMG_2379_zpsxdqo6gt4

**Kelejan** 8/3/2016, 3:14 pm

TD, you wondered in the Canadian thread where I get my energy. Well, I wonder where your get your energy and you aren't even retired yet unless I missed it.

Sounds like another interesting break for you and I am sure you will let us know how things turn out. Safe journey to you both.

**trolleydriver** 8/3/2016, 3:21 pm

Kelejan wrote:TD, you wondered in the Canadian thread where I get my energy. Well, I wonder where your get your energy and you aren't even retired yet unless I missed it.

Sounds like another interesting break for you and I am sure you will let us know how things turn out. Safe journey to you both.

Actually I have been retired from secular employment for about four years! There are times when I get quite busy with the Lord's work.

CapeCoddess 8/3/2016, 6:23 pm

When you direct plant your seeds can you cover them over with straw? That may hold the moisture in and then the little plants can come up if they want to. I put square cut out of screen over my carrots and covered that with pine needles until they came up.

CC

**Scorpio Rising** 8/3/2016, 7:01 pm

TD, yes, only a gardener would do that!

Sounds like a great trip! Like others, water really good, and MM will take care of ya! I was away for 8 days, zero rain, and all alive. Only flowers watered in terra cotta on patio.....have fun!

**trolleydriver** 8/3/2016, 7:11 pm

Scorpio Rising wrote:TD, yes, only a gardener would do that!

Sounds like a great trip! Like others, water really good, and MM will take care of ya! I was away for 8 days, zero rain, and all alive. Only flowers watered in terra cotta on patio.....have fun!

I got all the new seeds sown and did a deep watering of the TT and other SFG boxes. And now we are even getting a little rain. We shall see how it turns out. Everything survived during our previous 10 day absence so I think we will be OK for this 12 day trip. If the new seeds do not sprout it will not be a big loss. In the TT I put in three wine bottles and a plastic bottle, inverted with small holes in the caps.

**trolleydriver** 8/12/2016, 9:32 am

Second Year SFG in Canada - Page 19 Fb_img10

We are still away from home. Our daughter-in-law posted this photo on Facebook with the comment "raided grandpa's garden". Apparently there has been no rain in Ottawa during our absence but there has been several heat warnings. It will be interesting to see the gardens when we get back.

CapeCoddess 8/12/2016, 11:21 am

Pretty! Did she water, too?

**trolleydriver** 8/12/2016, 1:06 pm

CapeCoddess wrote:Pretty! Did she water, too?

They check on the house but do not water the gardens.

**sanderson** 8/13/2016, 3:45 pm

Good looking harvest!

**trolleydriver** 8/14/2016, 4:14 pm

After a 6 hour drive we have arrived back home. I did a quick check of the gardens. The SFG beds, including the TT, seem to be OK even though there was no rain until the last two days that we were away. Tomorrow I'll do a complete inventory of what was growing and what was planted (from seeds) just before we left 11 days ago.

**Kelejan** 8/15/2016, 1:48 am

I look forward to seeing good results. Now, back to "work".

**trolleydriver** 8/15/2016, 10:43 am

Here is the inventory of things sown on August 2nd and 3rd before we went away for 11 days. Each entry is for a one foot square.

Old Style SFG Bed 1

Potatoes - no sign of the "eye" pieces that were planted in each of two squares ... probably eaten by something
Arugula - Many sprouts are up but they have holes in the leaves (flea beetles suspected)

New SFG Box 1

Pak Choi - No sprouts
Carrot (Rainbow) - No sprouts
Carrot (Chantenay) - No sprouts

New SFG Box 2

Kale Mix - No sprouts
Peas - One sprout only

New SFG Box 3

Kale - Sprouts in 3 of the 4 spots in the square (all have holes in leaves)
Spinach - Sprouts in 8 of the 9 spots
Beet - Sprouts in 4 of the 9 spots
Radish - sprouts in 16 of 16 spots (holes in leaves which is to be expected since radish are "trap crops" for flea beetles)
Pak Choi - No sprouts
Lettuce - Sprouts in 4 of the 4 spots
Turnip - No sprouts

Table Top

Spicy Salad Leaves - No sprouts (looks like something was digging in the square)

Overall Observation

Only 6 of 15 squares have produced results so far
I need to check the germination times for the things that did not sprout to see if they are just delayed
I have a flea beetle infestation which I knew about earlier. Up to now I have lived with the problem but it may be time to take some action.
Sprouts will need to be thinned out to one plant per spot

CapeCoddess 8/15/2016, 11:14 am

I have a terrible time getting direct fall seeding to sprout now. I think it requires one or two waterings a day in this heat to get them sprouting. I do better starting them indoors. Only things that direct sprouted for me so far were peas (that have since been heat fried down to 1/5 of of what sprouted), mustard spinach (a trooper!) and 3 out of numerous mustard seeds. I'm going to try collards direct once this heat passes.

Welcome home!
Very Happy

CC

countrynaturals 8/15/2016, 11:20 am

CapeCoddess wrote:I have a terrible time getting direct fall seeding to sprout now. I think it requires one or two waterings a day in this heat to get them sprouting. I do better starting them indoors. Only things that direct sprouted for me so far were peas (that have since been heat fried down to 1/5 of of what sprouted), mustard spinach (a trooper!) and 3 out of numerous mustard seeds. I'm going to try collards direct once this heat passes.

Welcome home!

CC

Great minds think alike! Razz

Except for root crops and cover crops, I will probably never direct seed again. I love my little Jiffy Pellets and the produce much better results. I love you

**trolleydriver** 8/15/2016, 11:56 am

Today's harvest.

Second Year SFG in Canada - Page 19 IMG_2411_zps22kzzbw3

Second Year SFG in Canada - Page 19 IMG_2413_zpsrny8zshs

Second Year SFG in Canada - Page 19 IMG_2415_zpsyaqo34hx

Second Year SFG in Canada - Page 19 IMG_2418_zps5qisluuw

Putting it all together ...
Second Year SFG in Canada - Page 19 IMG_2419_zpsls5tsjcd

This does not include the Kale and Swiss Chard that was harvested for a green smoothie. There are also several cabbages which appear to be ready.

CapeCoddess 8/15/2016, 1:02 pm

Wow! Beeeeautiful! Garden has been productive in your absence. Maybe I need to go away...

**Kelejan** 8/15/2016, 7:37 pm

TD, you present your harvest very well in those baskets. Ever thought of putting some of your produce in a local Harvest competition?

Every time I go to our local one in September and look at the produce on display, I think that perhaps I may be good enough to get a place tag. Some people take it very seriously but I know many people who enter just for the fun of it. That will be me.
The trouble is to get three items that match in size, colour and taste.

I will try and get a schedule and the classes and what is required. Last year I had some beautiful self-sown Scarlet Runner beans that were much better than my planted crop and I was sure I could have won something to brag about.

**trolleydriver** 8/15/2016, 8:29 pm

Kelejan wrote:... Ever though of putting some of your produce in a local Harvest competition? ...

Kelejan ... That had not crossed my mind until you mentioned it. I should go to some of the agricultural fairs and see what is being presented for comparison with what I am growing.

**trolleydriver** 8/16/2016, 12:15 pm

A small harvest today consisting of tomatoes and an eggplant as well as some Chard and Kale leaves for a green smoothie.

Second Year SFG in Canada - Page 19 IMG_2420_zpsf6tjmmtj

Second Year SFG in Canada - Page 19 IMG_2420_zpsf6tjmmtj

Now this does not look good. The leaves on this big beef tomato plant are dying. I probably should remove the plant but I think the problem has already spread to the other plants.
Second Year SFG in Canada - Page 19 IMG_2422_zpspw1zcnrl

Second Year SFG in Canada - Page 19 IMG_2422_zpspw1zcnrl

Second Year SFG in Canada - Page 19 IMG_2425_zpsrpiapenh

**Scorpio Rising** 8/16/2016, 10:14 pm

Nice pics! Yummo!

I think at this point in our tomato season, I might let it ride. Late date, maters on the vine....they will ripen. you are there...tell us, or more pics?

**trolleydriver** 8/17/2016, 12:04 am

Scorpio Rising wrote:... I think at this point in our tomato season, I might let it ride. Late date, maters on the vine....they will ripen. you are there...tell us, or more pics?

You are probably right. I'll monitor the situation for a while. Next year I'm going to try to find another location for growing tomatoes. I think I've used the current location for too many years.

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