157. O is for Organic. Or: The State of the Food Garden Address II

The last time I did a State of the Food Garden Address was May 5th.  Though there have been incremental updates about various pieces of the garden, I think it's time to do another comprehensive wrap-up.  I thought it was time anyway, but then I went out and took some photos.  And then I looked at that May 5th post, and wow!  This blogging-every-day thing is good for some things -- for chronicling whatever it is you want to chronicle, and to help your memory, because I am simply amazed at where we are now, one month later as I write this, compared to where we were then. 

I'm also amazed at how early I have gone "off the grid," to borrow a commenter's phrase that I adored (I'm sorry I can't remember who), this year for buying vegetables.  I have not bought a vegetable, and indulged in as much/many as I possibly can indulge, for at least a few weeks now.  This doesn't usually happen for me until, at the very earliest, mid-July.  I think it's a combination of the magic of the black grow beds, the optimum condition (finally!) of my soil, the lovely Intervale compost, and we must not discount the weather, but my garden has never done so well before.

So why don't we get to it, then.

In the foreground of this photo, we have the second planting of beets.  See the onions way in the back, how big they are compared to before?  And it's hard to see how much more advanced that bed of beets is.  In the middle is a bed from which many, many radishes have been harvested and more are still growing; many salads' worth of lettuces and spinach have been repeatedly harvested; as well as parsley; and the Swiss chard is really taking off now.  On the right of the photo are two rows of peas.  Interestingly, the closer one is the first one I planted. I was worried about that row, because the one I planted several weeks later is far ahead of it. You can see that in the far right distance of the photo.  But then I discovered that the first ones I planted are "mid-season" peas and the ones in the back are Amish early peas.  Still, it strikes me as counterintuitive that the planting times don't seem to make sense, though it might fall back on the soil temperature for germination issue.  Once again, I grew up thinking that peas love it cold.  They do, but only within reason, it appears. There's cold and then there's cold. 

A pot of arugula set on some stones at the edge of the garden.  Decorative and useful.

The pole beans have germinated.  I was beginning to get worried about them, but I needn't have worried, I guess. 

Composting and mulching at the same time.  I've been pouring kitchen cuttings (but nothing that will attract varmints, such as partial apples or anything tempting like that) in the centers of the bean towers.  Food for the worms, which becomes food for the beans, and while it's decomposing, it acts as a nice moisture-retaining mulch.

We've got green strawberries!

And two kinds of pears!  They look like they're doing well.  The Summercrisp (on the left) seems to be doing particularly well.  I attribute this to two things:  It's planted in friable and beautiful garden soil, not just "anywhere" in the yard, and it's heavily mulched with the leaves that I rescued from the landfill.  And the little Seckel pears (on the right) seem to be doing well, too.  My experience tells me that it will be a miracle if these pears survive the bugs, etc., if I leave them wholly organic.  But I will anyway. 

My started-from-seed broccoli is thriving.

As is the Romaine.

Here is a collection of six hot and sweet peppers that I started from seed, and to maximize space, I crafted a trellis for cucumbers at the edge of the bed.  I used old bamboo poles and a purchased nylon (ick, but...) trellis from Gardener's Supply.  I formed it into a lean-to, supporting it on the ground outside the bed.  This allows the cukes to grow in the bed, benefiting from the gorgeous compost/potting soil in the bed, as well as the better and warmer growing environment than my awful native soil, but since it's a vining plant, it can vine away up the trellis without taking up a lot of space from the peppers.   

And just when I thought I had seen it all, and I was walking into the house, a little something caught my eye. 

Green tomatoes.  In Northwestern Vermont.  On June 5th.  This is a stunner.  These are the "currant tomatoes" I started from seed indoors this spring, and despite the unseasonably cold weather we've had up 'til now, check it OUT!  I continue to stand by my belief that that red tomato mulch is pure magic. 

And now, for a little bad news:  I've got slugs.  Lots of them.  That is to be expected with all the lovely organic materials about.  I have a weapon, though, and it's a good one -- not poisonous.

It's simply iron phosphate pellets.  It works like a charm, and it doesn't take much.  Yes, I've tried beer in dishes.  I can't be bothered.  This stuff is much better.  They eat it and apparently lose their hunger so they stop eating. I got it here, although they seem to have either run out or have simply changed the product to a "supreme" version.  I've sworn by it for years.

Comments

[Kristen]

Gardens Alive! also carries Escar-Go, but they also seem to have only the "supreme" version. Perhaps the company switched? Garden looks great! We're supposed to have miserable temperatures here the next several days (92), but I'm trying to be "good" and think about how much the tomato plants will like it.

[carrie]

I am so jealous of your currant tomatoes! Mine, admittedly planted far, far, late, are still teeny tiny (May 8th) - they are only an inch or two tall and have only 1 set of true leaves. :( Good thing the romas are going great guns. Too bad they are determinate - it's feast or famine around here, I tell 'ya. One of these days I'll figure out the whole "multiple sowing" concept. :)

[Mel]

I haven't seen slugs around the house yet, but I did see a few smooshed in the road on my run today. I reckon I'll be needing to place an order soon myself.

[lisa]

Will have to look for the escar-go, thanks for the tip!

[Carole]

I've never had luck with the beer in a pan thing either. I'm not sure if the slugs don't like it or if Dale sneaks out there and drinks it before they get a chance.

[Manise]

Very nice! Considering how far north you are, things have really taken off! The cool has been got for most of what you have. Yes the red plastic mulch does make a difference.

[margene]

Your garden looks farther along than most I've seen around here. Of course, I don't know many gardens. If my mother were around she'd LOVE your blog (except when you drop f-bombs). ;-)

[SUE]

Wow! My currant tomatoes are huge and flowering like crazy, but no fruit set yet. Very jealous...

[Teresa]

Escar-go! hahahaha. That is a funny name. I'll be on the look out for slugs now.

[jessica~]

Beautiful garden!! The pears look lovely and I love what you did with the arugula. Tomatoes!! I purchased some of that mulch for my mother-in-law. Haven't given it to her yet, though...

[Maggie]

Escar-go looks like a much better way of dealing w/slugs than my early morning smoosh fests, or my apre work drop em in vinegar methods. Thanks for the tip! I don't know where they all come form but they have decimated at least 5 of my pepper plants ~pout

[Vicki]

Wow. Almost makes me want to transform the entire back yard!!! I love these occasionall state of things addresses.

[marianne]

Egads, Norma! Your garden is by far the loveliest I've yet to see... anywhere. period. Makes me yearn for a nice bright sunny patch of yard and of course, if we continue in this current weather pattern I may just get it!

[Marcia Cooke]

Your garden is SO far ahead of mine, and I'm at least a zone or two warmer than you! I'm just late getting things started. Still don't have the beans in....we prepped the bed yesterday, then got about two inches of rain last night. No beans getting planted today, for sure!

[Carol]

I was just saying the same thing to my mother last night. We are overrun by the spinach, lettuce, kale and broccoli rabe at the moment. I said I don't understand why more people don't do this and she said it's too much work. Rubbish. Too much work is strapping 2 young kids in the car and running around a nasty grocery store while the littlest one tries to pull things off shelves and the bigger one whines for something and you pay high prices for bashed up organic produce flown from 2000 miles away. I walk out to the garden at 5:30pm and figure out what's for dinner. Now which one sounds like too much work?

[Carol in North Bend]

Norma, you'll enjoy this: I instantly knew this was a garden post, and yet read the headline as "O is for Orgasmic."

Misplaced longing, I'm sure, as at this moment in beautiful North Bend, Washington, it is 45 degrees and raining, and anything foolish enough to bloom is a sodden mass.

Thanks for sharing YOUR garden-- it's beautiful (and dry!), looks delicious (and dry!), not to mention warm (and DRY!!).

[Gillian]

Have you ever tried preparing a few of your pears for Poire William? It's doable. I'd love to do it again, but only have crab apples. Even writing it is giving me ideas...apple brandy. And I shall have to see if I can get any red plastic mulch close by. Thanks for the ideas.

[Cathy-Cate]

Merci pour l'Escar-Go! Slugs are a plague in my back garden, especially with the cool, moist weather we've had. I will track it down.

At this rate, you'll be to Z by the end of June!

Your garden is so lush and amazing. I'm sure, as you said, it's the culmination of years of amendment and fine-tuning, and learning, and also some fortunate weather; but it's so lovely to see all those yummy and fresh-looking veggies (& fruits) in full spate, so I thank you for sharing.

[AmyP]

Yum - edible green things!

[claudia]

Wow. That is a whole lotta food.