City Compost.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?CityCom 30 April 2009 City Compost
Brantford supplies daily two garbage cans of vegetative compost free of charge for 30 days starting about the end of April. I pick up about half a yard daily using a box in my van. This compost is placed in bins and used during the Summer, and placed on the beds for over-wintering. This is my only fertilizer. I get 3.5 wheelbarrows or about 55 shovels full, or two 45 gallon drum garbage cans full each day. Time expended 2 hours.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?CityCo 1 May 2009 More City Compost
It rained last night, so the compost was quite wet, meaning I got a good load. I find compost breaks up clay remarkably well, and the price is right. I could probably get a load from a commercial site delivered at about $40.00 per yard. The effort only takes about an hour and a half from the time I leave the house to having it all unloaded. It is a pleasant form of exercise for at least 30 days.

Rhubarb

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Rhubarb 28 April 2009 Rhubarb
Rhubarb is amongst the first edible plants to start growing in the Spring. Chives is slightly sooner. The stalks are pulled when a suitable length and diameter about 1.5 cm is reached. The stalks are harvested to about the 20th of June, then the plant is allowed to accumulate food for next year's growth.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?RhubarbC 3 May 2009 First Rhubarb
A few of the larger stalks were pulled, and this makes a bowl full of cooked rhubarb.Rhubarb stalks are almost all water, so it takes a fair number of stalks to make any quantity of sauce.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?RhubarbI 12 May 2009 Rhubarb
A few of the largest stalks were pulled. The leaves will be used to make an insecticide on a trial basis. Here is the method. Boil 500 grams of rhubarb leaves in a few pints of water for about 20 minutes, allow to cool, then strain the liquid into a suitable container. Add some dish detergent and spray on leaves to kill off all kinds of bugs like aphids and spider mites.

NOTE: Rhubarb leaves contain high amounts of oxalic acid. If ingested, your heart will stop and you will die.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?RhubarbT 18 May 2009 Rhubarb Third Picking

Pak Choy

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?PakChoy 26 April 2009 White-stemmed Pak Choy

This delicious stir fry plant germinated in about 8 days. The plant is quite large and certainly is one of my favorite stir fry greens. To mature properly growing space is essential. I separate five or six inches.

Daffodils

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Daffodils 25 April 2009 Daffodils. My small patch is blooming now. They are always an attractive Spring flower.

Potato Test Box

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?TestBox 25 April 2009 Potato Test Box
A test to determine if potatoes grow from the stem of the plant. The box makes hilling relatively easy. At the end of the season the boards will be removed carefully, starting from the top and the actions photographed. One potato, Red Pontiac, was chosen. The potato is hilled daily, and will be continued until blossoms start to form.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?PotatoU 27 May 2009 Potato Test Box
Pictures depicting growth and hilling procedure.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?TESTP 2 June 2009 Another four inch board added to the box and the potato hilled.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?TestBoxP 7 June 2009 Test Potato Box
Another four inch board added to the height.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?EIFPD 17 August 2009 Potato Test Box
The seed potato is about six inches below the bottom of the box. The plant was carefully hilled often as the stalk grew. Hilling ceased when the flowers started to form. According to some there should be potatoes along stolens growing all along the stem. Experience has indicated that this is simply not the case. It will be a few weeks before the upper boards are removed and pictures supplied at each removal.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?ZELNG 21 August 2009 How a Potato Plant Grows
Potato growing test box was opened today. The pictures literally speak for themselves. Clearly there is no advantage in carrying out excessive hilling when growing potatoes. The purpose of hlling is to insure the tubers are covered. For comparison one Pontiac Red was dug in the same row, which was almost identical to the test box potato in appearance.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?PotatoS Summary: Potato Test Box

Dracunculus vulgaris

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Dracu 24 April 2009 Dracunculus vulgaris
Originally started with two bulbs. This is the third year, and they over-winter. Grown since the large dark red flower is rather unique, and it has a strong fly attracting odor for a day to encourage pollination. The plant needs no special care, and completely disappears long before Fall, in other words goes underground.

Dracunculus vulgaris (aka Arum dracunculus) is variously called the Dragon Arum, Voodoo Lily, Ragons, Snake Lily, Black Arum, Black Dragon, Dragonwort, and Stink Lily. In Greece it is called Drakondia (Ref. Paghat's Garden)

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?DracV 4 May 2009 Dracunculus vulgaris
Plant growth is quite good.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Dracunculus 20 June 2009 Dracunculus vulgaris
Plant bloomed today. The pollination odor is not present yet.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?ODSMU 17 August 2009 Dracunculus vulgaris Seed Head
This is the first year that seeds have been produced. I will try to propagate some from seed.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?DJEVG 22 August 2009 Dracunculus vulgaris Seed Head
The head is slowly changing color.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?APBHH 11 September 2009 Dracunculus vulgaris Seed Head
Dracuncul vulgaris seed head now a bright red throughout. The seed pods are soft and mushy. There are two seeds in each pod. Stalks are getting soft and starting to fall over.


http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Dvulgaris Summary: Dracunculus vulgaris

Litchi Tomato (Solanum sysimbrifolium)

Litchi Tomato (Solanum sysimbrifolium) This is a new plant for 2009. The four plants are thriving.
Seeds purchased here.
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?VBNGT

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Litchi2 11 April 2009 Litchi Tomato (Solanum sysimbrifolium) Morelle de Balbis Growth since 18 February 2009

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?LitchiT 24 April 2009 Litchi Tomato (Solanum sysimbrifolium)

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?LitchiO 15 May 2009 Litchi Tomato (Solanum sysimbrifolium)
One plant was placed outdoors and will be covered if temperature is low.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?LitchiJ 24 June 2009 Litchi Tomato (Solanum sysimbrifolium)
Growth is excellent and fruit is forming. The Colorado Potato Beetle prefers this plant to potatoes.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?DYKRI 1 September 2009 Harvesting Litchi tomato
Litchi Tomato (Solanum sysimbrifolium)
Scissors and gloves were used to pick the Litchi fruit, due to many thorns. The fruit is prone to splitting if heavy rainfall and sun follow each other. There are many blossoms and immature fruit left, and if the season allows an 8 quart basket will be the total harvest. The fruit is pleasant to eat and will be used for snacks raw. One of the two plant in the garden was much superior in growth and fruit production.
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?LitchiTm Summary: Litchi Tomato

First Bee of 2009

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?FiBee 18 April 2009 First Bee of 2009
It is always a pleasure to see bees in the garden. Apparently there will be more soon, since Ontario is banning many pesticides.
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?BanPest

Ontario’s lawns, gardens, school yards and parks will be a lot healthier beginning Earth Day, April 22, 2009. That’s the effective date of the province’s cosmetic pesticides ban.

Physalis pruinosa (Aunt Molly Ground Cherry)

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Molly 20 April 2009 Physalis pruinosa (Aunt Molly Ground Cherry)

This plant grows close to the ground and spreads in about a four foot diameter with many branches. The fruit always fall off when ripe and is rather difficult to collect under the many branches. I place landscaping material under the plants for ease of collection, and to keep the fruit from falling into the soil. Physalis pruinosa is most prolific and the fruit is delicious cooked or raw. One plant will produce about a half a bushel of fruit under ideal conditions. No insects attack my plants-touch wood.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?PhysalisP 14 May 2009 Physalis pruinosa.
Three plants were placed in the outdoor garden. An old tarp which usually covers pools was placed under the plants to catch the ripe fruit when it falls off the branches. Rain water seeps through this type of tarp, and the fruit is kept free of earth, and pickling is simply scooping the fruit up.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?AMolly 26 June 2009 Physalis pruinosa (Aunt Molly Ground Cherry)
Fruit is forming and the three plants are thriving.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?XPRZT 16 August 2009 Aunt Molly Ground Cherry (Physalis pruinosa)
First fruit of the season picked. The fruit must be a bright yellow with minimum green showing for the best flavor, also if slightly green the fruit has an unpleasant taste. I eat them raw and about 20 makes a fine snack. Cooked they are most delicious, and they make a fine pie almost peach in taste. There are three plants in the patch, and they spread extensively.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?TLTVG 1 September 2009 Aunt Molly Ground Cherry ((Physalis pruinosa) Harvesting
This fruit drops off the plant under the lush vegetation. Vegetation is propped up with a stake and the fruit is picked off the ground. The fruit has been slow ripening due to cold weather. There is always numerous unripe fruit, when frost ends the season.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?HHVTD Summary 2009: Physalis pruinosa

Physalis peruviana L (Ground Cherry)

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?PPeruviana 20 April 2009 Physalis peruviana L Ground Cherry
This plant was grown in 2008. It was found to require warm temperatures, and is relatively slow growing compared to the Physalis pruinosa ( Aunt Molly Ground Cherry). The fruit tends to stay on the stems of the plant when ripe, which is a plus. The fruit is large about the size of a good sized cherry, and probably a third larger than the Physalis pruinosa. The plant require about a 3 to 4 foot cube space for growing, so I grow three or four plants.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Peruviana 15 May 2009 Physalis peruviana L Ground Cherry
One plant was placed in an ideal location, full sun and not crowded. The plant was mulched and a cover supplied in the event of a frost.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?CapeG 26 June 2009 Physalis peruviana L Ground Cherry
Common name is Cape Gooseberry. This plant is basically upright as opposed to sprawling low to the ground.

Tomato Plant Support System

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?TomSup 20 April 2009 Tomato Plant Support System

Having used most of the tomato support systems over the years, I decided to make my own unique support. I found supporting the tomato plants by overhead ropes was the best for the plant, but I use to build an overhead structure, which was often not in the position or place desired. This system is individual and unique for use on the plant anywhere in the garden area.

Concrete reinforcing mesh is cut into 18 inch squares with a bolt cutter, and electric welded to an 8 foot half inch rebar. The rebar is hammered into the ground about two feet for good support. The tomato plant main stem is tied to the rebar using pipe cleaners, and the outer stems of the plant are held in place by soft clothesline rope secured with plastic ties.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?AdjMesh 23 April 2009 Adjustable Tomato Plant Support
The top mesh was modified to make the system adjustable in height, and as a convenience for storage, when not in use. Common parts were obtained from a hardware store and electric welded as necessary.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?TomatoS 18 May 2009 Tomato Support System
One tomato plant was place in the outdoor garden, frost is still possible. The support system is depicted in the pictures. Basically the plant is held in position by strings, tied to an overhead support. The rebar is eight feet long pounded into the ground about 18 inches. The plants are spaced at two foot centers, which is adequate using this support system.

Pulsatilla vulgaris (Pasque Flower)

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Pulsatilla 18 April 2009 Pulsatilla vulgaris (Pasque Flower, Common Pasque flower, Dane's Blood)

There are two clumps in the garden. They are early Spring bloomers and most attractive. The pasque flower is the official state flower of South Dakota and the provincial flower of Manitoba.

Composting

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Composting 18 April 2009 Composting
The outer portion of the overwintered compost pile was put through the Chipper/Shredder to make smaller pieces before placing in the garden beds. The center of the compost pile is still frozen. There is only about two cubic yards of material. Composting is always an ongoing concern with any garden of a reasonable size. The 10 hp MTG Chipper/Shredder was purchased in 2001 and is still in fine condition.
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Ucompost 19 April 2009 Utilizing Compost
About half a yard of compost was ready for spreading. A number of Alpine strawberry plants will be arriving soon, and the compost was spread on the bed and rototilled into the underlying soil.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?RotoCompost 23 April 2009 Rototilling Compost Pile
The over-winter compost pile was rototilled. The heap is still frozen in the center. There is about 2 cubic yards of material, that have been brewing since about September 2008. It will be placed on the tomato bed just prior to planting at the end of May.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Spreading 25 April 2009 Compost pile added to Garden Bed
One cubic yard or 7 wheelbarrow loads of compost was added to a garden bed. Time 54 minutes. This will be rototilled in later. Bed is being prepared for tomato plants.

Beets

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Beets 17 April 2009 Beets (Detroit)
Beets planted. Pictures depicting the method used.
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?BeetsG 26 April 2009 Beets Germinated
The beets germinated in 8 days. Obviously the weather has been accommodating.
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?BeetSds 6 May 2009 Planting a row of beet seeds.
More beet seeds were planted

Cucumbers

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?PCucumbers 17 April 2009 Cucumbers (Cross Country Hybrid)

Cucumbers cannot tolerate any frost and grow poorly if the soil is cold, so I start them about a month before the time to plant in the garden about 1 June. The pots will be kept warm above 25 C until germination. They will be just starting to vine in about a month. The contents of the pot is placed in a hill along the 8 foot trellis, four hills of three plants. The vines will be encouraged to climb the trellis. Cross Country Hybrid are most prolific and a rich green color. They are great slicing and pickling cucumbers.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?CucumbersG 22 April 2008 Cucumbers. Germination in five days
Cucumber seedlings started to protrude from the soil this morning. The temperature was kept around 25 degrees C, and the moisture of the soil was kept high.


http://www.durgan.org/URL/?CucumberG 15 May 2009 Cucumbers moved to outdoor garden.
The four pots containing two or three plants per pot were moved to the outdoor garden. They will be covered at night if necessary, since frost is likely on some days in May.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?CucumberF 18 May 2009 Cucumber frost damage
Cucumber plants were covered with a heavy five gallon pail and this was inadequate, so the cucumbers were all destroyed. I have another planting awaiting germination indoors. Didn't beat the season this time.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?GerminationC 21 May 2009 Cucumbers (Cross Country Hybrid) Germination.
Germination was commenced on 18 May 2009 and most of the seeds germinated in two to three days, at a temperature of about 28 degrees C. The medium was kept relatively wet, but was well drained slightly sandy soil. Heat was supplied by as body heating pad under the plastic holding container.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?CucumberSP 4 June 2009 Cucumbers (Cross Country Hybrid)
Second planting. The flea beetles have attacked the leaves, but growth is adequate. It has been very cold, since they were placed in the outdoor garden on 29 May 2009.

Radish

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Radish 16 April 2009 Planting Radish Seed

The "Valentine" radish seed from Stokes Seeds was planted today. The seed was carefully spaced on toilet paper to maintain depth and to insure proper spacing, thus eliminating thinning after sprouting. Some wood ash was applied to the row in an attempt to inhibit damage by flea beetles. It may not work but at least I tried.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?RadVal 24 April 2008 Radish (Valentine)
Germinated in nine days, a few of the days were relatively cool around 5 C. No sign of leaf damage due to flea beetles.

Siberian Squill (Scilla sibirica)

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Squill 15 April 2009 Siberian Squill, Scilla sibirica
There is a small patch of Siberian Squill in the garden, which gets larger each year. The pretty Spring flower blooms shorty after the crocuses flower.

Painting Trellis Material

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Trellis 15 April 2009 Painting Trellis
Many trellises are required throughout the garden. I use 4 by 8 concrete metal reinforcing sheets. This 6 inch mesh material rusts if it is not painted. The pictures depict the painting method. Tremclad rust paint works well, and lasts several years. Maybe some day this material will be painted during manufacture. Rebar and other galvanized garden material is also painted as necessary.

Peas

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?TrellisP 12 April 2009 Trellis for supporting peas.
This trellis is convenient for supporting pea vines. I found chicken wire and string to be not convenient. The support is concrete reinforcing mesh, painted with tremclad anti-rust paint, supported by 5 or 6 foot fence posts and held in place with plastic ties. At season's end the vines are easy to remove from the mesh, which is a plus.
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Lpeas 15 April 2009 Planting peas. Lincoln peas were planted 2 inch spacing, about 2 inches deep and packed slightly and watered. Peas germinate in cool temperatures approximately 16 degrees C.
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?PeasG 28 April 2009 Lincoln Peas Germinated in 13 days.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Homesteader 24 June 2009 Homesteader Peas Lincoln
The pea patch is thriving.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Hpomesteader Summary: Peas

Crosne (Stachys affinis)

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Crosne 11 April 2009 Crosne (Stachys affinis)
Some tubers from the 2008 crop were stored in sand in the garden to overwinter. All the tubers are healthy and ready to plant. Pictures indicate the typical size of the crosne tubers. It is difficult to obtain seed stock, since the seed houses do not stock this cultivar.

A 26 foot row of Crosne tubers (40) were planted. I dug a trench about 10 inches deep and 12 inches wide and lined it with an old plastic pool cover, then filled with soil and planted the crosne, much like one would plant small potatoes. The idea of the tarp is to facilitate digging in the Fall.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?CrosneUp 12 May 2009 Crosne (Stachys affinis)
The row of Crosne is up, and the plants are very healthy.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?EHYNO 24 August 2009 Crosne
All plants are doing well. No underground tubers are forming yet. They require a long growing season, but can withstand much cold weather.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?CBDDK Summary: Crosne 2009

Crocus

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Crocus 10 April 2009 Crocus
There are two main patches of crocus throughout the garden. They are the first true harbinger of Spring.

Carrots

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Carrots 10 April 2009 Planting Carrots
Carrots were planted type is Hybrid Carrot Eagle 92A from Stokes. (Belicum X Nantes Hybrid). The small seeds are spread carefully on top of a row of toilet paper, then lightly covered with fine soil. The method is utilized to improve uniformity of seed spacing, insuring a uniform depth, and possibly better germination all things considered. Carrots germinate at rather cool temperatures about 17 C is ideal. If the temperature is too high carrots will not germinate or germination is slow.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?CarrotsG 28 April 2009 Carrots Germinated.
Good germination of carrots in 18 days. Generally the weather has been cool with adequate moisture. The full row appears to have germinated.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?CarrotsS 23 June 2009 Carrots. The carrot row is thriving.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?ATKZH 16 August 2009 Hybrid Carrot Eagle 92A from Stokes. (Belicum X Nantes Hybrid) Harvested a loosened forkful of carrots. They are excellent quality, and have been utilized most of the Summer.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?TCUGT 22 August 2009 Hybrid Carrot Eagle 92A from Stokes
Final Harvest, since the carrots are getting too large and will split. These will be grown next year, since the quality is excellent.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?CarrotsE Summary: Carrots

Onions

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Onions 10 April 2009 Planting Onions.

About 200 onion bulbs were planted. They were locally purchased and are classified as Spanish, White, Cooking and Shallots (green bunching). They bulbs were planted to a depth just up to the shoulder, about a third out of the ground in relatively firm ground, and the spacing is 6 inches between centers. Soil temperature is about 6 degrees C.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?MOnions 4 May 2009 Mulching Onions
Wood chips used to mulch around the onions to maintain moisture, and to allow a least medium resistance for large bulb growth.

Downspout Rainwater

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Rainwater 8 April 2009 Downspout Rainwater

Pictures indicating a simple, practical method of utilizing downspout rainwater. Barrels cost 15 dollars and all parts and tools are readily available. Any urban downspout system must address the overflow problem during rainfall. The large bung hole is a reasonable compromise for overflow. The height is such that a hose may be utilized for watering plants. The system is readily expandable. I have four barrels, two on each side of the house.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Downspout 16 April 2009 Downspout Water Connection
The downspout water system was switched over to Summer mode by connecting the downspout to the storage barrels.

Composting

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Compost 31 July 2008 Composting. This is how I handle my spent vegetation. Kitchen slops are not utilized.

Reality check about composting. There is too much nonsense written about composting. Mostly it has to do with selling pretty, useless containers.

Chop the vegetation into small pieces with a machete, or if you have a large amount put the vegetation through a chipper/shredder. Throw the mess in a pile and forget it, until it ferments. I might fork the pile over once or twice, but I never touch a working, (fermenting) pile.

From my about 2000 square feet of vegetation, I only get about 5 cubic yards of compost per year. This is practically nothing in the big picture.

Building a New Garden Bed.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Combed 26 September 2008 Completing New Garden Bed

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Bedprep 22 September 2008 New Garden Bed Prepared.

General overview of preparing a garden bed which is basically grass covered to begin. The various operations are simplified with the right tools. Most can be rented at a reasonable cost, if the size of the garden doesn't warrant purchasing.

Spring Garden Bed Preparation

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Rototill 2 April 2009 Spring Garden Bed Preparation

Garden beds approximately 2000 square feet or 186 square meters were rototilled today. The mulch was removed from the Globe Artichoke, and it remains to be seen if the plants survived the Winter.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Snows 6 April 2009. After the burst of nice weather on 2 April 2009, there was a rapid change and now it is snowing. Compare the two sets of pictures.

Asparagus Bed.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?asparagus 16 May 2008 Making Asparagus bed.Note: the year should be 2008 not 2006.
The bed is 41 inches by 102 inches by 12 inches deep. About a cubic yard of soil was removed. Time taken three hours from start to finish. Compost, sand and a bit ot bone meal was added and mixed prior to planting the Asparagus Millenium Rhizomes. There were a total of eleven rhizomes. The bed will be filled in with compost, sand and a bit of normal soil as the plant grows. The rhizomes were spaced about 16 inches apart, and covered with two inches of soil, with the crown just protruding above the soil level.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Millenium 6 August 2008 Asparagus (Millennium)
This indicates the growth over the summer. The bed was gradually filled in with good soil, as the asparagus fern stems grew.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?AspafragusS 29 May 2009 Asparagus (Millennium)
It appears nine of eleven plant survived the first year. I suspect one end of the bed is too wet.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?AsparagusJ 18 June 2009 Asparagus (Millennium)
All originally planted eleven plants are now growing. The end of the bed with slow growth may be due to being wetter at that end.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?MNJPH 13 September 2009 Asparagus bed.
Growth is excellent for one year. The bed was planted in May 2008. Only a few spears will be taken in 2010, then the main harvest will begin in the Spring of 2011.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?SummaryA Summary: Asparagus

General Seed Starting Method.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Seeds 17 February 2009 General Seed Starting Method.
In the home usually an ideal germination area is not available. This method is close to having 100% germination, all things being equal.

Potatoes.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?WASHB 1 April 2009 Potato chitting progress.
Picture one and two indicate an attempt to chit supermarket potatoes. Notice how the potatoes did not sprout properly in 30 days, and they turned black. It is apparent that some type of sprout inhibitor has been used. One carton of the store bought potatoes was previously discarded, since I did not like the quality of the sprouts.
The three cartons of purchased seed potatoes are sprouting well in just 15 days. The extra carton from a friend are doing well, but they had white sprouts before placing in the light. Now the sprouts are turning greenish.
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Pontiac 12 April 2009 Planting Red Pontiac Potatoes. Twenty two potatoes were planted. The ground temperature is about 7 degrees C, but the potatoes are well covered so should thrive.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Potatoes 13 April 2009 Potatoes planted. Today about 60 more potatoes were planted. Row width is two feet and spacing in the row is 12 inches. Depth is about four inches. Types are Superior (white), Russian Blue, Unknown from 2008 stock, Four store bought to complete a row. Total in the patch is about 80 potatoes.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Hilling 17 May 2009 First Potato Hilling. Quality compost was added to the area around the potatoes. This will be used for the final hilling, when the stalks are about a foot or more high.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?PotatoH 27 May 2009 Last hilling of Potatoes.
The four rows of potatoes were hilled. This gives a depth of six to eight inches of soil above the seed potato. In the valey formed after hilling, the space was filled with compost. This was not necessary, but the compost was available and it will supply nutrients.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Potatobug 15 June 2009 Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata)
The ubiquitous potato bug appeared today. I found four adults and no eggs. Method of control is picking them off the vegetation,, since I have only about 70 plants. If the potato field is large chemical control is almost mandatory.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?VVSJI 12 August 2009 Pontiac Potato
Late blight, the same blight of the Irish Potato Disaster in 1848, is prevalent in the area this year, so a plant was dug to check for damage. None was apparent. The weight of the potatoes was eight pounds, which is considered excellent, near the top of the chart.

Russian Blue Potato

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?HMNSL 16 August 2009 Russian Blue Potato

There are about 12 plants in the garden and the tops have died back. The seed tubers were placed in the ground on 13 of April 2009. They are left in the ground for storage at the present time. Russian Blue potatoes are really are from Russia, although, like all potatoes, they originated in South America. They’re an heirloom variety which means they’re totally old school and not genetically modified. Washed weight is just under 3 pounds from one plant, all uniform in size. They produce numerous top seed pods, which can be seen in some of the photographs. I do nothing with the seeds.There were no small potatoes on this plant. I bake them in the oven and eat with a bit of butter, skins and all. The blue color remains after cooking. The tuber appears to be more dense or fine grained than our typical potato.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?EUVSD 18 August 2009 Russian Blue Potato Harvest
Total of eight plants for a weight of 12 pounds, average weight 1.5 lbs. This harvest is much less than last yer, but the tubers are larger.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?QEIEN 18 August 2009 Superior Potato Harvest
Nineteen plants produced about 40 lbs of potatoes. The average weight was 2.15 lbs per plant. One plant produced 3.5 lbs. An excellent crop would be 5 to 8 lbs per plant. The tubers are large and excellent quality.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?VFDVZ 22 August 2009 Red Pontiac Harvest
Red Pontiac row of potatoes were dug today. Total weight was 60 pounds from 16 plants for an average per plant of 3.5 pounds.The crop is average if not a little below. The tubers are solid with no hollow centers. The largest potato was 1.25 pounds.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?FAKES Summary: Potatoes 2009.

Tomatoes

Tomato Types Selected: 29 January 2009
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?EMPRC Burpee's Supersteak Hybrid (Giant) Indeterminate

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?XIZFD Black Cherry Tomato, Indeterminate

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?MBDAJ Black From Tula, Indeterminate Heirloom

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?OGQKN Believe it or Not, Indeterminate

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?XXKGL Blue Fruit Tomato, Potato leaf, Indeterminate, Heirloom.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?SPSGZ Carbon Heirloom tomato, Indeterminate.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?CWDXI Cherokee Purple, Indeterminate, Heirloom.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?BHNJA Coustralee, Heirloom, Indeterminate.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?FMWLF Delicious, Heirloom, Indeterminate.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?YDDPX Giant Pink Belgium (Heirloom), Indeterminate.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?CZVXQ Japanese Black Trifele, (Heirloom), Indeterminate, also known as Black Russian Truffle

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?XELDV Lilac Giant, Pink, Indeterminate, Heirloom.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?AIBIZ Neves Azorean Red, Indeterminate, Heirloom.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?VFREE Pink Ponderosa, Indeterminate, Heirloom.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?LYHXB Sandul Moldovan, Heirloom, Indeterminat

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Litchi Litchi Tomato (Solanum sysimbrifolium) Morelle de Balbis


http://www.durgan.org/URL/?VYKOC 28 February 2009 Tomato Seed Germination
Plastic biodegradable cups used, and drain holes made.
Coffee filter to contain soil and roots to assist in transplanting.
Toilet filter used to keep moisture near seed to enhance germination.
Clear plastic bag to contain humidity. This means the seeds need no care until germination, when the bags will be opened. Any loose soil and water is contained by the bags, making a neat and clean plant area.
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?PBDEP 5 March 2009 Tomatoes Germinated in 5 days.
The plastic bags are turned back and now the seedlings are exposed to maximum light. During the day the containers will be placed in the greenhouse if the temperature is above 20 degrees C.
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Litchi2 11 April 2009 Litchi Tomato (Solanum sysimbrifolium) Morelle de Balbis Growth since 18 February 2009
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?TransP 3 April 2009 Transplanting tomatoes. Seedlings moved to a larger pot and placed in greenhouse.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?TomGreeen 20 April 2009 Tomatoes in Greenhouse.
Cool about 6 degree C day and raining.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?AdjMesh 23 April 2009 Adjustable Tomato Plant Support
The top mesh was modified to make the system adjustable in height, and as a convenience for storage, when not in use. Common parts were obtained from a hardware store and electric welded as necessary.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?TomatoS 18 May 2009 Tomato Support System
One tomato plant was place in the outdoor garden, frost is still possible. The support system is depicted in the pictures. Basically the plant is held in position by strings, tied to an overhead support. The rebar is eight feet long pounded into the ground about 18 inches. The plants are spaced at two foot centers, which is adequate using this support system.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?TomatoP 19 May 2009 Tomatoes placed in Garden
No more frost is expected, so all the tomato plants (30) were placed in the garden. Two types of support were used overhead and cages.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?mulchingT 20 May 2009 Mulching Tomatoes
It can get pretty dry during the Summer, so mulching helps retain constant moisture by inhibiting water evaporation. Wood chips are supplied by the city and I picked them up last Fall.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?TomatoesS 26 June 2009 Tomatoes with open rope support System
I will limit the removal of the suckers, since I am of the opinion that one gets better quality tomatoes by limiting sucker removal. The ropes make supporting the side shoots convenient. Some plants are supported by cages, since I did not make enough overhead supports. Tomato growth has been slow, since we have been exposed to cool weather over the last month. The heat has finally arrived.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?SummaryT Tomato Growing Summary 2009