by Noel | Sep 30, 2024 | CobraHead, Gardening
As we move into fall, we’re still getting lots of good stuff from the garden. The tomato plants are succumbing to late blight, but it doesn’t matter anymore because we have already harvested all we need and there is still plenty of fruit ripening on the vines. Eggplants and peppers are still producing We have to pick green beans daily. We have a good lettuce crop; the cilantro patch is loaded, and Judy is pleased with the nice sage. Our basil is still nice and...
by Noel | Aug 23, 2024 | CobraHead
We’ve had some spectacularly beautiful weather here. For the past several weeks it’s been mostly highs in the upper 70’s with cool nights. Unlike the few parts of the country where the weather is mostly always pleasant, we celebrate and appreciate these really nice days. The great weather makes gardening easier. I’m doing a pretty good job of keeping up with the weeding since the heat isn’t pervasive and draining. The open raised beds I grow in utilize paths that...
by Noel | May 31, 2024 | CobraHead, Gardening, Vegetable Growing
I let a lot of plants bolt in the garden. Plants bolt when they are ready to produce seeds. They will develop a flowering stem and if left alone will often develop viable seeds. Gardeners often try to discourage bolting. We want leafy greens, not seeds. Bolting stems are often cut away. Plants are planted in cooler temperatures to reduce bolting and bolted plants are often removed. However, there are many instances when allowing bolting is a good thing. Free seed,...
by Noel | Apr 29, 2024 | CobraHead, Gardening, Vegetable Growing
The weather here, like everywhere, keeps getting weirder. I’ve been gardening the same plot for over 35 years and the last couple years have really departed from what used to be normal. This year is extremely wet and warm. It’s been hard to get the beds prepped because of the wetness. I did take advantage of some nice dry days last week to get my peas planted. I try to get them in the ground in April. Later than that can get iffy for full production as peas don’t...
by Noel | Mar 29, 2024 | CobraHead, Gardening, Vegetable Growing
March is nearly over and we are getting serious about this year’s garden. I’ve got a few things started in the house and things are popping outside. This flat is bottom heated and top lit. It has peppers, eggplant and cauliflower. The peppers and eggplant haven’t sprouted, yet, but the cauliflower is taking off. I won’t start anything new for a couple weeks since we’ll be out of town the second week of April and I don’t want to burden Anneliese with too much plant...