Mumsy's Romantic Garden Advice

[MumsyII]

Thanks for the info Mumsy....I will see what I can do.

A friend gave me a magazine yesterday and as I read it at work today I saw this tucked in a corner...

"root cellar must haves"
apples & root vegetables such as potatoes and turnips can be stored much longer if maple leaves are packed around them. Place the fruits or roots in wooden barrels or boxes, between layers of leaves, then store the contents in a root cellar or basement"

I wonder what the maple leaves have that preserve the fruits & roots?

Interesting article about growing fruits & veggies in straw bales as well. Might just try that next spring....it says you can get everything in a month earlier....I am intrigued

Maple leaves have tannins. Tannins are antimicrobial.

Growing in straw bales does sound intriguing. I would be interested in following your experiments.

 

[Mrs Rebecca]

I have grown potatoes in straw bales before. Once, I planted potatoes by placing the seed potatoes onto the ground (I didn't work the soil at all. It was still covered in grass and weeds.) I then covered the potatoes with straw and then covered the plants once more after they grew up some. This was my best crop ever. The following year, I attempted planting potatoes in wire cages filled with straw . They were about 2 feet across and 4 feet tall. It was very difficult to keep the plants moist enough. I believe I harvested maybe 5 small potatoes.

 

[armorfirelady]

Quote: Thanks for the info on the tannin. I wonder if oak leaves have it also since acorns are full of it?

I am kind of excited about it & wish it was spring again. The magazine I received is full of fun info. I think I might just wear out the pages

I have grown potatoes in straw bales before. Once, I planted potatoes by placing the seed potatoes onto the ground (I didn't work the soil at all. It was still covered in grass and weeds.) I then covered the potatoes with straw and then covered the plants once more after they grew up some. This was my best crop ever. The following year, I attempted planting potatoes in wire cages filled with straw . They were about 2 feet across and 4 feet tall. It was very difficult to keep the plants moist enough. I believe I harvested maybe 5 small potatoes.

Wow thats awesome !!! I tried potatoes in laundry baskets this year and only got tiny potatoes from it. I am hopeful next year to get a lot more. I think my experiment will be to plant some vegetables in the garden and the others in the straw bales to see which does better

 

[MumsyII]

My Cinderella Pumpkin won grand prize! Superintendent's award is the top honor in the Horticulture barn!


I am so happy. I had a blast at the fair. Even though I was by myself. Wish I had my Grandsons with me to spoil. Spent three and a half hours. It is so tiny I walked the whole thing twice and took pictures of pigs, chickens, goats, cows, and all the rest. I wanted to share the good news right away here. Changed clothes and washed up before I go out to check the flock now.

 

[Kassaundra]

Wooo Hooo!!!!!! Congrats!!!!!

 

[MumsyII]

Though our little island fair is tiny, it still can give lots of ideas on what is possible in local gardens. I suggest all who want to see the diversity of crops or flowers in their own regions, to visit your local county fair and peruse the floral or horticulture barns. Take pictures of things that you'd like to find to plant yourself. If it can grow for people that enter in your fair, it can probably grow for you.
When I entered my pumpkin, people asked me what kind of special compost I grew it in? What were my secrets? I laughed and said, "No special compost. I planted it in a raised bed of barely decomposed chicken litter and it grew all over my garden. I never fertilized, thinned, or pruned it."

I saw some things I want to try next year. Giant Garlic and these lemon cucumbers.



I planted lemon cucumbers this year but they never got as nice as these.


My Calliope carrots were up against a lot of competition as were my beets and beans. I was happy to get a blue for them. It was a good growing year for lots of local gardeners. Not just me. I'm glad I took the trouble to enter stuff. The premium check will cover the cost of my seeds this year.

Next year I need to work on growing bigger leeks earlier and thin my beets sooner too. It's always about getting the most out of my seeds and beds. Learning, learning, all the time learning.

 

[MumsyII]

Now for some eye candy from the fair floral department. First impressions was how shrunk it has become from years past. The old guys and gals that used to enter so many glads, dahlias, roses, and lilies must have passed on. It was shocking to me how few of these most popular flowers were entered. I think next year I will need to tag some in my garden to fuss with. I especially was interested in the late summer blooming shrubs entered. These did not disappoint and boy, do I want some of them for my own garden!


This pink one is gorgeous. Want!


This is pretty! I think my shrub could get this blue with some coffee grounds added this winter to the root base.


This was a bouquet in the antique farm tractor barn. It stopped me dead in my tracks! Those white hydrangeas are as big and bigger than a soccer ball!

Look at the difference between them and the blues and pink ones. And those were big too! I need to find this shrub.


This tree lilly also stopped me dead in my tracks. From floor to top it is at least eight feet tall! Unbelievable. I would have had a hard time cutting that down if it were in my garden. And can you imagine getting this from garden to fair?

These lillies take three to six years to reach this size.


Stunning!

 

[coldupnorth]

Though our little island fair is tiny, it still can give lots of ideas on what is possible in local gardens. I suggest all who want to see the diversity of crops or flowers in their own regions, to visit your local county fair and peruse the floral or horticulture barns. Take pictures of things that you'd like to find to plant yourself. If it can grow for people that enter in your fair, it can probably grow for you.
When I entered my pumpkin, people asked me what kind of special compost I grew it in? What were my secrets? I laughed and said, "No special compost. I planted it in a raised bed of barely decomposed chicken litter and it grew all over my garden. I never fertilized, thinned, or pruned it."

I saw some things I want to try next year. Giant Garlic and these lemon cucumbers.



I planted lemon cucumbers this year but they never got as nice as these.


My Calliope carrots were up against a lot of competition as were my beets and beans. I was happy to get a blue for them. It was a good growing year for lots of local gardeners. Not just me. I'm glad I took the trouble to enter stuff. The premium check will cover the cost of my seeds this year.

Next year I need to work on growing bigger leeks earlier and thin my beets sooner too. It's always about getting the most out of my seeds and beds. Learning, learning, all the time learning.

Your pumpkin looks amazing and obviously others were impressed. Our tiny county fair is happening right now also. I only entered a couple of photographs because I've spent most of my time getting our youngest motivated to finish 4H projects. She did well on them, so the time and effort has been worth the effort. The judges really liked her beans (green, yellow & purple) and the blossoms from our cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum) that she brought.

Edited to say that lemon cucumbers are a favorite around here; unfortunately we've had a bad cucumber growing year and nothing came up. Too cold and wet!

 

[Sally8]

Our county fair is going on this week also. My favorite things to do are to go through the poultry barns, through the 4H barns and the flower and veg barns. Now I can't wait!!!!

 

[Mrs Rebecca]

My Cinderella Pumpkin won grand prize! Superintendent's award is the top honor in the Horticulture barn!


I am so happy. I had a blast at the fair. Even though I was by myself. Wish I had my Grandsons with me to spoil. Spent three and a half hours. It is so tiny I walked the whole thing twice and took pictures of pigs, chickens, goats, cows, and all the rest. I wanted to share the good news right away here. Changed clothes and washed up before I go out to check the flock now.

Congratulations! It is lovely!