It went down to 4C, last night. What's up with that? Mother Nature is throwing some spectacular curveballs this season. Fine year to be growing gourds, okra and peanuts.
NOT.
Wanted: Bocking Comfrey
I placed an order with Richters for root cuttings earlier this year but their crop failed. Coe's, Horizon Herbs and Nantahala Farm don't ship to Canada. Most sellers I find on eBay don't ship to Canada, either. Argh.
If anyone out there can spare a few cuttings of either #4 or #14, I'd be very grateful. Will pay shipping.
If anyone out there can spare a few cuttings of either #4 or #14, I'd be very grateful. Will pay shipping.
Liquid Fertilizer Revisited
No soaking required!
I tested the 'dry' method of making liquid fertilizer last week and I'm sold. I used to soak the plant material in a bucket of water for a couple of weeks but that seems unnecessary. Just fit your container with a strainer at the bottom, leaving a gap underneath where the concentrated plant juice can store (see here @ 45:00).
This perforated container and drip pan setup doesn't actually require a strainer. However, I've rigged it up that way for test purposes. (I will be purchasing a large barrel with tap in future).
Quick and simple. No wait, no stench. Use 4 tablespoons (60 ml) per watering can and Bob's your uncle.
I tested the 'dry' method of making liquid fertilizer last week and I'm sold. I used to soak the plant material in a bucket of water for a couple of weeks but that seems unnecessary. Just fit your container with a strainer at the bottom, leaving a gap underneath where the concentrated plant juice can store (see here @ 45:00).
This perforated container and drip pan setup doesn't actually require a strainer. However, I've rigged it up that way for test purposes. (I will be purchasing a large barrel with tap in future).
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| 5 gallon container with drainage at the bottom (remnant from hanging tomato era) Makeshift lid |
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| Spacers (in this case, bricks) |
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| Rack/Strainer (in this case, 3 layers of chicken wire) |
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| Shrunken plant material (initially packed to the rim) |
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| Decomposing muck (underneath) |
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| Drip pan (in this case, pie plate) (The barrel will have a tap) |
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| Concentrated plant juice This small stack produces 1/4 cup daily |
Quick and simple. No wait, no stench. Use 4 tablespoons (60 ml) per watering can and Bob's your uncle.
Warba
I'm growing spuds this year! (Why the exclamation point? Well, last time I did was in 2009, the year Late Blight swept the Northeast. Are we headed for a repeat?). I'm growing small, container crops of seven varieties. First up:
Warba
An early variety (some say mid-season). Pale skin and flesh. Pink eyes. Good for boiling and baking. They were planted April 27th and flowered (just barely) roughly 2 weeks ago.
Warba
An early variety (some say mid-season). Pale skin and flesh. Pink eyes. Good for boiling and baking. They were planted April 27th and flowered (just barely) roughly 2 weeks ago.
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| Warba (right). I thought the chits were a bit sketchy but they did well regardless |
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| Simple straw-lined wire basket setup |
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| Day 60 (or thereabouts). I think they were just starting to flower. Curiously, the tiny buds didn't actually bloom. |
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| Yield: not huge but decent for 3-4 seeds. Roughly a dozen large, a dozen medium and a dozen small spuds |
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| Modest but delicious little lunch. Lettuce, courtesy of the garden, as well. |
Verdict: Nice potato. Good taste. (The neighbors seem to agree). A variety I would definitely grow again. Anyone with a longer growing season, or even me in a good year, could manage 2 crops.
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