04. June 2013
This time last year we were already harvesting basil from the field. What a difference the cooler April and May have made. The basil in the ground is still only 6 to 8 inches tall, and some beds are struggling to be more than 2 inches. Meanwhile, I have a few personal pots that are closer to 1 foot, and side branching. A clear case of how much soil temperature matters. My plan was to cycle out older woody basil plants by early July to have fresher growth, but this schedule is all thrown out. Of...
29. May 2013
Tomatoes are just as much a staple here in North Carolina as it was growing up in Perth Western Australia, or in greenhouses in the U.K.. I've been experimenting this year with a wide variety, mostly cherry tomato varieties, to see how productive they are. I am also working on being a little more brutal with them, less water, and harsher pruning, so they focus on fruit not leaves. I look at those lush tomato vines in the stores and I'm realizing that there might be a lot of difference between...
26. May 2013
This time last year my garden notes show we were already stewing some of the 40lbs (18kg) of plums from our one established tree, harvesting basil, and starting to eat raspberries. What a difference this year has turned out to be. The basil in the ground since 2 weeks after the last frost has hardly grown an inch (2.5cm). At least we are finally harvesting strawberries. The small patch of Ozarks has so far produced 15lbs (7kg) that we have either eaten, frozen, or given to friends. The slugs...