Starting Seeds. 3.15.18

 Now the seeds are tucked away into a seed starting tray.  I like to start peppers now or a little earlier, and tomatoes a little later, but there is flexibility and you never know what the weather will do.

This time I tried 3 different types of sauce tomatoes, which I process and freeze in the summer and freeze for winter use.  I go through a lot of those.  "Roma" and "San Marzano" always seems to have a lot of blossom end rot, which none of the others have.  Last year I added more lime, but there was still blossom end rot.  So this year I'm trying 3 other types of paste tomatoes: "Big Mama" hybrid from Burpee, and "Ranger F1" and "Heinz 2653" from Territorial seeds.  I'm holding on cherry tomatoes, because there are always lots of started plants of those in the Spring anyway.  There are also my favorite, "Better Boy", and some others for early crop ("Beaver Lodge 6808 and Glacier") which did seem earlier last year, and some experiments.

 For peppers, my favorites last year were the Jalapenos, which were productive and earlier than some of the other chilis. I'm trying a different one, sold as "Early Jalapeno",  I had too many cayennes, so just one cell of those, and Sweet Banana, Bird Thai, Mini Bells, King of the North, Peter Pepper, and Tabasco.  I think the Tabascos are later but would like to make Tabasco sauce this year if they do produce.

I also threw in some hybrid Collards (Hi Crop F1) and Brussels Sprouts (Franklin F1).  I've never grown Brussels Sprouts before, and I don't know when they are best planted, but it wont hurt to experiment.

Meyer Lemon. 3.14.18

I've had this Meyer Lemon plant since about 2001.  It's never grown very large.  The container is a wooden box.  The soil is a normal potting soil.  I have given it a plant food for acid-loving plants, from time to time.

During the summer, this plant is on the deck in full sun.  During the winter, I keep it in an unheated bedroom, with a South-facing window, although it's not in the window.  I rarely water it in the winter, maybe once a month.

Currently, there are dozens of flower buds, and a few ripening lemons that set last summer.  These lemons are delicious.

Plums in bloom. 3.14.18

Hollywood Plum.  3.14.18

Hollywood Plum (pink flower) and Shiro Plum (white flower) in full bloom. Unless there's a late frost, it looks like there will be a bumper crop of the world's best plums this year. Hollywood is deep purple, inside and out. Shiro is yellow, super juicy, and super sweet. 

From what I've read, neither of these cultivars require a pollination partner.  Since I have them planted near each other, I can't say whether that is true.  Both are on the North side of the house, not in full sun, and are still incredibly productive and trouble free.

Sourdough Cast Iron Skillet Pizzas. 3.13.18

Pizza Pizza! Not about gardening, except for the Roma tomato sauce.  Back on track with sourdough crust, cast-iron skillet pizzas with home grown Roma tomato sauce. These crusts take a long time to rise, starting in the morning for an evening pizza. I might experiment with a faster yeast crust, or a hybrid for more sourdough flavor, but they are worth it. Time to start Roma tomato seeds today, too.

Sourdough bread with Jalapenos. 3.11.18

Since Ning had his heart surgery, I quit adding cheese to the breads. This loaf is sourdough, with jalapenos sauteed in olive oil, plus 2 tbsp olive oil. I don't miss the cheese, and love the flavor and texture. I've been feeding and using and regenerating this sourdough starter for more than a year now, and it's still excellent.  Often, I use at least 50% whole wheat flour, but sometimes I just use unbleached bread flour.