Pepper and Onion Seedlings. 2.31.19

 These are some of  the pepper and onion plants that I started from seeds in January.  Doing quite well under LED lights.

Chitting Potatoes. 2.20.19

Seed Potatoes, Kinnebec.  2.19.19

Seed Potato Labels.  2.19.19

These are the first batches of potatoes that I plan to plant.   I bought 2 packages at the hardware store, Kinnebec and Russian Banana.  Not having grown either variety before, it's nice to try.

I had lots of the smaller size russets in the garage over the winter, with 6 inch or longer sprouts.  I broke off the sprouts, and am chitting them in a sunny window so new, stouter sprouts with shorter interstems will grow.  

Russet Seed Potatoes from Garage, Overwinter.  2.19.19

More Russets from Garage.  2.19.19

Russian Banana Seed Potatoes.  2.19.19

I still have packages of Yukon Gold, Red Norland, and I think some fresh Idaho Russet seed potatoes.  That's enough.  I don't know if the overwintered ones will work, or produce as much.  I'll wait a couple of weeks before chitting the other batches.  Too much to plant, otherwise.

Garlic Update. 2.18.19

Overwintered Garlic Starts.  L is Spanish Roja. R is Music.  2.18.19

Here is the garlic that I planted last fall. Some varieties look good. The Spanish Roja is the tallest, while Musik is much smaller and Inchelium Red is even smaller.  I gave them all a boost of urea, and watered it in.  Since they are growing, albeit slowly, I thought that would be beneficial.  I dont know if the greater height, this early, will help or hinder productivity later.  I'm guessing it willhelp,

Planting in a fully fenced bed really helped.  Last year they were all chewed off at this point,

Next I need to pull the rest of last years's tomatoes from the same bed, for onion plants.  That will be in about a month, I think.

Swelling Flower Buds. Hollywood Plum and "Son of Oregon Curl Free" Peach. 2.16.19

Flower Buds, Hollywood Plum Tree. 2.16.19

These are in the chicken and duck yard.  The Hollywood Plum tree was grown from cuttings taken about 5 years ago, I think.  The tree is covered with swelling buds now.

The peach tree was grown from a peach pit, from an Oregon Curl Free peach tree.  That tree died of canker.  This tree is also 4 or 5 years old.  Last year were the first flowers, no fruits.  It could be a dud, but I hope not.  No evidence at all for any leaf curl.   No canker yet, either.  This tree grew fast. If it bears nice fruits, I want to give it a name that honors those who were here before, possibly a word in the Cowlitz language.

These blooms could be killed by a late freeze.   However, they seem to produce, every year.   Wait and see.

Flower Buds, Peach Tree Grown From Oregon Curl Free.  2.16.19

Rufus Watching the Rain. 2.16.19

After his bath, Rufus watches the El Nino rains pouring down.  Too muddy out thete to do any gardening.