Marigolds from Saved Seeds. 7.8.2021

Last fall I saved seeds from a volunteer marigold. It was very compact with brick red-ish flowers. I planted the seeds this spring, and here they are. I didn't grow as many flowers as I wanted this year, so I appreciate these. Since it was a volunteer plant, these are at least third generation in my garden.

Seeds are becoming more expensive now. By saving seeds, the cost is completely free and they are known varieties that I already know will thrive in my own soil, climate, and garden.

Garlic Harvest. 7.8.2021

I harvested all of the garlic in their designated raised bed. There are still a few rows in other spots. Now they need to dry and have the tops trimmed. I'm drying them in garage, away from hot sun and morning dew. I think this is the best garlic crop I have ever grown. Key is using the raised bed, lots of coffee grounds (nitrogen, potassium), egg shells (calcium, nitrogen), planting in fall, and keeping them well weeded. The variety is "Music". I had saved about 8 of the largest bulbs to plant last fall. So those were "free", whereas garlic starts from stores or seed catalogs are quite expensive.

This photo shows the importance for early removal of scapes. I'm surprised it made such a big difference.

I also had two rows of garlic bulbils. I grew those as a way to potentially have more rows of garlic without having to set aside as many bulbs. They did OK. Some might make big bulbs next year, but many were still quite small and may need two years.

Forsythia Cutting Update. 7.8.2021

Now all of the forsythia cuttings are in full sun in my kitchen garden. Except one, still growing small roots in jar of water. I gave them some 1/4 strength miracle gro as a boost. Some are making vigorous new shoots. I'll plant them in their final row this fall. Even though they will need two more growing seasons for a good privacy impact, forsythia grows vigorously and thick, is low maintenance, has a beautiful blooming season, and these were free. There was a little nibbling of new growth by satanic deer, but I think they wont bother mature plants too much because because I have other forsythia bushes in deer susceptible areas and they don't browse those at all. The cuttings that I started in water were definitely much less trouble, more reliable, and much more vigorous, compared to the ones I started in plant starting medium.

Early Buds for Main Crop Figs. 7.6.2021

They say it takes about 100 days from bud to ripe fig. That depends on variety, weather, and other conditions. For the most part, it's just wait and see now. This is "Smith" fig.

Volunteer Yellow Cherry Tomato 3rd Generation. 7.6.2021

These are from seeds that I saved from a volunteer that grew last year. It is at least F3 generation from the original hybrid, which I suspect is Sungold but could be something else, like Supersweet 1000 or a bee hybrid of the two. These are the second plant to ripen, after Sugar Rush. I expect them to be less sweet than Sungold, but still a palatible early cherry tomato. Fully ripen in a few days.