Here we go!
What a shame these couldn't stay in the ground another month.
That's a lot of carrots for a 1'x2' area. These were planted by gluing the seeds on strips of toilet tissue. Germination was pretty darned close to 100%.
Thumbnail sized beet roots, but gorgeous greens.
Only a handful of baby spinach, but that was my fault. I kind of did an "oops" on that side of the garden bed. Don't ever let me handle a hoe, I'm dangerous with it.
A big basket of bunny food!
The pot must be emptied. I'll not try to save these plants, we or the rabbit will eat this batch of lettuce tonight.
Sorry, bunny, I'm eating all the baby spinach. This will be a lovely salad for my dinner tonight!
Somebody wanted a photo of my poor tomato plant. Don't say I didn't warn you! It continues to live and produce (there are still four tomatoes on it), but I don't know how. I won't be here for Garden Blogger's Death Day, but this would be my contribution.To be continued tomorrow.....
I hate it that carrots look so substantial above ground and are so thin below ground. It's a cruel joke. Have a safe trip!
ReplyDeletecheers for linking the carrot-glue-paper post again, lol... I was just thinking that the time is coming soon to do that again!
ReplyDeleteWhat a green thumb you have - growing veggies in the dessert! Too bad the carrots didn't have time to plump up, but I still think they're impressive!! Thanks for linking back to your seed mat tutorial - I will be using that method this weekend for lettuce and carrots. Can't wait to see how it all works out!
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, what a lucky day for your rabbit! He's adorable with his cream coloured coat and doesn't look his age at all. My nearing three year old "Mr. Sparkles" rabbit is just the same, preferring his cozy cage to the outside world... unless there's a large amount of treats waiting for him on the other side, of course ;)
ReplyDeleteErin & Caffeinated Mom, the seed mat tutorial is at
ReplyDeletehttp://annieskitchengarden.blogspot.com/2009/09/september-22-2009-home-made-seed-mat.html
Have fun! I'll be starting mine right after I get home.
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Thanks, Ribbit. I just hope the good weather holds. I need to check the forecast!
The taking down of the garden is always the hardest part for me...luckily you get to start all over again when you get back to WA.
ReplyDeleteHave a safe trip!
Well your bunny will be eating well for days and you for tonight. It all looks so pretty even the little cute baby carrots.
ReplyDeleteI do enjoy the seed mat process as it makes for some simple planting. Have an enjoyable trip home and let me know when you arrive so I can send your package. Blessings, Diana
ReplyDeleteGran, those carrots look perfectly straight! They would have been gorgeous fully matured. I really need to raise my beds.
ReplyDeleteThat's one lucky bunny. I guess you're not a fan of beet greens?
Poor tomato. :(
The spinach looks delicious and I love your tip for planting carrots. I must try that next time :^)
ReplyDeleteMiranda, another bunny owner! There aren't many of us, are there? My Cookie is going to have his fill of fresh greens for quite a while ;-)
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Thanks, Sunny. I'm anxious to get back home. Those guys (Dan, EG and Thomas) are getting way ahead of me in the planting department, and I'm anxious to meet my new blogger friend and neighbor, DaBeardedOne!
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Daphne, I even ate two of the baby carrots, which were about the size of my little finger....oh, so sweet and crisp! I'd be eating some of tomorrow's lettuce, but I've decided all our meals will be eaten out tomorrow, I have too much to do and don't want to mess up the kitchen.
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Di, I'm anxiously awaiting the package! I'll send you the mailing address as soon as I get home (and get an internet connection).
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Thomas, every carrot was perfect. Even more so than the ones I grow at home. And these were Imperator, a really long variety. The two I ate were sooooo good!
I do like raw beet greens, and will be using some when I get home, but Cookie just loves them. If I see they aren't going to be used before they go bad, I'll saute what's left...but no, I'm not a big fan of cooked ones.
I told you the tomato was bad ;-)
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Noelle, I love making the carrot and lettuce mats. There's something rather therapeutic about it, and they really go pretty quickly. It's much easier than trying to plant those tiny seeds outside in a windstorm, then thinning out about 80% of them as they grow. The bad thing is my carrot and lettuce seeds last too long. The seeds lose their viability before the packets are emptied!
Hi Annie, how clever to make veggie mats. I have never heard of that idea, but it is brilliant! I look forward to reading about your summer garden. Those little tomatoes and peppers I started months ago are finally growing well. I think they needed heat. I have been blogging about making my yard into a garden. I went backwards and finally today blogged on the first garden. It was a good way to deal with winter. Annie, we still have snow on the ground but it is starting to melt. Gloria
ReplyDeleteGloria, I'll be starting my peppers on March 15. a bit later than I'd like, but the first chance I'll get after arriving home and getting settled back in.
ReplyDeleteI haven't been able to access my faved blog list in Blotanical. I sure miss being able to go down the list and pick their (your) posts!
Garden "D" day is at hand! That was quite the harvest from your little winter garden! Cookie will be well cared for and hopefully the lettuces you are planning to transport will make it okay and provide you with some fairly quick early spring greens. Drive carefully on the return trip - it's a long way to travel.
ReplyDeleteThe weather may cooperate with you Granny, 5 day forecast is rain, temps in the 38-58 range. You have a safe trip home. David aka DaBeardedOne
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to leave a garden behind. You know, that makes me feel a little mortal. . . we're all going to leave a garden behind in some way or another.
ReplyDeleteKitsap, yep, it's D-day...Do or Die! It looks like rain, and I have all the lettuce and onions left to pull out, as well as a final load of laundry to do. I only have a solar dryer down here. That's a clothes line for those who might not know what it is ;-) Please, no torrential desert downpours today.
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DaBeardedOne, let's hope that rain isn't snow on the way home. We're staying in Jackpot, NV for two nights, and it never fails to snow while we're there. Ely to Wells can get rather bad, as well as La Grande to Pendleton.
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Stefaneener, They say "You can't take it with you", but this old gal is gonna try ;-)
I think carrot foliage is just lovely. I'll have to keep that in mind when planning my kitchen garden/potager this year. (Actually, now is the time to plant carrots here, I think.)
ReplyDeleteYou can always make fried green tomatoes -- although I admit those specimens look a little pitiful for even that use-up-everything recipe. The lettuces behind it make me drool!
Meredith, I love the carrot foliage, too. Carrots would hold up well with flowers, as they stay in the ground so long. These Imperators,however, do get very large tops that tend to flop over after a while. I'd pick a shorter topped variety, and I think Johnny's seed catalog gives carrot top height. I'm heading out the door right now to pull those lovely lettuces.
ReplyDeleteIt all looks very nice... except that poor poor tomato :-) Those baby root crops would be good in a french stew with some beef and a little red wine, yum.
ReplyDeleteThinking of you and hoping the voyage home to WA is going well. It will be interesting to see how your AZ transplants do.
ReplyDeleteWell, Granny Strange, that was a brilliant post, if only because I could delve back and read about the toilet paper method, which I intend to use (despite it being a red rag to the old blokes in the pub who now see me as a target for their tales of backbreaking toil).
ReplyDeleteHope the move goes/went well.
Lucky bunny. I hope you have a safe and speedy trip back to WA, I am looking forward to watching you gear up for the 2010 garden!
ReplyDeleteDan, there were only about three carrots that were large enough for human consumption. I ate them. There will be lots of baby veggies before long :-)
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Rachel, the transplants are still in the fridge! I haven't even had time to look at them yet, what with all the unpacking and putting stuff away. I just got my internet connection today, so I have a lot to catch up on...but the trip was good, dry and sunny most of the way.
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Oh, TIG...you will be teased mercilessly! Don't let them see you do it! If you want to see more, do a search on my blog for "seed mat tutorial".
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Kelly, the trip went great (except for the hotel...I'll blog about that soon). All the pets seem really happy to get home!
For the size mentioned, your gardening is very productive indeed. With almost 100% germination, carrots has to be the best. I have to try carrots soon with toilet tissue technique! ~bangchik
ReplyDeleteBangchik, I love the toilet paper method! That's the only way I'll plant them from now on.
ReplyDeleteYour spinach is looking really healthy and crisp! Hope you enjoy homegrown veggies as much as I do, God bless and happy gardening!!
ReplyDelete-Tony Salmeron