2011 Here We Come...

Well, it has been a cold, wet winter so far. November brought a couple of very chilly days (low 20's) that killed everything outside that wasn't hardy or protected. My broccoli didn't survive and I won't try again next fall for a late crop. The temperatures are just too unpredictable.

I checked out the p-patch and everything is slushy and dead. None of the early spring bulbs have shown, but the hellebore has developed several flower clusters that are just waiting for February before they fully bloom. I do have a bunch of bulbs I planted last fall in one of the deck planters that are poking up though. I'm planning on rebuilding the two hanging baskets with some flowering plants soon. I hope we've seen the last of the freezing temperatures, but I'll keep careful tabs on the forecast. Planters will get pulled inside if the temperatures threaten them. The hardy cyclamen, in pots, on the other hand, have no problem with the freezing temperatures. They all weathered the November freeze quite well.

Preparing for Winter

Wow, where does the time go, or in this case, the summer. Ironically, today's high in Seattle was 73 degrees (a new record). The weather has been very mild this late into fall. Nights are getting cooler though, and the rain has picked up. Predictions for this winter include lots of snow.
I have removed the rest of any summer vegetation. In addition, some broccoli starts I planted several weeks ago are coming along nicely. The fuchsia continues to bloom so I'm putting off the yearly shearing of branches. Cyclamen Hederifolium is sprouting (see pic below). The major project this fall though has been the dozens of tulip bulbs I have planted in the eastern half of my main plot. This is why I should stay away from nurseries this time of the year. I can't remember how many varieties I ended up planting but I'm sure to find out come next spring. As for putting the garden to bed...I began spreading a late batch of compost and covering areas with burlap (free from the Magnolia Garden Center). Finally, visited Molbaks (Woodinville, WA) and checked out the early Christmas plants/decorations. By the end of November the place will be packed with poinsettias.

End of Summer

Well, the last of this Summer's good weather is this week. I'm guessing it will begin to get colder with more rain in another week or two. I just hope my remaing bell peppers can develop a bit more before I need to harvest them. I have managed to pick the last of this year's corn, and have just begun harvesting the second crop of green beans. Also, I need to dig up the rest of the potatoes, but have until the ground freezes so am in no hurry. The remaining corn stalks were dug out and chopped up, and replaced with spinach and broccoli starts. The cyclamen Hederifolium in my main plot is just beginning to send up blooms.

Rats!

Well, now I know why the Bible made such a deal with those locust swarms. It would appear a rat (aka Wilbur) or several has moved into the garden and consumed all the corn in my plot in just under 48 hours. Interestingly, the rodents have left alone the corn in the 70sf south-property berm space. As soon as I discovered the devastation I quickly visited the local hardware store and purchased some industrial cloth which I fashioned into corn cozies. When slipped over the end of corn ears the cozies provide a measure of protection from hungry rats. The trick is to secure the sleeves around the ears snugly enough, but without damaging them.As for the other plants...the plot green beans continue to produce, with the berm space beans just starting to send up vines. The summer lilies are just about finished for this season. The fuchsia is full developed. Also, I should begin digging up potatoes soon as their above-ground vegetation has died off. And to close, more pics of a couple of successes...

P-Patch Plot Update

Well, with the steady warmer temperatures the p-patch plots are doing quite well. The corn is especially coming along. As you can see in the above pic the extra 70sf I cleared has been bordered and I added most of the compost I just completed. Besides the corn, I planted beans and erected a trellis, and am placing some bell pepper plants on the south side to give them an unobstructed view of the sun. Many of the bean seeds did not come up, and some are being attacked by slugs or cut worms.

Furthermore, I have been picking peas steadily for the past two weeks. This year has been a bumper crop. The rodent population is way down (I think someone has been killing them) and I've had little to no damage to the peas this year. Most years I lose roughly the first third of my pea crop to rats before the growth outraces their appetite and my ability to pick the ripe peas. Also, the cooler temperatures this year has allowed the plants to continue along, whereas in the past the 80+ degree temperatures would have them fully matured and decaying by now.

Finally, my Cyclamen intaminatum has produced a single white flower. Out of all the cyclamen species inteminatum produces the most petite blooms.

Cyclamen Update

So, it appears some of my potted cyclamen are finally seeing some action. I have 8 pots on deck with six different species represented. The C. coum is almost entirely dormant and (hopefully) still alive after over-watering, with just a couple of leaves present. The c. balearicum and c. pseudibericum show no signs of growth or development. The c. repandum I acquired from the Kruckeberg Botanic Garden had one bloom when I got it, but has since then gone dormant. Of my two pots containing c. purpurascens, the one from Swanson's Nursery is blooming extensively (pictured above). Not only does the plant have around two dozen flower buds ready to bloom, it has also sent out several new leaf stalks around its periphery. One other note, because of its location, this plant has been developing rather horizontally towards the light source. I'm planning on repositioning it so it will bloom "upwards"

My other purpurascens is not doing nearly as well. Pictured below, you can see it has maintained the original three leaves it had when I bought it from Hansen's Nursery last September. Unfortunately, one leaf is turning yellow and slowly dying off. I'm guessing some form of insect has been attacking it, and I'm thinking of bringing the plant indoors to better monitor it. Fortunately, the plant is finally seeing some new growth in the form of two newly emerging leaf stalks.
Finally, the c. intaminatum (pictured below) is also experiencing change. It lost a couple of original leaves (since last September) about a month ago, with another one also showing signs of deterioration. Fortunately, I spy five new leaf stalks beginning to emerge. I'm looking forward to seeing how well the plant will do with the substantial new growth. All in all, my cyclamen project is currently hit-and-miss. I'm hoping some of the plants will develop well enough to bloom in another year or two. Most of the tubers are about the size of a kidney bean and still have a ways to go.

First Day of Summer in Seattle

Well, summer is here at last and the residents in Seattle, WA are still waiting for the temperature to break 75 degrees. Thus, this year's growing season has been somewhat of a challenge for summer crops. At least my broccoli and peas are loving the cooler temperatures. Usually, I harvest my peas the first week of July since Alderman variety take a whopping 120 days to mature. The pic below speaks for itself. Anyway, the celery is coming along nicely. The summer lilies are almost ready to begin blooming. Furthermore, I've planted green beans between the pea trellis' and the potatoes that have already taken over the NE corner. Most of the replacement Jubilee corn starts in the newly clear 70sf are thriving. A few plants didn't make it and will need to be replaced. Also, I harvested my carrots that were grown from transplants. They ended up all twisted and gnarled, but were mostly edible.
Finally, the pots on my deck with a half dozen different species of cyclamen are showing signs of growth. The C. intaminatum had 5 small leaves up until a couple of weeks ago two leaves withered and died. Fortunately, there are around 4 to 5 new leaf stalks poking up out of the soil. The plant is beginning to thrive. In addition, and most exciting news of all, my C. purpurascens that I acquired at Swanson's Nursery last year is growing like crazy. When I purchased the plant it had 4 flower stalks in bloom. The plant currently has around two dozen flower buds about to bloom shortly. Also, some newer leaf stalks are also shooting out to the sides. I'll half to transplant the plant after this growing season. I'll post some pics as soon as it is in full swing, but until then here is the first bloom of the season...