June, Well Done!

I have been in so much anticipation for the bounty I received this morning...  This is the actual first harvest...

My set up this season has worked very well... But there is tweaking that I need to do...
I want to make rearrangements for different placements of plants and making of new beds... One bed, only of tomatoes, one bed only of peppers, a row of squash, cucumbers and eggplants in the buckets.. Also a bed of lettuce and the likes...

Learning of what veggies I truly love to grow and eat will be of help to know how many plants I need to grow..

I love bell peppers and well the success of having them haven't been...

     But the tomatoes have been beautiful, heavy and juicy...
My herbs all but cilantro have provided such great flavor, no success with it...

I have not checked on carrots yet, but I have some coming, Lettuce was successful enough but pests
came to feast...

I have had a run-in with stinkbugs on my squash errr... but since I found them, they don't dare to show again...lol

So it's a bit in shock and yellowing but , I'm giving it fertilizer and a little iron, I think it will help some...

But, making a better container soil, and using this system is probably the best idea as of yet!

These beans are amazing, I think having another couple tubs of them would be better for making meals with them... I'm think they work harder having to produce such long beans that its only a few at a time.. So more beans the better...

Cantaloupe is a survivor for sure, I don't have a drip hooked to it so I water it myself, and well getting the amount of water to it probably isn't enough, but it continues to do well...

So far so good in the Tangent Garden....

Journals

Garden Journals


First of all,

I am so very pleased with how the beds are coming along... the Beans look tall and ready to reach  high...

My tomatoes are blossoming with  bright leathery green leaves, the herbs suffered just a bit when
I split them in half, but gaining strength...

The squash and cucumbers are kind of resistant to things as of right now but, promising...

But really the fruit trees are quite happy and blooming, mainly my pomegranate, no flowers for my blackberry bush though, a bit of a bubble popper, but strawberries are nice and red, plumping up...

Peaches are amazing, we netted them so we have a chance at them before the birds...

I'm still concerned about the lime tree...  I'm assuming that is had or has Chlorosis..  A nutrient deficiency... I used an iron nitrate for this problem, and it is said to fertilize once a month with citrus fertilizer in the growing time... So that's what I have been doing...

The peppers are already flowering,  yay!

Peppers with flowers

Tomatoes being happy

Journals


I asked a question in my last post...

How many of you keep garden journals?

I suppose it is a common thing when growing a garden, is it not?
I have been trying to maintain one...

I really want it to be fancy, eye appealing, and fun to read...
I'm not sure how to make it this way, well, if it's to be functional...
So I'm winging it...

I would safely say that we can have it anyway we want though...
I began by:

Naming My Journal, it helps to make a real connection to the project at hand...

Drawing a little and having fun with color, adding some stickers, ribbon and quotes...
I press herbs and flower in the journal and put some thoughts, dreams and ideas
along with the usefully information...

This way I can remember the season's hard work and energy put forth for a successful
next time...



Here are some of my typical drawings:

Nothing special... just fun...

Latin Name:
Rubus Fruticosus

Blackberries








Butterflies:
Latin Name

'Papilio Pulcher'

My favorite insect in the garden....

Beans 

I planted "taste of Asia", I think that I did plant them to soon, but well... they are doing ok!

Then of course,

Tomatoes...

I planted "Better Boy."    Heirloom, " Mortgage Lifter, "  also Cherry Tomatoes...

These were "Early Girl" 2012...
Very productive for zone 9

Unfortunately, "Early Girl" variety were not available this go around,
no bell peppers plants this go around either... Had to make due with only a
couple green and couple red...

Bees

Latin Name:
"Apis mellifera"

And, well of course, Bees are needed aren't they... I hope that the realization of how needed they are
comes to be apparent...








So off to come up with more thoughts and information to insert into the "Tangent Journal"...

Happy gardening..

The Up's...

Rain...

March 1, 2014, began beautifully...

Weather was rainy and cool not cold...
Planting happened in the perfect way...
It was the most ideal time...










Tomatoes
bell peppers
basil and marigolds


~In the other bed, I seeded

lettuce
Radish
carrots
spinach
jalapenos
and banana peppers...


I even seeded cat grass for the "kids." (my cats)

In one of the hanging baskets I planted cilantro... I love cilantro.
I know that it bolts fast, and I really don't have much luck with this herb, but I love the taste in my salsa...

I have parsley, oregano, thyme....

Asian beans too... They will grow 26 inches long or more.. These will stand up to the weather we live in...

I have started and maintained a Garden Journal...

How many of you keep garden journals?  Does it help?


It seems to help me.. I come across recipes for fertilizer and composting ideas... Container planting ideas and even how to make the garden beautiful... Although my yard is still a generic yard I am working at it...

I also love to surf Pinterest for more Ideas...



March 12, 2014

It is the middle of spring break, the weather is just lovely... I have been on a daily venture of getting Tangent back in shape, Hubby has really been a support, (you know, the boot to my uh-hmmm!).. I am so incredibly
happy that he has, I mean, look!!!

I have a few more items to do, we need to "net" the peaches, and figs...  load up on more soil to complete the bed... I need to plant the onions...  I have more seeds to plant... I am just going to go plant happy...
Plant anywhere and everywhere... I want to have plants all over eggplant, peppers basil, other herbs... I want yummm and delicious scent all over the garden...

As soon as the seedlings get their true leaves I think I can plant them in the buckets.. The buckets will
have the cucumbers, and a squash, and an eggplant...

So soon Tangent will be mature and strong... Cant wait!!!

Well, whats the saying? "Off like a dirty shirt" or is it "Off like a prom dress"? whatever... Off to work more areas to plant... but first get these weeds under control... geeze

Happy Gardening

The March of my Schedule...

I am so ready to get the plants into the ground... I mean raised beds...

Pomegranate waking up! 

I have the plan...

According to Farmers Almanac, the favorable days are...

March 10th and 11th...


Which will be great because, It will be Spring Break for me...  Yay!!!!


The selected plants are going to be planted..

Plants                                     

6 pepper plants                                    
4 tomatoes                            
2 marigolds                            
                                             
2 thyme                                
2 oregano                              
2 parsley                                                            
2 marigolds                            
                                             

Seeds

Lettuce
Radish
Spinach
Carrots
Cucumbers
Squash
Beans
Eggplant
Onions

1 Avocado tree

Next...

Water lines will be done...

Buckets will be washed up and drilled... I think I am going to add a couple more buckets...
All of the cucumbers and squash will be in them...  Oh, and eggplant...

Weeds are being put in check...

Compost has been added to my black berries and Peach tree and Lime tree...


With everything in check and on schedule...

I can't wait to see the garden emerge into full life....

February, really 6 more weeks...

     February 2, Ground Hogs Day,  Imbolc, for some, and Superbowl Sunday for others...

     February is probably my favorite month,when it comes to seeing spring's arrival! Well, if it were to be spring yet, but 6 more weeks of winter, really?...  I however haven't really any complaining to do... It's the places with the crazy cold and snow that have to wait for 6 long weeks more...

     Every year in February one of the most charming little flowers, appears.

     Chamomile, it pops itself up from the ground very consistently. This dainty & lacy little flower is culinary and medicinally so effective... We would benefit so much from it, as a good percent of most people could, huh?

     A friend of mine calls it Manzanilla among the most common names... She used it to help her babies belly aches... and still includes it as part of her go to teas...

     Chamomile- The herb that has been used for anxiety, stomach aches, and even eczema since ancient times...

But this is also the time to say make sure to seek a Doctors advice over this herb, there are concerns for people that could be allergic, and don't use if your pregnant and nursing...

     I have let this flower go wild in my yard for sometime, I get so excited  to see it every year...

Well, anyhow, It has began to grow again and I am in great anticipation for the little flowers to emerge..

Raised Garden

     We finished step 1-3 almost 4...

     I had juggled my crude diagram a little, and I think this way will work a lot better...

     We will be finishing up the rest of the soil needs... Coming up with the right combination of soil and nutrients will be researched... I know this is a science of sorts, so experiments will always be in the works...
Then, we will start step 5, the water lines next...


On another note, guess what is showing promise?

Yep!

Peaches!!!

    The tree flowered and there is an abundance of blooms...

     My only worry, right now, will be birds... I need to prep for birds, keeping them from eating and pecking holes in the luscious orbs will be a challenge...


Netting, netting will be a choice to try and keep the peaches safe and birds at bay for starters...

Wish us luck for that...






 

   
    

Through the Crossroads

Stomping through my crossroads, I'm finally at a point of a great start, beginning, or "conclusion";
(a beginning of the end of my crossroads)... I don't know ... But it is good I know this much.

Look what the season is... finally..

Time to start a whole new garden season.... Yay... I remember writing about troughs
in the last post.. I started to pursue this concept.... I love the looks, the simplicity...

Then the realization of availability and cost popped my bubble...

Well, I hit the proverbial wall... when the investigation began, we found spending $180.00 or more on them, unappealing... so with more reading and research and then more concept investigation,
we came up with....


Ummm, not too proud of my so called garden... It has seen better days...

BUT...

Cinder blocks...  I haven't been on the dedicated journey of making the beds my priority... but we got out there over the weekend and made a plan..

We cleaned up the area, scaled a plan, and bought the first load of blocks

     Here it is now and on its way to glorious new beginnings...

A rough positioning of how it will be...

We will be placing cardboard down first, before the soil

   

 
I mentioned that I made a list and plan.  The thought of only the veggies I know I will use...

Peppers             Spinach                  Basil            
Tomatoes         Onions (Green)      Radish        
Cucumbers       Jalapeno                 Marigold
Squash              Banana Peppers     Cat Nip
Beans                Carrot                      Bee Balm
Lettuce              Thyme                    Oregano         
Parsley 

   


















    My crude little diagram of what I have planned... I know, it's hard to read...
But before all of the fun things like planting happens,

I need to follow the plan of course

The steps

1. List & plan
2. Position
3. Cardboard
4. Soil
5. Water lines
6. Plants

With step 1. done...  next will be, you guessed it...

Steps 2 and 3...

I need to be ready at least by mid February, some of the plantings begin at that time...

No pressure, right?

Right?

Stepping past my Crossroads!

        It's time to do the proverbial get off the pot thing... 

SO,....


     I have been working on some plans for my garden.. I feel I have come up with thoughts that might be do able...

     During my hiatus, I was struggling with what I really wanted...  Do I keep gardening?  Do I just read up and wait? Do I write more or less? 
     
     Does anyone even really read my blog?  Do I even mind if no-one really does?  I think writing for me is an outlet. You know, keeping record, learn from my mistakes...  So this will be a commitment to my self...  Write, write, write....  learn learn learn.... post,post,post....

...If there is some sort of spell to keep me  focused, please enlighten me...

I'm thinking of this theory,


Raised Beds


     The raised bed look will be something like this...



http://www.delange.org/Galvanized_Water_Troughs_Compost_Bins_Raised_Gardens_Arizona/Galvanized_Water_Troughs_Compost_Bins_Raised_Gardens_Arizona.htm

    I think two possibly three will fit in my garden space...

I think it might help with my squash bug problem...
I can transport them if I were to move...

I will be able to make themes, like a salsa garden, or nightshade, three sisters etc... unlimited thoughts.

All my plans should  commence in January...


*1. Clean garden space out
      Spread mulch in area
      Position troughs
      Lay watering system with timer in





    During my winter break I will be making these plans happen,  I then will be making up my themes
of what to plant and seed...

On to sorting out my favorite plants and seeds for the spring planting season...

Here is to New beginnings and the end to this crossroad...


 

Cross Roads!

So Fall is coming and from all the learning and knowledge I am coming across, I should be throwing in a new garden full of sensational veggies...

But, Alas I am writing to say, that I thought long and hard, My inspiration for gardeing is dimenishing...

I feel sure I need to take a Hiatus until spring to revamp my skills and garden and courage to battle all of my crossroad questions...

There are too many questions to list... so further on to say, I will hope to be back on schedule for spring of 2014, with all new thinking and skills...

I, however, will be on facebook, and still reading and learning from all my favorite bloggers, you know checking in now and then...

I hope for all you, have the very best of everything until then... best of hopes and dreams to all!

Virginia of Tangent Gardening...

Regeneration....

What does it mean to regenerate?

     In biology, regeneration is the process of renewal, restoration, and growth that makes genomes, cells, organs, organisms, and ecosystems resilient to natural fluctuations or events that cause disturbance or damage.      

     *What's in a name?

Green Onions –

So many names for these beautiful long green spears of delish..

· Bunching onions

· Spring onions

· Scallions

  
http://thekrazycouponlady.com/at-home/ill-never-pay-again-one-simple-way-to-free-green-onions/

     I have had these in my garden for some time, I know that you need to lift them before they toughen and get to old, but when is to old?
Just to name a few...

     As you think to yourself or even ask out loud as I do! How easy is it to grow them?

      I’m really not sure, but I have had great luck at growing them.

I did sow some seeds. Like months back ...  They are still out there in the garden and quite
glorious looking!

      I came across some of these articles, and read that you can regrow them straight from the root!

   
     *if say you buy a bunch of green onions from the grocery store, the recipe calls for only using the green part of the onion, take the white part, with roots on, set them in a small amount of water. Before you know it, in a short time you will get some more green.

     *If you like the feathery part of carrots, well you can cut the tops off and set them is a small amount of water and it will grow into a beautiful feathery plant.

     These are only a couple of examples given, creating plants from the tops of plants can make beautiful plants... A couple of other examples are pineapples, sweet potatoes, celery and roses too…

     I would like to try the sweet potatoes though, when they vine out and they trained well, they are a beautiful green or purple touch to any garden...

  

  

     Although, by now most gardeners know about these things, but, I would guess that experimenting with  regenerating plants, you probably could learn a couple of things huh?

• Like one you're not actually killing it if it dies, it's purpose has already been used or has it...
• Also you will just compost it in any result
• And get more plants... and how many can you get out of the one plant?

Roses Too?

    
    
     As for Roses, rooting them by cutting off the heads making a clean cut on the bottoms dipping the fresh-cut bottoms in rooting hormone and putting them in a pot that is half Perlite and half soil should produce another bush...

     How cool would that be... keeping the type of rose that was given especially to you...

So Experiment time.... ?
        
      Maybe, if I get some Roses!

  Possibilities are endless... Right? 

    
     * Is this regeneration, or cloning? Does it mean the same? (Well, no!)

     I know that I want heirloom varieties... But with the GMO's, I know that I surely don't want this around, and many feel the same...

     Now as a Newbie gardener, I have a lot of learning and research to do... Everything I want in my life as a gardener includes natural, heirloom and organic...  I sometimes feel the need of being educated, (without boredom) so I can march on!

     The information is overwhelming, whom do you read, what information does one go with?  At least in the age with out computers and internet and etc...Gardeners all have or had their best kept secrets to rely on!

Are these best kept secret?

Would this be part of helping?
     
       Thoughts to ponder!

And for me  now, I have the need of...  you guessed it!

One question, when there is a cocktail party happening... What kind of music would be the all around enjoyable and soothing?   Thoughts?

Tangent Cocktail Time~



Rose Cocktail recipe

  

1/2 oz  dry vermouth
1 oz     gin
1/2 oz  apricot brandy
1/2 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp    grenadine syrup
            powdered sugar

Rub rim of a cocktail glass with lemon juice and dip into powdered sugar. Shake vermouth, gin, brandy, lemon juice, and grenadine with ice, strain into the sugar-rimmed glass, and serve.

http://www.drinksmixer.com/drink6422.html

Using salami or Ham could be an easier idea...

Scallion Straws

http://simplyfreshcooking.com/2012/05/scallion-straws/

 

 Author: Rachael www.simplyfreshcooking.com

Recipe type: Appetizer

Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 5 ounce jar Hormel 95% Fat Free Dried Beef, rinsed under water and dried
• * I would also try ham, turkey, salami, endless thoughts..
• 8 ounce container whipped cream cheese
• 16 scallions

Instructions

1. With a spatula or the back of a spoon, spread about 1 tablespoon of cream cheese evenly among 3 dried beef slices. Line up the beef and slightly overlap each side. Place one scallion on top of the cream cheese. Fold one side of the beef over the scallion and roll over until the cream cheese/beef is sealed on the other side. Repeat steps until all are finished.

Notes

Think about making extra. If you have green onion fans they’ll go fast, but they’re better served the day you make them. The green onions get a little “limp” if left in the fridge for too long (still taste great though!). Money Saver: You can use 2 pieces of dried beef instead of 3, per scallion straw. *The beef is very salty, don’t forget to rinse!

Nutrition Information

Serving size: 2 Calories: 133.6 Fat: 10.1 g Saturated fat: 5.6 g Carbohydrates: 3.8 g Sugar: 2.0 g Fiber: 0.7 g Protein: 7.7 g Cholesterol: 45.1 mg

Summer...

Summer Heat,

                  Has it been exhaustively hot for you too?

                  What a question! Of course it Has!
But...
     It seems our spring is the resemblance of summer to others else where.   I'm not saying anything that you all don't know... But getting excited for the first days of any season means something to each of us in different ways...

     I don't have a tradition, or a usual thing to celebrate for the first days... I just know that a count down happens... and I seem to have missed Spring this go around... I think, I have dawdled around for summer's too... Well, okay, I did!

    Oh My!, I better get it together or I will miss Fall too...

     So, to get back on track, making a list to plan my fall garden is in the works

• double dig the garden ....(Well, tilled some)
• add some compost.... (nope didn't really)
• decide what to plant... (on some seed)
• when to plant....(hahaha!)
• plant the garden... (uhhh...oops!)

   
     In the end of September or October, I think planting my fruit trees would have happened but, I have already planted them, and I think the shock was too much for them...

     I think I killed them...Yep, The Plum and Cherry tree both look like I killed them... I Murdered them ...

BEFORE PICTURES:

AFTER PICTURES:

     I waited either too long to plant them or I planted to soon :( ... ...

Well,
     Making some sort of trellis needs to happen for my grapes, blackberries... Of course, a blackberry or a grape isn't to be had as of yet! I think that, I missed on that count too!

     I have figs, and I'm sure I need a net to go over the tree or I wont have any... But come to find out, it's not only the birds attacking, It's ants...  ahhhh....

     As for my Pomegranate, I thought I would have at least one (lol)... but well, NO!!... I think that it's not getting enough sun...  Not sure what to do!... Other than digging it up and moving it!

Any Ideas?


     Thinking about My tangent ranch property, if and when the chance arises to plant anything there, I am swaying to the thought of apple trees, I would love to have a small (meaning three or four trees) orchard started there... How amazing would that be... 

     I have also noticed, that rose bushes do quite well there in town.. so I wonder if that may be a possibility?

We have been visiting just about every weekend... I can't describe the unplugged feeling and relaxation that exudes from up there...


    Cocktails Tangent Time

This sounded amazing, I yet have to try this... So I would love a sound off on it...  These are my favorite ingredients.. How can it be wrong?

http://food52.com/recipes/22633-strawberry-basil-lemonade

Serves 8

• 1 cup sugar
• 3 cups quartered fresh strawberries
• 20 medium basil leaves, roughly chopped
• 1 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

1. Put the sugar in a heatproof bowl or cup and pour 1 cup of boiling water over it. Stir to dissolve and let cool.
2. Combine the strawberries with the basil and 1/4 cup of the sugar syrup in a blender. Puree until smooth.
3. To make the lemonade, fill a glass with ice and add 3 tablespoons of lemon juice, 3 tablespoons of the strawberry puree, 1/2 cup cold water, and 1 to 2 tablespoons of sugar syrup, depending on how sweet you like it. Stir well and serve right away!

     Appetizer Tangent Time

Who doesn't love Taquitos?

     This recipe came from www.navywifecook.com, and she has amazing recipes, check her blog out!

Yummm!



http://www.navywifecook.com/2013/06/chicken-and-cream-cheese-taquitos.html

'Chicken and Cream Cheese Taquitos'

Source: Adapted from Cinnamon Spice And Everything Nice

Ingredients

3 cups cooked shredded chicken

6 oz cream cheese, softened

1/3 cup sour cream

1/2 cup salsa

1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1 1/2 cups chopped baby spinach, stems removed

salt and pepper, to taste

9 - 10 (6-inch) flour tortillas

vegetable or canola oil, for frying

Serving Options:

sour cream

quacamole

salsa

taco sauce

ranch dressing

Directions

1. In a large bowl mix together the chicken, cream cheese, sour cream, salsa, cheddar and spinach. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

2. Working with one tortilla at a time, add 2 tablespoons of the chicken mixture down the center of each tortilla. Roll up and set seam side down on a plate. Repeat until all the tortillas are filled and rolled.

3. Add enough oil to a large skillet to generously cover the bottom. Heat on medium to medium-low heat. Cook tortillas in batches, turning to brown each side (2-3 minutes per side). Remove to a paper towel lined plate to drain.

4. Serve with your choice of dipping sauce.

So Happy Summer  Gardening.... 

• Now to pursue Fall Gardening!