Time to flip

Temp dropped to 120F, time to flip

Carrots popped up

only one row though which is really odd. using natural mulch has attracted  a shit ton of pill bugs and earwigs. After soil surface dries a bit ill hit it with some DE. cucumbers look awesome.

Beets look poor, tomatoes are sick and I'm seeing pill bugs chewing on stems of beans; business as usual

A better use for weeds

Another benefit to be all organic, chemical free is that when I weed for 20 minutes I can feed a big meal to Jesus y Moises

5 year old touchstone gold

Turns out 5 year old, poorly stored seeds are still viable - hmph!

Cucumbers are looking great, tendrils started and I need to get them trellised this weekend.

Tomatoes from Jon never really took off and are looking sick now, may pull 'em

Celery (attempt #2)

Started some celery, not holding my breath.

Summer carrots

Planted (2) 5' rows of Nepoli carrots. Loosed beds, added compost, bone meal, powdered egg shells and thick layer of mulch to keep seeds wet.

No work today, too much work

Too much day job to sneak any fun work in. Compost 132 and definitely slowing down. I may of got it too wet.

112° and climbing

Compost is up to 112° and climbing. Got the chipper to start by drizzling gas directly into the cylinder via the spark plug hole. Need to take engine off and take to repair shop, it runs week and sounds like shit.
Anyways, chipped up a wheelbarrow full of fig and dry leaves.

Put the new strawberry guava in place in the yard, let it acclimate a couple weeks before planting.

posted from Bloggeroid

And away we go...

posted from Bloggeroid

Compost work, weeding and heavy watering

Rejuvenated old compost, was really dry. Added some grass, water and air - the rest should be automatic now. 63° at center


Deep watered all beds, should be good for several day. Kate started weeding back by citrus and I pruned back the confused grapes.

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Save my Citrus

I'm finally giving attention to my tiny Valencia Orange and Lime trees I planted last year. I did everything right: dug extra wide and deep holes, set trees to correct height and mulched around base. All that didn't matter though because within a few weeks they were under assault from an unknown pest. I stopped by Flowerdale Nursery to ask some advice as they have an excellent selection of fruit trees. I didn't have any leaves with me and it was suggested I send some photos. I sent the following, hopefully my next post will be about the excellent advice I received.

Last minute winter crop

Sowed winter greens (kale, swiss chard and spinach), peas and beets. Kale and chard started indoor on heat mats to germinate. Peas inoculated and sowed in large 16x flats.

Made a new soil starter mix with 4 parts compost, 2 parts peat moss, 2 parts perlite.

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Lumercizing

More on this later. Maybe.

posted from Bloggeroid

Bean Devouring Beetle Identified: Cribrate Weevil (Otiorhynchus cribricollis)

The bean eating beetles are back and this time they're also devouring my broccoli and the new citrus I planted.  I deal with this last year and had the bug identified by my local extension office but I couldn't find the report.  Until today.

Otiorhynchus cribricollis - Cribrate Weevil

• http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r105301211.html
• http://bugguide.net/node/view/345304/bgpage

The common treatment appears to be applying a sticky substance at the base of the plant to trap the adults as they climb to feed at night.  I cut 1.5" square pieces of paper grocery bag with a slit and hole in the middle.  I then brushed on a mix of equal parts sugar, water and honey to make a sticky goo.  I placed the traps under 6 bean stems and 2 broccoli stems as a test, if it works I will put them all over the place tomorrow.

OC Agricultural Commissioner

For my records, this is where to go to get pests identified. Takes about a week and you need to leave self addressed stamped envelope.
http://ocagcomm.com

The office is very close to my work.  Fill out the PDF form and drop off with specimen.

Address:
Orange County Agricultural Commissioner
Specimen for Identification
222 East Bristol Lane
Orange, CA 92865-2714

chipper shredder

Model #247775850

broccoli experiment

I'm going to try and keep a casual log of what im sowing and transplanting right now, for my own record.

• Transplanted red onions from flats to RB1, seeds started 2/24. 4" spacing, between carrot rows
• Trans. Honey dews from flats to 4" square pots, seeds started indoors 2/24
• Started 6 pack broccoli indoors on the rig
• Started 6 pack of broccoli raab indoorz on the rig

Need to figure out where the peppers will live this year as well as additional tomatoes I have in flats.

¡Cerdo!

BTW I have two new tortoises, not sure of breed yet.  I just received them from Neighbor Frank Sunday.  They're 27 year old brothers and were hatched from eggs.  I'm unaware of their existing names so new ones must be decided upon; currently considering Jesus y Moises - Moises is the larger of the two with a small chip in his shell.

Jesus is pigging out in the below video.

Last Minute Summer Crops

I've be getting reacquainted with the garden and gardening and enjoyed success with chard, spinach and blueberries.  This success has motivated me to get a small summer crop of beets, broccoli raab, carrots, cucumber, (more) spinach and some squashes.  I'm gonna use up what remaining old seed packs I have and will sow much more dense than usual in anticipation of poor germination.  I also placed a Johnny's order tonight for some fresh seeds.

White Trash Sunday

1. Family sitting on sofa on driveway
2. Family sitting on sofa on driveway while drinking cocktails
3. Family sitting on sofa on driveway while drinking cocktails before noon
4. Family sitting on sofa on driveway while drinking cocktails before noon, some family in pajamas
5. Family sitting on sofa on driveway while drinking cocktails before noon, some family in pajamas.  Two year old little girl present
6. Family sitting on sofa on driveway while drinking cocktails before noon, some family in pajamas.  Two year old little girl present and about to witness Grandma kick Chui in the head fer' actin' up!

I love my family.