Fava Beans and more

Tags

garden harvest

Here are some photos of what I harvested from the garden today…

Left to right: thyme, cabbage, broccoli, fava beans, lavender

Left to right: thyme, cabbage, broccoli, fava beans, lavender

Confessions of a seed killer

Tags

greenhouse, planting, seed starting, seeds

Well, I’m taking a break from playing in the tropical rainforest that is Pensacola right now so I can confess my seed killing tendencies to the world.  At one time, I considered myself a very talented gardener.  As I try newer and more difficult things, I’m finding that I have ever so much more to learn!  I guess that’s good , right?  Otherwise, life would be unbearably boring.

Last fall, James and his dad took a few days to tear down and reassemble a small greenhouse on our property.  It’s a lovely little place: about 15 feet long by 8 feet or so wide.  In the winter time, we are able to move all our lovely tropicals into safety and in the summertime, it’s great for drying firewood for the winter.  The first winter that we used the greenhouse, it wasn’t sealed very well.  Given its age and the haphazard nature of the tear down/re-set up that it went through, we’re just glad it’s sturdy.  Come last spring, whenever I wanted to start seeds for new plants, we couldn’t achieve germination because we had no electricity and it was too darn cold for those little seeds to sprout!

Lesson learned: keep the greenhouse warm enough for germination.  You can apply this for whatever your situation may be.  Something as simple as a heating pad placed under your seed bed (or whatever you’re using to sprout will give great results.

This year, we were able to seal the greenhouse sufficiently well that it stayed fairly toasty year round.  James and a friend were able to rig up electricity to the greenhouse and we used a space heater on the really cold nights.  Friends, this set up worked great.  All the plants stayed healthy and when the time came for seed sprouting, I had no problem at all getting them off to a healthy start.

EXCEPT FOR

The rodents.  James has a theory that the mice have tunneled into the ground beneath the greenhouse and have little spots inside the greenhouse where they can pop out.  This is very sad news for the little seeds.  Mice like seeds just as much as gardeners do.  Beans, sunflowers, gourds, squash and tomatoes all fell prey to the hungry little critters.  I replanted several times, only to have the same results.  James finally forbade me to feed the mice any more.  Eventually, I came up with a plan to solve this problem.  Each night before bed, I covered my flats of seeds with plastic.  Every morning, I uncovered the flats and gave them their water for the day.  Solved that problem.

Lesson learned: protect delicate seedlings and tasty seeds from hungry pests.

PROBLEM THREE

This problem springs directly from the covering and the watering.  Folks, I don’t know how to say this other than to just confess: I overwatered my little seeds.  What??  It’s true.  I rotted them right in their little beds.  It was very sad and that’s really all I have to say about that sorry episode in my life.

Lesson learned: only water when dry.

That leads us to right now.  About four or five days ago (before the rains started), I noticed several volunteers coming up in a pile of compost I had moved to the back yard.  I was struck with what seemed to be a brilliant idea.  Actually, I still think it’s a good idea.  Maybe I just did it at the wrong time. Since all these little volunteer plants were so thrilled to be sprouting in the compost pile, maybe I should just start all the seeds there!  I immediately went to work planting beans, tomatoes, watermelons and marigolds in my impromptu seedling bed.  The plan is to let them get a good start in this rich soil and then dig them out for transplanting.  Unfortunately for the plan, the spring rains began soon after planting (the very next day, I believe).  So, it just remains to be seen what shall become of this seed plan.

Impromptu seed bed. Yes, it's actually a kiddie pool!

Cross your fingers and say a prayer with me that it will work.  I heard the seed police are looking to haul me in on multiple counts of herbicide…

Next time on Little Green Bees: the first of reader suggestions.  Carla was interested in our garden layout, so I have multiple photos to show you!

After that, be looking for our suggestions for three must have plants in your garden–as requested by Patrick of the Ladore Family

Fava Bean Harvest

Tags

fava beans

I know I’m not scheduled to post about fava beans today, but they have been weighing on my mind since they’re really podding well right now.  I don’t want to waste them but had no idea how to go about harvesting them.  So, I did a little research and found some great info on fava beans.

The following quote is from Harvest to Table

Fava beans harvested small–2-3 inches/ 5-7 cm–and tender have a sweet flavor. You can eat them raw or cooked shelled or pod and all.

Medium-sized favas can be shelled and used fresh like English peas. Cook them quickly in a little water or lightly steam them and serve with butter. They are right for shelling when the pods are plump.

Large fava beans—pods as long as 12 inches (30 cm)–are best use as a dry bean. Dry, shelled fava beans can be soaked, boiled until tender, and used cold, whole, or puréed in salads and appetizers.

If you’re interested in more information and/or resources on fava beans, I highly recommend that you check out these two articles:

Fava Beans

Fava Beans and Other Crops

I’ll post some photos of the harvest to date!  Check back later today (I promise!) for Confessions…

Coming attractions

Tags

gardening, gardening ideas

Though I don’t have these posts all worked out yet, I just wanted to give you all some idea of some topics I’ll be writing about this next week.  If you have suggestions or questions that you would like to see answered here, let me know and I’ll get something put together.  Thanks so much for stopping by and your nice comments on our little gardening blog.

Next time on Little Green Bees…

Confessions of a Seed Killer: wherein you learn how I kill seeds every year…

Coming Soon!

The Layout of a Garden

Baby Steps, or Putting a garden together from the beginning

Well, that storm finally made its way here so I am inside all day.  I’ll be getting some housework done (as opposed to pulling weeds or spending time on the computer) and enjoying the sound of the rain on the roof.  Hope you all have a wonderful morning!

ps.  Don’t forget to leave any questions or ideas you may have in the comment section!

Popular plants for gardening with children

Tags

gardening with children, seeds

After reading Our Friend Ben’s recent post on top ten garden seed recommendations, I began to think about my own seed suggestions.  Sure, I have lots of plants that I consider my favorites, but how could I make this topic my own and not just a list of ten seed suggestions parroting Our Friend Ben’s excellent list?

Well, after thinking a bit and talking to the always lovely, helpful and now gardening Micah, I decided on a list of plant recommendations for children’s gardens.  You want your little one in the garden with you and goodness knows they want to be right beside you as you kneel in the freshly turned soil, but how are you going to harness that energy and put it to good use?  You certainly don’t give them a handful of carrot seeds and tell them to get planting!  No, you hand them the largest seeds you can find and put them to work.  Does this absolve you of the ultimate responsibility of ensuring that all is planted well?  Of course not, but it does give you a little more time to plant some of the peskier garden additions.

What would I recommend for your budding (pun intended) gardener?  I think gardening for and with children should incorporate a variety of tactics.  As a garden mentor, you would like to instill a deep and abiding love for growing things into your small one.  How best to do this?

• Start your child out with seeds and/or cuttings that are just fitted for sweet and chubby little hands.
• Ensure that your child can see visible progress within a few days.
• Your child’s plantings should change throughout the season: color, shape and size
• Be sure to include some bright colors to hold your child’s interest!
• Yes, this suggestion is intuitive, but please don’t give your child anything to plant that could be poisonous!

With these recommendations in mind, I have compiled a list to help you and your child have a successful and fun filled gardening experience!

1. Beans–the bigger the better!  Don’t tell my organic gardening friends I told you this, but feel free to save a few dry beans from some of the ones you’re soaking for dinner.  Plant these chunky seeds and let your child grow her own dinner!
2. Squash–I would suggest winter squash since it’s more resistant to the squash vine borer and has more colorful fruit than summer squash.  Plus, your child is sure to love the sweet and creamy taste of baked winter squash!  By the way, don’t forget pumpkins.  Your child will be in heaven with his own pumpkin patch.
3. Sunflowers–but that’s a given, right?
4. Gourds–these seeds are usually fairly odd shaped, pretty chunky and grow so quickly it’s scary!  My suggestions: loofah, birdhouse, bushel.  They’ll grow right up the side of your house if you let them!
5. Nasturtiums–these, bright jewel like flowers are a beautiful addition to your garden–and they’re edible.
6. Corn–how about planting some popcorn with your child?  What a lovely way to incorporate a healthy snack into your child’s diet.  Don’t forget about the beautiful colored corn!
7. Zinnias–these have been some of my favorite flowers since childhood.  If you want to see some really beautiful flowers, visit Mr. Hollis’s blog.  They’re so easy to plant and grow that your child absolutely cannot fail in this endeavor!
8. Melons–for the slightly older child (only because these seeds are smaller), why not try melons?  Your child will adore tracking the progress of their own sweet snacks.  Give cantaloupes and watermelons a try!
9. Garlic and onions–children will be intrigued with planting the baby onions and thrilled to find how large the onions have grown.  Same for garlic–let your child help separate a garlic head and see how much dinnertime interest spikes!
10. Broccoli and cabbage–these seeds are a bit small and will require additional help from mom and dad–but they’re quick growers.  Your child will be able to see fast results and hurried growth with these nutrient powerhouses.  I think it’s also a great way to introduce them to fresh food–since it’s quite acceptable to pinch off a broccoli leaf and munch it in the garden!

I hope some of these suggestions are helpful to you and your children.  Do you have any vegetables and flowers that you have found especially successful?  Do let me know.  Feel free to share your experiences and suggestions!

Need a small compost bin?

Tags

compost, gardening, worm tower

My very lovely and talented sister posted a question to yesterday’s post about containing a small amount of compost.  My thought immediately went to two things

1. a worm tower
2. ice cream

Ice cream?  Excuse me, Becca, but you are grossing me out!  I know, I know, but just hear what I have to say.

Actually, let’s put aside the worm tower right now–although that’s probably the one you’re going to want to use, Micah.

What in the world does ice cream have to do with compost?  Glad you asked.  Again.  Large ice cream buckets make great compost holders to keep inside the house.  Fitted with a lid and a handle, the bucket is easy to carry and clean enough to keep right under your sink without being concerned that little hands will disturb the contents.  Another way to use the ice cream bucket crosses over into worm tower territory.

Cut a larger circle into the bottom of an empty ice cream bucket.  Then, drill drainage holes all over the rest of the bucket.  Dig a hole and sink the empty bucket into the ground–just leaving the handle accessible.  As you fill the bucket with compost, worms will be attracted to the container and will come and go, enriching the soil around the bucket and breaking down the compost at the same time!  It’s the perfect soil conditioner for a small raised bed.  NOTE: this system can be used with any type of container.  If you have an enormous amount of compost, just do the same procedure to a large or medium-sized plastic trash can with a lid.   Another benefit to this method is that you can now compost meat and dairy without fear of animals violating your compost (it has a lid and is buried in the ground!)

Now, what was this about a worm tower?  Glad you asked.  Take a look at this wonderful little video.

As always, happy gardening!

Companion Planting reminders

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companion planting

Note: I posted this list last year in May.  Hopefully, it will be more useful if I post it earlier this year!  As I stated last year, if you have any specific plant questions, please ask and I’ll look it up in my trusty book for you!

After the datura and pumpkin picture of yesterday, I was asked why datura are good to plant with pumpkins. That got me to thinking that I could not only answer that question, but 12 others relating to companion planting (a subject near and dear to my heart). Assisting us with this endeavor will be the ever-amazing and never far from me tome Carrots Love Tomatoes by Louise Riotte.

1. Datura–protects plants from Japanese Beetle
2. Watermelon–good to interplant with potatoes
3. Tomatoes–root excretions have inhibiting effect on young apricot trees; tomato fruitworm and corn earworm are identical (keep away!). Potatoes are rendered more susceptible to blight if tomatoes are planted nearby. Do plant tomatoes with onions, chives, parsley, marigold, nasturtium and carrots.
4. Garlic–roses love it! Protects your roses from black spot, mildew and aphids. Don’t forget that apples, mayhaw, blackberries, raspberries and strawberries are all included in the rose family!
5. Beans and potatoes–their pests eat each other! How good can it get? Plant the beans and potatoes in alternate rows.
6. Basil–helps tomatoes overcome both disease and insects and improves the flavor of the tomatoes.
7. Mint–helps cabbage and tomatoes. Deters the white cabbage worm.
8. Nasturtiums–planted with squash will keep away squash bugs–yes!!
9. Pokeweed–grows well under figs, Scotch pines and other trees.
10. Sage–protective to all the crucifers against the white cabbage butterfly. Also, sage protects carrots against the carrot fly.
11. Yarrow–increases insect resistance of nearby plants. Overall, increases resistance of nearby plants to any and all adverse conditions. Note: I have also heard that habanero plants have this same effect.
12. Soybeans–plant near corn to protect corn from chinch bugs and Japanese beetles.
13. Sunflowers–benefit cucumbers by providing a windbreak. Corn and sunflowers are mutually beneficial. Sunflowers and pole beans compete for the same space.

Any questions on specific plants? Ask away and I’ll be happy to answer, using Ms. Riotte’s trusty manual.

More about Spring–isn’t it just wonderful??

Tags

anna apple, apples, ein shemer apple, Gulf Coast, lady bugs, spring

Hey, I just wanted to say thanks to everybody who has been stopping by and commenting on our garden photos.  This time of the year is so beautiful in Gulf Coast gardens.  Right now and about September through November are the absolute best times to garden here in Florida.  The weather is so mild you can hardly imagine being anywhere else and doing this.  I can weed in a light, long-sleeved shirt and never break a sweat.  Shoveling compost?  Not a problem when the temps are in the low 70s.  Truly, this is paradise.  Don’t worry, you all can rub it in when it’s 98 degrees in the shade and humidity is 100%.  It’s awful.

Here are some more photos of what’s going on in the garden.  I did forget to get a shot of our first asparagus spear.  It’s absolutely lovely!

Ladybugs procreating...yay!!

culinary sage in bloom

poor garlic–at least it smells great!

Florida Buckeye take two!

mayhaw blossoms

Anna apple

Hummingbirds’ best friend!

Catching some sun

Ein Shemer apples–Israeli variety

Ladybugs procreating…

What March is looking like in Pensacola

Tags

garden, Gulf Coast, spring

Lots of things in bloom.  It’s wonderful!

Gonna be delicious!

such good broccoli!

Gonna be delicious!

volunteered from the compost!

who knew cotton was perennial?

finally–fava beans!!

blue lake green bean row

Nature’s Medicine Chest

Tags

elderberries, florida native

Better be careful of that one, she said, it’s a colonizer…

A colonizer? Let me explain. When I saw the label on the plant, I knew I had to have it. After all, I had been wishing to buy one or two of them for several years. The little suckers peeking up around the edges of the pot told me I had a healthy and vigorous plant.

Sambucus canadensis is an amazing little shrubby tree. It can grow to about 12 feet in height, with colonies spreading just as wide, in ideal condition. It likes a good marshy habitat but hates poor drainage. So remember that when you’re planting your colonists!

When we came home from the nursery, I began to look for more information on my Florida Elderberry. So much information abounds on this multi-useful plant! From the Floridata article:

Native Americans made much use of the American elder. They used the bark, flowers and fruits for medicines; they made cakes, puddings and breads from the berries; and they made nonalcoholic and alcoholic drinks from the berries. Elderberries have more vitamin C per unit weight than oranges or tomatoes. Young boys of not-too-long-ago knew that the pithy stems of American elder are easily whittled hollow to make blow guns and whistles. The berries are relished by no fewer that 50 kinds of birds.

If that doesn’t make you want to rush out and bring your own elderberry home, take a look at some of these other uses:

• contains components to help combat sinus infections
• combats/lessens flu symptoms inside of THREE days
• potential uses for the fight against HIV
• loosens congestion
• helps stop diarrhea

other resources

Elderberries.com

Field Guide to Medicinal Wild Plants

Vitamin Stuff

If you get a chance, these are all great resources. If you can only check one, look at the third one. Great information!