...And it has welcomed itself largely by massive amounts of rain. Then again, this is pretty normal, even after we had a wonderfully mild December. Gotta get the rain to green everything up. How else are we to make everyone envious of our beautiful area when they come visit in summer?
Set my first plants out for sale at Portland Homestead Supply. Some lettuce, kale, and other greens are ready to go, as well as some strawberries and artichokes. It's always exciting to get the season underway.
Of course, this being March, the farm is ramping up in work. My first wave of tomatoes and peppers have been planted, which is the signal that the season really begins in earnest. All my leftover herbs have been repotted, and I'm harvesting a bunch of strawberry runner plants to pot up this week as well. And now that I have plants out for sale, I'll be out making deliveries too. Good times!
I'm off to get in a run before I tackle more farm work. It just so happens that I'll get a free bath along the way this time. A warm shower will feel nice - so will my heated greenhouse when I'm potting up some herbs this afternoon!
Take care,
Zach
Sunday, March 2, 2014
Saturday, February 15, 2014
2014 - Wait, What Happened to 2013?
Rip Van Hinkelman!! Wake up!! You've got blogs to write!!
Apparently, things got away from me last year and I never was able to sit down and write much about the pleasantries and inner workings of Winona Farms. However, this is a new year! I've not yet begun to fall asleep on this blog. That said, I aim to keep hammering out some of these missives fairly periodically this year. There is lots of fun stuff ahead, and I'm excited for 2014.
Winona Farms just got updated. Some new varieties are listed, as is the norm each year. This year, however, I've put out some special links for pics of the majority of peppers and tomatoes I'll be growing this year. If for nothing else, they are certainly a fine sight to look at.
My unending search of more knowledge of all things plants has lead me into a deep dive into the biology of the soil. From biodynamic composting to mineralizing my potting mixes, I continue to strive for better and healthier plants. This has lead me to discover biological farming and the wonderful benefits to the soil, plants, animals, humans, and the earth in whole that it brings. It's all very fascinating and my thirst for more knowledge remains unquenched.
One thing I will report from 2013 is the acknowledgement I received from the Neighborhood House. I was the voluntary garden coordinator for them and I helped them increase their garden produce over 500%! I was astounded at that achievement and I am humbled I could do it for such a wonderful group of people. I will continue on as the garden coordinator for 2014, and I'm shooting for another 500% increase. Updates will come in December.
Glad to have my hands back in the dirt. Things get exciting next week as I begin to start planting peppers and tomatoes. That also means, I get busier. And HAPPIER!
Cheers to 2014!
Zach
Apparently, things got away from me last year and I never was able to sit down and write much about the pleasantries and inner workings of Winona Farms. However, this is a new year! I've not yet begun to fall asleep on this blog. That said, I aim to keep hammering out some of these missives fairly periodically this year. There is lots of fun stuff ahead, and I'm excited for 2014.
Winona Farms just got updated. Some new varieties are listed, as is the norm each year. This year, however, I've put out some special links for pics of the majority of peppers and tomatoes I'll be growing this year. If for nothing else, they are certainly a fine sight to look at.
My unending search of more knowledge of all things plants has lead me into a deep dive into the biology of the soil. From biodynamic composting to mineralizing my potting mixes, I continue to strive for better and healthier plants. This has lead me to discover biological farming and the wonderful benefits to the soil, plants, animals, humans, and the earth in whole that it brings. It's all very fascinating and my thirst for more knowledge remains unquenched.
One thing I will report from 2013 is the acknowledgement I received from the Neighborhood House. I was the voluntary garden coordinator for them and I helped them increase their garden produce over 500%! I was astounded at that achievement and I am humbled I could do it for such a wonderful group of people. I will continue on as the garden coordinator for 2014, and I'm shooting for another 500% increase. Updates will come in December.
Glad to have my hands back in the dirt. Things get exciting next week as I begin to start planting peppers and tomatoes. That also means, I get busier. And HAPPIER!
Cheers to 2014!
Zach
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Oh, Let The Sunneth Commeth
I've been a farmer pretty much my whole life. I'm always complaining about the weather, otherwise they take my overalls away. However, I must remember that last spring was so horrible, that we barely got any clear days at all. We've actually gotten a few really nice days - both this month and last. Again, this didn't happen last year. It appears we are headed for a couple more this weekend - I'm very excited! Lot's of work to be done and my tomatoes are in sore need of some good sun. They should pop up nicely over the next few days. Hopefully in a 3 weeks or so, they will be ready for your (and my) garden.
Until then, I've got a great selection of lettuce, brassicas, onions, herbs, and other good spring garden stuff available. You can take a peek at what's available here.
Tray packs (both 6 & 4 packs) are $2.00 each.
4" herbs/flowers/fruit are $2.50 each.
2" herbs/flowers/fruit are $2 each.
4" Veggies are $2.
You can inquire about any of these fine products by emailing me at zach@winonafarms.com
Thanks - enjoy the sun, I know I have lots of good ideas on how I'll be enjoying it.
cheers,
Zach
Until then, I've got a great selection of lettuce, brassicas, onions, herbs, and other good spring garden stuff available. You can take a peek at what's available here.
Tray packs (both 6 & 4 packs) are $2.00 each.
4" herbs/flowers/fruit are $2.50 each.
2" herbs/flowers/fruit are $2 each.
4" Veggies are $2.
You can inquire about any of these fine products by emailing me at zach@winonafarms.com
Thanks - enjoy the sun, I know I have lots of good ideas on how I'll be enjoying it.
cheers,
Zach
Friday, April 13, 2012
Another Weekend of Sun?
Could we be so lucky? Lettuce hope!
I've got a craigslist ad up right now. Lot's of greens and herbs available and are anxious for some soil to sink their roots into. $2 for tray packs of greens, $2.50 for herbs. Not tomatoes, peppers, or basil yet. Still too damn cold for those heat-lover, but in a couple weeks, the tomatoes will be ready to go and the peppers and basil will be right behind them. See the list of plants below.
I'll be doing the same around my own garden today and tomorrow. At some point, I need to mow the lawn, if only to clip off the dandelion flowers. Man, did they come out of nowhere in the past week.
Getting the beds ready for the fun stuff like corn, tomatoes and peppers is one of my favorite parts of spring. I love the smell of dirt and by the end of the day I come inside just covered in it. Nothing better!
Okay - got to get some work done. For now, here is the list of plants that I have available:
Romaine Lettuce (Parris Island, Outredgeous, Jericho)
Leaf Lettuce (Black Seeded Simpson, New Red Fire, Buttercrunch)
Mesclun (Farmer's Market Mix)
Head Lettuce (Crispino, Red Iceburg)
Mustard Greens (Braising stir-fry mix/mesclun, giant red)
Kale (Red Winter, Dwarf Blue Curled, Lacinato/Tuscan, Red Nagoya)
Broccoli ( Belstar, Spring Raab)
Cauliflower (Snow Crown)
Cabbage (Green Acre, Charmant, Mammoth Red Rock, Derby Day)
Celery (Utah 52-70)
Beets (Bulls Blood)
Arugula (Roquette)
Pak Choi (Chinese Bok Choi)
Onions (Walla Walla, Copra, Bianca di Maggio, Cipollini, Red Bull, Gallop, Everygreen bunching, Red of Florence)
Leeks (American Flag, Giant Musselburg)
Spinach (Tyee, Olympia Hybrid)
Collard Greens (Vates)
Swiss Chard (Silverado, Bright Lights)
Rhubarb (Victoria)
Artichoke (Green Globe, Purple Globe)
Garden Cresse
Herbs: culinary sage, painted sage, rosemary, lavender (hidcote & English), summer savory, winter savory, true greek oregano, marjoram, red-veined sorrel, catnip, English thyme, orange thyme, creeping thyme, chives, garlic chives, lemon mint, peppermint, spearmint, chocolate mint, dill, fennel, cilantro, parsley (flat & curly), anise hyssop, lemon bee balm, wormwood.
I've got a craigslist ad up right now. Lot's of greens and herbs available and are anxious for some soil to sink their roots into. $2 for tray packs of greens, $2.50 for herbs. Not tomatoes, peppers, or basil yet. Still too damn cold for those heat-lover, but in a couple weeks, the tomatoes will be ready to go and the peppers and basil will be right behind them. See the list of plants below.
I'll be doing the same around my own garden today and tomorrow. At some point, I need to mow the lawn, if only to clip off the dandelion flowers. Man, did they come out of nowhere in the past week.
Getting the beds ready for the fun stuff like corn, tomatoes and peppers is one of my favorite parts of spring. I love the smell of dirt and by the end of the day I come inside just covered in it. Nothing better!
Okay - got to get some work done. For now, here is the list of plants that I have available:
Romaine Lettuce (Parris Island, Outredgeous, Jericho)
Leaf Lettuce (Black Seeded Simpson, New Red Fire, Buttercrunch)
Mesclun (Farmer's Market Mix)
Head Lettuce (Crispino, Red Iceburg)
Mustard Greens (Braising stir-fry mix/mesclun, giant red)
Kale (Red Winter, Dwarf Blue Curled, Lacinato/Tuscan, Red Nagoya)
Broccoli ( Belstar, Spring Raab)
Cauliflower (Snow Crown)
Cabbage (Green Acre, Charmant, Mammoth Red Rock, Derby Day)
Celery (Utah 52-70)
Beets (Bulls Blood)
Arugula (Roquette)
Pak Choi (Chinese Bok Choi)
Onions (Walla Walla, Copra, Bianca di Maggio, Cipollini, Red Bull, Gallop, Everygreen bunching, Red of Florence)
Leeks (American Flag, Giant Musselburg)
Spinach (Tyee, Olympia Hybrid)
Collard Greens (Vates)
Swiss Chard (Silverado, Bright Lights)
Rhubarb (Victoria)
Artichoke (Green Globe, Purple Globe)
Garden Cresse
Herbs: culinary sage, painted sage, rosemary, lavender (hidcote & English), summer savory, winter savory, true greek oregano, marjoram, red-veined sorrel, catnip, English thyme, orange thyme, creeping thyme, chives, garlic chives, lemon mint, peppermint, spearmint, chocolate mint, dill, fennel, cilantro, parsley (flat & curly), anise hyssop, lemon bee balm, wormwood.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Greenhouse Pics
April is just around the corner. The days are getting subtly warmer and longer. Lots of good stuff is happening here on the farm. Take a gander at some recent pics of the plants that are started. The weekend of sunny weather really put a charge into everything. I got to work outside, soaking up vitamin D, and potting up herbs. I had a blast!
I've got a cart of plants set up at Barber World Foods, on the corner of Barbur Blvd and Capitol Hwy. Just cool season crops at this point, and a good selection of hardy herbs. The good weather has people getting out in the garden and buying some plants to begin spring planting. It's a nice change from how cold and wet it was last year - I get the sense that people are cautiously optimistic about the coming months, perhaps we'll get a mild spring with some good sunny days? So far, so good.
You can also find some of my starts at Naomi's Organic Farm Supply. This is a really cool store, and I'm extremely happy to be able to have some of my plants on their shelves. They just moved into a new space and are still getting settled. But it's really a fun place to walk thru, and they have top quality plants from Edible Horizons and Wildcat Mountain Farm as well. You can get your baby chicks there as well. Always a fun thing to raise yourself.
Take care everyone - enjoy the week!
cheers,
zach
I've got a cart of plants set up at Barber World Foods, on the corner of Barbur Blvd and Capitol Hwy. Just cool season crops at this point, and a good selection of hardy herbs. The good weather has people getting out in the garden and buying some plants to begin spring planting. It's a nice change from how cold and wet it was last year - I get the sense that people are cautiously optimistic about the coming months, perhaps we'll get a mild spring with some good sunny days? So far, so good.
You can also find some of my starts at Naomi's Organic Farm Supply. This is a really cool store, and I'm extremely happy to be able to have some of my plants on their shelves. They just moved into a new space and are still getting settled. But it's really a fun place to walk thru, and they have top quality plants from Edible Horizons and Wildcat Mountain Farm as well. You can get your baby chicks there as well. Always a fun thing to raise yourself.
Take care everyone - enjoy the week!
cheers,
zach
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
...And, We Are Live, People!
Phew - finally finished! Please check out my brand-spanking new website at winonafarms.com. Probably will be tinkering with it here and there, but for the most part, I'm pretty happy with it. It's been 15 years since I did any kind of web-design work (back in college! EGAD!) Things have changed a bit since then, but I was able to pull somethings together to make them work out to my liking. Sorry for the smartphone/tablet people, probably not real 'mobile' friendly. I'll make sure that's a go for next iteration. For now, I hope you can enjoy the pretty tomato pictures and my new favorite font - Nyala.
***
So, looks a little wet outside, eh? And windy? Well, yes. It blew the top off one of my poly tunnels. Thankfully, not to much damage occurred, and the plants made it thru okay. Better than that 27 degree freeze last week. Damn! That's a bit chilly. Lost a few flats of plants that morning. Such is life, I suppose.
Before all this rain hit, we did get an excellent weekend of sunny and fairly warm weather. Keep in mind, we didn't get one of those days until the end of April last year - and it was only 1 day! It was a gift to get 2 back-to-back in the middle of March. It took full advantage by planting peas, potatoes, strawberries, carrots, radishes, beets, and onion starts. Always good to get the first seeds of spring into the ground.
I mail-ordered a whole bunch of strawberries (80 plants!) of four varieties - Hecker (day-neutral), Tillamook, Benton, & Shuksan. Not only am I looking forward for the bounty of fruit, I plan on potting up the daughter plants for sale in 2013. I'm quite interested in the Hecker variety. It supposedly is a heavy producer of large fruit over the season. Time will tell, but I'm excited about the tasty berries!
***
I'll have my stand up at Barbur World Foods later this week. Looking forward to getting some plants into peoples gardens. Lot's of good looking greens and brassicas are ready for transplant. I've also got a few other things I'm working on. One of which is helping the Neighborhood House in Multnomah Village. Details on that in a few weeks, but I'm very excited about this opportunity.
Hope all is well and your hatches have been battened down tight to wait out the weather. Take care!
cheers,
zach
***
So, looks a little wet outside, eh? And windy? Well, yes. It blew the top off one of my poly tunnels. Thankfully, not to much damage occurred, and the plants made it thru okay. Better than that 27 degree freeze last week. Damn! That's a bit chilly. Lost a few flats of plants that morning. Such is life, I suppose.
Before all this rain hit, we did get an excellent weekend of sunny and fairly warm weather. Keep in mind, we didn't get one of those days until the end of April last year - and it was only 1 day! It was a gift to get 2 back-to-back in the middle of March. It took full advantage by planting peas, potatoes, strawberries, carrots, radishes, beets, and onion starts. Always good to get the first seeds of spring into the ground.
I mail-ordered a whole bunch of strawberries (80 plants!) of four varieties - Hecker (day-neutral), Tillamook, Benton, & Shuksan. Not only am I looking forward for the bounty of fruit, I plan on potting up the daughter plants for sale in 2013. I'm quite interested in the Hecker variety. It supposedly is a heavy producer of large fruit over the season. Time will tell, but I'm excited about the tasty berries!
***
I'll have my stand up at Barbur World Foods later this week. Looking forward to getting some plants into peoples gardens. Lot's of good looking greens and brassicas are ready for transplant. I've also got a few other things I'm working on. One of which is helping the Neighborhood House in Multnomah Village. Details on that in a few weeks, but I'm very excited about this opportunity.
Hope all is well and your hatches have been battened down tight to wait out the weather. Take care!
cheers,
zach
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Getting Started
This post is inspired by Troy, who called me up this week wanting to talk about plants. He purchased a few things from me last year and was very excited about the upcoming gardening year. In fact, he wasn't willing to wait for the plants to be ready - he went about starting his own seeds.
I find this very inspiring. One might think, as a nurseryman, that this lessens potential business that I may generate if people are starting their own seeds. While initially this may be the case, I think it is net win in the end for all parties. People who take the time to start their own seeds greatly increase their knowledge of gardening and how to best nurture seedlings along until they are ready to be set outside. They begin to learn the signs of a healthy plant or a stressed plant. What (and how) seedlings react to as far as soil, light, and temperature are concerned. How to protect young seedlings in the early days. Tons and tons of useful knowledge.
Now, it's wholly possible that Troy will jump in the ocean and become a full-blown nurseryman like myself and start everything that he intends to grow in his garden. I would bet that this most likely won't be the case. I do think he'll continue to grow things himself, but he'll likely purchase a few plants that he may not have time to grow or perhaps can't find the seed for. It's in this case where someone like me - who puts tremendous value in the quality of seedlings - will benefit. Troy and others like him will be armed with the knowledge of how to choose healthy vigorous plants. While that may or may not be from me, my plants will be at least in the mix for consideration.
Good luck to Troy and all you self-seed-starting gardeners out there. You increase the quality of what is expected for starts and for that I thank you!
With that said, here are some tips for people wondering how you can go about starting your own seeds.
1) Soil - For a professional grower, almost all seeds are planted in what is called a 'soil-less' mix. Essentially, there are no nutrients or minerals available to the seed in the media. It's been shown that seeds germinate better in an austere growing environment, as fertilizers and other pathogens naturally found in any soil can inhibit the sprouting process. But, you aren't a professional grower (yet.) My first year of starting seeds, I just used normal potting soil. I probably didn't get the expected germination percentage, but I got a few of everything I planted. The only recommendation I would offer is try to choose a soil that has the least amount of wood/forest product incorporated into it. I find that seedlings don't like it (my guess is that it's too acidic.)
2) Pots - I used pots from plants I purchased in prior years that I saved. If you don't have any on hand, you can procure some pretty easily. Almost every nursery has a recycle bin for these pots. I have scrounged many a pot and flat from these bins. However, if you want something brand new, I'm pretty sure these same nurseries will stock normal 3-4" pots. Craigslist is also a good way to score some cheap pots too.
3) Light(s) - You can use a sunny south-facing window if you don't live in Portland. Otherwise, a cloudy south-facing window will suffice. Plants can get a bit leggy as they reach for the light. If you have a shop light around, these work very well for starting plants. Two 4' shop lights can comfortably handle 4 10"x20" flats of plants. The added benefit is that you can keep the lights on 24-7. The seedlings grow exceedingly quick with this method. All that talk about plants needing dark? It's over-rated, at least in the initial seedling phase. As they mature, they need a dark cycle, but they will be outside by then.
4) Bottom Heat - Some of you might be aware that seeds germinate a lot quicker when the soil is warm. This is absolutely true. You don't have to go out and purchase a seedling heat mat, thought, those do work very well. The first year I started seeds, I placed the pots on the water heater. The bump in temperature was slight, but enough so that it can make a difference in getting seeds such as peppers and tomatoes to sprout far quicker. When you first sow seeds, don't worry about light. It's more important to keep the soil warm (ie, the window sill is actually quite cold and will inhibit germination.) At the first sign of seeds beginning to sprout, move them to the light source.
5) Moisture - Until seeds sprout, the best way to keep the soil moist is to cover it with plastic. You probably have seen propogation domes and that's what they are used for. However, you can achieve the same thing by putting some saran wrap over the top of the pot/flat to help retain moisture in the soil. Just be sure to remove it when you see the seeds emerging. Oh, and all those pictures you see of propogation domes with those nice healthy looking seedings? It's a lie! Plants need air movement to survive, much less grow. Don't enclose a plant in a dome like that unless you want your seedling to lean over from suffocation.
6) Potting up - After germination and the first set of 'true' leaves (which are actually the second set of leaves to emerge), you can pot up the seedlings to bigger pots. Take a knife, popsicle stick, screwdriver, or anything that you can find that can loosen the soil around the plant and allow you to lift it out of the soil. Once plucked from the original, pot it into the larger one and fill in with soil. If the plant has grown leggy (long stem between soil and first set of leaves), you can bring the soil line up to the first set of leaves on the stem. This allows for a more solid base and your plant is less after to fall over as it gets bigger.
7) Watering - water daily, but also allow the top of the soil to dry out to prevent against a fungal problem known as dampening off. This occurs when the plant stem is infected and the fungus cuts off it's water and nutrient supply and it dies a very quick death. Allowing the soil to dry each day will essentially eliminate this from occurring.
8) Air Movement - Plants can't respire properly without air moving around them (they don't have lungs!) A small fan will do the trick. Even having a furnace that will blow warm air past them every so often will suffice. Just don't isolate them in a box where the air grows stagnant and stale.
And that takes you to the time of setting it out into your garden. Each type of plant is different in the time it takes for it to be ready. Lettuce is 4-5 weeks. Tomatoes are 6-7. Peppers are 7-9. Allow 4-7 days to 'harden off' the plant before finally putting it outside for good. Start with a few hours outside the first day. Increase the second and third. Finally, if it's not going to be cooler than normal, leave it outside overnight for a couple days. By then, your plants will be more than ready for the garden.
Best of luck to you all! I hope to hear of your successes.
Cheers,
zach
I find this very inspiring. One might think, as a nurseryman, that this lessens potential business that I may generate if people are starting their own seeds. While initially this may be the case, I think it is net win in the end for all parties. People who take the time to start their own seeds greatly increase their knowledge of gardening and how to best nurture seedlings along until they are ready to be set outside. They begin to learn the signs of a healthy plant or a stressed plant. What (and how) seedlings react to as far as soil, light, and temperature are concerned. How to protect young seedlings in the early days. Tons and tons of useful knowledge.
Now, it's wholly possible that Troy will jump in the ocean and become a full-blown nurseryman like myself and start everything that he intends to grow in his garden. I would bet that this most likely won't be the case. I do think he'll continue to grow things himself, but he'll likely purchase a few plants that he may not have time to grow or perhaps can't find the seed for. It's in this case where someone like me - who puts tremendous value in the quality of seedlings - will benefit. Troy and others like him will be armed with the knowledge of how to choose healthy vigorous plants. While that may or may not be from me, my plants will be at least in the mix for consideration.
Good luck to Troy and all you self-seed-starting gardeners out there. You increase the quality of what is expected for starts and for that I thank you!
With that said, here are some tips for people wondering how you can go about starting your own seeds.
1) Soil - For a professional grower, almost all seeds are planted in what is called a 'soil-less' mix. Essentially, there are no nutrients or minerals available to the seed in the media. It's been shown that seeds germinate better in an austere growing environment, as fertilizers and other pathogens naturally found in any soil can inhibit the sprouting process. But, you aren't a professional grower (yet.) My first year of starting seeds, I just used normal potting soil. I probably didn't get the expected germination percentage, but I got a few of everything I planted. The only recommendation I would offer is try to choose a soil that has the least amount of wood/forest product incorporated into it. I find that seedlings don't like it (my guess is that it's too acidic.)
2) Pots - I used pots from plants I purchased in prior years that I saved. If you don't have any on hand, you can procure some pretty easily. Almost every nursery has a recycle bin for these pots. I have scrounged many a pot and flat from these bins. However, if you want something brand new, I'm pretty sure these same nurseries will stock normal 3-4" pots. Craigslist is also a good way to score some cheap pots too.
3) Light(s) - You can use a sunny south-facing window if you don't live in Portland. Otherwise, a cloudy south-facing window will suffice. Plants can get a bit leggy as they reach for the light. If you have a shop light around, these work very well for starting plants. Two 4' shop lights can comfortably handle 4 10"x20" flats of plants. The added benefit is that you can keep the lights on 24-7. The seedlings grow exceedingly quick with this method. All that talk about plants needing dark? It's over-rated, at least in the initial seedling phase. As they mature, they need a dark cycle, but they will be outside by then.
4) Bottom Heat - Some of you might be aware that seeds germinate a lot quicker when the soil is warm. This is absolutely true. You don't have to go out and purchase a seedling heat mat, thought, those do work very well. The first year I started seeds, I placed the pots on the water heater. The bump in temperature was slight, but enough so that it can make a difference in getting seeds such as peppers and tomatoes to sprout far quicker. When you first sow seeds, don't worry about light. It's more important to keep the soil warm (ie, the window sill is actually quite cold and will inhibit germination.) At the first sign of seeds beginning to sprout, move them to the light source.
5) Moisture - Until seeds sprout, the best way to keep the soil moist is to cover it with plastic. You probably have seen propogation domes and that's what they are used for. However, you can achieve the same thing by putting some saran wrap over the top of the pot/flat to help retain moisture in the soil. Just be sure to remove it when you see the seeds emerging. Oh, and all those pictures you see of propogation domes with those nice healthy looking seedings? It's a lie! Plants need air movement to survive, much less grow. Don't enclose a plant in a dome like that unless you want your seedling to lean over from suffocation.
6) Potting up - After germination and the first set of 'true' leaves (which are actually the second set of leaves to emerge), you can pot up the seedlings to bigger pots. Take a knife, popsicle stick, screwdriver, or anything that you can find that can loosen the soil around the plant and allow you to lift it out of the soil. Once plucked from the original, pot it into the larger one and fill in with soil. If the plant has grown leggy (long stem between soil and first set of leaves), you can bring the soil line up to the first set of leaves on the stem. This allows for a more solid base and your plant is less after to fall over as it gets bigger.
7) Watering - water daily, but also allow the top of the soil to dry out to prevent against a fungal problem known as dampening off. This occurs when the plant stem is infected and the fungus cuts off it's water and nutrient supply and it dies a very quick death. Allowing the soil to dry each day will essentially eliminate this from occurring.
8) Air Movement - Plants can't respire properly without air moving around them (they don't have lungs!) A small fan will do the trick. Even having a furnace that will blow warm air past them every so often will suffice. Just don't isolate them in a box where the air grows stagnant and stale.
And that takes you to the time of setting it out into your garden. Each type of plant is different in the time it takes for it to be ready. Lettuce is 4-5 weeks. Tomatoes are 6-7. Peppers are 7-9. Allow 4-7 days to 'harden off' the plant before finally putting it outside for good. Start with a few hours outside the first day. Increase the second and third. Finally, if it's not going to be cooler than normal, leave it outside overnight for a couple days. By then, your plants will be more than ready for the garden.
Best of luck to you all! I hope to hear of your successes.
Cheers,
zach
Friday, March 2, 2012
Saturday is Market Day
Wow! It seems like it was only 2 months since I last posted! Sheesh, how time flies. Lot's of great stuff is happening here at Winona Farms. Lots of herbs are growing, albeit slowly, and the lettuce, brassicas, onions, and strawberries are ready to be planted. We are getting oh so near that magical point of the year where it's more light the dark during the day, which means time change is around the corner. Spring ahead!
Saturday marks another great rite of spring passage - my first market day of the year! I'll be selling starts in Sandy from 10am-3pm in the AEC Building, 39085 Pioneer Boulevard, Sandy, Or. I can't wait! Since it's in a building, I don't have to worry about the rain, which is a big relief for me and the market-goers. Definite win-win for all.
Here is sample of what I'll have available: Onions (bunching, red bulb, yellow bulb, & sweet varieties), alpine strawberries, rhubarb, chard, kale, cauliflower, broccoli, mustard greens, various lettuces (letti?), rosemary, Greek oregano, winter savory, chives, artichokes, lemon mint, peppermint, catnip, and whole garlic bulbs. Lot's of yummy stuff, for sure.
However, the best sign of spring? I start planting tomatoes and peppers next week! That's the fun stuff for me. As much as I like growing EVERYTHING, I get my biggest thrills out of the tomatoes and peppers. Lot's more grafting this year, both tomatoes and eggplants. Once again, I'll have a lot of variety. If there is something you are interested in, there is a good chance I'll be growing it, or at least have a good comp variety for it.
Take care, everyone! Welcome to March!
Cheers,
Zach
Saturday marks another great rite of spring passage - my first market day of the year! I'll be selling starts in Sandy from 10am-3pm in the AEC Building, 39085 Pioneer Boulevard, Sandy, Or. I can't wait! Since it's in a building, I don't have to worry about the rain, which is a big relief for me and the market-goers. Definite win-win for all.
Here is sample of what I'll have available: Onions (bunching, red bulb, yellow bulb, & sweet varieties), alpine strawberries, rhubarb, chard, kale, cauliflower, broccoli, mustard greens, various lettuces (letti?), rosemary, Greek oregano, winter savory, chives, artichokes, lemon mint, peppermint, catnip, and whole garlic bulbs. Lot's of yummy stuff, for sure.
However, the best sign of spring? I start planting tomatoes and peppers next week! That's the fun stuff for me. As much as I like growing EVERYTHING, I get my biggest thrills out of the tomatoes and peppers. Lot's more grafting this year, both tomatoes and eggplants. Once again, I'll have a lot of variety. If there is something you are interested in, there is a good chance I'll be growing it, or at least have a good comp variety for it.
Take care, everyone! Welcome to March!
Cheers,
Zach
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Welcome 2012
Ever since I stopped planting seeds for starts last summer, I've been waiting to begin once again. It was near the end of August when I wrapped my operation up and I've planted my first seeds of the new year this evening. Can't think of a better way to welcome in 2012.
My first 'real' year of selling starts was excellent. This year, I have even bigger plans and hope to be growing many more varieties for you to try in your own gardens. I enjoyed the time I spent at the Tigard & Aloha Famer's Markets last year. I learned a tremendous amount and have grand ideas on how to utilize my space a bit more efficiently. I'm looking to get into some new markets around town. My experience with Barbur Foods has shown me this is a valuable way to get my plants out into the market.
I had a really great year with my tomatoes. On a whim, I tried my hand at grafting heirloom varieties onto virus-resistant and robust rootstock. In my garden, it was quite easy to tell the difference between the traditional plants and the grafted plants. The grafted plants grew far more quickly, had more fruit, ripened earlier, and generally were just a much healthier looking plant. I guess there is something to that idea after all!
After essentially getting shutout with vine-ripe fruit in 2010, I enjoyed a bumper crop this summer as I pulled in nearly 300 pounds of tomatoes (both from conventional and grafted plants.) Lot's of salsa, tomato sauce, and dried fruit still remain from the bounty. My basil was also a dependable crop, with frozen pesto cubes still waiting to be warmed for a tasty winter pasta.
While those are all positive things, it's worth noting that 2011 wasn't 100% candy-apple great. Spring and early summer rain plus chilly temps put a crimp on sales early on. In my own garden, it pretty much doomed any hope I had of growing corn and melons. Peppers didn't like it much either. I did get a bunch of hot peppers to ripen, but the cool conditions made it hard to get a good crop of bell peppers and larger hot peppers like poblanos and anaheims to ripen up. However, my one crowning achievement was to get a number of Manzano peppers to ripen. These are bar-none my favorite peppers. A notch below habaneros in heat, the citrus-y flavor is absolutely dynamite in salsas.
Another addition to the farm is a small Solexx greenhouse. With another La Nina predicted, this will be a great tool in the spring to keep the starts protected as they make their transition to the cruel outside world. Knowing me, I'll fill it up in no time and will be needing something twice as big. Guess I better find myself a few more markets so I can afford such pleasures!
That's it for now. I leave you will a picture of 12 freshly seeded flats of herbs. These mints, sages, rosemary, & thymes will take a while to get market ready. Early January is a good time to get them going. It makes for an easy start to the season.
Happy New Year!
Cheers,
Zach
My first 'real' year of selling starts was excellent. This year, I have even bigger plans and hope to be growing many more varieties for you to try in your own gardens. I enjoyed the time I spent at the Tigard & Aloha Famer's Markets last year. I learned a tremendous amount and have grand ideas on how to utilize my space a bit more efficiently. I'm looking to get into some new markets around town. My experience with Barbur Foods has shown me this is a valuable way to get my plants out into the market.
I had a really great year with my tomatoes. On a whim, I tried my hand at grafting heirloom varieties onto virus-resistant and robust rootstock. In my garden, it was quite easy to tell the difference between the traditional plants and the grafted plants. The grafted plants grew far more quickly, had more fruit, ripened earlier, and generally were just a much healthier looking plant. I guess there is something to that idea after all!
After essentially getting shutout with vine-ripe fruit in 2010, I enjoyed a bumper crop this summer as I pulled in nearly 300 pounds of tomatoes (both from conventional and grafted plants.) Lot's of salsa, tomato sauce, and dried fruit still remain from the bounty. My basil was also a dependable crop, with frozen pesto cubes still waiting to be warmed for a tasty winter pasta.
While those are all positive things, it's worth noting that 2011 wasn't 100% candy-apple great. Spring and early summer rain plus chilly temps put a crimp on sales early on. In my own garden, it pretty much doomed any hope I had of growing corn and melons. Peppers didn't like it much either. I did get a bunch of hot peppers to ripen, but the cool conditions made it hard to get a good crop of bell peppers and larger hot peppers like poblanos and anaheims to ripen up. However, my one crowning achievement was to get a number of Manzano peppers to ripen. These are bar-none my favorite peppers. A notch below habaneros in heat, the citrus-y flavor is absolutely dynamite in salsas.
Another addition to the farm is a small Solexx greenhouse. With another La Nina predicted, this will be a great tool in the spring to keep the starts protected as they make their transition to the cruel outside world. Knowing me, I'll fill it up in no time and will be needing something twice as big. Guess I better find myself a few more markets so I can afford such pleasures!
That's it for now. I leave you will a picture of 12 freshly seeded flats of herbs. These mints, sages, rosemary, & thymes will take a while to get market ready. Early January is a good time to get them going. It makes for an easy start to the season.
Happy New Year!
Cheers,
Zach
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
'Tis Tomato Season!
Every August, I take off for 1-2 weeks to help my uncle harvest. Since I've been a wee little tyke, I've only missed one harvest. I've been helping in the field since I was 13 and I can't imagine not going back and partaking in the harvest anytime soon. Who amongst you would take vacation time to go back and work 12 hour days in dirt, dust, and itchy chaff willing? Yes, the bug just won't ever let go.
However, a funny thing happened when I went on vacation - the prodigal summer came back home. I think it only took two days of me being away for the good sunshine to hit. At first, I was kinda upset (re: pissed off.) Farmers in general tend to grind axes about the weather. And, what better axe to grind, than to bemoan the summer without a day of 90+. Of course, when that nice high pressure system decided to stick around for a month, I soon acquiesced, knowing that my garden was going to be L-O-V-I-N-' it!
Amazing what some heat will do for them 'maters. It's just been brilliant. I've retrieved a large bowl like that pretty much every night for the past couple weeks. After a disappointing 2009 season, and the record cold and rain from this spring/summer La Nina, this was a significant change for the better. Even that week long coastal front passed and were back to the warm luxurious 80's. How it warms the cockles of my heart!
I've gotten a good share of tomato varieties to ripen and here are few of my favorites:
I'll have more pics later, but that's a pretty good sample. I've dehydrated a number of them, as that is my favorite way to consume them (just an intense tangy treat to gnaw on - about a million times better than jerky.) My wife made a huge batch of tomato sauce last weekend and we've obviously eaten a lot of them fresh as well. With this warm weather, they will keep rolling in for at least another couple weeks, which is great. I've got a couple varieties that I got planted late that I'm dying to see ripened (Red Brandywine and Marvel Stripe.) Hopefully I'll have an update on those in a week or two.
Until then, enjoy the summer!
Cheers,
Zach
 |
| My brother and I traded off driving this behemoth on the outskirts of Grangeville, Id. |
However, a funny thing happened when I went on vacation - the prodigal summer came back home. I think it only took two days of me being away for the good sunshine to hit. At first, I was kinda upset (re: pissed off.) Farmers in general tend to grind axes about the weather. And, what better axe to grind, than to bemoan the summer without a day of 90+. Of course, when that nice high pressure system decided to stick around for a month, I soon acquiesced, knowing that my garden was going to be L-O-V-I-N-' it!
Amazing what some heat will do for them 'maters. It's just been brilliant. I've retrieved a large bowl like that pretty much every night for the past couple weeks. After a disappointing 2009 season, and the record cold and rain from this spring/summer La Nina, this was a significant change for the better. Even that week long coastal front passed and were back to the warm luxurious 80's. How it warms the cockles of my heart!
I've gotten a good share of tomato varieties to ripen and here are few of my favorites:
 |
| Vintage Wine - Striped Brandywine, excellent tomato |
 |
| Amana Orange |
 | |
| Azoychka - tasty Russian heirloom that is yellow with light red streaking |
 |
| Black Krim - DELICIOUS! |
 |
| Green Zebra |
 | |
| Radiator Charlie - beautiful fruit, grew it as an after-thought, but so glad I did |
 |
| Virginia Sweets - very intrigued by this near 2lb-er |
I'll have more pics later, but that's a pretty good sample. I've dehydrated a number of them, as that is my favorite way to consume them (just an intense tangy treat to gnaw on - about a million times better than jerky.) My wife made a huge batch of tomato sauce last weekend and we've obviously eaten a lot of them fresh as well. With this warm weather, they will keep rolling in for at least another couple weeks, which is great. I've got a couple varieties that I got planted late that I'm dying to see ripened (Red Brandywine and Marvel Stripe.) Hopefully I'll have an update on those in a week or two.
Until then, enjoy the summer!
Cheers,
Zach
Friday, August 5, 2011
Ah, Summer!
It's been nearly 2 months since my last post. What can I say? I've been working on my tan! It's only because I'm German/Irish that it takes so long to acquire a decent tan. But, alas, one has to put in the work for such beautifully bronzed skin.
I joke, of course. I've been crazy (CRAZY!) busy. It seems like a long time ago, but it rained A LOT this spring and early summer. So much so that trying to do any yard work was futile and borderline masochistic. Now that the rain has stopped and the sun has been shining, the whole yard went 'supersize' on me - especially the weeds. It's a battle of attrition this year, as didn't get a jump on it in March like I normally can, so it's just trying to keep things under control as best as possible. Hopefully next year will give us some rainless spring days to get some pruning done before July.
Not to rain on the parade, but I read an article that conditions are ripe for a second La Nina this winter. Of course, 'they' say that the second one isn't nearly as brutal as the first. Then again, isn't that like saying the second dip in the recession isn't as bad as the first? They are both pretty hard to swallow, no? Anyway, I'm enjoying this fairly warm sunshine as much as possible as it may be a while before we see it again once the fall rainy season hits.
I still have plants out in front of Barbur Foods. I was pleasantly surprised at how many tomatoes I sold in July. I thought for sure that I would see not a single one moved, but they kept getting swept up. They are quick ripening varieties (Gold Nugget Cherry, Sun Sugar Cherry, Stupice, Manitoba, & Legend), so they will produce ripe fruit before the nasty weather comes. I'm happy that people are giving them a chance to get some tasty fruit that late in the season. I still have a lot of basil as well. That's really sold well the past couple months and my own basil plants in the garden are going bonkers too. Hello Pesto!
Even with the record cold/wet spring, my tomatoes are doing great. I've got tons of fruit set and have even picked a few already. This is in sharp contrast to last year. It wasn't until this time when I saw the first tiny little tomato set. Just deplorable, it was. I'm very excited for all the tasty orbs coming my way this year. It's gonna be beautiful!
Peppers are largely a different story...as in, they took forever to perk up. The ones I planted in May have mostly been replaced and even the ones I planted in June are just so-so. Only the ones I planted in July actually look great. They were all to happy to show their displeasure of such a harsh spring and early summer. Still, I've got a few plants (in pots, not surprisingly) that are doing great. I've got a few Manzanos with fruit on them, and an Aji Amarillo that is just covered with fruit. It won't be a banner year, but I'll get a good number of peppers to keep me (and my salsa) hot and happy.
In a sad bit of news, we lost Turbo, our Rhode Island Red that ate the chunk of metal. Her hijinks eventually caused her downfall, as the sharp edges perforated her reproductive tract and she ended up not being able to lay eggs. She ended up going toxic due to the rotting yolks that she wasn't able to pass. A sad day for sure.
That of course, led to my wife and I getting some new recruits! Baby chicks - how fun!
We went with a black sex link, an Ameracauna, and another Rhode Island Red. Funny thing, though. I think the dude at the store screwed up and we got a Welsummer instead of an Ameracauna. I was looking forward to the blue eggs, but I guess today our choice is chocolate brown.
That's all for now. It's been a fun year and I'm really (REALLY) happy to have the sun to play in the past month. I'm excited for the tomatoes that will be coming my way in about a week. Zucchini, cukes, beans, and tomatillos are right behind them. It's taken a bit longer, but it'll be a good harvest.
Now about that corn I planted...I think the adage goes "Knee high by the 4th of August," right? Fingers crossed...
Cheers,
Zach
I joke, of course. I've been crazy (CRAZY!) busy. It seems like a long time ago, but it rained A LOT this spring and early summer. So much so that trying to do any yard work was futile and borderline masochistic. Now that the rain has stopped and the sun has been shining, the whole yard went 'supersize' on me - especially the weeds. It's a battle of attrition this year, as didn't get a jump on it in March like I normally can, so it's just trying to keep things under control as best as possible. Hopefully next year will give us some rainless spring days to get some pruning done before July.
Not to rain on the parade, but I read an article that conditions are ripe for a second La Nina this winter. Of course, 'they' say that the second one isn't nearly as brutal as the first. Then again, isn't that like saying the second dip in the recession isn't as bad as the first? They are both pretty hard to swallow, no? Anyway, I'm enjoying this fairly warm sunshine as much as possible as it may be a while before we see it again once the fall rainy season hits.
I still have plants out in front of Barbur Foods. I was pleasantly surprised at how many tomatoes I sold in July. I thought for sure that I would see not a single one moved, but they kept getting swept up. They are quick ripening varieties (Gold Nugget Cherry, Sun Sugar Cherry, Stupice, Manitoba, & Legend), so they will produce ripe fruit before the nasty weather comes. I'm happy that people are giving them a chance to get some tasty fruit that late in the season. I still have a lot of basil as well. That's really sold well the past couple months and my own basil plants in the garden are going bonkers too. Hello Pesto!
 |
| Genovese, Red Rubin, Thai, Red Lettuce Leaf, & Serata Basil |
Even with the record cold/wet spring, my tomatoes are doing great. I've got tons of fruit set and have even picked a few already. This is in sharp contrast to last year. It wasn't until this time when I saw the first tiny little tomato set. Just deplorable, it was. I'm very excited for all the tasty orbs coming my way this year. It's gonna be beautiful!
 |
| Stupice and Black Krim - not bad for middle of July! |
Peppers are largely a different story...as in, they took forever to perk up. The ones I planted in May have mostly been replaced and even the ones I planted in June are just so-so. Only the ones I planted in July actually look great. They were all to happy to show their displeasure of such a harsh spring and early summer. Still, I've got a few plants (in pots, not surprisingly) that are doing great. I've got a few Manzanos with fruit on them, and an Aji Amarillo that is just covered with fruit. It won't be a banner year, but I'll get a good number of peppers to keep me (and my salsa) hot and happy.
In a sad bit of news, we lost Turbo, our Rhode Island Red that ate the chunk of metal. Her hijinks eventually caused her downfall, as the sharp edges perforated her reproductive tract and she ended up not being able to lay eggs. She ended up going toxic due to the rotting yolks that she wasn't able to pass. A sad day for sure.
That of course, led to my wife and I getting some new recruits! Baby chicks - how fun!
We went with a black sex link, an Ameracauna, and another Rhode Island Red. Funny thing, though. I think the dude at the store screwed up and we got a Welsummer instead of an Ameracauna. I was looking forward to the blue eggs, but I guess today our choice is chocolate brown.
That's all for now. It's been a fun year and I'm really (REALLY) happy to have the sun to play in the past month. I'm excited for the tomatoes that will be coming my way in about a week. Zucchini, cukes, beans, and tomatillos are right behind them. It's taken a bit longer, but it'll be a good harvest.
Now about that corn I planted...I think the adage goes "Knee high by the 4th of August," right? Fingers crossed...
Cheers,
Zach
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Rip Van Winona
It seems it's been forever and a day since I've showed my face on these internets! How long have I been sleeping? Ha - that's a funny thought. Sleep. When I'm dead! (This is also known as winter.)
I've signed up for a couple more Sundays at the Tigard Area Famer's Market. Come on down and check us out. The produce vendors are now there and you can get all the ingredients for a fresh meal. Not to mention some plants for meals later on this summer! Splendid idea if I don't say so myself. Market opens at 9am and goes till 2pm.
http://www.tigardfarmersmarket.com/
***
While the temperatures are warming, we can't seem to get an extended period of sunny days. Even so, the garden has been growing steadily. I've got fruit setting on tomatoes (Black Krim & Stupice) and the peppers are beginning to bloom. I'm amazed at how my grafted tomatoes are doing. They are 1-2' farther along than the conventional plants. I guess that actually works! They are all blooming and a couple have set fruit already. This is all excellent news. Last year, I didn't get a tomato to set fruit until August 1st! THAT SUCKED!
Looks to be a bumper crop of grapes this year. Last year was a very poor harvest - only 2 bunches! Lot's of blooms are dotting the new branches right now. I'm excited to make my legendary grape jam this fall. It's addictive (the jam, not the canning.)
Another thing I tried this year was to transplant carrots. I'd heard all the warnings that they transplant poorly and they would die quickly, but I'm never one to listen to age, reason, and experience. I've got to dig that hole myself. I'm glad I did, because these carrots are the BEST carrots I've ever grown. Enormous straight roots, strong chartreuse tops, and all neatly in a row. It was a bit of extra work, but I started another flat of them to transplant this week. If they are going to come out like that, I'll put in the extra 15 minutes to transplant each one individually.
Of course, not everything is going according the master plan. The corn I planted 2 weeks ago still hasn't sprouted. It's a supersweet variety and it needs 70 degree soil to germinate. I thought after a couple 85 degree days, it would take off like a house on fire. Sadly, that was just a tease and the soil is staying in the low to mid 60's for now. The peppers I planted in the middle of May are looking tepid at best. May need to replace them, but a few are showing signs of life. I'm also not seeing a lot of fruit on the apple, pear, cherry, and plum trees. The vicious cold spring played a big part in that. That's okay, as it will likely be a nice harvest for them next year.
The best news, of course, is that we are expected to have excellent weather for the summer solstice. There are few things that affect me more than to have crappy, rainy weather on the solstice. It's the greatest day of the year, simply because it's the 'longest'. I (heart) the sun and I long to enjoy it for as much as possible. To have it covered up by clouds just pisses me off. Like taking a new toy away from the birthday boy. Temper tantrums ensue!
Alas, it's time to do some plant stuff. Potting up basil and lettuce tonight. Getting things ready for my cart in the morning at Barbur Foods, and prepping for Sunday's market in Tigard. Good times! Looks like we get sun tomorrow. We'll see...
Cheers - take care everyone
Zach
I've signed up for a couple more Sundays at the Tigard Area Famer's Market. Come on down and check us out. The produce vendors are now there and you can get all the ingredients for a fresh meal. Not to mention some plants for meals later on this summer! Splendid idea if I don't say so myself. Market opens at 9am and goes till 2pm.
http://www.tigardfarmersmarket.com/
***
While the temperatures are warming, we can't seem to get an extended period of sunny days. Even so, the garden has been growing steadily. I've got fruit setting on tomatoes (Black Krim & Stupice) and the peppers are beginning to bloom. I'm amazed at how my grafted tomatoes are doing. They are 1-2' farther along than the conventional plants. I guess that actually works! They are all blooming and a couple have set fruit already. This is all excellent news. Last year, I didn't get a tomato to set fruit until August 1st! THAT SUCKED!
Looks to be a bumper crop of grapes this year. Last year was a very poor harvest - only 2 bunches! Lot's of blooms are dotting the new branches right now. I'm excited to make my legendary grape jam this fall. It's addictive (the jam, not the canning.)
Another thing I tried this year was to transplant carrots. I'd heard all the warnings that they transplant poorly and they would die quickly, but I'm never one to listen to age, reason, and experience. I've got to dig that hole myself. I'm glad I did, because these carrots are the BEST carrots I've ever grown. Enormous straight roots, strong chartreuse tops, and all neatly in a row. It was a bit of extra work, but I started another flat of them to transplant this week. If they are going to come out like that, I'll put in the extra 15 minutes to transplant each one individually.
Of course, not everything is going according the master plan. The corn I planted 2 weeks ago still hasn't sprouted. It's a supersweet variety and it needs 70 degree soil to germinate. I thought after a couple 85 degree days, it would take off like a house on fire. Sadly, that was just a tease and the soil is staying in the low to mid 60's for now. The peppers I planted in the middle of May are looking tepid at best. May need to replace them, but a few are showing signs of life. I'm also not seeing a lot of fruit on the apple, pear, cherry, and plum trees. The vicious cold spring played a big part in that. That's okay, as it will likely be a nice harvest for them next year.
The best news, of course, is that we are expected to have excellent weather for the summer solstice. There are few things that affect me more than to have crappy, rainy weather on the solstice. It's the greatest day of the year, simply because it's the 'longest'. I (heart) the sun and I long to enjoy it for as much as possible. To have it covered up by clouds just pisses me off. Like taking a new toy away from the birthday boy. Temper tantrums ensue!
Alas, it's time to do some plant stuff. Potting up basil and lettuce tonight. Getting things ready for my cart in the morning at Barbur Foods, and prepping for Sunday's market in Tigard. Good times! Looks like we get sun tomorrow. We'll see...
Cheers - take care everyone
Zach
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Oh My Goodness, This Sunshine is Amazing!
And then I awoke from my long slumber. Some day, 'they' say, the sun will show it's firey face once again. Hopefully, before July this year. It's like clockwork for me. The last week of May is always the hardest time of the year. We get teased some nice weather ,and then it seems the rain won't quit. Alas, this is just how it is.
***
I've got a full weekend coming up. I'm doing the Aloha Farmers Market on Saturday and the Tigard Area Farmers Market on Sunday. Gonna be busy and awesome all at once. Then, I've got the next two days off to work in the yard and spend time with my wife. I'm looking forward to it!
If you are out and about this weekend, stop by a market and say hello. Aloha Farmers Market is at the corner of 185th and TV Highway from 9am-3pm. I'll be the only booth with plants...kind of like cornering the concentrated frozen orange juice market. Except with out the help of a stunning Jaime Lee Curtis, perhaps. Tigard market takes plasce at the corner of 99W(Pacific Highway) and Hall Boulevard and runs from 9am-2pm. The sun is actually scheduled to appear for a mid-day performance, but forecasters have been unwilling to confirm this report at this time.
And if that all doesn't work? You can stop by Barbur World Foods and pick up some fine Winona Farms Plants there as well. Or simply email me - winonafarms@gmail.com - to set up a time to drop by and pick them up fresh from the 'farm'.
Take care everyone - enjoy the long weekend. Hopefully you get to experience some sun.
cheers,
zach
***
I've got a full weekend coming up. I'm doing the Aloha Farmers Market on Saturday and the Tigard Area Farmers Market on Sunday. Gonna be busy and awesome all at once. Then, I've got the next two days off to work in the yard and spend time with my wife. I'm looking forward to it!
If you are out and about this weekend, stop by a market and say hello. Aloha Farmers Market is at the corner of 185th and TV Highway from 9am-3pm. I'll be the only booth with plants...kind of like cornering the concentrated frozen orange juice market. Except with out the help of a stunning Jaime Lee Curtis, perhaps. Tigard market takes plasce at the corner of 99W(Pacific Highway) and Hall Boulevard and runs from 9am-2pm. The sun is actually scheduled to appear for a mid-day performance, but forecasters have been unwilling to confirm this report at this time.
And if that all doesn't work? You can stop by Barbur World Foods and pick up some fine Winona Farms Plants there as well. Or simply email me - winonafarms@gmail.com - to set up a time to drop by and pick them up fresh from the 'farm'.
Take care everyone - enjoy the long weekend. Hopefully you get to experience some sun.
cheers,
zach
Friday, May 20, 2011
So, How Did I Get Here?
Early this spring, I was a sellout. A waffler. Maybe a little bit afraid. I recall a moment as vivid as any I've had since I got married. I was sitting with my friend Dean in his awesome seed room and I thought to myself, "This is what I want." Then he asked me, "What do you want?" I wasn't ready to fully admit my own private admission. I told him something about being unsure and trying to figure out how I would even do this with everything else I have going on currently. Yet, I knew the answer. I just kept it bottled up.
Out of the blue, it became absolutely necessary (in my mind) to give my 'hobby' a name. I sifted thru various iterations before settling on Winona Farms. Why it became so immediately necessary, I haven't a clue, but it just fanned the fire hotter. I began looking at bulk supplies from nursery outlets. Could I possible even go thru 800 pots this year? That seemed ridiculous. Ha! I ended up ordering a second 800...and another 1500 after that.
As the months have rolled by, and we got to experience such a wonderful March and April of historical cold and dampness, that thought just rattled around growing louder. The weather should have killed it. The melting of my plants in the poly tunnel should have killed it. Still, it just got stronger. I even began to call local nurseries to see if they would be interested in some of the rarer peppers I grow. No dice on the four I called...and one actually hung up on me. I remained determined.
I had only planned to sell my plants to neighbors, friends, and the interesting community of Craigslist. Then, on a wild hair, I emailed the folks at Tigard Area Famers Market. They said they would love to have me. I wrote about that experience last week, all the good and mostly bad (not bad, enlightening) that it was. It didn't matter, as I was consumed with making my space better.
A few days ago, the Aloha Farmers Market responded to a Craigslist ad of mine and invited me to join them. I'm really busy and have an obligation each Saturday morning and would have been defensible to decline the invite. Of course, by now, you know that wasn't happening. I'll re-arrange my schedule so I can join the market.
And, now this. Tomorrow, I will have a stand up at Barbur World Foods. After negotiating how we would price things and keep track of sales, we agreed to do business. It's absolutely mind-blowing to me. From that little private admission at Dean's in February to now having a stand at a store is simply unbelievable. For whatever reason, this 'little' step legitimizes that little snowball of a thought. I'm a true nurseryman. A farmer.
I've spent a lot of late nights potting up plants, covering up seedlings with fabric, and designing shelter after shelter to protect my starts. I do it because I love it. There hasn't been once this year where I've grumbled about doing any of it. Still, I had this sense that I was a madman laughing at the rain. But not anymore. Now that I'm a farmer...
Though I'm still not really sure how I got here, I'm certainly ecstatic to be here. Perhaps you can see the Chessire grin out here in sw Porltandia...
***
A few of you have commented on my musings and I'm eternally thankful for your giving your time to do so. This blog is another 'laughing at the rain' activity for me. Well, at least until someone posts a comment anyway. Then it makes it seem like I'm some world-class writer. Don't worry, the feeling quickly goes away.
Please join me at the Tigard Area Farmers Market on Sunday May 22. The following week I'll be at the Aloha Farmers Market on May 28, and back in Tigard for May 29 over Memorial Day Weekend. If you want to buy some plants directly from me, just send me an email - winonafarms@gmail.com.
Thanks everyone - have yourselves a great weekend!
cheers,
Zach
http://www.tigardfarmersmarket.com/
http://www.alohafarmersmarket.com/
http://www.localharvest.org/winona-farms-M43702
Out of the blue, it became absolutely necessary (in my mind) to give my 'hobby' a name. I sifted thru various iterations before settling on Winona Farms. Why it became so immediately necessary, I haven't a clue, but it just fanned the fire hotter. I began looking at bulk supplies from nursery outlets. Could I possible even go thru 800 pots this year? That seemed ridiculous. Ha! I ended up ordering a second 800...and another 1500 after that.
As the months have rolled by, and we got to experience such a wonderful March and April of historical cold and dampness, that thought just rattled around growing louder. The weather should have killed it. The melting of my plants in the poly tunnel should have killed it. Still, it just got stronger. I even began to call local nurseries to see if they would be interested in some of the rarer peppers I grow. No dice on the four I called...and one actually hung up on me. I remained determined.
I had only planned to sell my plants to neighbors, friends, and the interesting community of Craigslist. Then, on a wild hair, I emailed the folks at Tigard Area Famers Market. They said they would love to have me. I wrote about that experience last week, all the good and mostly bad (not bad, enlightening) that it was. It didn't matter, as I was consumed with making my space better.
A few days ago, the Aloha Farmers Market responded to a Craigslist ad of mine and invited me to join them. I'm really busy and have an obligation each Saturday morning and would have been defensible to decline the invite. Of course, by now, you know that wasn't happening. I'll re-arrange my schedule so I can join the market.
And, now this. Tomorrow, I will have a stand up at Barbur World Foods. After negotiating how we would price things and keep track of sales, we agreed to do business. It's absolutely mind-blowing to me. From that little private admission at Dean's in February to now having a stand at a store is simply unbelievable. For whatever reason, this 'little' step legitimizes that little snowball of a thought. I'm a true nurseryman. A farmer.
I've spent a lot of late nights potting up plants, covering up seedlings with fabric, and designing shelter after shelter to protect my starts. I do it because I love it. There hasn't been once this year where I've grumbled about doing any of it. Still, I had this sense that I was a madman laughing at the rain. But not anymore. Now that I'm a farmer...
Though I'm still not really sure how I got here, I'm certainly ecstatic to be here. Perhaps you can see the Chessire grin out here in sw Porltandia...
***
A few of you have commented on my musings and I'm eternally thankful for your giving your time to do so. This blog is another 'laughing at the rain' activity for me. Well, at least until someone posts a comment anyway. Then it makes it seem like I'm some world-class writer. Don't worry, the feeling quickly goes away.
Please join me at the Tigard Area Farmers Market on Sunday May 22. The following week I'll be at the Aloha Farmers Market on May 28, and back in Tigard for May 29 over Memorial Day Weekend. If you want to buy some plants directly from me, just send me an email - winonafarms@gmail.com.
Thanks everyone - have yourselves a great weekend!
cheers,
Zach
http://www.tigardfarmersmarket.com/
http://www.alohafarmersmarket.com/
http://www.localharvest.org/winona-farms-M43702
Monday, May 16, 2011
School is Now in Session
This past Sunday, I broke my Farmer's Market "innocence". I'm now a grizzled vet of the 10' x 10' space of parking lot in hopes of selling my goods to consumers of the Tigard area. That's probably an exaggeration. I certainly had a lot to learn on the first day. So much to take in and process; it was quite overwhelming.
The day couldn't have been more idyllic, in that it rained the entire time the market was open. Of course, it stopped once the market closed. The first one couldn't have happened any other way, right? Still, thru the rain and somewhat gusty wind, I made a few sales here and there and actually made my rent. I was delighted to reach that, given weather and my limited (re: zilch) knowledge about how to set up a space at a market.
I showed up with two tables and 20 flats of plants. Not much in the way of signs or advertisement to be had, as I wasn't even sure what I would do. After seeing other vendors spaces, it became clear I need to highlight my specialties in a far more robust manner.
1) I have a ton of pepper varieties, but I left some at home (mainly the sweet varieties). Those, of course, were the ones that people asked about. I have to remember that most people are more fond of sweet peppers than spicy ones...unlike me.
2) I realized after browsing that my prices were a bit high compared to other vendors. I don't need to undercut anyone, just pull in line with the other folks.
3) My organization on the tables needs some work. I need to put the valued product like basil, tomatoes, & peppers as the first thing that people see, not sunflowers and lettuce.
4) I need to cut way back on the flowers, lettuce, and non-basil herbs. Even with the small sample size, most people wanted (or were at least curious about) tomatoes, peppers, and basil.
In many ways, I was lucky to have my first day be so rainy. While it was cold and miserable standing underneath my canopy, I essentially got a free day of school. Instead of having a crush of people on a nice sunny day, I was able to walk around and observe a bit of how I could adapt my space to better suit potential customers. I was also able to bend the ear of a couple vendors and get some advice on how to improve as well. All in all, it was a fantastic day.
Then, I went home and potted up more plants. The last of the tomatoes and peppers are now outside and getting hardened off to go into a warming garden near you. Also, lots of basil now coming into maturity. Sweet, Mammoth Sweet, Genovese, Italian Large Leaf, Serata, Red Lettuce Leaf, Red Rubin, Purple Ruffles, Cinnamon, Thai, Indian, Christmas, Clove, Holy Red & Green, African Tree, Lemon, and Lime basils are ready (or, are very close.)
It's kind of sad, actually. Not much left in the basement these days. I'll plant a few more flats of greens and some squash/cukes/melons, but this really is the wind-down period for planting stuff indoors. One by one the lights are being turned off as they aren't needed anymore. Only 15 flats in a possible 32 spaces remain. That will continue to shrink this week as I move more basil and marigolds out.
Here's hoping that the weather is a bit better this weekend. I'm ready for a crush of people. I would love to sell out of plants. It sure beats throwing them into the compost bin. If you are in the neighborhood and are having a hankering for some peppers, tomatoes, basil (and/or kettle korn), come on out to the market. It's pretty easy to find in the parking lot of Young's Funeral Home.
Take care, everyone. Hope your week has been going well.
cheers,
Zach
The day couldn't have been more idyllic, in that it rained the entire time the market was open. Of course, it stopped once the market closed. The first one couldn't have happened any other way, right? Still, thru the rain and somewhat gusty wind, I made a few sales here and there and actually made my rent. I was delighted to reach that, given weather and my limited (re: zilch) knowledge about how to set up a space at a market.
I showed up with two tables and 20 flats of plants. Not much in the way of signs or advertisement to be had, as I wasn't even sure what I would do. After seeing other vendors spaces, it became clear I need to highlight my specialties in a far more robust manner.
1) I have a ton of pepper varieties, but I left some at home (mainly the sweet varieties). Those, of course, were the ones that people asked about. I have to remember that most people are more fond of sweet peppers than spicy ones...unlike me.
2) I realized after browsing that my prices were a bit high compared to other vendors. I don't need to undercut anyone, just pull in line with the other folks.
3) My organization on the tables needs some work. I need to put the valued product like basil, tomatoes, & peppers as the first thing that people see, not sunflowers and lettuce.
4) I need to cut way back on the flowers, lettuce, and non-basil herbs. Even with the small sample size, most people wanted (or were at least curious about) tomatoes, peppers, and basil.
In many ways, I was lucky to have my first day be so rainy. While it was cold and miserable standing underneath my canopy, I essentially got a free day of school. Instead of having a crush of people on a nice sunny day, I was able to walk around and observe a bit of how I could adapt my space to better suit potential customers. I was also able to bend the ear of a couple vendors and get some advice on how to improve as well. All in all, it was a fantastic day.
Then, I went home and potted up more plants. The last of the tomatoes and peppers are now outside and getting hardened off to go into a warming garden near you. Also, lots of basil now coming into maturity. Sweet, Mammoth Sweet, Genovese, Italian Large Leaf, Serata, Red Lettuce Leaf, Red Rubin, Purple Ruffles, Cinnamon, Thai, Indian, Christmas, Clove, Holy Red & Green, African Tree, Lemon, and Lime basils are ready (or, are very close.)
It's kind of sad, actually. Not much left in the basement these days. I'll plant a few more flats of greens and some squash/cukes/melons, but this really is the wind-down period for planting stuff indoors. One by one the lights are being turned off as they aren't needed anymore. Only 15 flats in a possible 32 spaces remain. That will continue to shrink this week as I move more basil and marigolds out.
Here's hoping that the weather is a bit better this weekend. I'm ready for a crush of people. I would love to sell out of plants. It sure beats throwing them into the compost bin. If you are in the neighborhood and are having a hankering for some peppers, tomatoes, basil (and/or kettle korn), come on out to the market. It's pretty easy to find in the parking lot of Young's Funeral Home.
Take care, everyone. Hope your week has been going well.
cheers,
Zach
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Is This Make-Up Weather?
After tormenting us for the better part of six months, has La Nina begun to subside? A couple 70 degree days in a week is one helluva way to make up for stepping out on us in April. I even planted a few tomatoes as a celebration of the wonderful change in temps. Of course, that may be a bit premature, but I've got my plastic handy if the rains decide to set in again.
I want to thank everyone that came out to the sale on Sunday. That was a great time and I was happy to meet a some new people. I hope your plants become everything you hope for and more. While I love starting plants, nothing will give me more joy or a bigger smile than someone who said that their tomato or pepper exceeded expectations. Like a proud father, I'll be.
I do have one note of regret, however. In my obsession to start as many plants as I have, I've over-run my capacities to protect them. As such, I've built one greenhouse after another as way to keep them outside, yet somewhat sheltered from the elements. In doing so, I've taken up space in my garden that I normally would be now planting things in. It's a bit ironic, really. I began growing starts as a way to make my garden more interesting and fun. Now, they are a bit of an inhibitor of the original desire to do them in the first place. C'est la vie, non?
***
So, I decided to tempt fate. Some time ago, I put up a post detailing my amazing luck with the Early Jalapeno's germinating at 100%. I couldn't just stop there, now, could I? Hell no! Like a derelict gambler, I had to put it all on red.
In my last wave of peppers I started, I planted twelve more EJ seeds. Amazingly, they all came up. Well, except for one. I waited a few extra days longer to see if I would get it to pop from the soil, even a sickly/weak one would qualify for 100% germination. Alas, it was not to be. I ended the year 43 out 44 - good for 98%. Great, but not perfection. Sigh.
***
It does look like the rain is coming back for the weekend which is a shame. After taking in the warmth today and watching all of Portlandia come out of the cave to jog, walk, bike, bbq, and generally rollick in the streets, it's tough to go back to the unpleasantness from before (I'll just refer to it as the month that shall not be named.) Yet, this little warm patch sure gives hope. Refreshing hope.
Take care everyone - here's to the sunny days and warming soils. Please email me if you want something tomato-y or pepper-y or lettuce-y or basil-y to stick in those warming soils - winonafarms@gmail.com.
Cheers,
Zach
I want to thank everyone that came out to the sale on Sunday. That was a great time and I was happy to meet a some new people. I hope your plants become everything you hope for and more. While I love starting plants, nothing will give me more joy or a bigger smile than someone who said that their tomato or pepper exceeded expectations. Like a proud father, I'll be.
I do have one note of regret, however. In my obsession to start as many plants as I have, I've over-run my capacities to protect them. As such, I've built one greenhouse after another as way to keep them outside, yet somewhat sheltered from the elements. In doing so, I've taken up space in my garden that I normally would be now planting things in. It's a bit ironic, really. I began growing starts as a way to make my garden more interesting and fun. Now, they are a bit of an inhibitor of the original desire to do them in the first place. C'est la vie, non?
***
So, I decided to tempt fate. Some time ago, I put up a post detailing my amazing luck with the Early Jalapeno's germinating at 100%. I couldn't just stop there, now, could I? Hell no! Like a derelict gambler, I had to put it all on red.
In my last wave of peppers I started, I planted twelve more EJ seeds. Amazingly, they all came up. Well, except for one. I waited a few extra days longer to see if I would get it to pop from the soil, even a sickly/weak one would qualify for 100% germination. Alas, it was not to be. I ended the year 43 out 44 - good for 98%. Great, but not perfection. Sigh.
***
It does look like the rain is coming back for the weekend which is a shame. After taking in the warmth today and watching all of Portlandia come out of the cave to jog, walk, bike, bbq, and generally rollick in the streets, it's tough to go back to the unpleasantness from before (I'll just refer to it as the month that shall not be named.) Yet, this little warm patch sure gives hope. Refreshing hope.
Take care everyone - here's to the sunny days and warming soils. Please email me if you want something tomato-y or pepper-y or lettuce-y or basil-y to stick in those warming soils - winonafarms@gmail.com.
Cheers,
Zach
Friday, April 29, 2011
Plant Sale - Sunday!
May Day! May Day! Pleasant weather up ahead! Abort Operation:Hibernate! Dig out the sundresses, wipe clean the sunglasses, and find that long-lost tube of sunscreen. It's gonna be a peach of a Sunday! Get thee to Winona Farms and purchase some fine pepper and tomato plants (and/or herbs, onions, lettuce, etc.) Sale begins at 11am and will go until 2pm on Sunday May 1st. Location is 5900 block of SW Taylors Ferry. Please email me for specific address - winonafarms@gmail.com. Feel free to peruse the craigslist ad for an extended list of plants, or simply click the 'Plants For Sale' button right above this post.
***
Miss pdxlisa at Backyard Farm was kind enough to invite me to their plant exchange last weekend (also known as the 70 degree day that spring quickly came and just as quickly left on) and I got to meet some new people and see some new gardening ideas. I'm always impressed with people and their creativity to do the most with minimum space. I've got a 1/2 acre to play with, so space isn't an issue (the large trees are another story.) Things like devising the front yard into an edible landscape are concepts I've heard of and even thought about, but haven't spent much time actually seeing it applied. It can be such a liberating experience when you see new possibilities in places where it seemed composed and stagnant. I'm not about to do a whole yard make-over, but a 4'x4' bed this summer seems doable. It doesn't have to be all roses... Now, if I could just carve out some more time in the day. About 24 hours should suffice.
***
Had my first big sale this week. Earlier in the winter, a friend of mine got to talking about gardens and specifically peppers. He was fed up with the past couple years, as the weather and deer had really eaten is green thumb down to a nub. His demeanor was most certainly apathetic and was leaning against starting a garden this year.
However, a funny thing happened to him. He got infected by a familiar bug. Optimism. Hope. That boundless energy that anything is possible. I like to think I played a small part in it, as I had been planning 2011 as soon as the rains came pouring down in September of 2010. My enthusiasm was non-stop and the more we talked, the more my friend got excited about the spring. Up until this year, he left the varieties of peppers he planted to whatever the garden store had ordered from the nursery. This year was going to be different. We began pouring over catalogs and pepper varieties he wanted to try. Instead of being left to the standard varieties that are at every nursery, he would choose exactly what he wanted to grow.
We made a deal - any seeds he bought, I would grow them and he would get as many plants as he wanted from the packet. He was a driver in the increase in pepper varieties for me this year. Specifically, the anchos, Valencia, Chichen Itza, Inferno Hybrid, Hungarian Hot Wax, Hot Banana, and Caloro varieties would not have been grown if not for his insistence. Given that I'm a serial seed buyer, I wholly endorsed this because it meant I was getting free seeds and more fun stuff to grow!
Wednesday, I delivered the order to him. All told, it was 63 plants, which is my biggest order to date. It was a very happy day for both of us. In addition, it freed up some space in my poly tunnel for the last wave of tomatoes I've got coming out of the seed room. Perfect timing.
***
I had hoped to be updating this blog a bit more frequently. Unfortunately, I've been busy potting up plants and rearranging flats and building new greenhouses and poly tunnels to house them all. I thought that I would sell a few more plants by now, but the weather being what it was, no one was interested in doing anything in the garden, cool or warm season planting. As such, it's been an ongoing struggle to keep a bunch of plates spinning with more being added each week. I've had some failures, but so far, I've done pretty well. I'm always learning and always taking notes on what I'll try differently next year. All in all, it's been a pretty enjoyable experience. Not even 5" of April rain can dampen that.
Enjoy the sun people of Portlandia - it is well deserved after enduring such a wet month. Please drop by on Sunday, even if it's to say hello.
Cheers,
Zach
***
Miss pdxlisa at Backyard Farm was kind enough to invite me to their plant exchange last weekend (also known as the 70 degree day that spring quickly came and just as quickly left on) and I got to meet some new people and see some new gardening ideas. I'm always impressed with people and their creativity to do the most with minimum space. I've got a 1/2 acre to play with, so space isn't an issue (the large trees are another story.) Things like devising the front yard into an edible landscape are concepts I've heard of and even thought about, but haven't spent much time actually seeing it applied. It can be such a liberating experience when you see new possibilities in places where it seemed composed and stagnant. I'm not about to do a whole yard make-over, but a 4'x4' bed this summer seems doable. It doesn't have to be all roses... Now, if I could just carve out some more time in the day. About 24 hours should suffice.
***
Had my first big sale this week. Earlier in the winter, a friend of mine got to talking about gardens and specifically peppers. He was fed up with the past couple years, as the weather and deer had really eaten is green thumb down to a nub. His demeanor was most certainly apathetic and was leaning against starting a garden this year.
However, a funny thing happened to him. He got infected by a familiar bug. Optimism. Hope. That boundless energy that anything is possible. I like to think I played a small part in it, as I had been planning 2011 as soon as the rains came pouring down in September of 2010. My enthusiasm was non-stop and the more we talked, the more my friend got excited about the spring. Up until this year, he left the varieties of peppers he planted to whatever the garden store had ordered from the nursery. This year was going to be different. We began pouring over catalogs and pepper varieties he wanted to try. Instead of being left to the standard varieties that are at every nursery, he would choose exactly what he wanted to grow.
We made a deal - any seeds he bought, I would grow them and he would get as many plants as he wanted from the packet. He was a driver in the increase in pepper varieties for me this year. Specifically, the anchos, Valencia, Chichen Itza, Inferno Hybrid, Hungarian Hot Wax, Hot Banana, and Caloro varieties would not have been grown if not for his insistence. Given that I'm a serial seed buyer, I wholly endorsed this because it meant I was getting free seeds and more fun stuff to grow!
Wednesday, I delivered the order to him. All told, it was 63 plants, which is my biggest order to date. It was a very happy day for both of us. In addition, it freed up some space in my poly tunnel for the last wave of tomatoes I've got coming out of the seed room. Perfect timing.
***
I had hoped to be updating this blog a bit more frequently. Unfortunately, I've been busy potting up plants and rearranging flats and building new greenhouses and poly tunnels to house them all. I thought that I would sell a few more plants by now, but the weather being what it was, no one was interested in doing anything in the garden, cool or warm season planting. As such, it's been an ongoing struggle to keep a bunch of plates spinning with more being added each week. I've had some failures, but so far, I've done pretty well. I'm always learning and always taking notes on what I'll try differently next year. All in all, it's been a pretty enjoyable experience. Not even 5" of April rain can dampen that.
Enjoy the sun people of Portlandia - it is well deserved after enduring such a wet month. Please drop by on Sunday, even if it's to say hello.
Cheers,
Zach
Friday, April 22, 2011
Record Portland Heat Wave
Well, it's a record for 2011, anyway. Today was absolutely beautiful. Sunny, kinda warm, and most importantly - no rain! Tomorrow looks to be even better. What a lovely way to spend a Saturday - basking in sun.
***
I often find myself in either garden stores or home improvement stores. I'm either buying soil or buying stuff to spare my plants from the rain and frost. I ought to buy stock, as I'm probably responsible for their gains this spring.
This week, I had made a plan to build a PVC greenhouse frame. As I was inspecting plastic, I began inadvertently jostling 10' pipe lengths with a guy that was working on a similar project. As we did a our little dance of grabbing a pole without smacking the other, we started talking about - what else - the weather.
It turns out he volunteers at an organic farm that supplies fresh produce for Portland-area restaurants. He said that they are at 50% production this year, compared to normal levels. On top of that, he had kept weather records in garden logs for the past 30 years and he said that 2011 is the wettest and coldest he has recorded. In addition to that, my nursery friend is 50% off from normal sales as well.
Granted, it's somewhat anecdotel evidence without seeing the actual numbers, but I had no reason to distrust either person. They seem very level-headed and not for much hyperbole. Whether or not it has been the coldest and/or wettest, I think we can all agree that it's been a miserable spring for gardening.
Yet, all that can go away with a couple of nice days of sunshine. Even if the rain looks like it will return next week, that grand day of 70 degree sun is gonna be great.
So...what are you going to do with your Klondike bar of a day? How about shopping for plants? I hear Winona Farms has a great selection going on right now. Lot's of tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, tomatillos, herbs, onions, greens, and more. Besides, you can see what all my investments in Lowes and Home Depot has been good for - all 5 of my greenhouse-like structures. It's like a science experiment in the back yard. Seeing which structure does the best and doesn't succumb to the weather. Good Fun!
If you are feeling a plant shopping spree coming on, I'm located on the 5900 block of Taylors Ferry. Take peek at the Craigslist ads for the peppers and tomatoes. Email me if you are interested in plants - winonafarms@gmail.com
Peppers
Tomatoes
Take care, people. Enjoy the sun.
cheers,
zach
***
I often find myself in either garden stores or home improvement stores. I'm either buying soil or buying stuff to spare my plants from the rain and frost. I ought to buy stock, as I'm probably responsible for their gains this spring.
This week, I had made a plan to build a PVC greenhouse frame. As I was inspecting plastic, I began inadvertently jostling 10' pipe lengths with a guy that was working on a similar project. As we did a our little dance of grabbing a pole without smacking the other, we started talking about - what else - the weather.
It turns out he volunteers at an organic farm that supplies fresh produce for Portland-area restaurants. He said that they are at 50% production this year, compared to normal levels. On top of that, he had kept weather records in garden logs for the past 30 years and he said that 2011 is the wettest and coldest he has recorded. In addition to that, my nursery friend is 50% off from normal sales as well.
Granted, it's somewhat anecdotel evidence without seeing the actual numbers, but I had no reason to distrust either person. They seem very level-headed and not for much hyperbole. Whether or not it has been the coldest and/or wettest, I think we can all agree that it's been a miserable spring for gardening.
Yet, all that can go away with a couple of nice days of sunshine. Even if the rain looks like it will return next week, that grand day of 70 degree sun is gonna be great.
So...what are you going to do with your Klondike bar of a day? How about shopping for plants? I hear Winona Farms has a great selection going on right now. Lot's of tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, tomatillos, herbs, onions, greens, and more. Besides, you can see what all my investments in Lowes and Home Depot has been good for - all 5 of my greenhouse-like structures. It's like a science experiment in the back yard. Seeing which structure does the best and doesn't succumb to the weather. Good Fun!
If you are feeling a plant shopping spree coming on, I'm located on the 5900 block of Taylors Ferry. Take peek at the Craigslist ads for the peppers and tomatoes. Email me if you are interested in plants - winonafarms@gmail.com
Peppers
Tomatoes
Take care, people. Enjoy the sun.
cheers,
zach
Saturday, April 16, 2011
We Regret to Inform You...
...but your plants have died because of your stupidity and laziness. Okay, I'm probably being a bit harsh on myself. However, the past week was full of lessons for me and when I lose plants due to my own doing, it's a bit frustrating.
It all started last Friday with that wonderful sunny day. I talked about how some plants got absolutely scorched in my mini-poly tunnels. That was lesson #1. Don't leave mini-poly tunnels closed in the sun unless you are actually trying to slow cook them. Even then, there are more efficient ways to do this (not to mention, more enjoyable.) Still, this one was completely unforeseen and actually caused very little damage.
The next lesson came Sunday night/Monday morning when Jack Frost paid a visit to the house. When I looked at the thermometer as I headed for bed, it said 35.1 degrees. A thought crossed my mind that I should put some milk jugs with hot water in them in the poly tunnels as warmth insurance to keep them above freezing thru the night. Alas, that thought died on the vine, not unlike a good number of tomato plants in the early morning. I was kicking myself ferociously for that bit laziness. Lesson #2 - if you think something would be a good idea, especially to keep plants alive, invest the 5-10 minutes to do so.
Finally, my favorite lesson of the week. As a fledgling grower, I'm often seeking bags of potting soil. My default soil is Black Gold Natural and Organic, but I'm always looking for other brands that work too. On Sunday, I was at a local garden store and was attempting to buy myself a couple bags of soil. However, that gal at the counter immediately was talking me out of it. "Everyone's using Bumper Crop these days. I can't seem to sell a bag of Black Gold." Really? With a hard sell like that? Astonishing!
Anyway, the whole conversation, while cordial, seemed off to me. The lady was quite intent on selling me a bag of Bumper Crop (and packages of peas that didn't fit on the seed rack), but is that any different from any other sales clerk? Still, my instincts were telling me strange things were afoot at the 7-11.
I bought the bag just the same even though I didn't have that 'sense of comfort' that we consumers so desire. I thought it would be an opportunity to try out a new product. It was, after all, highly recommended according to my new best friend, the sales clerk.
As I take it down to the basement cave where I start all my plants, one thing that strikes me is how pungent this bag of soil is. Sweet, pungent, and quite ripe. Somewhere in the back of my head, alarm bells are going off like sirens in the Battle of England. I chose to hit 'snooze' and began to pot up some basil using this new soil.
Right off the bat, I was skeptical. There was so much wood product in it that I figured for sure it was going to be horrible for the plants. I've found that the amount of wood product compost is in a potting soil is directly proportional to how toxic it is for plants. This stuff certainly would be death to all things green.
I finished up for the night and began recording what I had done. As I was doing so, the smell from the Bumper Crop was just suffocating. I grew up on a pig farm in Idaho. My office had turned into one of the pig buildings I hated to be inside of. It !#$(!^% reeked! Bad memories to be certain.
The next day, the smell was even worse. Un-!#$!%-believably putrid. I took a look at the basil starts that I had potted with the Bumper Crop and immediately knew what happened.
Now, that is a result! That's Thai basil with Bumper Crop on the left and Black Gold on the right. Perhaps some of you know what Bumper Crop is. I now know that it is a soil amendment/conditioner and is supposed to be used in sparse amounts. Not as a pure potting soil and never again inside the house. My poor basil starts...I can just hear their roots melting away in that hot mix of manure. And this could have been avoided if I would have taken the time to actually pay attention to those warning signs and read the damn label.
Now, I don't think the lovely sales lady had any malicious intent, but what the hell was she thinking? I was asking for a bag of potting soil and she's selling me on a soil conditioner that will kill anything I pot up in it. Lesson # 3 - if something seems off, it probably is and it's in my interest to either back away from the item (would you like a pack of our featured peas?) or investigate further (take my head out of the sand). Even if it means taking the 2 minutes to read the damn label. Have I said that already?
Ah, farming. Ain't it the life?
Here's to some weekend sun!
cheers,
zach
It all started last Friday with that wonderful sunny day. I talked about how some plants got absolutely scorched in my mini-poly tunnels. That was lesson #1. Don't leave mini-poly tunnels closed in the sun unless you are actually trying to slow cook them. Even then, there are more efficient ways to do this (not to mention, more enjoyable.) Still, this one was completely unforeseen and actually caused very little damage.
The next lesson came Sunday night/Monday morning when Jack Frost paid a visit to the house. When I looked at the thermometer as I headed for bed, it said 35.1 degrees. A thought crossed my mind that I should put some milk jugs with hot water in them in the poly tunnels as warmth insurance to keep them above freezing thru the night. Alas, that thought died on the vine, not unlike a good number of tomato plants in the early morning. I was kicking myself ferociously for that bit laziness. Lesson #2 - if you think something would be a good idea, especially to keep plants alive, invest the 5-10 minutes to do so.
Finally, my favorite lesson of the week. As a fledgling grower, I'm often seeking bags of potting soil. My default soil is Black Gold Natural and Organic, but I'm always looking for other brands that work too. On Sunday, I was at a local garden store and was attempting to buy myself a couple bags of soil. However, that gal at the counter immediately was talking me out of it. "Everyone's using Bumper Crop these days. I can't seem to sell a bag of Black Gold." Really? With a hard sell like that? Astonishing!
Anyway, the whole conversation, while cordial, seemed off to me. The lady was quite intent on selling me a bag of Bumper Crop (and packages of peas that didn't fit on the seed rack), but is that any different from any other sales clerk? Still, my instincts were telling me strange things were afoot at the 7-11.
I bought the bag just the same even though I didn't have that 'sense of comfort' that we consumers so desire. I thought it would be an opportunity to try out a new product. It was, after all, highly recommended according to my new best friend, the sales clerk.
As I take it down to the basement cave where I start all my plants, one thing that strikes me is how pungent this bag of soil is. Sweet, pungent, and quite ripe. Somewhere in the back of my head, alarm bells are going off like sirens in the Battle of England. I chose to hit 'snooze' and began to pot up some basil using this new soil.
Right off the bat, I was skeptical. There was so much wood product in it that I figured for sure it was going to be horrible for the plants. I've found that the amount of wood product compost is in a potting soil is directly proportional to how toxic it is for plants. This stuff certainly would be death to all things green.
I finished up for the night and began recording what I had done. As I was doing so, the smell from the Bumper Crop was just suffocating. I grew up on a pig farm in Idaho. My office had turned into one of the pig buildings I hated to be inside of. It !#$(!^% reeked! Bad memories to be certain.
The next day, the smell was even worse. Un-!#$!%-believably putrid. I took a look at the basil starts that I had potted with the Bumper Crop and immediately knew what happened.
Now, that is a result! That's Thai basil with Bumper Crop on the left and Black Gold on the right. Perhaps some of you know what Bumper Crop is. I now know that it is a soil amendment/conditioner and is supposed to be used in sparse amounts. Not as a pure potting soil and never again inside the house. My poor basil starts...I can just hear their roots melting away in that hot mix of manure. And this could have been avoided if I would have taken the time to actually pay attention to those warning signs and read the damn label.
Now, I don't think the lovely sales lady had any malicious intent, but what the hell was she thinking? I was asking for a bag of potting soil and she's selling me on a soil conditioner that will kill anything I pot up in it. Lesson # 3 - if something seems off, it probably is and it's in my interest to either back away from the item (would you like a pack of our featured peas?) or investigate further (take my head out of the sand). Even if it means taking the 2 minutes to read the damn label. Have I said that already?
Ah, farming. Ain't it the life?
Here's to some weekend sun!
cheers,
zach
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Scorching Sun!
Even though it barely broke 60 today, it was absolutely beautiful. The kind of day that gives a Portlander hope that something other than wind, rain, hail, and snow can be bestowed upon us. Rumour has it that the next one comes sometime in July. I can't wait!
While the sunshine was heavenly, it didn't come without some unforseen consequences on my plants. After barely staying above freezing the past couple nights (32.3 at 6 this morning), my starts got the other end of the spectrum in short order. I built a temporary 'greenhouse' using a 4'x8' piece of plywood, pvc hoops stretched over top, and plastic cover. Basically, a miniature polytunnel. It was cheap ($20) and easy (constructed in about 2 hours) and had thus far served it's purpose wonderfully.
My plants had been very happy underneath the plastic, as they kept out of the rain and most of the wind (I only have remay at the ends of the tunnel to keep air flow in tact.) That is, until we got a full sunny day. That polytunnel must have heated up like those old Apollo re-entry capsules. About 20 plants got fried - all in one spot, curiously. The plastic must have been stretched so that it magnified the sun in that spot.
At first, I thought it was a partial freeze out, but it didn't make sense that that would happen in the middle of all the plants. Then I saw the 'high' temperature for my other greenhouse. 94 degrees! Yikes! That's steamy, but luckily it had the benefit of a fan to keep the air moving briskly. The polytunnel had no such instrument to move the air, except for any wind that might blow. In addition, I placed the polytunnel in the spot of the garden that gets the most sun. Every other day this year, that was ideal to catch the fleeting 10-15 minute sun-breaks. Not so much today. It was a pressure cooker.
I got home pretty late, so I didn't have time to check out exactly how many plants burned up or even which ones. I just hope I didn't wipe out a full variety. That would suck.
Anyway, just another thing to learn along the way. I never had thought that I could utter the phrase that we got 'too' much sun...unless its the final test to get my official 'Grumpy Old Farmer' card. I guess it shows that you just never know.
***
Despite those burned up plants, I've still have plenty available. Here are the various Craigslist ads.
Greens, herbs, etc http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/grd/2314325604.html
Tomatoes & peppers - http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/grd/2313860362.html
Grafted tomatoes - http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/grd/2313440910.html
Cheers to a beautiful day - hope the weekend is good for y'all.
Zach
While the sunshine was heavenly, it didn't come without some unforseen consequences on my plants. After barely staying above freezing the past couple nights (32.3 at 6 this morning), my starts got the other end of the spectrum in short order. I built a temporary 'greenhouse' using a 4'x8' piece of plywood, pvc hoops stretched over top, and plastic cover. Basically, a miniature polytunnel. It was cheap ($20) and easy (constructed in about 2 hours) and had thus far served it's purpose wonderfully.
My plants had been very happy underneath the plastic, as they kept out of the rain and most of the wind (I only have remay at the ends of the tunnel to keep air flow in tact.) That is, until we got a full sunny day. That polytunnel must have heated up like those old Apollo re-entry capsules. About 20 plants got fried - all in one spot, curiously. The plastic must have been stretched so that it magnified the sun in that spot.
At first, I thought it was a partial freeze out, but it didn't make sense that that would happen in the middle of all the plants. Then I saw the 'high' temperature for my other greenhouse. 94 degrees! Yikes! That's steamy, but luckily it had the benefit of a fan to keep the air moving briskly. The polytunnel had no such instrument to move the air, except for any wind that might blow. In addition, I placed the polytunnel in the spot of the garden that gets the most sun. Every other day this year, that was ideal to catch the fleeting 10-15 minute sun-breaks. Not so much today. It was a pressure cooker.
I got home pretty late, so I didn't have time to check out exactly how many plants burned up or even which ones. I just hope I didn't wipe out a full variety. That would suck.
Anyway, just another thing to learn along the way. I never had thought that I could utter the phrase that we got 'too' much sun...unless its the final test to get my official 'Grumpy Old Farmer' card. I guess it shows that you just never know.
***
Despite those burned up plants, I've still have plenty available. Here are the various Craigslist ads.
Greens, herbs, etc http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/grd/2314325604.html
Tomatoes & peppers - http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/grd/2313860362.html
Grafted tomatoes - http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/grd/2313440910.html
Cheers to a beautiful day - hope the weekend is good for y'all.
Zach
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