A Garden Report From Fayetteville
Martin Payne of Fayetteville sent me the following report on his vegetable garden. Based on his recommendations, I plan tto try a few of these varieties next spring and summer, especially the lamb’s quarters.
I’ve heard about this green before but I’ve never grown it. Payne said lamb’s quarters provides a bountiful supply of spinach-like greens throughout the hot part of the year when lettuce, spinach and other greens have a hard time staying alive.
Here’s Payne’s report:
Tomatoes
Early Girl: I have been growing them on and off for 25 years, and they are my favorite hybrid. I like the size, taste and continuous output. Here in Fayetteville I picked a bunch today - they are still hanging in.
Husky Red Cherry: Still producing, but I really like bigger tomatoes.
Cherokee Purple: Look like they are trying for another round.
Other Veggies
Zucchini: It gave up recently, but it really put out.
Yellow Crookneck: It was a disappointment.
Peppers: I couldn’t find my favorite, Cubanelle, anywhere. Not sure what is up. So, Yellow Banana (good), Hatch (ok), Sushito (don’t recommend, mainly seeds), an accidental Red Bell (first time I’ve ever been successful with Bells) and of course a Chili Petin aka Chili Pequin.
Onions: 1015, still have some of the 62 that Melissa planted, in the ground, seem to keeping OK. Biggest I have ever grown. Mushroom compost, sandy loam and gumbo, water.
Potatoes: Planted 15 lb of seed back in January, very good year, same soil comments as above. Still keeping some in the ground - they seem to keep better there than in the air. Kenebec, Red Pontiac, Yukon Gold.
Corn: Had a great harvest about a month ago, G90 seed from La Grange Farm and Ranch.
Okra: Clemson, from La Grange Feed, as you suggested, starting to mature.
Kale: Gave the crop to the butterfly worms the first time, weed-eatered the skeletons, then the grasshoppers ate the second crop. Need to use some of your spray ideas, next year.
Thai Bed: We have a 4 ft. x 4 ft Thai bed, Thai peppers and Thai basil, both turned out wonderful.
Legumes
Beans: Several kinds of bush beans, great results but let them get too big, didn’t harvest fast enough.
Black-eyed Peas: Just harvested today, seeds from an old friend of mine, he obtained them from his uncle, now deceased, who lived in Hermeleigh, TX. The story is the Germans up there had been selecting and saving them for many years. I planted them too close, thinking a few might not germinate. I think the germination was about 100%.
Others
Basil: Has been great this year, wonderful to have a significant source for basil. We made some pesto, froze it in ice cube trays for use later on.
Lambs Quarters: (Chenopodium album) is wonderful, they don’t even know it is hot, will keep on putting out greens that are higher in nutrients than spinach until the first freeze. Few to no pests. Great steamed or sauteed. Tallest of mine are 10 ft. or so tall now. Holler if you want seeds; I would like to see lambs quarters spread around the county. (PS: I once made a knife handle out of a 12 ft. Chenopodium stalk; incredible wood for a ... weed, no hollow pithy center, just solid wood.)
Watering: I installed a drip system (really vortex spray) on my Designer Raised Bed Gardens this year (mostly 4 ft x 4 ft.), using ATS Irrigation parts from Brenham. Really can’t say enough good about how the system works, just need more rainwater. Folks at ATS were very friendly and helpful, as well. Big difference between what they have and “big box store” gear. Was referred to them by local Fayetteville Super Gardener, Phil Stein. So, I put the system on a timer while I was away for five days, watering for 30 minutes every other day, during the really hot spell. This kept things alive. Using an Orbit controller on the pump, works well.
Next year: We need to be better prepared for the onslaught of the harvest. Only canned for the first time this year, and next year we need to be ready to blanch and freeze.