Just thought I would share some pics of what we have growing. These are about a week old, but you get the idea. Tomatoes Cherry Tomatoes 2nd planting of lettuce, starting to pick this week 3rd and 4th plantings of lettuce outside Outside tomatoes and peppers, still more to plant! Inside Peppers Potatoes Hilled up Garlic Inside Squash Inside little cucumbers Sweet potatoes and okra Jay

Starting Fall and Winter Carrots, in the heat!

It is August and it is time to start fall and winter plantings of carrots and other crops. Most of my other crops are started from transplants, carrots are a different story. Carrots are hard to get to germinate, especially in hot and dry weather. This year we are very familiar with hot and dry! I plant our carrots in beds that we cover later in the year with our movable high tunnels. This way we can better utilize our high tunnels. Currently the movable high tunnels have tomatoes planted under them. We will be moving the tunnels off the tomatoes and over the carrots around Thanksgiving time, depending on the weather. So, I have to use extra measures to ensure germination. Here is the process. First we till up the beds and add any soil amendments. We rake the beds out smooth and lay out the two runs of drip lines per beds. Next we plant two rows of carrots for each run of drip tape. We use an Earthway planter with a the heavy carrot plate. I have tried the light carrot plate and I wasn't happy with the result. I wish there was a medium plate. After we plant, we turn on the drip and soak the beds. Next we cover the beds with row cover. Once we put the row cover down, I wet it down. Then I come back and wet it down every day 2 to 5 times a day. Just to keep it moist and cool. For the next planting, I am going to use misters on a timer. I start checking under the row cover on day 4 to see for carrot germination. Usually there is none. On the end of day 5 to the start of day 6 it is time to flame weed. Flame weeding is basically using a propane burner to burn and kill the weeds before the carrots come up. However, one has to remember that the carrots are germinating under the soil surface. I use a burner that hooks up to a 20 pound grill bottle. Here is a before weeding picture. All the green are weeds, not carrots. Here is the after flaming the beds. After flaming, we return the drip lines and soak the beds down. Depending on the weather, one can return the row cover or not. It has been cooler, so I chose not to cover. On the morning of day 7, here is what I saw. SUCCESS! Now on day 9, I have 4 rows of carrots growing. Sorry I don't have a picture. You can see the carrots growing the whole length of the bed. It does take time however the pay off is wonderful sweet and crunchy winter carrots!

Starting Fall and Winter Carrots, in the heat!

Piotique Tomatoes

This weekend was the annual festival in Clay Center called Piotique (the blending of Pioneers and Antiques, just FYI). Back in early May, yes May. I decided that I want to plant a late planting of tomatoes and I want to have them for Mid-September until November. Being I was short on seed, I decided to purchase more of the selected variety.

Dear Jay Sleichter
Thank you for your order!

Your order will be sent after credit card approval. For seed orders only, we send by U.S. Postal Service, so there will be no tracking number assigned. Expect 7 to 10 days for delivery time.
_______________________________________
Customer/Shopper ID: 235544
Date and Time: Mon May 16 12:32:21 2011
_______________________________________

Item: Details: Quantity: Each: Item Total:
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
#3992A Florida Large Quantity 3992A - 1 $ 28.30 $ 28.30
91 Hybrid Florida 91 Hybrid
1/32 Ounce $28.30
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Sub Total: $ 28.30
Shipping Total: (US & Possessions - First Class) $ 5.25
Grand Total: $ 33.55 PAID


And with this, my plans were put in place. Keep in mind, we had a light frost on May 15th and I was talking about producing tomatoes up to the first frost/freeze in the Fall.

Well received my seeds and I got them going. Had a problem with germination. I started them over again, lost 10-14 days doing this.

Despite one of the hottest summers on record, I went ahead moved my seedlings outside to the high tunnel to harden off. Then the heat really cranked up.

I finished building the new rails for my movable building and got it ready and moved it to its new home.



I proceeded to plant the tomatoes out on July 16th. About 10-14 days later than I had wanted.

Here they are after being planted. Sorry about the poor picture.


Here they are on August 12th, about 1 month after planting.



Here they are on August 28th.


Finally on September 16th, a full 60 days past the planting day and 120 days after ordering the seeds.


Well here we are on September 24th, I didn't get my tomatoes for Piotique, but I do have them turning.



Here are some other pictures from the 23rd of September.





So when you say, "Where are the tomatoes?" I can honestly say I have been working on in for the past 120 days or longer. Stuff just doesn't happen, everything has to have been planned and well thought out. I guess I should think harder.

More tomatoes, maybe next week!

Jay

Piotique Tomatoes

Late Fall Tomatoes

I decided early on this year that I was going to have tomatoes as long as possible. My tomatoes have great flavor and it seems that I can keep a strong demand all season. To me they taste like my tomatoes. I guess when you don't anyone else's tomatoes, it is really hard to compare.

I started seeds in late May/early June for this late project. I wanted to start them sooner, but I had to order the seeds.

I was aiming for planting them around July 4th. I had problems with germination and the heat was so bad, I didn't get them out until July 17th.

So here we sit, 60 days out. How are they doing? I think they are doing great. I haven't picked any, yet, but that day is coming. When it does, I hope people appreciate all the work it has taken to get them here.

Also these are in one of my movable tunnels. I added a third growing spot to them this year. So now each 512 square foot building will cover 2,048 feet in one year. I also have carrots growing outside. Once these tomatoes freeze, I will move the building over the carrots to protect them for the winter.

The carrots came up spotty. I wish they had germinated better, but when you are planting them and it is 95-105, what can you expect.

Carrots outside:


Outside picture of hoop building:


View of inside:


Florida 91's (majority)








Taxi (yellow, just a few)


Cherokee Purple (Just one row)


I am hoping I will get to pick them by the end of the month. I know I can keep them going until Thanksgiving, with minimal heat.

Late Fall Tomatoes

Moving on Down the Line

Today was moving day for M1.  This year we added another growing location for our movable buildings.  I finished the rails and slid the tunnel on down the hill. So far this year M1 has covered the home of Carrots (over wintered), Onions, Zucchini, now Tomatoes then Carrots to over winter.

Moving on Down the Line

Before, During and Now Pictures

It is 105 outside today, so I am being a good boy, I am working for a period of time, then coming inside and taking a break. I thought I would share some before, during and now pictures. There won't be an after, yet!

Hoop B, the big Tomato Building

Before


During






Now







Sweet potatoes
Before





Now



Cucumbers
Before


Now


Okra
Before


Now





More to come later!

Before, During and Now Pictures