Harvested my own sunflowers

This was the first time I ever harvested my own sunflowers. I soaked the seeds in salted water overnight, and dried and roasted them the next day.

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Location:Foster City, CA

My front yard in July

Harvesting My Fingerling Potatoes

Wall-o-waters

I made this three minute video to document how I planted my tomatoes in 15 inch containers. My main concern was how to keep my tomatoes warm since I live in a cool climate with lots of wind. This video covers the nutrients I used, and how I installed the wall-o-waters

Choosing how to support my tomato plants

This year I want to give some thought to the way I will be providing support to my tomato plants. Today I went to a talk on how to grow tomatoes at Lyngso and then I went to the Sunnyvale Community Garden to look at some actual setups. (If you don't see the usual YouTube arrow to launch the one minute video below, then click on the small words "YouTube Video" directly to the right of the picture.)

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Biggest Baddest Beet Busts Out

Stuffing my front yard with paper

This weekend I moved off the gorilla hair (mulch,) added compost, and then layered my compost bags from Lyngso on top of the compost. The final step was to move back the gorilla hair. You can't even tell there is all that paper underneath the mulch. For those of you that don't garden the reason I added the paper was too keep the weeds down. Also, as the paper begins to break down it actually helps rebuild the soil.

Shop Lamps in My Living Room

A master gardener at the plant sale shared with me this tip: He said instead of spending money on expensive grow lights just get shop lamps, and install one warm light and one cool light. He said you did not even have to mess with hanging the lamp from the ceiling...just get some books! Add more books as the plant grows. You can see what I did here. As long as there isn't an earthquake I am good :-)

I am keeping my tomato plants inside (on my dining room table) until Mother's Day. He said for my windy and cool conditions in Foster City Mother's Day would be my optimum time for planting.

Wagon of Plants = $39 Well Spent

This is what I bought today at the Spring Garden Sale:

1  6 pack of flowers-- Rudbeckia Autumn Colors

1   bell pepper -- Early Sensation

1   eggplant -- Fairy Tale

2   herb -- Stevia

Tomatoes:

1 Black Pear

1 Brandyvine OTV

1 Black Sea Man

1 Tomato Holly (I think this is a green tomato)

1 Sun Sugar (cherry tomato)

1 Glory of Moldova

1 Marvel Striped

'Twas Pouring Rain But I Went Plant Shopping Anyway

Today I went to the Spring Garden Market put on by the Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County. Got there at 9 AM but the first parking lot was already full and people were already lined up to go inside the grounds. Plus, it was POURING RAIN. And as the morning went on it rained even harder!!

Umbrellas for the front yard?

I visited the Flower and Garden Show at the San Mateo County Fairgrounds this Sunday. Can't say that the show is exactly directed towards the common gardener but I did enjoy these umbrellas. Can you see them in my front yard? ;-)

Last week I assembled a Radio Flyer wagon so that when I visit the Master Gardener's spring plant sale in San Jose I will be able to carry all the little plants. It took be about two hours to assemble the wagon and I only threw three fits! :-)

Planning what to plant in the front yard circle

I am currently working on what to plant in my center circle. And it's not just a matter of what to plant for eating purposes, I am giving some thought to what color, and height. I want this area to look artistic. I need one more large plant (so far I have two artichoke plants.)

My first tulip ....ever!

This is the first year that I have ever been truly interested in planting tulips. I see them as short term colorful surprises.