Garlic and Mushrooms 12-18-14

Take a close look! 

Yes, the zinnias are dead, but look in the foreground. The garlic we planted in October is just flourishing with the cooler temperatures. By June, we should be pulling the garlic up after their bulbs fatten up after the spring. 

Here is a write up about growing garlic in Guilford County:

 http://guilford.ces.ncsu.edu/2012/09/growing-garlic/

In addition to the garlic, the other vibrant green plants hugging the board to our raised beds on the right are mint. Like garlic and other cool weather crops, mint will survive until a hard frost knocks it back. Freshly harvested mint tea is purely wonderful. Just pick some leaves and steep them in hot water. See, invasive plants can sometimes be more beneficial than we thought.

  (12-18-14)

A few shiitake mushrooms continue to emerge, which is why it is important that we constantly monitor our logs. (12-18-14)

The broccoli in the first bed are still putting on some growth and the pathetic looking yacons in the second bed are doing exactly what we want: marking. For now, the dead plants are marking where to dig up the tubers in January. Once again, the tubers can stay in the ground all winter unless the ground freezes.
  (12-18-14)

Yacons and Fall 11-1-14 and 11-16-14

Is the gardening season all over? It sure does look like it! (11-1-14) 

 Well, the yacon, originally from the Andean Mountains is thriving. Recall from earlier postings that we are after its tubers. (11-1-14) 
One Source: http://smsf-mastergardeners.ucanr.org/Elkus/Growing_Yac%C3%B3n/

The spinach like the yacon, also does not mind the cold. (11-1-14) 

Here is our minor harvest from the first of November. Notice how the zinnias, okra, and a few lone tomatoes are still around. (11-1-14) 

Cold weather has finally knocked back several of our previously thriving plants. The yacons and the zinnias are now done for the season. However, we will leave the yacons in the ground for several more weeks. The ground acts as cold storage. As long as the ground does not freeze, we do not have to worry. (11-16-14)

The broccoli does not look too bad now that the temperatures have dropped. (11-16-14)

Again, we will leave the yacons in the ground for several more weeks. The ground acts as cold storage. As long as the ground does not freeze, the tubers can stay. We only want what is in the soil. (11-16-14)

Our crimson clover cover crop is coming in nicely.  There are many benefits to planting cover crops. (11-16-14)

See this publication to learn more on cover crops for North Carolina:

 http://growingsmallfarms.ces.ncsu.edu/growingsmallfarms-wintercrops/

Sadly, the end has arrived for the zinnias. They attracted beneficial insects and pollinators and brightened many tables over several months. What more could we ask for from only two packets of seeds?  (11-16-14)

See the below link about another farm that also enjoys their zinnias as well:

http://growingsmallfarms.ces.ncsu.edu/growingsmallfarms-perrywinkle6/ 

Shots from 10-07-14 and 10-21-14

Here is a mini harvest from 10-07-14.

It is a good year for jalapenos. (10-7-14)

According to an NC State publication, there are many possible insects that may have caused this problem.  (10-21-14) 

Insect Management*

Several species of caterpillars attack broccoli. Cabbage loopers, the imported cabbage worm, the diamondback moth, the cabbage webworm, and the corn earworm are commonly found feeding on leaves and stems. The cabbage aphid is also a very destructive pest on broccoli. Flea beetles also attack broccoli and can severely damage small seedlings. The severity of insect attack is much greater in fall crops. It is suggested that the control program start early (emerging seedlings) and continued on a regular basis. Consult Entomology Insect Note No. 12, Cabbage Worm Complex.

Source: http://content.ces.ncsu.edu/broccoli-production/

Garlic should be planted in the fall and then harvested early the following summer. Check                     back later before harvest.  (10-21-14)

Check out the write up on growing garlic from Guilford County's Interim County Extension Director and Extension Agent, Agriculture Urban Horticulture, Karen Neill:  http://guilford.ces.ncsu.edu/2012/09/growing-garlic/

Our lettuce in the foreground is beginning to bolt. Before long, it will be too bitter to enjoy. (10-21-14)

Okra is still productive even in the middle of October. (10-21-14)

Okra grows fast. If it is left too long, it will grow to this size. At this stage, its too woody to eat. (10-21-14)

Source on harvesting okra: http://content.ces.ncsu.edu/okra/

It is best to pick and eat okra at this size or smaller. (10-21-14)

Just look at this harvest! Even the shiitake mushrooms are in season. 

Can Fall Last Longer? 10-02-14

Two yacon plants (Smallanthus sonchifolius) with kale in the foreground are flourishing. 10-2-14

Broccoli 10-2-14

The okra harvest is beginning to slow as the nights in Guilford County are now cooler. 10-2-14

Here is a shot of the middle bed with lettuce, carrots, kale, and yacon. 10-2-14

Lettuce 10-2-14

Jalapeno peppers 10-2-14

Kale 10-2-14

Fruits around the Demonstration Garden 9-21-14

        Humans are not the only ones that like figs.(9-21-14)

Here is a fig that is nearly ready for consumption.(9-21-14)

                       The American Persimmon

Often when the American Persimmons are ripe, they will drop to the ground. (9-21-14)

The mostly forgotten American Persimmon Trees are loaded with fruit this time of the year. (9-21-14)

Shots from 9-17-14

This plant is holding on to its last tomato! (9-17-14)

These shiitakes were a bit different than the last ones we harvested, and I do not mean only much larger.  (9-17-14)

They were huge but still had nice flavor. In another day, they would have started to rot.(9-17-14)

As much as some folks, complain about having to harvest cherry tomatoes, it is wonderful having such variety in the garden. Like okra, cherry tomatoes produce late into the early fall in Greensboro unlike many other crops. (9-17-14) 

Shots from 9-12-14

Another Harvest

As is evident from this picture, the okra is doing the quite well! (9-12-14)

Sun Gold Cherry tomatoes are still producing. (9-12-14)

The Black Cherry Tomatoes are still producing well. (9-12-14)

 Yacon tubers are harvested after the first hard frost. (9-12-14)

 The zinnias bring in the insects. Some are beneficial insects and some are not. Is this one we want in the garden? Is it a Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus) or a Southern Cloudywing  (Thorybes bathyllus)? Maybe it is neither. Regardless, it likes our zinnias! (9-12-14)

Shots from 9-8-14

The garden is not as lush as it was only weeks earlier. It is in its old age, preparing to produce enough seed for its next generation.  As a gardener, it is time to clean up and discard what is not producing and keep what is.

It was easy finding dead vegetation. (9-8-14)

 Two of our team members helped tidying up the
garden such weeding, thinning, and removing the old cucumber cages. Gardens are not self-sufficient.(9-8-14)

The tomatoes to the right are not nearly as productive as in their youth, but each plant can still produce enough to make keeping them around a little longer worthwhile. (9-8-14)

The okra is still being picked twice a week. It grows so effortlessly, yet many stores want top dollar for it. Pickled okra is selling at Earth Fare for $9.99 per pound. If only more people realized how easily it grows, they could make their own pickled okra! (9-8-14)

Of all the plants in the garden, our marigolds require the least amount of fuss. They shall win the endurance award since they went in the ground on April 12 and show no signs of weakening. We need more plants like marigolds and okra in this world!        (9-8-14)

The First Mushroom Harvest

On August 26, we watered the mushroom logs because of recent hot temperatures. By August 30, only two or three tiny mushrooms emerged. By September 2, over 15 or more emerged and reached harvesting size. 

See  pictures below:

 Watering the mushroom logs (8-26-14)

 The first sign of mushrooms (8-30-14)

(9-2-14)

 The first big harvest has occurred. (9-2-14)