Friday, December 30, 2011

Last market harvest post of the year

We missed you when the market was closed last week and look forward to seeing you tomorrow morning beginning at 9:30. We will have a nice variety of food for our customers this week. We will wait to harvest the majority of it until the morning so it is as fresh as possible.

I think we'll have a few small carrots

We will have some tomatoes

The basil is still looking good and so is the sage

The peas are my current favorite thing, we'll have some tomorrow

We'll have a little bit of spinach


And we'll have bok choy
We also have some mint

We have lots of avocados. Farmer D did not pick them until today so it will be a wait before they're soft because they don't soften while on the tree
We finally have a nasturtium blooming so maybe we'll have enough to add to a salad soon

Gidget says, "It never ceases to amaze me that you consider this stuff food."

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Warm and sunny end to the year

I love San Diego weather. While much of the rest of the country is suffering through freezing rain and snowstorms, I enjoyed a 73 degree day. It looks like there's no end in sight to this beautiful weather which means I did need to give everything a good watering today. I haven't been watering as much because we did get some rain about week ago and the temperatures have been cooler lately but today it became evident that the plants want a drink.
Thirsty broccoli
I gave everything some water while I enjoyed the warm sunshine. Now Farmer D is going to pick some avocados for the market on Saturday.
One of the avocados that will be at Saturday's market

Gidget enjoys the warm weather too and takes a moment to enjoy the smell of a ginger scented geranium.


Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Citrus leafminer

Citrus leafminers are as common here as citrus itself. I have never actually seen the actual moth itself but according to what I've read, they're tiny. I have encountered the larvae that burrows into the layers of the new leaves on citrus trees. If your tree is older and mature, you really don't need to be concerned but when your tree is younger, they can cause some severe damage.
Our lemons look great but the leaves around them are affected by leafminer larvae

Here is a closer look at the damage

And another look

And yet another look
Because the larvae are burrowed within the leaves, there isn't an organic spray or solution that I am aware of. The only course of action is to prune off the affected branches before the larvae mature and spread more eggs to the other leaves on your trees. I will be pruning the affected leaves and branches on our citrus trees if you need me.
Leafminers bore Gidget and she wishes we would bring her another helium balloon to play with.

Monday, December 26, 2011

Cauliflower and broccoli

This is the first time we've attempted growing broccoli and cauliflower in the garden. It is taking longer than it is suppose to but we're finally seeing the heads form on the plants. I'm a little worried that they're too small overall but we'll give it a week and see how it's going.
One of the first broccoli heads.

One of the first cauliflower heads.
I think we should have started them a little earlier instead of waiting until mid September to plant them. They may have benefited from longer days and warmer overnight temperatures. Getting the timing just right is still one of the biggest challenges I have in year round gardening.
Gidget says "The carrots and peas look good enough for rabbits to eat now."

Friday, December 23, 2011

Market closed tomorrow, plant sale and give away

The farmers market be closed tomorrow but we are selling plants outside of Gidget's Garden today. 

We just received our nursery license this month so we can sell plants now but I still want to give plants away each month too so if you read this blog regularly then you can get a free plant or pack of seedlings when you mention the secret password. This month's password is Miracle.


Gidget can't wait to see you
We're in the driveway next to the garden on B street 50 feet west of 25th street

We've got Aloe vera and succulents this time around.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

A post for pet lovers

 I am working on organizing my photos and it's fun to come across all the old photos that I haven't seen in years. I decided to do a slideshow of nothing but our pets today which has nothing to do with gardening but there isn't much that's exciting to write about going on in the garden now anyway. Merry Christmas pet lovers, this one is for you.

Baby Fleck, sitting goofy

Sierra and baby Fleck waiting for Daddy to get home from work

"I wasn't going to chew your shoe, why do you ask?"

Flecky

Fleck's first Halloween

Always happy no matter what

Sierra smiling for the camera

"Where's my treat?"

Sierra and Fleck play with their friend Chico

Baby Frijole

"Who you calling a baby?"

Frijole reading about cheese.

Fleck and Frijole fell in love instantly

"Is it lunchtime yet?"

Gidget hates flowers


Our first trip to the rooftop garden
 
Frijole teaches Gidget to dumpster dive

"I made him an offer he couldn't refuse."

"How's my profile?"

"What do you mean you're naming it Gidget's Garden?"

" I was not digging, I don't understand why you are always accusing me of digging!"

Sierra tolerates Frijole on her couch

"Peekaboo!"

"Rub here please."


"I got rained on!"


"I still can't believe you named it Gidget's Garden."
 
Gidget had a bad cold when we got her. Poor baby did not feel good.

Baby Gidget

Sierra evaluates the newest member of the family.

Fleck loves everyone.

Laser cats are scary.


Already addicted to Facebook.

Gidget's first Christmas

Goofy Gidget

"These do not smell like food."

Frijole is not happy about Gidget in his back yard.
She's cuckoo for coconuts

This was her punishment for keeping us awake all night

Sierra reluctantly agrees to share her bed.
 
Stop with the pawparazzi!

"Seriously? Gidget's Garden? I was here first you know."


"If it were really my garden we'd have chickens or rabbits."

Gidget makes herself useful by pointing out a fallen avocado.


"Give me some money, I'm going to buy some chicks."

Sierra's unfortunate haircut
 
This is Habanero, he went to kitty heaven a few years ago

"What?"

"Check out my super man impression!"
 
Fleck and Frijole have no idea that they're suppose to be enemies.

"This washing machine is fascinating."


On vacation, Sierra loves to swim and Fleck does not.

Happy boy

Happy girl

"I wasn't playing with the blue tape. Why do you ask?"

Fishing for Goldfish in Auntie Kim's pond

"Why are you always so convinced I've been digging?"
 
"The best thing about rain is getting out of it."

No comment needed.

An example of Fleck's fine work ethic.
"Oh! Hi Mom."

This is our resident old lady. Princess is 15 years old and skittish.

Fleck's first homegrown carrot
 
Frijole loves him some barbeque

Dog day

The boys 

Even Fleck was impressed with last year's avocado harvest
 
Sierra's 7th birthday 
  
"Is this adorable enough?"

The boys conspire to break into the enclosure around our raised bed in the back yard.

They love each other

They love each other too
 
Fleck catches a little sun by the back door.

Frijole likes flowers
 
"Get her face away from my face."

Fleck strutting around the garden

Frijole says, "I have claws and I am not afraid to use them!"
 
Fleck prays for peace.
 
"Lunch?"


"Stop following me."

She really is cuckoo for coconuts
 
Frijole checks in from the neighbor's side of the fence


Fleck and Gidget playing peekaboo
 
Farmer D's lap is her most favorite seat in the house

Or my desk chair

Gidget learned how to climb the tree with just a couple of minor falls

This is one of our friendly neighborhood hummingbirds

"Did you forget about lunch?"