Climate Change: Spend Four Minutes on This

By Bill McKibben, author and founder of 350.org

Direct-Seeding Melons and Beans...and Greens Go to Seed

You know it's summer when it's warmed up enough to direct-seed melons and beans.

 Decisions, decisions

After a spate of extreme fluctuation in temperature (97 degrees F to 54) we had a couple moderate days. I got out the beans and melons, some old favorites and a new Japanese icebox watermelon shared by Debbie in our seed swap.

In the past I've had problems with the potting mix drying out before germination occurred, so this year I rigged up a little greenhouse for these SIPs with clear plastic secured with the gasket from the bucket lid top.

I was a little concerned that the moisture would encourage fungal growth, so yesterday I removed the plastic to air them out. Then the weather lightened yesterday afternoon and, predictably, when I went to the roof this morning the potting mix had dried out. I redampened the mix and put the plastic back in place.

The cool-weather greens shot up in the high heat and they're going to seed, which we'll collect for next year. I moved them all to the shadier side of the roof, with some under the gazebo that collects rainwater for watering.

They sure are pretty, and we're still eating them all, every single day. What a gift, those greens. 

Agretti in June

I'm enchanted by the texture and flavor of agretti--salty with hints of lime. The mouth feel is fun...and I'd never ever cook it. It's too good raw.

The Agretti took its time coming up, but we patiently didn't regularly clip it to eat and here we are.

 

Because of its exceedingly poor germination rate, I'd like these plants to go to seed. That way we'd have next year's seed supply.

I'm going to plant these in a portable microgarden next time, because they don't require the large amount of growing medium other greens need.

Snap Peas and Lettuces Abound on Our Roof

 

These Amish snap peas from Seed Savers Exchange (SSE) are producing lots of tender peapods for tossing into the freshest salads possible. Shown are lettuces Carmona, Jester, and Joker, all from Wild Garden Seed. Despite the extreme early-season temperatures here in Chicago--97 for a couple days now--the lettuces remain sweet and tender.

The SSE package says the peapod yield runs for six weeks if kept picked.

No problem!

 The lettuces are growing in a 5-gallon SIP

And the peas in an Earthbox

More Early Summer Pictures

H2 came over and took plenty of good ones.

One of the two cedar SIPs that I'm growing potatoes in this year.  I dug a small trench and mounded the soil up over the vine as it grew.

Carl taking a breather in the partial shade.

The chickens like to eat the maple tree seedlings that spin/whirl everywhere this time of year.

Not what it seems: Carl likes to "eat" the spray as it comes out of the hose.

Early Summer Pictures

Scorzonera is a striking plant.

Swiss Chard is still going strong.

Tobacco.

The chimney I put in last fall displaced one of the SIP runs.

The chickens have settled in.  A couple of more months and they'll start producing eggs.

They like to eat weeds.

Carl and I watching chickens.  They calm me down; he doesn't seem to be affected by them.

Carl loves to "chew" on the water coming out of the hose.

More Tomato Planting June 3

Seems late to be finishing tomato planting. Do you have yours in? As of yesterday they're planted, and four eggplant too. Excited to try the Thai Green Eggplant from both Seed Savers Exchange and Bountiful Gardens. Side-by-side, we'll see if there's any difference in the fruit.

Brad H phoned a couple weeks back asking if we needed perlite. He'd found an extra-large bag for ten bucks. Yes, please! We decided to make fresh potting mix for the 20 SIPs sbove--the 6-gal in 7-gal bucket sets Art put together to create larger reservoirs.

It's a good workout, making new mix. 

We'll reuse mix for all other SIPs.

I don't recall in previous years staking every single plant (except for the greens) against the stiff winds, but that's what I did this year. Maybe it's the new normal in weather. 

Yesterday the wind kept snatching the plastic shower caps and the fertilizer was flying. I had to finish the eggplants in the 120-degree greenhouse. Yikes. Then I tied everyone up secure against the gusts.

I even staked the tobaccos...

Anyone else feeling stymied by weather?