FLOWERS.

Fascinating TED Talk. The Beautiful Tricks of Flowers by Jonathon Drori.

Enjoy.

Urban Agriculture Meeting

The San Diego Land Use and Housing committee will be meeting tomorrow, July 20, at 202 C Street. Part of their discussion will include potential regulatory reforms for urban agriculture. Be there by 4pm to show your support and add to the discussion.

See you there.

Greenhouse extravaganza

I have been working with a client and his little greenhouse to make the most of it. Greenhouses are amazing and plants love them. We have filled it with tomatoes, eggplants, cucumbers, peppers, and some squashes.

Tomatoes

Hungarian Wax Pepper

Squashes

There are also a couple of carnivorous plants hanging out on the lower shelves. They are very interesting to watch. You can hear the insects rattle in the pitcher plant. Bittersweet, I suppose.

Pitcher Plant

Sundew

Venus Flytrap

Seed Packets

Recently, I passed out seed packets with my business information on them! For those of you that received them, I hope you enjoy them. Below is more information on each seed variety. The recommendations come from the Lake Valley Seeds, seed packets.

Anise: Anise has a sweet licorice taste, so people either love it, or hate it. You can use the leaves for garnish; or after the plant has bloomed, you can use the seeds in fruit salads, soups or potpourri, just to show its versatility! Plant it in full sun, just a 1/4” deep and 2” apart. If you do not like to thin, then space the seeds 6-8” apart. Anise should sprout in 10-15 days. The plant will grow to be 18-24” tall.

Basil: Anise scented: You can use this variety of basil in soups, salads or with fish. Plant in a warm,sunny location. Basil does need a lot of heat to thrive. You can dry the leaves or cut them as needed. As the plant flowers, remove the flowers to extend the harvest. Plant 1/4” deep, 1” apart. They should sprout in 8-10 days. Thin to a foot apart. The plant should reach 18-24” in height.

Pole Bean ‘Kentucky Wonder’: Organic. This variety is good fresh or for freezing and canning. Plant in late spring and make sure to prepare a trellis and install before planting. Plant 1” deep and 2” apart. Sprout in 7-10 days! Pick pods as the fill out and enjoy!

Calendula ‘Pacific Beauty’:  Likes the cooler weather of spring, fall and winter. Plant in a sunny, cool spot. Sow 1/4” deep and 1” apart. I do not thin my flowers, but you can thin them to a foot apart. They should sprout in 7-10 days. Cut or deadhead flowers regularly to keep them blooming. 

Garlic Chives: Hardy perennial that grows in clumps. Yummy in omelets, salads, soups and many other dishes. Sow 1/4” deep, 1” apart, in a permanent location. Can be planted in full sun to part shade. Sprout in 8-12 days! You can also eat the flowers.

Spicy Salad Mix: Organic. Blend of sweet green and red lettuces with spicy greens like Arugula. Can plant in full or part shade. Lettuce likes cooler weather, it will bolt (flower) if it gets too hot. Sow 1/8” deep, 1” apart and thin to 12” apart. It should sprout in 7-14 days.  Cut lettuce about 1” from the ground, to allow it to grow back again. You can continue to harvest until it tastes too bitter.

Marjoram: Organic. Used for seasoning fish, meats, soups, vinegar and bean dishes. Sow 1/8” deep, 12” apart. It is a tender perennial, so it may not survive freezing temperatures. Sprouts in 8-10 days. Can be planted in full to part shade. Harvest individual leaves, or cut back the entire plant to 4” before it flowers. You can dry the herb for storage.

Mizuna ‘Japanese Mustard’: Organic. Quick growing green; has a hint of spice. Best when grown in cooler weather and harvested young. Sow seeds 1/4” deep and 6” apart. Sprouts in 5-10 days. Harvest by cutting and leaving about 1” of plant for it to grow back. Can continue to harvest until it flowers or flavor is lost. 

Parsley ‘Moss Curled’: Organic. Great garnish. Prefers full sun to part shade. Sow 1/4” deep and 6” apart. Sprouts in 10-20 days. Harvest as needed or harvest the entire plant, leaving 1” at base. It may grow back if you let it go to seed.

Snow Pea: Produces heavy yields of large, stringless pods. Can eat raw, stir fried or can freeze for storage. Peas prefer cooler weather. Trellis to save space; they may only reach three feet. Pick regularly when young and sweet! Sow 1” deep and 2” apart. Should sprout in 7-14 days. There is no need to thin.

Sweet Pea ‘Mrs. Collier’: Very fragrant flowers. Choose a cool location. Sow 1” deep and 2” apart. Sprouts in 14-20 days. You can thin to be 6”apart. Best when planted in winter and early spring. Mulch to keep soil moist.

Hungarian Wax Pepper: Mellow heat. Use for roasting and pickling, yum! Plant outside in late spring; 1/4” deep and 12” apart. Sprouts in 10-20 days. Peppers like it hot. Pick a nice sunny and warm location. Once the pepper has turned completely yellow, it is ripe for picking!

French Breakfast Radish: Mild flavor and great buttered on a crostini. Sow 1/2” deep and 1” apart. Sprouts in 5-10 days. Harvest when roots are sized to your liking. They push up through the ground, so the root (radish) is visible.

Swiss Chard ‘Rhubarb’: Delicious when steamed, stir-fried or boiled. Sow 1/2” deep and 12” apart. Sprouts in 7-10 days. Harvest outer leaves when mature; this allows for new leaves to grow and extend your harvest.

Spinach ‘Bloomsdale’: Organic: Produces crinkled rosettes. Plant in spring, fall and winter. Sow 1/2” deep and 5” apart. Sprouts in 5-10 days. Harvest by pulling the entire plant when leaves are young. You may also harvest the plant by cutting what you need or by cutting the plant and leaving about 1” to 2” of plant for it to re-grow.

Summer Squash ‘Black Beauty’: Organic: Bush-type summer squash. Smooth, deep-green fruits. Excellent baked, broiled, fried, steamed, grilled, pickled raw or frozen. Plant in full sun. Sow 1” deep and 3’ apart. Harvest fruit when they reach the size you like.

Summer Squash ’ Straightneck’: Organic: Bush-type summer squash. Smooth, yellow fruits. Great baked, broiled, fried, steamed, grilled, pickled, raw or frozen. Plant in full sun. Sow seeds 1” deep and 3’ apart. Can sow closer together and thin when sprout. Sprouts in 7-10 days. Harvest fruit as desired.

Viola ‘King Henry’: Edible, pansy-like flowers of royal purple and yellow. Great in salads, soups or as garnish. Is adaptable to a variety of conditions; does prefer cooler weather. Best in afternoon shade. Barely cover seeds with soil when sowing and keep 1/2” apart. I like to sow them thicker if I have a lot of seed. Sprouts in 10-20 days. Harvest as desired.