Saturday, April 4, 2009

One Big Sunny Spot.

One of the tricks of gardening in Florida is staging..........getting the last of the winter crops out in time so that the spring crops have time to ripen before the heat/rain/bugs in June/July kills everything! You Yankees up north wouldn't know about these problems because July/Aug for you is Prime Time growing. Not for us. Actually, July/Aug is the only time during the year we really don't grow anything.

Because of this I'm always having to think ahead so I can manage my garden to it's fullest. Throw in some inexperience, different crop heights, crop rotation, & different locations for sun/shade and it's easy to end up with empty spaces where a crop should be!

My point is this....... I've been a little worried that I wasn't going to be able to grow some corn this year because my potatoes are taking longer than expected, and they're in my planned corn spot for Spring. So I started looking around and notice a real nice sunny spot on the South end of my garden. Not in the garden, mind you, but outside of the garden fence. A pretty big sunny spot at that.

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So the Wife & I planted 8 rows of corn 40 feet long with 4 different varieties: Ambrosia, Sugar Pearl (white), Early & Often and Sugar Dots. I don't plan on fencing it in, I believe that I've planted enough seed to have a great harvest even if I loose a few. Plus.....I don't feel like putting up more fence! lol. I estimate about 350 plants if all goes well. I'm pretty excited......I've never grown corn before!

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Not nearly as exciting is my Bush Bean planting. I planted some "True Red Cranberry" I got from Old Sturbridge Village in Mass. I also planted "Rocdor", "Borlotto Solista" (from Italy) and "Jade" which is pictured above.


What a Saturday!

18 comments:

  1. I want to grow those cranberry beans one of these days, it is one cool bean. Good to hear that you found a spot for your corn.

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  2. Wow that was quick Dan....I just posted! I can mail you some of the cranberry beans if you want. They're bush beans so you don't need much room.

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  3. Staging. Exactly. I've got to rip out my winter crop and immediately plant the new crop in the same place. I am only human. I like your solution of going to another spot (maybe I can find one).When you just “find another spot” - how is your soil? Mine is bad everywhere (no topsoil, only limestone).

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  4. Green Acres is the place to be. Farm livin' is the life for me.

    Very impressive. So if each plant gives 4 ears, you'll have over a thousand. Wow!

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  5. Prospero- I have great soil. If you look at my pics you'll see woods in the backgroud. Well those woods used to cover the whole property, so I have nice composted soil left behind when I remove the trees. One problem I do have is I can't go to just any spot.......I have to look for sun.......because of all the trees!

    SG- 1000 ears would be awesome......I'm looking forward to counting!

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  6. I am pretty sure cranberry beans are pole beans not bush beans. Does the packet say they are bush beans?

    I just might take you up on your offer but would only need a few beans, 10 or so. Want to do a swap? I have some very nice melon seeds or you can take a look at my seed table to see if you would like anything. Most things in the table I have lots of.

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  7. forgot the link to the seed table:
    http://veggiegardenblog.blogspot.com/2009/02/ere-variety-growing-instructions-days.html

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  8. Dan.......Come on man.....lol. Yeah, they're bush beans. Here's the description on the packet:

    "True Red Cranberry Bean

    "This very old bush bean variety was grown in New England in the 18th & 19th centuries. Brightly colored, red-mottled,6-inch long pods are borne on vigorous, upright bush plants. The deep red, oval dry beans are very similar in appearance to cranberries. This bush bean was cultivated primarily for use as a green shell bean or dry shell bean for baking and for adding to soups"

    Send me an e-mail with your address and I'll send you some. I'll check your stuff out in the mean time.

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  9. Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you.....I grew them in Sept. and they def were bushies.

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  10. That's a lot of corn! I feel better knowing that you do have some help.......here I was thinking you do all of this by yourself.

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  11. Darla- I'm def the mule, but Julie (my wife) helps out quite a bit. She really helped a lot with planting the corn. She also has great investigative skills and finds all bugs and diseases in the garden. Of course.....I have to do the killing & squishing!

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  12. In the garden has been discussed about the garden spot and creative also we can be enjoy it in this garden. There are lovely and more informative matter shared.

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  13. It definitely keeps the weeds down and helps keep the soil from fluctuating wildly from wet to dry all the time. Don't use hay! All it takes is one time and you'll know why.it'll start to grow!

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  14. More attractive blossom in the garden we can be enjoy it. Most of the people are visiting in that rest and learn due to garden.

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  17. Firstly your garden is nice to see and very thankful to you to sharing this information with us..........,

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