GreenDragon
Well-Known Member
They’re back!!!
Green Dragon's 2024 Grow
- Thread starter GreenDragon
- Start date
GreenDragon
Well-Known Member
It's been an odd spring this year and many things seem to be maturing early. Half of my tobacco is already starting to bolt, and the hops are going crazy. The flowers are doing well though, lots of nasturtiums, roses, 4 o'clocks, sweet peas, and tulips. And my poor nectarine is straining with fruit (note the Gandalf staff holding half the tree up!). I've been thinning the fruit regularly, but it seems I wasn't aggressive enough. Oh well, it will get an aggressive pruning after harvest to strengthen the main supporting limbs.
GreenDragon
Well-Known Member
Today was the first priming of the season, or as I like to call it, Seco Day.
GreenDragon
Well-Known Member
This weekend was the second priming (Viso Day). The first priming color cured very well, so here’s hoping this batch will also. I strung the larger strains like the previous week, and tied bundles and racked the smaller little Dutch and Japan 8. Hope the rack is up to @BigBonner standards. Will be stalk curing the final harvest in a few more weeks.
What a gorgeous curing space
GreenDragon
Well-Known Member
Well, my backyard is currently a war zone! I have 5 female, 2 juvenile, and one male hummingbirds fighting for possession of the backyard. Hummers are quite territorial and will stake out their favorite feeding spots. Between the four feeders, marigolds, peppers, tobacco, and hostas blooming right now it’s quite a show! Also the regular birds are hitting the seed feeders hard. Guess they are hungry after all the rain yesterday. The past five minutes I’ve seen finches, wrens, cardinals, mockingbirds, doves, and wood peckers.
(Also, she’s been staring at me for five minutes. Not sure what she wants - the feeder is freshly filled!)
(Also, she’s been staring at me for five minutes. Not sure what she wants - the feeder is freshly filled!)
I've had hummingbirds check out the blossoms on or by the front porch, then come to hover within about 18 inches of my face, pointing directly at me, while I talk to them.
Bob
Bob
GreenDragon
Well-Known Member
Today is a transition day on the Farmer homestead. I stalk harvested all the tobacco and will air cure it under the pavilion for a few weeks before moving it into the garage. I left the stalks in-situ to sucker as a green cover and flowers for the hummingbirds until the wife is ready to plant her fall crops in them.
We cleaned out the last of the squash and cucumbers and generally gave everything a good weeding and a shot of 10-10-10. The okra and sweet potatoes are really taking off thanks to the recent rains. Lastly the wife planted some beans and pumpkin seeds.
We cleaned out the last of the squash and cucumbers and generally gave everything a good weeding and a shot of 10-10-10. The okra and sweet potatoes are really taking off thanks to the recent rains. Lastly the wife planted some beans and pumpkin seeds.
GreenDragon
Well-Known Member
The past few mornings have been perfect for stripping my stalk cured tobacco. I was able to package 10 bags of viso/ligero and transfer them to the garage for aging.
I had used a pair of loppers to cut the stalks about 6” from the ground during harvest and left the stumps in the ground to either die off or form a sucker crop for the humming birds. As you can see they rebounded quite vigorously and the birds have been loving them.
I had used a pair of loppers to cut the stalks about 6” from the ground during harvest and left the stumps in the ground to either die off or form a sucker crop for the humming birds. As you can see they rebounded quite vigorously and the birds have been loving them.
GreenDragon
Well-Known Member
Happy Fall Equinox everyone! A time of transition in the garden. Our beans are starting to bloom, and the peppers are really taking off and producing lots of fruits in the final push before winter. So much so that I had a branch snap off from the weight of the peppers even though I have them supported in a trellis.
The Wife has given me a two week notice that she will be requiring my tobacco beds for her fall planting of crocus, shallots, and garlic. This is no problem as I’ve already harvested the leaf I’m going to save and just let the suckers grow for the hummingbirds and other pollinator's.
Finally, I have to share that my plan of succession gardening in my hop bed was successful this year. As the hops are finished and harvested the morning glories I interplanted have exploded and provide a beautiful display each morning. This will continue through the first frost.
The Wife has given me a two week notice that she will be requiring my tobacco beds for her fall planting of crocus, shallots, and garlic. This is no problem as I’ve already harvested the leaf I’m going to save and just let the suckers grow for the hummingbirds and other pollinator's.
Finally, I have to share that my plan of succession gardening in my hop bed was successful this year. As the hops are finished and harvested the morning glories I interplanted have exploded and provide a beautiful display each morning. This will continue through the first frost.
GreenDragon
Well-Known Member
All remaining tobacco plants have been removed from the beds and placed on the compost pile. After topping off with some fresh compost and fertilizer they have been replanted with shallots, garlic, and saffron.
As previously mentioned for the primary harvest I cut the stems off 6” above the ground and stalk cured the leaves. I left the stumps in the ground to regrow as suckers for the hummingbirds, butterflies and bees. Before final removal I could not resist harvesting some of these sucker leaves as many were larger and nicer than the first crop. Generally the consensus is that sucker leaves are poorer quality and this has been my experience so far but this year seams different. I’m color curing some now that I think will make great wrappers - time will tell. I suspect only about 25% will be usable in the end but it’s been a fun experiment.
Finally we had a lonely sunflower volunteer in the garden late summer and had been a huge hit with the bumblebees the past few days.
As previously mentioned for the primary harvest I cut the stems off 6” above the ground and stalk cured the leaves. I left the stumps in the ground to regrow as suckers for the hummingbirds, butterflies and bees. Before final removal I could not resist harvesting some of these sucker leaves as many were larger and nicer than the first crop. Generally the consensus is that sucker leaves are poorer quality and this has been my experience so far but this year seams different. I’m color curing some now that I think will make great wrappers - time will tell. I suspect only about 25% will be usable in the end but it’s been a fun experiment.
Finally we had a lonely sunflower volunteer in the garden late summer and had been a huge hit with the bumblebees the past few days.
GreenDragon
Well-Known Member
It is with a heavy heart to share that I lost my beloved Natasha this morning to old age. We had a great 14 years together and she has been my best friend. I new she was the dog for me when I visited a rescue foster home and she, of the five foster dogs, immediately crawled into my lap while I was interviewing and stayed there the rest of my visit.
highgrave
Well-Known Member
I'm sorry for your loss. She was beautiful.
Im sorry, they really do become part of the family. My childhood dog is very old, blind, and can barely function. Anytime my parents call my heart drops a little because I am expecting the bad news. Take care my friend and grieve well
Sorry to hear the passing of your companion.
Redleaf
Well-Known Member
All dogs go to heaven.
just over a year ago I parted with my good friend after 14 years.
I know the feeling.
just over a year ago I parted with my good friend after 14 years.
I know the feeling.
GreenDragon
Well-Known Member
The fall harvest continues. Pulled the pepper plants and the sweet potatoes. Surprisingly the American Beauregard variety did absolutely nothing, while the Japanese varieties made taters as big as my head!
I’ve been processing peppers all day; canning, freezing, fermenting for hot sauce, making jelly. And I’ve only used half so far!
I’ve been processing peppers all day; canning, freezing, fermenting for hot sauce, making jelly. And I’ve only used half so far!
