March, 2005

At Boulder Point we grew white and bi-colored corn, a wide assortment of pumpkins and heirloom squashes, Sun Moon Stars Watermelon, Haogen Melons and Crane Melons.

Our first efforts were met with great success. The corn was sweet, the pumpkins plentiful (we must have had 40 or more!), and the melons edible. Next year we will grow more melons and fewer pumpkins and see what we can do with them to improve size and taste.

Boulder Point also has a small vineyard and our family takes part in pruning, harvesting, de-steming, crushing and making the wine. This year a small quanity of four wines will be made. Syrah, Petite Syrah, Zinfandel and a Merlot/Cab blend. We literally hand de-stem at the dining room table. It’s an all-day affair – sometimes multiple days. Then the grapes are crushed by hand. This year harvest was very early.

Every year at Wyndhavyn Gardens we grow as many tomatoes as we can fit in our small garden. Our garden is shaded by oak and live oak trees for part of the day so we do the best we can with our bit of sun. We’re very fond of heirloom tomatoes. Before Trent was born I would start seeds and then plant out as soon as they were big enough. As time is shorter now, I buy heirloom plants at local nurseries and the farmer’s market as well as a few hybrids (like Sweet 100s) which Jack likes.

We mix it up each year. I’m very fond of black tomatoes which to me often have an herbal flavor and just seem more savory. Both Jack and I are very fond of small to medium striped tomatoes like Tigerella, Mr Stripey and Green Zebra. We usually plant peas every season as they fade replanting more. We’ve planted both seeds and plants depending on the variety and timing very successfully.

Last year was our first year for beans and it was a tremendous success. We had all kinds of heirloom beans and scarlet runners. All of our gardening knowledge (what there is…) comes from experimentation, reading and haphazard planting techniques. We use only compost (both bought and made), fish emulsion, stonemeal and oystershell dust in the garden.

Peas and Summer Squash June, 2005

At Wyndhavyn here is my Kitchen Garden bottom line:

Great Success: Tomatoes, Peas, Shelling Beans, String Beans, Fava Beans, Celery, Leeks, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Leaf Lettuce, Summer Squash, Strawberries, Bok Choi & Pak Choi, All herbs except for Dill, Poppy Seed and Caraway

Median Success (something to eat): Cauliflower, Onions, Garlic, Bell Peppers, Ground Cherries, Asparagus Peas, Artichoke, Dill, Caraway, Poppy Seed, Swiss Chard.

What I never seem to manage to grow (almost nothing or nothing to eat):
Failures include: Potatoes, Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Beets, Melons of any kind, Pumpkins and Large squash, Head Lettuce, Lima Beans, Soy Beans and Corn. Jack thinks we just don't get enough full sun.

---

Tomatoes we grew 2003

4th of July
Aunt Ruby's German Green
Big Beef
Black Krim
Black Plum
Black Prince
Black Seaman
Cherokee Purple
Crimson Cushion
Debarao
Evergreen
Giant Belgium
Gold Nugget
Green Grape
Green Zebra
Isis Candy
Jaune Flammee
Jolly
Juliet
Miracle Sweet
Moskvich
Nebraska Wedding
Orange Strawberry
Oregon Spring
Oxheart
Pineapple
Ponderosa Red
Rose
Stupice
Sun Sugar
Sunny Goliath
Sweet Baby Girl
Taxi
Tommy Toe
Valencia

---

   Our How-To Guide:
   •  Soil amendments
   •  Composting 101
   •  Gardening tips


   •  40+ seed companies
   •  Heritage vegetable
        and fruit seeds




   •  Our own gardens
   •  Gardening Forums

Search our 400+ pages: Enter your search terms

Web Fork & Bottle Submit search form