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12:49 pm
October 17, 2008
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My comment today on Suzanne's chives post >> Mine are starting to look good! Have to go out today and clean up all the leaves I mulch the herb garden with….hopefully no more snow–it is May 1st!
Well, I harvested LOTS of chives! They were growing wonderfully under all that leaf mulch!!! I washed and salad spun them…now they're in the fridge waiting to go in any and all meals :)
2:52 pm
October 18, 2010
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I am going to plant daylilies. DH dug up an old one out back and I separated it into 12 plants. Four will go in my garden and the rest are potted up for our Senior Center plant sale at the end of the month.
I'm also going to plant pansies…got a heckova deal, $1.25/6 pk, nice ones too. Made a new little garden by my front steps for them.
And I think I'll plant sweet pea seeds too.
It's wonderful to be able to plant again! It seems like the winter was longer than usual.
Happy gardening to all on this beautiful sunny May Day!
3:08 pm
March 7, 2011
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Here in SD I don't usually get the garden in until mid to late May. My spare bedroom is full of tomato seedlings. I can't wait to get them into the ground. Theres just nothing better than a garden tomato. I'm excited to try a few new things this year. I've never grown brussel sprouts or broccoli but will be trying that this year. And as a little experiment with the kids I've decited to plant some sugar beets and make our own sugar. (well some of it anyway, I'd need a 5 acre garden to make enough sugar for this family of 6)
6:22 pm
January 2, 2011
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We planted some basil around our tomatoes today. Some birds got to a couple of our pepper plants, so we had to replant them. We noticed that our beans and peas have sprouted, so now I need to look back & figure out it I planted pole or bush beans this year before they get too big. Overall it's a beautiful, sunny day in the garden! 
8:38 pm
April 26, 2011
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I haven't been able to start much of anything lately because it has been so cold. April is typically a fairly warm month but it has been below freezing every night this week. And the wind will not stop blowing. I am afraid I will not be getting any fruit from my trees this year. :( Yesterday I had planned to get the peas in the ground as well as some turnips and some radishes but I wasn't willing to be out in the cold wind so it remains undone. My fingers are crossed for Monday!!
9:17 am
February 6, 2011
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Finally, a sunny day without much wind! I plan to plant my onions, a few extra sugar snaps, and a few other veggies in the garden. I would also like to dig and transplant some of my hostas as we were able to build a couple of new flower beds this past weekend.
OR…. I may sit here and try to stay awake until I give up and take a nap. I have no idea which way today is going to go. 
9:27 am
April 13, 2011
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I TN we had an early spring then it turned cold, torrential rains and tornado threats, lost a tree to straight line winds…BUT about gardening, and chives. Mine are not smelling or tasting like chives…bought a clump from the nursery and transplanted them into my raised garden bed. They have lots of sun, but they aren't growing or flowering. At the risk of sounding like an amateur chive grower (and I am–lol) what is going on? Any and all answers will be appreciated!
9:34 am
April 13, 2011
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langela said:
Finally, a sunny day without much wind! I plan to plant my onions, a few extra sugar snaps, and a few other veggies in the garden. I would also like to dig and transplant some of my hostas as we were able to build a couple of new flower beds this past weekend.
OR…. I may sit here and try to stay awake until I give up and take a nap. I have no idea which way today is going to go.
I definitely like the freedom of the nap! Did you see my chive post? Any suggestions?
10:36 am
November 9, 2010
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I am behind the ball here I just got my garden tilled. It was the same man who did it last year (and a good friend of my neighbors, the one with the dogs….
. But they were nice enough to tell him to come on over to my place to do mine too.)
Now I just have to get out there and get dirty and play!! I am so excited!
11:39 am
March 13, 2011
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My garden is coming along great this year, blooms on the green beans, red potatoes being harvested, squash blooming etc. I do have a question though and hope someone has an answer, How and when do I know to harvest my garlic and how do I store it? Can someone help me please?
1:08 pm
November 9, 2010
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From what I have read it is as the tops start to wilt and turn brown. Then when they are out you can braid the stems and make a pretty look (they dry that way too). You will have to hang them or I think you can store them in a brown paper bag too. I am not absolutely certain though.
1:09 pm
November 9, 2010
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Oh and cut the flowers off to stop them from producing seeds. This way you will get bigger bulbs. It turns the attention to the ground.
2:45 pm
February 6, 2011
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mika said:
Mine are not smelling or tasting like chives…
Would it have something to do with what type they are? I planted both common chives and garlic chives. I have never planted chives before either, so I am not going to be any help. With any plant that I transplant, I know it will take some time for it to get used to its new surroundings. With typical plants–hostas, daylilies, etc.– I count on at least two growing seasons before I see it really take off. I would think veggies may be quicker to react, but maybe not. How long has it been since you planted them? Sorry I can't be much help. Maybe someone else has experience with this.
2:52 pm
September 2, 2008
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Right now I'm digging potatoes, couldn't wait. I need to get them up, so I can put in tomatoes. And I need more containers build for cukes!
2:54 pm
September 2, 2008
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Cindy, how did you harvest the chives, I have some this year, and the little book I read said to only use them fresh. Can I cut them about halfway, and leave them to grow more??
5:06 pm
January 21, 2011
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Well, the lettuce is up, the onions are growing, the potatoes are up, the corn is just popping up. I have baby tomato and eggplant plants on my windowsill. They'll go out when this weather warms up. Freezing again tonight. Argh. 
9:58 pm
August 15, 2008
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Glenie, I harvest my garlic in July. I am in Maine and I don't know if it is different for you. I clip the garlic scapes off when they curl over twice so they will put all of their effort into making bulbs not flowers. the leaves turn yellow and brown starting at the top. They make the bulbs in the last 3 weeks or so. I gently poke around one bulb with my finger and feel the size of the bulb…to be sure. If is not big I push everything back into place and let it go again. When I dig them up, I let them sit to cure for a few days and then I process them. I have about 250 heads planted so I sort through to the biggest heads and keep my seed first. I grow the hardneck variety because of my climate and they don't braid to well. I peel and food process mine and shove it into a half pint jar then completely cover it with olive oil and put into fridge…no canning necessary. It still have one jar left and it is still fresh. The ones I saved for seed, I put in a brown paper bag and put in the crisper drawer until end of October then I plant again.
Garlic is great! mine is about 8" tall right now.
Jeannie, I just take scissors and give it a good haircut. Straight across and very close to the ground. The roots are so thick..they come back for another cutting, no problem.
12:50 pm
November 22, 2009
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To Birdi-
I don't make it a habit to butt in on a post, but I have a question about storing garlic in olive oil, even though it is stored in the refrigerator. Since garlic is considered low acid, or non acid, isn't it unsafe to store it without some kind of pre-treatment? From what I have read, it is not even reccomended to store garlic in oil that has been treated at home. Commercial garlic in oil has been treated or packed with something that stops the growth of botulism. I would be very hesitant to keep home packed more than a week. Hope I didn't step on any toes, but I want everyone to be safe.
1:28 pm
December 28, 2008
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Momma, it is always OK to ask questions around here!
Birdi's way is not the official recommendation for the reasons you cite. HOWEVER, Birdi uses her own garlic, grown in beds that she knows exactly what is in them, and exactly who handles the garlic. (Knowing Birdi, probably only herself!) Under circumstances where we understand the science behind the official recommendation, many of us push that envelope, or outright break the rules.
For instance, were my garlic growing somewhere other than adjacent to the septic tank, I would most likely store garlic the same way for home consumption. But I would never recommend that others do that simply because I have no control over their gardens or kitchens, what is in their soil, who handles their garlic, and what it might have been cantaminated with, particularly if they are using commercially grown garlic.
Hope that helps!
4:27 pm
August 6, 2010
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The problem with storing garlic in oil is botulism growing in an anaerobic environment. Botulism spores are found in soil, garlic grows in soil, and making sure your garlic has no botulism spores on it is next to impossible. Chances that your garlic/oil mix has botulism are slim, but botulism is deadly. I don't take that chance.
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