Gurney Seeds Arrive

The seeds came today so I can begin to work on a strategy for getting them started. The Jerusalem Artichokes are not here yet, but that is fine.

The first plants that I need to think about starting are the peppers and tomatoes. I will start these indoors about 8 weeks before transplanting. It is generally said that Memorial Day (May 25th this year) is our average last frost around here. Judging by the four or five years that we have been down here, I would have to say that I disagree. It seems to me that our last frost is much earlier than that. There have been years that in hindsight, I could have set things out sometime as early as April. I truly believe that this spring will be the same. If by chance we do have a late freeze, then I can protect them. I should order some floating row cover in advance.

If I start some tomatoes and peppers inside between the second and fourth week of February, then I think that will not be too much of a gamble. I can start more seeds spaced out over a few more weeks. By the way, one thing I have observed in the past: when planting some started tomatoes from the nursery and then also direct sowing seeds...the directly sown seeds always catch up with the nursery plants. It therefore doesn't seem to make much sense to spend the money on plants. I wonder if I should even bother starting any plants inside myself, but for the sake of experimentation, I will. Last spring was soooooooooo wet and rainy. My garden was repeatedly delayed just waiting for the rain to stop and then the soil to dry out enough to get out there and work it.

Next on the list are carrots and beets. I also have some seeds for radishes, turnips, rutabagas, spinach, lettuce, etc. These can all be directly sown in the ground "as soon as the soil can be worked, while the weather is still cool".

Now the beans. These are to be sown "in early spring after danger of frost has past". I am also directed to "plant at two week intervals for extended harvest". One thought that I have had about beans is that I should plant many hills. More than I think we could ever use in one year. I think this would be a good way of having enough properly sized beans to can a batch every few days. I think that in the past, I have let the beans mature too much for snap beans. I need to think about younger, more tender pods this year.

The winter squash, summer squash, cucumbers, and okra need to be sown "when the weather is warm and all danger of frost is past". I will also grow some gourds again this year. I am thinking about a bunch of loofa and some bushel gourds. It would be cool to grow some gigantic bushel gourds to make into....NOPE, I'm not telling. I have some cool ideas, but you'll just have to wait to see. Ha! maybe a year or longer since it takes some time for the gourds to cure!

By the way, I bought a Doyle's Thornless Blackberry at the Organic Farming conference that I went to last week. He also mistakenly sent me an additional plant along with the fish emulsion/kelp fertilizer that I ordered. I called to tell him about it and he just told me to enjoy it! We are going to have blackberries coming out of our ears in a couple of years time...each plant is supposed to yield 10 to 20 gallons of berries per year! I have already thought about some delish blackberry cobbler (made with agave nectar, and Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Flour, of course...will have to experiment with recipes), Jalapeno Blackberry Jam....etc., etc.

I still have not ordered other seeds that I will need. Better get on the stick with that. Time's a wastin'....

Substitutions

Since I an working toward eliminating corn from our diet as much as possible, I have been wondering about different thickeners and how to substitute them in recipes. I understand that wheat flour often works, but I would like to try some other things. I have used arrowroot in soups and have seen at least one recipe that calls for 'corn starch or arrowroot' in equal amounts. Arrowroot is not always so easily found in the grocery store, but I buy it whenever I see it.

Also tapioca is used in pies. I wonder about how healthy xanthan gum is. I think that it is made from corn or maybe yeast, which is something else I am trying to reduce in our diets...but immuno supporting Beta Glucan is also made from yeast cells, but has none of the harmful effects of yeast remaining in it. So, who can answer these questions for me? Here's a page I found on thickeners but there is nothing about using xanthan gum. A little info on xanthan gum here, says its made from corn...doesn't say anything about yeast, but maybe I just won't bother with it.

University of Illinois News Release: 'Tips for Best Uses of Different Starches as Thickeners'

Vege Seeds Ordered

Order placed today through Gurneys.com:

Waltham Butternut Winter Squash,
Argonaut Hybrid Butternut Winter Squash,
Table Ace Hybrid Acorn Winter Squash,
(This may be all of the Winter Squash that I will need. I may add another if I see something interesting).

Medley Blend of Hybrids Summer Squash,
Sweeter Yet Hybrid Slicing Cucumber,
Cool Breeze IMP Hybrid Pickling Cucumber,
(If I see an Armenian cucumber, I will add that).

Sweetness III Hybrid Carrot,
Perfected Detroit Beet,
Jerusalem Artichoke- Roots,
(Will add other root crops).

Flavor Sweet Bush Beans,
Improved Golden Wax Bush Beans,
Jade Bush Beans,
(This will be enough 'green beans'. I would like to add some other varieties for dried beans).

Clemson Spineless 80 Okra,
(If I see purple/red Okra, I will add that).

Tabasco Hot Pepper,
(I need other peppers, especially sweet).

Heirloom Rainbow Blend Tomato.
(Will need more tomatoes. This blend of heirloom tomatoes has its pros and cons. A pro is that I get to try a variety of heirlooms for one small price, but...Will I be able to identify the different tomatoes if I want a particular kind again)?

Illinois Vegetable Garden Guide
Pole beans or bush beans - which is right for your garden?

What Do We Eat?

I am trying to think of what we are already in the habit of eating that I haven't listed with foods that I will put by...also what new foods can we add to the garden?

As far as veges, we often eat carrots, lettuce (anything but iceberg), spinach...I would like to try adding things like chard, bok choy and other greens such as beet tops, mustard greens...

We are rarely eating white potatoes now, but maybe I could plant a few for baby potatoes to eat in season.

I haven't grown peas for a few years. I may try it again...but on the other hand; I am ordering all bush beans this year as I really don't want to mess with trellising pole beans right now.

Do I want to add cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and brussel sprouts?

Maybe I will try muskmelons again. I grew Hale's Best one year and they were absolutely the best I had ever had!

I still want a Dwarf Meyer's Lemon and Dwarf Key Lime. I will keep these in pots and overwinter in the house.

Hmmm...