Edible Update Speed Round

silver hts genovese basil - in EB and seemingly OK

silver hts rosa bianca eggplant - in EB and seemingly OK, growing

greenscaper tomato - in EB and bottom leaf sets wilting

herbfarm - all OK, thyme starting to yellow at bottom a bit

northsky & northblue blueberries - OK - leaves lost their red tinge

lavender - providing steady harvests of fragrant buds

usb/simpson/prizehead - harvested for the first time this week (thinned out)

cilantro/parsley/chives - good, cilantro thinned

usb/simpson/deer tongue - coming along very nicely

black valentine beans - true leaves coming in

watermelon radishes - true leaves are in and flourishing

danvers carrots - progressing nicely amongst radishes

rainbow chard - OK, a little slow in growing but true leaves coming in

lacinato kale - same as chard

golden beets - thriving - true leaves coming in

ronde de nice summer squash - bursting through ground

vegetable marrow summer squash - still sleeping

italian mix microgreens - sprouted

asian mix microgreens - sprouted

calendula - sprouted

waltham broccoli - sprouted

black krim tomato - sleeping

rainbow cherry tomato - sleeping

sage - sleeping

catnip - sleeping

rainbow mix coleus - sleeping

double-yield cukes - thriving in 4" pot

rainbow chard/lacinato kale - OK in 4" pot

brussel sprouts - OK in cell pack

bridge to paris peppers - doing well in 4" pot

sweet basil - doing well in cell pack

First Harvest 2009

I'll let the pictures do the "typing."

Pepper Thoughts

I've been pondering the possible issues on the balcony that has turned into a place of dread for seedlings and transplants everywhere. It is a windy, open spot and this past week has been a particularly gusty one, not to mention pretty cool in temperature. Yes, there are many people growing peppers and the like successfully on balconies and rooftops; however, one of the interesting notes in The City Gardener's Handbook is the idea of microclimates existing in such spaces. The example is the converse of my situation - a perennial that, "according to the canons of zone maps won't tolerate New York cold," but was thriving on an eighteenth-floor terrace (it was a south-facing terrace with walls that all but eliminated the wind and retained the radiant heat of the building).

You'll notice in the picture that the white side of the EB cap is facing out, as opposed to the recommended black side. While I was transplanting, I had noted the soil temperature at the surface was over 100 degrees F and 90 degrees at about 5" deep - on a day during which the high was probably 80F. This balcony gets sun pretty much the entire day, which is why I chose it as a site for sun-lovers such as peppers. Coupled with the summer wind, it may be more akin to a desert, and not really ideal for anything. My blueberry bushes are there too and unfortunately, those are in a planter that is not being moved any time soon.

So, on that balcony in EBs I have a rosa bianca eggplant transplant that seems to be doing well, a tomato plant gift from greenscaper that is hanging on, and two basil plants that went in after the peppers were pulled up. I may grab a few more test subject peppers this Wednesday (and maybe more eggplant just in case).

Stay tuned. 

Good morning heartache

What can I say? They're dropping faster than I can get them planted. Additional pictures on flickr (click through slideshow on right).

Challenges posed to rooftop gardeners

Yes, those are EBs in bondage. Warm weather today here in Brooklyn woke up many of the direct sowings I made this past week (see flickr feed for details). A wind rolled in and the black plastic mulch cover of the EB was whipping the seedlings about. Fortunately I was hanging out with my father-in-law so I asked about this slick knot I saw him use to roll and secure a rug. Of course I thought I had a handle on it, but when I went up to secure the mulch cover, I was stuck with some butcher's twine and ten thumbs.

I do have some lumber in early stages of prep for a GRG-style setup, but haven't gotten around to getting everything together. This will provide the windbreak as well as the support (when needed) for the plants.

Tomato Update

Here are the two tomato transplants that were adopted from greenscaper that haven't exactly taken to their new EB home. He forwarded me a link that will change my transplanting technique forever. From now on, I won't be handling transplants with kid gloves, as I was a bit disappointed that these sturdy-looking plans that greenscaper raised from seed are now struggling in my hands.

Guerrilla SIPping?

In my web travels I've seen several video features on guerrilla gardening, so given my present activities it got me thinking about expanding the concept to SIPs and urban food production. What if, say, we left a DIY SIP complete with edible somewhere, with a brief info card about the SIP and the edible? Would someone take it to their home and care for it? Would it remain where it was left (in which case the donator could monitor and care for them)? Would it be vandalized and end up in the waste stream? Would it be successful if one out of every five left opened someone's eyes to the possibility of food production in urban settings? Should we start by leaving them near home gardening sites visible from the street, in the hope the home gardener would take it in?

In my mind the most significant cost of doing this would be the potting mix...everything else can be re-purposed waste (buckets, tubing, etc.). The edible would have to be a no brainer...and I seem to be better off with greens and lettuce than tomatoes.

Let's call it Covert SIP Distribution. The term "guerrilla" in my mind better aligns with causes of deeper significance. Gotta have perspective, folks.