by Briscoe White | Feb 17, 2010 | A Year in the Life.., Flowers, Gardening, Growing, Herbs, Indoor Gardening |
We will plant these new beds. So far all we have been able to do is wait, all is ready but the weather. We have big plans for this garden we are calling “ a year in the life”. This cold frame structure is covered with a sheet of construction grade plastic, when spring temperatures are reliably warm we will remove it and cover with a shade fabric which gives about 30% shade and breaks up wind and heavy rainfall. The plastic keeps the inside warm, but not when temperatures are as low as now.
The beds are laid out to give us a demonstration garden for the plants we sell. We will keep a photo record of each planting, we will have flowering annuals and will mix in an assortment of culinary herbs. We hope to keep a bed of medicinal herbs and maybe some aromatic herbs, but would like some input as to what we should plant.
One bed may have a large basil plant surrounded by calibrachoa and celosia, combining herb plants with annual plants. First seeds will be sown in a week or two, as soon as night temps rise out of the twenties. For now I am still stuck talking about what I am going to do, but this has been one rough winter. Not yet, but soon we will have these beds full of plants!
The first daffodils are a sure sign that spring is on its way!
by Briscoe White | Jan 29, 2010 | A Year in the Life.., Gardening, Indoor Gardening |
I cannot wait to begin reporting on our planting and growing progress. But here we are in at the end of January and all of us a The Growers Exchange are getting ready for another snowstorm that will arrive in the night. Our garden under cover has progressed another step; the irrigation is done. Now our test gardens can be watered automatically, freeing us on weekends. Irrigation is so easy and makes so much more gardening possible. And it does free the gardener to leave for some time and not return to a ruined garden. In an industry like the cannabis business crop consistency has to be of the utmost importance and therefore, they incorporate things like grow room design to grow their crops and this includes things like water treatment that helps to maintain this consistency and works on a larger scale.
Now the garden we will tend to is ready to plant. We will start in the greenhouse, sowing seeds for the first plantings in a few weeks. The logs around our salad patch have been impregnated with spores of Pearl Oyster mushrooms. Our goal is to grow as much as possible in our limited space. I hope people will follow and tell us what they are growing. It is not practical for most people to grow their own food; but any one with even a sunny window can grow something that will improve the quality of their life. For now we are waiting for spring, but soon we will be able to begin our spring garden, maybe after this storm. I will let you know next week!
Our Irrigation Setup
by Briscoe White | Jan 11, 2010 | A Year in the Life.., Exploring, Gardening, Indoor Gardening, Life on the Farm |
The winter wind makes being outside an endurance test; one step outside and any thoughts of working the garden shrivel like body parts in a deep freeze. I admit that I do not like winter, and I hate being cold. So like anyone suffering with cabin fever, I have begun to dream about warmer times. No need to think about warmer places, because soon enough this place will be hot enough to have us wishing for winter.
My dreaming has become more like sleep-walking as I turn an old cold frame into a season extending covered garden. I hope to use this area much like a homeowner would use their deck, patio, or balcony to grow what ever plants possible.
Many crops are planned for this new garden, The Growers Exchange will document all that we grow. The beds in this picture will grow salad greens and the logs surrounding it have been impregnated with mushroom spores. Check in regularly to see what we have growing.
by Briscoe White | Dec 8, 2009 | Gardening, Growing, Herbs, Indoor Gardening |
You know the aroma. I looked it up on the Urban Dictionary.com; those living an alternate or bohemian lifestyle seem to favor patchouli. That must describe greenhouse workers, because patchouli is always present in ours. Whether wafting from a passing co-worker or from the source itself. Patchouli is one of our top five favorite herbs. You can hardly get through a day here without smelling it once.
Patchouli makes what I call a great pet plant, a plant which will live in a pot for years. Potting makes it a great houseplant in winter which loves to spend summer outside on a deck or patio. A native of tropical Asia, patchouli likes it hot and humid, it should be inside before night temperatures drop below fifty. The soil should be watered when moist to the touch; they need lots of water, maybe every day in summer. Fertilize once or twice a month, as too much will reduce the oil content.
Anyone looking for an herb to grow potted, patchouli is one worth considering. It’s large dark green leaves are shiny and beautiful, with pinching it will form a nice rounded shrub like plant. Flowers appear in fall but are inconsequential in appearance, heady in aroma. In its native habitat, patchouli is an under-story plant and should be protected from full sun. Though not for everyone, patchouli makes a great pet plant.
by Briscoe White | Dec 7, 2009 | Containers, Gardening, Growing, Herbs, Indoor Gardening, Miscellaneous |
We have been growing herbs as potted plants for about 25 years. Way back then herbs were not available even in the larger greenhouses; having a selection of herbs is what made our garden center stand out from the others. Herbs are now a mainstream crop, not the exotic niche market it was a few short years back.
Potted herbs are still our main crop, but after agreeing to grow a few custom orders for cut herbs we are growing and shipping more each year. I guess we are not exactly local since almost all these cut herbs go to NYC, but we are a lot closer than many growers selling in NY. Virginia to NY in less than 24 hours is the key to our success, the herbs are on a restaurant table in 48 hrs. A few years ago I would not believe this possible, but the internet has linked the farm to the world!
Attempting to grow cut herbs year round, we are experimenting with the towers pictured. Herbs are: Oregano, Marjoram, Zaatar, Parsley, and Basil. These herb towers will allow us to grow cuts in the greenhouse in winter. Catnip for the kitties and the rest for cooking. Fresh herbs make a difference!
