January 25, 2018

Good morning, how surprised I was to see some of my second sowing of peas to be emerging.  These seeds were sown just before a pretty strong cold front. Once I had set these seeds to soak, there was no turning back.

I had miss read the forecast or it evolved, needless to say it was not what I expected. So I sowed and crossed my fingers but did not hold my breath.

I have found that germinated seeds will grow in less desirable conditions than what they can germinate in. Different seeds have internal clocks that are set into motion for germination only when all the conditions for that seed are met.

Peas have a fairly low germination temperature. A chart that I have shows peas will not germinate at 32 degrees. If damp they would most likely rot. At 41 degrees 89% will germinate but it would take 36 days to do it. Then at 50 degrees 94 % will germinate in only 14 days. The optimum temperature of 72 degrees 94% germinate in 6 days. These are all dry seeds kept moist once sown.

Soaking the seeds starts the germination clock but if sown into too cool of soil they will more than likely rot. But seeds that have germinated, the survival mechanisms are set into motion.

This could very easily happen when seeds are sown during a warm period  and then once the seeds have germinated but not emerged, there is an intense chill down, The survival mechanism is triggered. This is what soaking and germinating the seeds does. It must be said that there are limitations to these inferior conditions. This became abundantly clear last spring when I tried to force okra in too cool of soil. The germinated seed just rotted.

Back to my peas and strong cold fronts, this bed of peas after being sown were exposed to below freezing conditions longer than 24 hours. I was thinking seeds are cheep. But low and behold there were some emerging pea plants.And now for the patience to see how many of them do emerge.

These seeds were really tortured with such impossible growing conditions but the need to survive so that it can reproduce is much stronger. It just might not be a bad idea to save seeds form this bed.

I am easily entertained but I find this facinating. 

Recently our over night humidity has been very low. This means there is very little moisture to help keep over night low temperatures from sinking into the teens.

I have my garden thermometer located about 1 foot off the ground and another thermometer at 4.5 feet (this is the normal height). The last several nights the garden thermometer has been recording temps in the high teens and the higher thermometer has been recording 6 to 10 degrees warmer. With there not being much moisture in the air, day time heating is causing temperature swings in the opposite direction. And the veggies are caught in the middle.

This winter has frustrated me because of these swings. I must say if it were not for the fabric the garden would have become a has been. Every garden year has been different and this one is no different but this too will pass.

So with these large swings from day to night and back again, greens are having a time of it. I am seeing some growth but it is very slow.  January is historically our coldest month. Meaning that the whole month can be chilly. February can have some very cold weather but usually it is confined to the first two weeks then there begins to be a consistent but gradual warming. Mother Nature does have the final word on all this. Let's hope the historical  pattern continues this year with the worst of the real cold weather being finished by the middle of February. Which is around 3 weeks away.

Wednesday is my usual harvest day. There really were no greens to speak of. Just a couple of bundles worth of Asian greens.There is a bundle or two of radishes. I am entering a new carrot bed and it looks like they are of size. In storage I have plenty of butternuts and sweet potatoes. In the garden there are turnips, kohlrabi,  and cabbage.

Because of the lack of greens, I will not be taking bag orders this week but I would be glad to do line item sales for any of the items mentioned above.  Please refer to the bottom of the email for prices.

 

I can be reached at markdirtfarmer@gmail.com , Red Wagon Farm on Facebook, or go tohttp://redwagonfarm.blogspot.com/

Happy gardening!!!

I would like to phase out of the use of plastic bags. I know how difficult it is to change habits. Please bring a cloth bag with your name on it when you pick up your veggies. Ideally you will need two so that we can trade out.  Together I think we can do this. And maybe I too can remember to take my cloth bags to the store too. I find that they do not wear out hanging on the wall. I appreciate the response to this request. Thank you!

I thought that I would include my Friday delivery times and places. Life has a way of happening. I have no problem with folks picking up on Friday who normally pick up on Saturday or vice avers. Just let know so I will have your goodies at the right place. Hate giving veggies a road trip if they do not need it.

11:30AM until 12 PM at the a Alpine Farmers Market location

12:15to 12:45 behind the Sul Ross UC by the loading dock . The loading dock is near Sul Ross entrance #4.

and of course at the Saturday Market from 9AM until 12ish

This week from the garden:

We are offering Value Variety Packs.
For $20.00, we will give you at least $24.00 worth of vegetables.
For $10.00, we will give you at least $12 worth of vegetables.
We choose the veggies, and you save!

Please see priced items below for currently available veggies.

Of course, if you prefer, you may order individual items. Some items are very limited . They will be sold first come first served.

This week we are offering:

Radishes, Asian greens, and carrots for $2.00 per bundle

Turnips, cabbage and Kohlrabi,   for $4.00 per pound

Sweet potatoes $2.00 per pound

Butternut squash for $3.00 per pound

Habanero hot sauce, peachy heat sauce and West Indian hot sauce for $3.00 per ¼ pint.

Zucchini relish, peppered mustard, red tomato chutney, curried squash relish, German mustard, salsa,  and bar-b-que sauce,  for $5.00 per 1/2 pint.

Ginger marmalade and jezebel jam for $7.00 per 1//2 pint

Dill pickles, bread and butter pickles, sweet heat (habanero bread and butter), devil dills (habanero pepper), pickled bean, pickled sun chokes, and three bean salad for $7.00 a pint

Please respond by 10 AM  Friday