trying intensive gardening this year. Had very rich compost to work with so thought it might sustain the nutrient.drain
What's Growing in the Garden
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trying intensive gardening this year. Had very rich compost to work with so thought it might sustain the nutrient.drain
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- #1,822
I love beauty berry, those purple berries can't be beat. Don't have any in my landscape, yet....
Local ag extension folks were selling at 10 bucks a pop. Couldn't pass em up. Probably gonna try to get my hands on some service berries and hazel nuts from them as well.
We've had overall great results doing intensive gardening in our raised beds each year. You are right that nutrients are key. Just have to make sure you provide enough.
2nd year compost from chicken pens...
That sure helps!
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- #1,827
This is why you always wear a hat while picking. Saves a trip to the house when you run out of containers.
Those look absolutely delicious!
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- #1,829
They are delicious! I just wished they didn't come all at once. I've got 3 gallons or so in the fridge I've picked since Saturday. Tomorrow most will be converted to jam, sauce or frozen.
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- #1,830
Talk about coming all at once, going to have to pick cherries before done with strawberries. They aren't ready yet, but aren't too far off.
Out here in cherry country we see that every year - cherry season is about 2 weeks but those 2 weeks start in the south and work their way north - usually. Last year, most of the cherry season all fell at the same time and it resulted in the bottom falling out of the cherry price.
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- #1,832
These are Montmorency and just about ready to start picking, probably tomorrow. Picked up a 14' x 45' bird net and got it wrapped today, so the birds don't get everything before we pick.
So nice to have your own garden and the fruits or veggies they bear. You don’t have to go to town to get what you need and could imagine how much money you can save every year. We have a lot of farmers from the tri-state (Connecticut, NJ & Upstate NY), sometimes PA that comes to different open market areas here in NYC usually in the weekends and certain popular areas. Well produce is not cheap, but the non commercialized farmers do bring organic products to us and we do our share to support them.
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- #1,834
Glad you are able to get some of the fresh from the farm produce and support the small farmers out there. It's a lot of work to run a small farm, and definitely a labor of love.
The prices are premium, but then so are the berries. There is a lot of the crop that doesn't look that nice, and many of those berries can't be sold and are only suitable for jams/jellies.
Besides, in another 2-3 weeks, the only strawberries available will be those shipped in from who knows where and taste nothing like those fresh from the farm.
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- #1,835
A little small yet, but melt in your mouth goodness. Like everything, earliest we've ever had them.
Only 400-800% higher in cost than here....
Not sure what variety our sour cherry was, but after 70 years she passed last year. Wife wants it down and in the firewood pile. Got a wood duck box on it that gets owl use, so I been dragging my feet a bit. Have a sweet cherry the birds planted by the dinning room window. Looks like it has a few hundred green marbles. Maybe ripe in 2 weeks. First fruiting since the birds planted it 12 years ago.
I know, that was the purpose of me posting it, because we get rape big time when it comes to buying anything because of the high cost of living. The farmers that brings these produce here has no choice to sell higher because of gas, wear and tear on their vehicle, tolls and cost for rental space. The city needs to find a way to give them farmers a break.
Like Tim said you don’t know where the commercial product comes from and to add to his statement, space here is a premium and you can figure out how they store it- refrigerated or non refrigerated, then you have vermin’s. I don’t trust anyplace here that says what they sell is organic.
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- #1,839
I have very little experience with cherries, but after reading some, decided I'm going to source a second sour cherry variety. Montmorency is a little smaller than many, and thus takes longer to pit/volume. Won't get rid of it, just add another to the "orchard".
The sour cherry is a Black gold and had 3 cherries. Birds tore off two over night. I went out and bagged the last remaining fruit to hopefully get one this year. I know a little bit crazy, but curious about color/flavor.
Man Tim, I'd love to have your Montmorency trees. I had a couple a years ago and I'd get a couple of gallons each year. Yes, smaller, but it made great Cherry syrup. De-stem, wash, cook, strain and can (with a little sugar). I didn't know about proper canning back then and the jars got cloudy with time. But fresh, it was great on pancakes.
I've been trying to find a place to buy a couple of trees. None of the local stores sell any; only sweet Cherry. And I'll never order from Stark's again. Very disappointed with them.
What's the variety of sour Cherry you looking at? Source?
I've been trying to find a place to buy a couple of trees. None of the local stores sell any; only sweet Cherry. And I'll never order from Stark's again. Very disappointed with them.
What's the variety of sour Cherry you looking at? Source?