spiceoflife's Blog

Row Cover Holding Up Well
Dec 17, 2007 | 8:40 PM PST
Tags: row cover , PVC

So after receiving about 18 inches of snow, including drifts, my row cover is holding up great!  The steep slope of the sides combined with the strength of the joints as a result of the tees, elbows, etc, are letting it stand up VERY well to the heavy, wet snow and ice.  Even without welding the joints the whole structure is still solid.  I think part of the reason for it is that the snow is keeping the plastic taught and the tension is helping to keep the joints together.

Of course, because of the snow and ice in front of the ends, it's too much of a pain right now to open the plastic to see how everything is doing underneath.  I actually haven't checked it again since I found everything frozen solid after the wind ripped through here a couple of weeks ago and lifted off the plastic cover.  For all I know everything under there might already be dead.  I'll try to post some pics soon before all the snow melts so you can all see.  I'll post a couple more of the inside as soon as I can, too.

Thank you all
Dec 12, 2007 | 7:32 PM PST

Thanks to all who read commented on my blog entries over the past week and especially who sent me PM's about them. Current events render all of the entries and comments moot, however, so I have opted to remove them to enhance the calm of the GG environment. I have, however, saved the entries and comments for a couple of reasons. Partly because I feel vindicated in my actions, and even my opinions, and I feel like I won something valuable, or like I defended a treasure from a vandal. But mostly because they resulted in votes of support and some new friends being made and made me feel more a part of the GG community. So thank you all of my GG sisters and brothers, even those who disagreed with my message, or just my tone. :-)

Sincerely,

Robert

Alas, plastic whipped by the wind. And POMEGRANATES!
Dec 3, 2007 | 10:31 PM PST
Tags: pomegranate , rowcovers , pvc , wind

Well, the wind storm that blew through here Saturday lifted the plastic tent off of my cold frame on a day when the temps were in the twenties. When I went out there everything was frozen solid. I pulled some leaves and put them in my mouth. They were sweet, delicious, green, lettucicles! I watered everything and put the plastic back on, but I haven't had the heart to check it again since. I hate to think that I'll get no greens after all that. The problem was that I didn't secure the plastic well enough. I had trimmed the plastic too close to the sides of the garden bed and didn't leave enough extra for the rocks to hold down. And I didn't want to staple the plastic to the wood sides, so the wind came, and the plastic went. :-( Oh well. Lesson learned for the upcoming spring. I'd post pictures, but it doesn't look that much different than the last set of pics. Well, the outside looks a lot different today as we got a few inches of snow yesterday and today. I am happy to say that the pvc frame is supporting the plastic with the snow's weight very nicely. So that's good.

On the experimental produce seeds front, here is an update on those.

My dragonfruit plants are getting rampant. I need to thin and prune them.

My passionfruit plants are doing awesome! I've had to prune them back when I repotted them. I put some bamboo hoops into the pots so I could train the vines onto them. They had started to grow up onto and into the curtains, and those tendrils didn't want to let go, let me tell you.

My first date palm's leaves have started to split into the classic leaf form for them with the more feather-like leaves instead of the simple single leaves. And my other half dozen other younger seedlings are doing well also.

I planted 4-6 rhambutan seeds, but they all rotted. Next time I'll try giving them a quick soak in either a mild bleach solution or boiling water.

I planted 9 longan berry seeds. 7 germinated. One I killed by placing it too close to the cold window sill. And one I think the cat ate, but he's not admitting it. 5 are still going gangbusters strong under the grow light, with several sets of true leaves. They are pretty interesting looking. I'll have some new pics soon.

And of the 60 or so pomegranate seeds I planted in a flat, I have about 35 seedlings! Not too bad, really. Those are the ones I'm REALLY excited about! I LOVE pomegranates. I'm hoping, well fantasizing really, to get at least one good mutant. I want one with fruit that is easier to peel. Or one with seeds that separate easier from the pith. Or one with softer seeds so you can enjoy eating all the little juicy gems. (I usually eat them anyway, but it would be nice if the seeds could just be chewed and still taste good, like in a kiwi.) Or one whose pith between the seeds and rind aren't bitter so you can eat the whole thing like an apple. I'm only half kidding. I'd settle for eating it like an orange. lol I'll be posting some additional pics of these soon, too.

My dad shared pomegranates with my brother and me when we were growing up. Of course, when we were young he would peel them and take out all the seeds for us. That was the life! He would spend what seemed like an hour picking out each little jewel and putting them into cups for us. And my brother and I would be after him like crack addicts for them as soon as he got a little pile done. Of course, he'd try to be firm and make us wait until he had a whole cupful, but he was a softy. Looking back, I think that the waiting made them taste just that much better. You know you're loved when someone peels a whole pomegranate just for you! My brother, who also loves pomegranates and probably for the same reason, is excited about getting his own tree, too.

Thanks for reading.

Robert