HOSPITALITY GARDEN

“If you plant them, they will grow….. unless other forces come into play.” –Old Gardener

These wise words were spoken a long time ago by someone very, well… wise.  They apply to the Hospitality garden in most occasions. Last week Justin planted 30 bush bean seeds– the French haricot vert variety– and today we saw that almost every other new sprout  was missing. In place of the bean was a small hole.

Culprit?  Pick one:   A) grackles     B) small children  C) predatory earthworms     D) aliens

Today Justin planted about 20 more seeds. Jacquie and Nick planted lots of basil — three different varieties:  Opal, Genovese, Mostruoso.  If all goes as planned (and it rarely does) then we will have a plethora of basil for demos and ice cream in about 6 weeks.  They also seeded collards and kohlrabi.   Everyone weeded and weeded.  Justin wants to get cocoa husks from Mast Bro.s to use as mulch.  The chocolate maker is just across the road in the Navy Yard, so it would be un-wise to pass up that opportunity.

Next week Friday morning we will be at the garden again. Answers to today’s quiz will be written on the soil surface.  Be there.

Sinoia and Justin did major work in the Garden yesterday: massive amounts of new spring weeds that appeared overnight were forcibly removed (actually they got a start long ago, we have not been on top of them.) And then the raised beds were enhanced with bushels of compost and then there was planting: peppers both sweet and hot; tomatoes both large and small and even seeds. Direct sowing tomato outside in NYC is a risky thing. Will they produce fruit in Sept./October as hoped? This is a minor experiment.

In the perennial bed: rosemary, lavender, parsley, tarragon.

Way off at one end  a new mass of flower seeds got their start (we hope): poppies, zinnias, cosmos and something else that this fella can’t remember.

At the last minute, we did up a few mounds of 2 yr olde cantaloupe seed. Another minor experiment.

So many seedlings!

Today Maen and Dana, (a new garden club member) worked in the sun and wind to transplant about 125 healthy tomato plants into new digs (larger pots). This way they can continue to thrive in the greenhouse.  In a few weeks (May 18) they will be brought back to City Tech to be sold at the Hospitality Garden Club annual plant sale!  (the tomato plants that is, not Maen and Dana.)

It was really a beautiful day up on the roof. Exceptionally bright and breezy. We also watered and fertilized the bok choy that is growing well in the raised beds outside. The whole farm up there is looking good, as are the farmers.

Keep growing, keep giving back,  Maen and Dana.

It was warm in the greenhouse on Friday. And just enough room for 5 people.

VP Dean, secretary Nick, grunt Henry, and all around hard working Justin planted  nearly 300 pepper and tomato seeds.

Tomato varieties included Indigo Rose, Black Krim, Rutgers, and Roma, Don’t you love the names?  Like craft beers. Peppers were Jalapeno, Black Hungarian, Marconi red and golden, and Cubanelle.

Thankfully these guys all have good eyes b/c otherwise it is hard to see those little seeds. And with a little luck, they will all sprout & grow into strong plants for us to sell at the spring Plant Sale.

Thursday Sept 22: SWEET BASIL EXTRAVAGANZA

Members of the Garden Club will be  serving (and demonstrating) a number of desserts that feature fresh basil from the Garden. 12:45 in Namm 206 Come early for the best choice.

Ice Cream, Cake, cookies!   All are welcome

back of my neck gettin dirty and gritty.” -Lovin Spoonful

Thankfully, it does cool off on the roof in the evening. And early mornings are nice up there too.  A good breeze helps, but that same ‘sirocco’ wind has blown the tomato and peeper plants off kilter. Handily, Dah -wei has re-staked them and there has not been significant damage.

The kabocha squash has not fared so well– squash bugs have destroyed much of the plants. (Why do we keep attempting winter squash? Because we had success one year and we always get SOME good ones even if the plant looks like something the cat dragged in.)  Luckily the zucchini is thriving. As are the haricot vert plants. We are waiting to see what the beans are like and if they have a French accent like Caroline and Malika do after their Paris trip.  Just last week they planted cilantro and more zukes and did stupendous weeding.

Caroline Malika and Dah wei will be at the garden again next Thursday or Friday to harvest more cape gooseberries and tomatoes, transplant basil (remember the tiny purple basil that easily gets stepped on)…and do general maintenance. And pick flowers, (but let peppers get color).

Members of the Garden Club did some planting in the greenhouse at the Brooklyn Grange yesterday- three types of tomatoes: German Pink, Brandywine, and Indigo Rose; Red Zinnias; Anaheim Hot Pepper; and Marconi Gold ( a sweet pepper). We have high hopes for these sprouts.

Also, Dah-wei, Amanda, Maen, Jacqueline, Ketek and the old professor cleaned up one of our raised beds; some of us planted radishes out there, where they will get a taste of a late winter storm. Hopes are even higher, here.

If you missed this trip, you cold be part of the next planting session. Perhaps Thursday 3/24. Watch for more details.

TEST