Marilyn and Cliff have gardens at home (H) and in New Russia, NY (NR) and also a triple plot in the Lafayette College Community Organic Garden (OG). They enjoyed sizable organic gardens in the 80s and have kept small gardens annually but appreciate the fun and good food the Lafayette OG and NR plots provide. [Lafayette Organic Gardening] [Cliff's 2016 Garden Blog] [Cliff's 2015 Garden Blog] [Cliff's 2014 Garden Blog] [Cliff's 2013 Garden Blog] [Cliff's 2012 Garden Blog] [Cliff's 2011 Garden Blog]
December 29
Froze potatoesDecember 22
Cleanup and pruning in NR.December 19
Cleanup and pruning at OG. Sprayed NeemDecember 18
Cleanup and pruning at OG. Sprayed NeemDecember 10
Cleanup and pruning in NR. Froze potatoes.December 9
Pruning in NR. Froze potatoes.November 26
Harvested spinach, carrots and beets at OG.November 17
Harvested spinach in NR. Covered spinach with straw. Froze potatoes.November 10
Harvested spinach in NR. Froze potatoes.November 5
Harvested spinach and celery at OG. Put down plastic.November 4
Harvested raspberries at OG, spinach in NR.November 3
Clean up in NR. Covered garlic and cranberriesNovember 2
Clean up in NR.November 1
Harvested raspberries at OG. Clean up and sprayed neem.October 28
Harvested raspberries at OG. Clean up OG and NR. Harvested carrots in NR and sprayed neem.October 27
Clean up in NR. Harvested spinach, lettuce, kale, beets and brussel sprouts in NR. Sprayed BT.October 25
Harvested sweet potatoes at OG. Clean up. Harvested kale in NR.October 23
Dried pumpkin seeds and set aside seed for next year.October 22
Harvested raspberries and sweet potatoes at OG. Clean up.October 21
Harvested brussel sprouts and carrots in NR. Clean up at H.October 20
Harvested spinach, kale, cabbage and beets in NR. Froze spinach and kale.October 18
Harvested spinach in NR.October 17
Clean up at OG. Hand picked harlequin bugs and sprayed neem. Harvested raspberries and dug sweet potatoes.October 15
Clean up at OG. Hand picked harlequin bugs and sprayed neem.October 14
Clean up at OG. Picked raspberries, tomatoes, spinach, brussel sprouts, and swiss chard.October 12
Clean up at OG. Harvested raspberries, mini-peppers, celery and dug sweet potatoes. Transplanted blackberry sprouts from Mary AnnOctober 9
Canned grape juice.October 8
Harvested grapes, kale, potatoes in NR. Garden cleanup. Froze kale.October 6
Clean up at OG.October 5
Picked raspberries dug some sweet potatoes at OG.October 3
Picked raspberries and dug belgum endive at OG.October 2
Froze onions.October 1
Harvested tomatoes, green beans, dried beans in OG. Weeded.September 30
Harvested raspberries, beets and tomatoes in OG and H. Harvested spinach and lettuce in NR.September 29
Harvested melons and watermelons in NR. Harvested dried beans. Planted spinach. weeded. Froze melons.September 28
Froze melons. Weeded in NR. Harvested grapes and tomatoes. Planted garlic.September 26
Harvested raspberries, chard, a tomato and popcorn in OG.September 24
Canned grape juice from OG. Harvested beets, raspberries,chard, dried beans, tomatoes, oregano and brussel sprouts from OG. Harvested melons, green beans, summer squash and spinach in NR. pulled onions for curing.September 22
Canned grape juice from OG. Harvested watermelon, cantlope, butternut squash, cherry tomatoes, kale and broccoli in NR. Planted asparugus roots.September 21
Harvested grapes, green beans, peppers, cabbage, dried beans in OG.September 20
Made and canned applesauce.September 19
Harvested beets, dried beans and grapes at OH. Juiced and canned grapes.September 18
Harvested grapes at OG.September 17
Froze melon.September 16
Harvested green and dried beans and celery at OG.September 14
Harvested cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, kale and broccoli in NR. Froze kale and broccoli.September 10
Harvested grapes, tomatoes, melons at OG. Canned grape juice and tomatoes.September 9
Harvested green beans, beets, melons at OG. Canned sauerkraut and started a new batch of suaerkraut.September 8
Harvested grapes, peaches, tomatoes, corn, dried beans, green beans, summer squash, cucumbers, cabbage, apples, onions and a pumpkin in NR. Garden cleanup. Put temp fence around pumpkins. Sprayed BT and copper soap.September 7
Harvested peach and plum drops in NR along with a cucumber.September 5
Harvested peppers in OG. Weeded. Juiced and canned tomatoes, concord & Marquette grape juice.September 4
Harvested concord grapes, tomatoes, beets, melons in OG. Froze broccoli.September 3
Planted spinach in NR.September 2
Harvested kale, broccoli, cabbage, summer squash, Marquette grapes. Froze kale in NR. Started red cabbage sauerkraut. Put out 1st homegrown produce stand. Weeded black caps.September 1
Harvested corn and beans in NR. Harvested Adirondack blue, fingerling and Katadin potatoes. Froze corn, melons and beans.August 31
Harvested melons, tomatoes, green beans and tasted a few raspberries and grapes in OG. Weeded. Canned dill pickles. Froze melon.August 27
Harvested melons, dried beans, eggplant, a few beans and grapes in OG Weeded.August 26
Harvested beans, tomatoes, at OG. Weeded. Canned tomatoes. Harvested corn, cucumbers and squash in NR. Froze corn.August 25
Harvested tomatoes, corn, cucumbers in NR. Weeded. Froze corn.August 23
Froze onions. Harvested beans, tomatoes, cucumbers at OG. Weeded. Harvested corn in NR.August 22
Harvested beets and pinto beans at OG. Weeded. Sprayed BT.August 21
Harvested tomatoes, melon, peppers, at OG. Weeded. Tasted dill pickles.August 20
Harvested cucumbers, squash, broccoli, green beans and corn in NR. Green beans at OG.August 19
Harvested all red, yellow russian bananna and adirondack blue potatoes, and onions and cucumbers.August 18
Froze onions. Pruned in NR. Harvested beans, superior potatoes, squash and cucumbers. Froze beans.August 17
Sprayed for mildew in OG. Harvested cucumbers, beans, eggplant, winter squash, failed pumpkins (cinderila) and onions. Froze summer squash and kale.August 15
Garden cleanup at OG. Canned tomatoes.August 14
Sprayed neem in NR. Harvested cucumbers, summer squash, kale and brocolli in NR. Planted spinach on hugelkultur bed #2. Picked tomatoes, crenshaw melon, beans, squash in OG. Picked tomatoes at H. Weeded at H. Froze onions.August 13
Harvested cabbage, cucumbers, tomatoes, blueberries in NR. Started sauerkraut. Worked on hugelkultur beds.August 12
Harvested Adirondack Red potatoes, green beans, squash and cucumbers. Worked on Hugelkultur beds. Sorted and cleaned garlic. Planted spinach.August 11
Harvested blueberries and peaches at H.August 10
Harvested cabbage, green beans, beets, tomatoes, squash, endive and cucumber at OG. Weeded and cut back swiss chard at OG.August 9
Harvested green beans, eggplant, peppers and onions at OG. Weeded. Harvested cherry tomatoes and cucumber at H.August 8
Harvested tomatoes, cucumbers, squash and onions at OG. Weeded. Red haven tree dropped all its fruit Aug 4-8 mostly rotten. A few Reliance drops too.August 7
Started 2nd Hugelkultur bed.August 6
Harvested kale, broccoli, cucumber, squash, and basil. Finished mulching potatoes. Set basil to dry. Froze broccoli and kale. Finished 1st Hugelkultur bed and planted spinach.August 5
Harvested squash, cucumbers, blueberries in NR. Froze blueberries, squash and string beans. Sprayed neem oil. Started creating a Hugelkultur bed.August 3
Harvested blueberries at H. Harvested tomatoes, string beans at OG. Sprayed Neem oil. Froze blueberries and cherry tomatoes.August 2
Harvested cabbage and an onion in OG. Started a batch of sauerkraut. Froze blueberries.August 1
Harvested blueberries, broccoli and potatoes in NR. Weeded. Harvested beans, squash, cucumbers and an eggplant in OG. Froze broccoli, squash and eggplant. broccoli, squash and eggplant.July 31
Mulched potatoes in NR. Weeded. Harvested garlic, cucumbers, squash, cabbage and a few potatoes.July 30
Cut out second year canes on raspberries.July 29
Harvested a few potatoes in NR.July 28
Picked tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, in OG. Sprayed neem. Harvested peas, squash, blueberries and raspberries in NR.July 27
Planted beets in OG. Weeded. Put up bird/deer guard on Red Haven peach at home.July 26
Picked beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, carrots, oregano and blackberries (thanks John and Laurie) in OG. Froze cherry tomatoes. Weeded. Worked to open tomato pathways.July 25
Picked blueberries at H. Froze them.July 24
Picked beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, in OG. Froze raspberries. Worked on staking the tomato trellises.July 23
Picked raspberries in NR. Mulched potatoes. Weeded.July 22
Picked peas, cucumbers, squash, onions, potatoes, blueberries and currants in NR. Froze blueberries and currants.July 21
Picked cucumbers, summer squash, carrots and tomatoes at OG. Picked raspberries in NR. Froze raspberries.July 20
Picked blueberries at H. Froze blueberries.July 19
Weeded at H.July 18
Picked up BT at OG. Noted tomato cage fell over.July 17
Picked blueberries at H. Sprayed BT at OG. Harvested carrots, beets, cherry tomatoes and first comstock tomatoes. Started a crock of dill pickles.July 16
Weeded in NR. Picked bugs. Harvested peas, raspberries, blueberries, kale and basil. Mulched rhubarb potatoes and corn.July 15
Harvested broccoli and cauliflower in NR. Harvested currants. Weeded. Froze broccoli and currents. Sprayed BT. Made currant-raspbery-blueberry jam. Hand picked beetles. Dug up dead apricot tree.July 14
Harvested cucumbers and summer squash in OG. Harvested blueberries and raspberries in NR. Froze blueberries and raspberries. Made raspberry jam. Picked bugs.July 13
Removed cauliflower from OG. Weeded. Cut back kale. Harvested swiss chard, a cucumber and a few tomatoes. Sprayed BT.July 12
Removed raspberry canes, weeded in OG. Picked cucumbers, summer squash, unripe pumpkin, onion, and a few tomatoes and peppers.July 11
Froze cauliflower. Weeded in OG. Minor pickings.July 10
Harvested beets and weeded at OG.July 9
Harvested raspberries and a few blueberries and strawberries in NR. Lots of blueberries at H.July 8
Harvested summer squash, raspberries in OG. Blueberries at H. Broccoli, peas and cauliflower in NR.July 7
Harvested raspberries in NR.July 6
Harvested cucumber, red cabbage, onion and raspberries at OG. Weeded.July 5
Harvested raspberries, cucumbers, snow peas, and lettuce at OG. Also picked a few cherries and cherry tomatoes. Picked blueberries at home.July 4
Harvested snow peas and strawberres in NR. Sprayed neem. Trimmed Oriental Fruit Moth damaged twigs at H and added moth traps.July 3
Picked bugs in NR.July 2
Picked bugs in NR.July 1
Harvested strawberries and peas in NR. Picked bugs (potato beetles and rose chafer).June 30
Harvested raspberries, kale, cauliflower at OG. Sprayed neem on squash and cole crops. Picked bugs in NR.June 29
Harvested blueberries at H. Note Oriental fruit moth damage on peach trees at H, cut off damaged twigs. Froze swiss chard and raspberries.June 28
Harvested raspberries, basil, swiss chard and cauliflower in OG. Blueberries at HJune 27
Harvested raspberries and broccoli in OG.June 26
Picked bugs in NR.June 25
Picked bugs in NR. Harvested strawberries, peas, and kale. Froze strawberries, peas and kale.June 23
Picked 10 pints of strawberries and 2.3 pounds of snap peas. Froze strawberries.June 22
Picked strawberries and raspberries at OG.June 20
Sprayed neem at OG. Picked strawberries and raspberries.June 19
Put netting over blueberries at H. Watered at OG.June 18
Hand picked potato and asparagus beetles in NR. Harvested strawberries and honeyberries. Prepared edge beds and planted 3 colors of pole beans and beets. Mulched and weeded. Picked strawberries and raspberries at OG.June 17
Weeded and watered in NR. Transplanted basil in new edge beds. Hand picked potato and asparagus beetles. Thinned and replanted beets.June 16
Mulched at OG. Watered. Harvested strawberries, kale, cauliflower and a some raspberries. In NR harvested strawberries and a few honeyberries and garlic scapes.June 15
Mulched at OG. Planted kidney, coco, and garbonzo beans. Harvested strawberries, and a couple cherries.June 14
Watered at H amd OG. First blueberries and a couple cherry tomatoes at H. Planted cucumbers at H.June 13
Mulched in OG.June 12
Sprayed on neem winter squash at OG. Harvested kale, strawberries, cherries, cauliflower and all spinach. Mulched. Noted a bird is nesting in the grapes.June 11
Sprayed neem on ants in NR. Prepared bed. Planted winter squash, morning glories and kidney beans. Harvested last asparagus and first NR strawberries.June 10
Massive weeding in NR. Put down landscape fabric. Harvested kale.June 9
Harvested strawberries, orange cauliflower, spinach and lettuce in OG. First cherry in OG and first sungold orange cherry tomato in OG and H. Sprayed main strawberry bed in OG. Harvested asparagus in NR.June 8
Sprayed melons. Replanted missing melons.June 7
Harvested strawberries.June 6
Weeded in OG. Harvested strawberries, spinach, kale, swiss chard, lettuce and rhubarb. Thinned carrots.June 5
Weeded in OG. Harvested strawberries. Froze strawberries.June 4
Planted carrots and pinto beans in NR. Harvested strawberries in OG.June 3
Put fencing in front of the daylily bed in NR. Weeded. Tended to fruit tree islands. Harvested and froze asparagus.June 2
Planted kidney, coco and garbanzo beans in NR. Planted corn and pole beans too. Harvested strawberries in OG. Watered sweet potato slips in both.June 1
RR2WG. Transplanted sweet potato slips in NR. Harvested asparagus.May 31
Weeded at OG. Harvested strawberries and kale. Froze strawberries and kale.May 30
Planted popcorn in OG. Transplanted sweet potatoes. Harvested strawberries and spinach. Froze spinach.May 29
Transplanted last tomatoes and cucumber and watermelon at H. Transplanted sweet potatoes at H.May 28
Weeded in NR. Transplanted melons. Put down landscape fabric. Planted summer squash. Prepared beds. Harvested asparagus.May 27
Weeded in NR. Transplanted pumpkins, watermelon and melons. Put down landscape fabric.May 26
Weeded at OG and planted summer squash. Harvested strawberries, spinach and kale. Thinned and harvested lettuce.May 25
Thinned peaches at H.May 24
Froze spinach. Harvest 3 winecap mushrooms at H.May 23
Picked strawberries and spinach in OG.May 22
Harvested rhubarb in NR. Froze asparagus and rhubarb. Planted a bed of carrots and a bed of beets.May 21
Filled in missing cucumber, and melons at H and OG. Froze spinach and kale. Harvested asparagus in NR.May 20
Thinned and replanted carrots, endive, swiss chard in OG. Planted pole beans. Transplanted basil and celery. Harvested kale and spinach. Uprooted overwintered kale. Moved remaining seedlings at H outside.May 15
Planted peach tree, somerset grapes (4) and 90 cole crops in NR. Harvested kale in OG. Planted butternut squash tomatoes, celery at H.May 13
Planted melons, cucumbers and pumkins in OG (seedlings highly damaged during hardening off)May 11
Planted eggplants (18) and peppers (5) and marigolds.May 10
RR2WGMay 9
Finished caging the tomatoes. Noted rabbit damage to the cole crops.May 8
Replanted peas at OG.May 7
Prepared 2 more beds in NR and planted 5 trays of onions and direct sowed lettuce.May 6
Planted all the potatoes (63 lbs) and one tray of onions.May 5
Leveled winter ruts in NR. Prepared 3 more beds in the barn garden.May 4
Prepared 6 beds for potatoes. Bought a yard of compost and Lupine. Harvested 1.5 pounds of asparagus and 1 lbs of shiitake mushromms.May 3
Put tomato cages out in OG. Took seedlings to Valhalla. Cut seed potato in NR.May 2
RR2WG.April 30
Flame weeded and weeded at OG.April 29
Planted most of the remaining tomatoes OG. Harvested kale.April 27
Planted 18 SH tomatos and 6 assorted cherries in OG.April 26
Planted cole plants in OG. Put NR onions outside to harden. Repotted celery and rerooted tomato.April 25
Planted cole plants in OG.April 24
Planted a tray of onions and a tray of cole plants in OG.April 23
Weeded in NR preparing potatoe beds.April 22
Planted 100 Jewel strawberry plants and 6 rhubarb in NR (3 Red Crimson, 3 Canada Red). Set seed potatoes out in the Game room. OG got weeded and kale harvested.April 21
Bought 3 rhubarb plants and celery seedlingsApril 20
Transplanted one tray of onions in OG. Planted Belgum endive (1 row). Moved first intermediate onion tray outside.April 18
Planted carrots at OG (3 rows). Repotted onions. Moved last OG cole outside.April 17
Started tomatoes for NR (various 10) and basil (24) and seed pumpkins (4). Thinned and repotted cole and onions.April 15
Prepared 8 black beds in OG. Weeded. Harvested kale. Transplanted tomatoes and moved them outside. Planted replacement cherry tree at H and Marquis grapes at OG. Started melons (various 15) and winter squash (9) cucumbers (18) and watermelons (9)April 14
Moved 4 trays of cole crops outside.April 13
Prepared bed in OG and planted lettuce.April 12
Started Brussel sprouts, Long I.I. (6), Kale Dw Blue (6) & other (6), red cabbage (6).April 11
Planted swiss chard and beets in OG.April 10
Thinned onion seedlings. Put first trays of onions outside for hardening.April 9
Planted peas in NR.April 8
Pruned currants and removed grass under the rhubarb fabric.April 6
Started Cauliflower for NR: Purple (6) Orange, Green White (4) each; Brussel sprouts: red (12), Catskill (6). Repotted cherry tomatoes and cabbage.April 5
Started Broccoli CC (12) GM (12) and Cabbage Bruns (12) for NR. Planted spinach in OG: 2 rows of Giant Noble, 3 of Goliath.April 3
Repotted a tray of cole seedlings.March 30
Prepared pea beds in OG and put up two pea trellies.March 28
Started AC onions for NR (72) and then (36) more and (72) Red burgundany.March 27
Started eggplants for OG (9 each Turk O, Millionare, satin globe) and mini sweet peppers.March 21
Started onions for OG as Redwings mostly failed. AC (36) Red burgundy (36)March 20
Planted rhubarb in pot outside as ground is frozen.March 18
Pruned fruit trees in NR.March 13
Started tomatoes for OG (30 SH, 9 Red Oct, 9 Comstock)March 8
Reseeded redwing onions. Started cherry tomatoes (9 various)March 5
Fertilized perennials in NRMarch 2
Started Red cabbage (12), marigold (18). Cut new grape fencing trellis in OG and began installation. Fertilized perennials in OG.February 27
Started 4 types of cauliflower (6 each). Cabbage (6), kale (18), Brussel Sprouts (12 red, 12 green) and broccoli (12).February 26
Started preparing ground under new grape trellises OG.February 24
Started onions for OG. 54 AC & 54 redwing.February 23
Pruned grapes at OG.February 19
Pruned blackberries, raspberries and grapes in NR.February 2
Put up pipes for trellises in OG. Pruned cherries and raspberries.January 24
Canned onions.January 19
Froze potatoes.January 1
Picked first indoors Sun Gold tomato.