Cliff's 2012 Garden Blog

Marilyn and Cliff have gardens at home (H) and in New Russia, NY (NR) and also a double 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 OG plots provide. [In chronological order] [Cliff's 2014 Garden Blog] [Cliff's 2013 Garden Blog] [Cliff's 2011 Garden Blog]


December 2

Planted forsythia in OG. Weeded.

December 1

Planted apple, pear & red maple trees in NR.

November 25

Planted daisy, painted daisy, cone flower and marigold seeds in NR.

November 24

Planted 500 allium bulbs in NR.

November 23

Picked beets at OG.

November 16

Weeded at OG. Picked spinach and carrots.

November 14

Weeded at OG. Picked beets.

November 12

Weeded at OG

November 10

Planted daylilies, narcissi, and fritillaria in NR. Weeded, prepared fruit tree sites.

November 7

Helped tarp the remains of the student shed destroyed by Sandy at OG.

November 5

Planted a 1000 crocuses at H

November 2

Picked spinach and beets at OG.

October 30

Took a trailer load of leaves to OG

October 27

Picked onions, cabbage and kale in NR

October 23

Picked strawberries and weeded at OG

October 20

Picked cabbage and clean up at OG

October 18

Picked marigold seeds and clean up at OG

October 15

Picked berries at OG

October 12

Planted wintergreen and bleeding hearts in NR. Dug a few sweet potatoes.

October 7

Picked squash, green tomatoes and llb at NR.

October 6

Picked squash, tomatoes, beans and cucumbers in NR

October 5

Picked berries, tomatoes, beans and swiss chard at OG. Sprayed Neem & soap on cole crops.

October 3

Weeded at OG.

October 1

Picked berries, tomatoes, beans and kale at OG.

September 30

Picked tomatoes, squash and eggplant in NR.

September 29

Picked eggplant and tomatoes in NR. Planted trillium roots, and native seeds: prarie rose, harebell, dutchman's breeches.

September 28

Picked berries at OG.

September 26

Picked berries, swiss chard, tomatoes and beans and weeded at OG.

September 25

Weeded at OG.

September 24

Picked berries, tomatoes at OG.

September 23

Picked onions and weeded in NR.

September 22

Picked cucumbers, squash, tomatoes, eggplant and llb and weeded in NR.

September 21

Picked berries, beans, beets, basil and a few peas in OG.

September 20

Finished up new compost bin

September 19

Picked berries, weeded in OG.

September 17

Picked berries, spinach, beans and a few peas in OG.

September 16

Picked tomatoes, squash, and melons in NR;

September 15

Picked beans, tomatoes, squash, cucumbers and melons in NR;

September 14

Picked berries, beans, & peas at OG;

September 12

Picked berries, spinach, swiss chard, beans, tomatoes and oregano at OG; sprayed BT; partially assembled a new compost bin; froze oregano and canned tomatoes.

September 11

Weeded at OG; froze beans; canned squash.

September 10

Picked raspberries, tomatoes, beans, peas at OG. Made 3 batches of zucchini pickles.

September 9

Picked squash, tomatoes, melon, eggplant in NR. Sread Nolo. Canned squash.

September 8

Picked 58 lbs squash, tomatoes, melon, beans cucumbers in NR.

September 7

Weeded at OG; made a batch of grape jam.

September 6

Havested beans, peas, spinach, sorrel and strawberries and raspberries from OG.

September 5

Gleaned grapes from OG.

September 4

Havested tomatoes, swiss chard, beans, peas and strawberries and raspberries from OG.

September 1

Havested basil, tomatoes, grapes and a few strawberries and raspberries.

August 31

Havested tomatoes and grapes.

August 30

Havested spinach and swiss chard; a few strawberries and raspberries.

August 29

Made grape jam.

August 28

Weeded in OG.

August 27

Picked beans, tomatoes, lots of grapes and a few raspberries and strawberries in OG.

August 26

Picked squash and cucumbers in NR. Picked one gala apple. Broadcast spinach in 3 beds in NR.

August 25

Planted apricot tree and male kiwi in NR.

August 24

Transplanted purple oregano & blanket flowers to NR. Picked squash, cucumbers and tomatoes in NR.

August 23

Picked basil and tomatoes in OG.

August 22

Weeded in OG. Transplanted sorel and anise. Planted spinach. Picked swiss chard, kale, beets, a pound of grapes and a squash.

August 21

Weeded in OG. Picked swiss chard, cabbages, beans and token strawberry and raspberry. Transplanted loveage and love lies bleeding and anise.

August 20

Picked squash and cucumbers in NR.

August 17

Harvested kale, squash and tomatoes in NR. Spread NoLo. Picked cucumbers & beans. Broadcast a bed of carrots, beets, carrots and swiss chard.

August 16

Picked onions in NR. Weeded. Planted bunchberry and bluebead lily berries. Planted anise. Mushroom logs are budding.

August 15

Picked garlic in NR. Froze basil. Picked cabbage and beets in OG.

August 14

Picked kale in NR. Picked tomatoes, beans and basil in OG.

August 13

Picked summer squash, tomatoes and cucumbers in NR. transplanted sorel and lovage.

August 12

Picked tomatoes and kale at OG.

August 9

Picked beans and tomatoes at OG. Thinned beets and swiss chard.

August 8

Weeded at OG.

August 7

Picked beans and kale at OG. Watered mushrooms.

August 6

Picked tomatoes in OG and canned them.

August 5

Picked squash in NR and watered & spread NoLo.

August 3

Dug potaoes (sad 7 lbs) and watered in NR.

August 2

Picked squash (biggest was 6.5 lbs) and an onion and tomato in NR & spread NoLo. Froze squash.

August 1

Transplanted LoveLiesBleeding and sorel in NR.

July 31

Replanted plum & blackberry bare roots in NR; Planted kiwi and goji berry. Picked summer squash and kale. Froze summer squash. Spread NoLo.

July 29

Picked tomatoes and few beans at OG. Transplanted LoveLiesBleeding at OG. Sprayed BT & spread NoLo.

July 28

Weeded in OG. Picked tomatoes, a squash and some strawberries. Planted goji berry vine and transplanted strawberries.

July 27

Weeded in OG. Picked beets, tomatoes, kale and basil. Froze kale. Transplanted love lies bleeding to H.

July 24

Weeded in OG. Harvested beets and tomatoes.

July 23

Weeded in OG.

July 22

Harvested a few tomatoes and strawberries at OG.

July 19

Weeded in OG. Spread some straw. Harvested a few beans, a tomato and a few strawberries.

July 18

Weeded and watered in OG. Spread some straw.

July 17

Planted a bed of peas & beans in OG. Harvested kale & beans. Froze kale.

July 16

Planted a bed of carrots, beets, swiss chard in OG

July 15

Planted a bed of carrots, beets, swiss chard & some peas in NR

July 14

Watered & Weeded in NR. Picked bugs by hand. Replanted daisy & coneflower seeds. Sprayed Beneficial Nematodes, Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, to combat Japenese beetles, cuccumber beetles and potatoe beetles.

July 13

Took bales of straw to OG and NR. Pruned raspberries in OG.

July 12

Planted swiss chard, beets and spinach in old pea beds. Watered.

July 11

Picked beans and a few peas and raspberries in OG. Watered

July 10

Weeded and watered in OG.

July 9

Picked strawberries, beans and peas in OG. Sprayed BT.

July 8

weeded in NR.

July 7

Transplanted basil and watered in NR.

July 6

Watered OG & picked peas, raspberries, kale, beets, beans and a clump of basil to transplant in NR. Saw first stink bug.

July 5

Quick morning water.


July 4

Picked raspberries, strawberries, wineberries, peas and beans at OG. Watered & weeded.
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July 3

Watered and put up new shade on mushroom chips. Planted perenial vegetable seeds under shade.

July 2

Picked raspberries, strawberries, kale, peas and beans at OG. Watered in the evening.

July 1

Put nolo in NR and picked bugs & weeds.

June 30

Marilyn picked raspberries, strawberries, peas and beans at OG. Put up shade for mushroom logs.

June 29

Put stakes in NR for mushroom shade.

June 27

Picked beets and weeded in OG.

June 26

Picked raspberries, peas and beans in OG.

June 24

Picked raspberries, peas and beans in OG.

June 23

Picked raspberries, peas and beans in OG. Sprayed oil in NR.

June 22

Picked bean grubs in NR,

June 21

Weeded in NR.

June 20

Picked raspberries, peas and strawberries in OG. Weeded & watered.

June 19

Weeded in NR.

June 18

Picked raspberries, peas and strawberries in OG. Weeded. Planted seeding beds for perenial vegetables (same as May 21) at H.

June 17

Weeded in NR. Put lion's mane spawn in 11 logs.

June 16

Picked kale in NR. Weeded, sprayed sessame oil & planted cucumber, tomatoes , eggplant and raspberries. Put shitake thimble spawn in 12 logs and likewise with oyster.

June 15

Picked peas, raspberries and strawberries at OG. Froze kale.

June 14

Moved perenial seedlings to OG without hardening.

June 13

Picked peas and strawberries at OG. Froze strawberries. Picked first blueberry at H.

June 11

Picked strawberries at OG and weeded.

June 10

Picked peas and strawberries at OG. Froze strawberries.

June 9

Weeded in NR. Sprayed trees and potatoes with neen oil.

June 7

Picked peas, kale and strawberries at OG. Froze peas and kale. Made a batch of strawberry jam and started a batch of strawberry wine.

June 6

Weeded and mulched at OG.

June 5

Weeded and picked peas & strawberries in OG. Worked on grape trellis.

June 4

Picked strawberries in OG.

June 3

Weeded and picked peas in OG. First raspberry ripened at H.

June 2

Picked strawberries and weeded at OG.

June 1

Picked up mushroom logs in NR.

May 31

Planted apricot trees, summer squash and weeded in NR.

May 30

Picked & froze 4 lbs of strawberries from OG; weeded & picked a few snap peas.

May 29

Weeded in OG and picked a pint of edible pod peas, a lot of kale and most of the spinach.
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May 28

Picked a couple quarts of strawberries at OG and took off all plastic covers.

May 27

Weeded and watered in NR. Tranplanted oregeno, chives and cilantro from H. Planted chamomile, daisy, coneflower seeds, pole bean and cucumber seeds. Planted eggplant and tomato seedlings.

May 26

Weeded and watered in NR. Prepared bed for carrots. Planted geraniums. Transplanted blue eyed grass from lawn to the native species bed.

May 25

Planted grapes and sweet potatoes in NR. Weeded in NR.

May 23

Weeded in OG.

May 22

Weeded in OG. Picked spinach and beet thinnings.

May 21

Planted cucumbers at OG an set trap for vole in compost pile. A day for the birds. Lovage, Love Lies Bleeding, and Garden Sorrel planted inside.
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May 20

Weeded in OG. Picked brocolli and swiss chard thinnings, spinach a few stawberries.

May 19

Planted NR apple and red maple in OG wind break. Weeded in OG.

May 17

Planted spinach in NR. Picked a few strawberries in OG.

May 16

Transplanted trillium and trinity plants in NR. Planted blue eyed grass, harebell, creeping thyme, onion sets, carrots and beets in NR.

May 15

Marilyn picked spinach and a few strawberries OG. Transplanted kale, broccoli, cabbage and sunflowers from OG to NR. Planted russian almond trees and prepared beds for more planting tomorrow.

May 13

Weeded at OG and picked a few strawberries. Planted basil.

May 12

Weeded at OG and picked spinach. Planted beans and squash seeds.
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May 11

Moved cabbage into beds & cole crops into pots for trip to NR and weeded at OG

May 8

Weeded at OG

May 5

Planted 150 or so daylilies in NR. Weeded in NR and spread straw. Put acidifier on blueberries.

May 4

Took a couple wheel barrel load of mushroom soil to OG and picked bolting spinach. Planted squash seedlings.

May 3

Weeded at OG and moved brocoli from its seeding patch to a row. Put a few bush bean seeds between newest tomato towers. Planted squash and cucuber seeds by the trellis.

May 2

Weeded at OG and planted another row of tomatoes.

May 1

Weeded at OG and moved kale from its seeding patch to a row. Put a few bush bean seeds between tomato towers.

April 30

Daylilies planted at H. Pea trellis put in at OG. First tomato seedlings transplanted there.

April 29

Weeded at OG.

April 28

Weeded at OG.

April 26

Weeded at OG.

April 25

Weeded at OG.

April 24

Weeded at OG.

April 22

Planted potatoes, blackberries, plum trees, 4 varieties of blueberries and climbing roses in NR. Daffodils blooming in NR.
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April 21

Weeded and watered at OG. Replanted carrots, interplanted beets and peas as needed.

April 20

Weeded and watered at OG. Our house smells like yeast.

April 19

Weeded and watered at OG. Started the dandelion wine fermenting.

April 18

Weeded and watered at OG.

April 17

Weeded at OG. Picked spinach. Put shade over mushroom bed. First painted daisy bud forming. Picked 6 qts of dandelion blossoms for winemaking.
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April 16

Weeded and watered at OG.

April 15

Planted trinty roots in cups inside, planted Hansen cherry for NR in a pot and started vinca seed in darkness. Watered at OG.

April 14

Watered and weeded at OG. Gave the family a tour.

April 13

Planted Hansen cherry and bed of wine cap mushrooms in OG.

April 12

Planted strawberries, kiwi, clemantis, sweet peas, windflowers, fernleaf bleeding heart and asparagus in NR.

April 11

Put half a bed of mushroom soil at home in preperation for lilies.

April 10

Watered and weeded at OG. Second round of peas germinating but gaps filled with new seed too.

April 9

Watered and weeded at OG.

April 7

Watered and weeded at OG.

April 6

Watered and weeded at OG.

April 4

Watered at OG. Side dressed more beds with mushroom soil. Planted a bed of blue flax.

April 3

Weeded at OG. Rhubarb knee high, lots of strawberry plants. Spread mushroom soil. Planted a bed of scarlet flax.
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April 2

Weeded in OG. Field sown broccoli is sprouted. Suspect Pink Lady Slippers (almost invisibly small seeds) cold stratified in NR now brought inside are germinating.

March 30

Weeded in NR and worked on fencing, painting the bright parts black.
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March 29

Planted onions in NR and some raspberries & garlic. Two beds of garlic overwintered nicely. Reinforced fencing and weeded in NR. The crocuses peaked last week in NR, but still are lovely.
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March 28

Weeded at OG.

March 27

Weeded at OG and pulled overwintered onions, random garlic and a couple raspberries for bare root transplanting.

March 26

Weeded at OG and covered grapes for expected frost. Peas are begining to poke up. Blackberries and raspberries are leafing out.

March 25

Weeded at OG and planted a red cabbage patch. Replaced some rotting posts.

March 24

Weeded at OG and snagged catnip from old plot.

March 22

Weeded at OG and noted second batch of tomatoes seeds sprouting.

March 20

Weeded at OG and noted blackberries leafing out.

March 19

weeded at OG. Rhubarb coming up.
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March 17

Raspberry canes inside whithered -- no roots. Grape canes are sprouting. Will they meet the same fate? Planted tomato and squash seeds inside at H. Noted lettuce sprouting outside at H. First indoor tomato seed plantings are germinating. Took a trailer load of mushroom soil to OG. weeded. Planted a bed of beets.

March 15

Put up 52x72 six foot fence around the garden in NR. At dusk, a half dozen deer stalked around the fence (but not getting in). White and painted trillium seed back into refrigerator for 2nd cold stratification.
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March 14

Took mulch off cranberries in NR and planted stray raspberries.

March 10

Planted a bed of carrots in OG.

March 9

Planted tomatoes, eggplant and peppers inside.

March 8

Planted a bed of lettuce and swiss chard at H. Planted snap peas, swiss chard, painted daisies, broccoli and spinach at OG.

March 7

Bought fencing for NR and put peat moss on blueberrries and weeded at H.

March 3

Ordered stakes for NR and put bird mesh on the tree seedlings in NR.

February 28

Abandoned basement mushroom jars at H, but put the chips into wood stacks at H outside.

February 27

Bought straw for cold frames and put together frames for gates in NR.

February 26

Weeded at OG. Set up wire compost bin.

February 25

Weeded at OG. Painted daisies and rhubarb are awakening. At H indoors Raspberry canes leafing out but no signs of grape canes rooting.

February 9

Pruned raspberries at H and replaced fence.

January 31

Pruned the grapes and raspberries in OG saving cane scraps to attempt getting more plants. Mushrooms in basement still fruiting lightly but some mold is growing.