Cliff's 2016 Garden Blog

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 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 potatoes.

December 28

Froze garlic.

December 24

Started purple Echinacea from saved seed (12).

December 22

Rebuilt compost bin at H. Thinned strawberries and put in posts at OG.

December 21

Emptied compost bimn into garden at H.

December 10

Froze potatoes.

December 7

Spread compost in OG.

December 4

Froze garlic. Put down pathways in NR.

December 3

Planted asparagus in NR. Harvested brussel sprouts and cabbage.

December 2

Froze garlic.

November 28

Spread compost at OG.

November 26

Harvested lettuce, swiss chard, brussel sprouts, kale at OG. Thinned strawberries and spread compost. Sprayed raspberries with neem.

November 24

Harvested cherry tomatoes at H. Indoor tomatoes set fruit.

November 19

Froze potatoes. Harvested brussel sprouts in NR and cherry tomatoes at H.

November 18

Froze potatoes.

November 16

Picked brussel sprouts at OG. Spread compost.

November 13

Froze brussel sprouts and potatoes. Dug beets and carrots in OG.

November 12

Froze kale and brussel sprouts. NR cleanup and harvested brussel sprouts and broccoli. Sorted potatoes. Gathered the "seed" pumpkins.

November 11

OG cleanup and compost spreading. Harvested kale and brussel sprouts.

November 7

OG cleanup and compost spreading.

November 6

Froze brussel sprouts and kale. Covered spinach, garlic and cranberries for the winter in NR. Picked brussel sprouts, carrots, kale in OG.

November 5

Picked mushrooms, brussel sprouts and kale in NR. Froze potatoes.

November 4

Picked brussel sprouts in OG and laid garden fabric and did cleanup.

November 2

Picked kale in OG and laid garden fabric.

October 30

Froze kale and brussel sprouts. Some garden cleanup and fabric laid in NR. Brussel sprouts, carrots, beets harvested in OG.

October 29

Picked raspberries, kale and brussel sprouts in NR. Sorted and froze potatoes.

October 28

Picked kale, brussel sprouts and swiss chard in OG. Froze kale brussel sprouts and swiss chard.

October 26

Picked raspberries in OG.

October 25

Covered lettuce in OG and tomato at H.

October 24

Froze kale. Sprayed grapevines.

October 23

Garden cleanup in OG. Harvested raspberries, kale, beets, and brussel sprouts. Topped some beds with compost. Sprayed neem.

October 21

Garden cleanup in OG. Harvested raspberries, tomatoes, kale, and broccoli at OG. Harvested oyster mushrooms and watermelons at home.

October 19

Garden cleanup in OG. Planted bed of spinach and replanted rye.

October 18

Picked raspberries, peppers brussel sprouts in OG. Garden cleanup. Started indoor tomatoes at H. Harvested oyster mushrooms at H.

October 16

Froze brussel sprouts and kale in NR. Garden cleanup. Harvested cranberries and broccoli and sorted potatoes.

October 15

Harvested raspberries and cleanup in OG. Harvested brussel sprouts and kale in NR.

October 11

Harvested raspberries, lettuce, tomatoes, watermelon, brussel sprouts in OG. Weeded and cleaned up. Canned sauerkraut. Froze kale and brussel sprouts. Started more sauerkraut.

October 10

Picked raspberries in NR. Harvested spinach, brussel sprouts, broccoli, kale and cabbage in NR.

October 9

Picked raspberries in NR. Froze onions and garlic.

October 8

Picked tomatoes, raspberries, broccoli and dug the last potatoes in NR. Clean up, weeded.

October 7

Picked raspberries, dried beans, lettuce and brussel sprouts in OG.

October 5

Picked raspberries and kale in OG.

October 3

Picked raspberries, tomatoes in oG. Clean up.

October 1

Picked raspberries, tomatoes, watermelon, acorn squash, cucumber, cantaloupe, sage, green beans, grapes, peas in NR. Cleanup. Froze onions.

September 30

Picked raspberries in OG.

September 28

Picked dried beans, broccoli, watermelon, raspberries, brussel sprouts in OG. Did cleanup.

September 26

Picked raspberries in OG. Weeded and cleaned up.

September 25

Picked beans, snow peas, broccoli, watermelon, tomatoes, grapes in NR. Dug potatoes. Canned tomatoes at H.

September 24

Picked raspberries, beans, dried beans, lettuce and carrots in OG. Picked summer squash and a cantaloupe in NR.

September 23

Froze onions in NR.

September 21

Picked raspberries, grapes, tomatoes and eggplant in OG.

September 19

Froze onions.

September 17

Harvested tomatoes, cabbage, carrots, beans, raspberries, and parsley in OG. Planted garlic in NR. Harvested tomatoes, potatoes, beans, snow peas, kale, cabbage, brussel sprouts, watermelon, cantaloupe, broccoli in NR. Froze cantaloupe.

September 15

Started a batch of sauerkraut

September 14

Canned pickles

September 13

Picked raspberries, grapes at OG. Froze melons. Canned tomatoes.

September 11

Picked raspberries, grapes, strawberries and watermelon in OG. Mint at H Picked cantaloupe, watermelon, cabbage, broccoli, green beans, brussel sprouts, in NR. Froze melons.

September 10

Picked tomatoes, brussel sprouts, green beans and popcorn at OG. Picked Cantaloupe in NR.

September 9

Juiced grapes and canned grape juice.

September 7

Picked berries and 50+ lbs of grapes at OG. Mashed grapes.

September 5

Planted spinach in NR. Picked tomatoes at H.

September 4

Picked broccoli, cauliflower and dug potatoes in NR. Put down fabric for outside barn garden bed and rhubarb.

September 3

Picked tomatoes, corn, watermelon, cantaloupe, summer squash, basil, green beans, cucumbers and dug potatoes. Dried basil.

September 2

Picked watermelons, eggplant, basil, dried beans, green beans and berries in OG. Picked cucumbers at H. Garden cleanup. Dried basil.

August 31

Picked grapes, crenshaw melons, eggplant, berries in OG. Garden cleanup. Sprayed oil and soap. Planted rye, swiss chard, spinach.

August 29

Picked crenshaw melons in OG. Minor garden cleanup.

August 28

Canned tomatoes.

August 27

Harvested corn, tomatoes, broccoli, kale, green beans in NR. Froze corn in NR and H. Canned beets.

August 26

Harvested onions in NR. Weeded in OG. Harvested tomatoes and beets.

August 25

Harvested kale, beans, tomatoes, watermelon, cantaloupe in OG.

August 24

Weeded in OG. Froze cataloupe and watermelon.

August 23

Harvested tomatoes, watermelon, grapes and corn in NR. Froze corn.

August 22

Harvested tomatoes, potatoes, broccoli, green beans in NR. Weeded. Put white ground cover around 3 trees.

August 21

Harvested corn, snow peas, broccoli, tomatoes, potatoes in NR. Weeded in NR.

August 20

Harvested corn in NR.

August 19

Harvested beans, tomato and potatoes in NR. Froze green beans.

August 18

Weeded at OG. Put up trellis wire. Froze onions, and cateloupe. Harvest squash, cucumbers, beets, canteloupe, green beans and watermelen. Made pesto.

August 17

Picked tomatoes, eggplant, canteloupe, basil, and watermelon in OG. Picked cucumbers at H. froze onions and canteloupe. Topped swiss chard in OG. Canned tomatoes.

August 16

Picked beans in OG. Cut back swiss chard. Weeded. Froze beans and squash. Canned tomatoes.

August 15

Picked peas, beans, squash in NR. Tomatoes, squash and canteloupe in OG.

August 14

Picked peaches in NR.

August 12

Froze beans. Picked cucumber in OG, H and NR. Harvested beets in OG. Squash and an onion in NR. Planted/replanted kale, spinach, beets and carrots in OG. Started squash-cucumber-eggplant pickles in crock.

August 11

Picked beans, dried beans, eggplant, squash and cucumber in OG. Weeded. Topped broccoli.

August 10

Harvested 1 peach at H (deer got 6). Picked tomatoes, cantelope and a watermelon at OG. Weeded.

August 9

Planted spinach in NR. Weeded.

August 8

Harvested peach, summer squash and beans in NR. Weeded.

August 7

Harvested peaches and onion in NR.

August 6

Harvested potatoes, snow peas, beans, onion and broccoli in NR. Canned tomatoes.

August 5

Picked an onion in NR, blueberries at H. Harvested tomatoes, eggplant, squash, cucumbers, watermelon and catelope in OG.

August 4

Weeded in NR. Harvested blueberries.

August 3

Weeded in NR.

August 2

Weeded in NR. Harvested broccoli, snow peas. Sprayed Neem (potato beetles, cole & trees).

August 1

Weeded at OG. Harvested tomatoes, squash, kale cantelope and beets. Harvested squash in NR.

July 31

Covered peach tree at H.

July 30

Planted lettuce in OG. Harvested tomatoes, beans, squash, eggplant and basil.

July 29

Harvested blueberries at H.

July 28

Watered and weeded in OG. Planted spinach. Thinned beets.

July 27

Watered in OG. Harvested beans and tomatoes in OG.

July 26

Watered in NR. Watered and harvested squash and tomatoes in OG.

July 25

Planted fall peas in NR. Weeded and watered. Harvested and froze broccoli and summer squash.

July 24

Harvested and froze broccoli in NR.

July 23

Harvested eggplant, squash and broccoli at OG. Weeded and watered. Picked blueberries at H.

July 22

Harvested squash and snow peas in NR.

July 21

Weeded and watered. Finished frames for new grape trellises in OG.

July 20

Harvested cucumber and carrots at OG. Weeded and watered. Started work on new grape trellises. Picked blueberries at H.

July 19

Harvested squash, eggplant, broccoli, kale, beans, onions, beets and tomatoes in OG. Weeded. Froze beans and kale.

July 18

Harvested peas and squash in NR.

July 17

Harvested squash and broccoli in NR.

July 16

Weeded in NR. Harvested squash and kale. Froze Squash, eggplant and kale.

July 15

Weeded in NR. Harvested squash, peas, basil. Picked bugs. Harvested and froze kale. Put up new fence around newest gala apple tree.

July 14

Harvested egg plant, squash at OG. Picked bugs. Watered and weeded. Pruned grapes.

July 13

Harvested green beans, eggplant and squash at OG. Picked bugs. Watered and weeded. Planted beets and carrots. Put up posts for popcorn fence.

July 12

Harvested blue berries, peas, currents and broccoli in NR. Harvested blue berries at H. Pressed currant puree for jam.

July 11

Handpicked beetles in OG and NR. Watered in og. Harvested berries.

July 10

Put down landscape fabric in OG. Weeded and watered. Picked peas in NR. Picked blueberries at H.

July 9

Weeded and watered at OG. Planted Kidney Beans. Handpicked Japanese Beetles and potato beetles. Sprayed Neem.

July 8

Weeded and watered at OG. Harvested kale and basil at OG. Basil at H. Handpicked Japanese Beetles at OG and home. Froze kale and green beans.

July 7

Harvested summer squash green beans and cabbage at OG. Planted dried beans. Weeded and watered.

July 5

Harvested currants in NR. Mulched potatoes. Weeded and watered. covered blueberries. Handpicked Japanese Beetles. Harvested blueberries at home.

July 4

Watered and weeded in NR. Mulched potatoes. Harvested kale and scapes.

July 3

Froze kale. Harvested blueberries at H. Weeded & watered at OG and harvested goji berries and small summer squash and cucumber. Sprayed Neem.

July 2

Harvested blueberries at H. Weeded at OG and harvested peas, kale, broccoli, beans, beets and a few blackberries.

June 23

Weeded and watered at OG. Sprayed copper soap at OG. Harvested blueberries at H. Reinforced fence.

June 22

Weeded and watered at OG. Harvested strawberries, goji, kale, and swiss chard. In NR, watered and sprayed CB on fruit trees. Chased a rabbit away.

June 21

Weeded and watered at OG. Potato beetles on the eggplant (hand picked). Chased a rabbit away.

June 20

Harvested strawberries, goji berries, catnip, peas and snow peas in OG. Sprayed Neem. Weeded and watered.

June 19

Harvested strawberries and honey berries in NR. Mulched. Harvested blueberries at H.

June 18

Weeded, watered in NR.

June 17

Harvested strawberries and honey berries in NR. Interplanted Rose finn apple potatoes. Planted mint. Weeded, watered.

June 16

Harvested another lonely broccoli at OG. Watered. Harvested strawberries, lettuce, swiss chard and goji berries. Weeded.

June 15

Harvested lonely broccoli at OG. Prepared and planted bed of carrots and bed of beets. Put up raspberry enclosure. Reinforced fence as rabbit was spied inside. Lots of weeding.

June 14

Harvested strawberries, snow peas, spinach, goji berries, oregano and kale in OG. Weeded and pruned. Froze strawberries, spinach and kale.

June 13

Harvested strawberries and asparagus in NR.

June 12

Weeded in NR. Put compost around the cole crops in barn garden in NR. Put down fabric. Sprayed Neem.

June 11

Harvested strawberries in NR. Weeded. Planted potatoes.

June 10

Harvested strawberries, spinach and kale at OG. Mulched. Rebuilt blackberry enclosure. Harvested asparagus in NR.

June 9

Weeded in OG. Spread mulch. Harvested and froze strawberries.

June 8

Weeded in OG. Moved blackberry plant. Set up blueberry cover at H. Planted cucumber and watermelon at H.

June 7

Weeded in OG. Harvested spinach and strawberries. Second grape vine perked up. Froze strawberries.

June 6

Got seed potatoes from the Farm bureau and LaFarm. Harvested swiss chard in OG. Weeded. Froze strawberries and swiss chard.

June 5

Innoculated straw with winecap spawn in NR. Froze strawberries.

June 4

Surveyed NR potatoes. Rough guess, 60% rotted. Planted acorn and buttternut squash. Put in a few replacement potatoes. Strawberries and spinach harvested in OG.

June 3

Watered in NR. Picked kale. Some potatoes are up. Tasted first honey berries.

June 2

Picked kale, strawberries and swiss chard in OG. Froze most of them.

June 1

Watered in OG. Thinned and harvested beets. Filled in bush beans. Planted acorn squash in dead summer squash spots. Froze strawberries and spinach.

May 31

Harvested asparagus and watered in NR. Planted a bed of carrots. In OG, watered and harvested spinach and strawberries.

May 30

Weeded in NR, put down pathways. Transplanted flowers. Harvested asparagus and shiitake.

May 29

Weeded in NR, put down pathways. Planted corn and pole beans.

May 28

Weeded in NR, harvested spinach and asparagus.

May 27

Weeded in OG, Harvested spinach and strawberries.

May 26

Sprayed neem on bug infected cherry tree at OG. Weeded. Watered. Tested plastic and aluminum fabric stakes.

May 25

Prepared beds in NR. Transplanted melons and squash. Planted potatoes.

May 24

Prepared beds in NR. Transplanted tomatoes, peppers and basil there. Harvested spinach in OG.

May 23

Prepared beds in NR. Planted relience peach tree. Planted potatoes.

May 22

Prepared beds in OG and planted popcorn in 3 beds. Transplanted squash and melons. Harvested asparagus in NR.

May 19

Prepared bed in OG. Transplanted eggplants and marigolds.

May 18

Prepared beds in NR. Planted potatoes. Picked spinach, asparagus and shiitake mushrooms.

May 17

Prepared beds in NR. Weeded and put down pathways and planted potatoes.

May 16

Prepared beds in NR. Weeded and put down pathways. Planted 4 big cole beds.

May 15

Prepared and planted blueberry bed potaoes in NR. Weeded 4 more beds.

May 14

Transplanted tomatoes at OG. Weeded. Innoculated wood chips with winecap mushrooms at OG and H. Transplanting flowers at home.

May 13

Planted kidney and black beans at OG.

May 12

Prepared 2 beds and transplanted parsley and dill in OG. Planted almond and cherry trees at home.

May 11

Prepared a bed and transplanted basil in OG. Transplanted watermelon and honey rock melon. Planted 3 table grape vines.

May 10

Transplanted onions and cole crops in NR.

May 9

Transplanted tomatoes in OG. Planted 14 lbs of potatoes and prepared 5 barn garden beds in NR. Added weedbarrier pathways. Weeded. Harvested spinach and asparagus in NR.

May 8

Planted bush beans in OG. Filled in snap peas.

May 7

Weeded in OG. Transplanted tomatoes and cabbage. Harvested spinach.

May 6

Weeded in OG. Transplanted tomatoes. Repotted kale and cauliflower for NR. Broadforked a couple beds.

May 5

Weeded in OG. Transplanted brussel sprouts and kale.

May 4

Weeded in OG. Transplanted cauliflower. Broadforked 3 beds. Harvested rhubarb.

May 2

Weeded in NR. Transplanted onions in OG. Repotted kale and cauliflower for NR. Broadforked a couple beds.

May 1

Weeded in NR. Transplanted broccoli in OG. Hardening off early Tomatoes. Replaced wheelbarrow tire in OG.

April 30

Weeded in NR and put down plastic pathways.

April 29

Hardening off 2 more trays of cole crops for OG. Weeded in NR.

April 28

Repotted red cabbage and brussel sprouts. Transplanted onions in OG.

April 27

Repotted red cabbage and eggplant. Transplanted onions in OG.

April 26

Repotted poppies, echinacea spirit, clementis, melons and summer squash.

April 25

Took down raspberry enclosure and cut back the canes. Weeded and added plastic pathways.

April 24

Flame weeded in OG. Dug up goji volunteer. Put down some plastic. Weeded and prepared beds. Used last fresh potatoes.

April 23

Repotted cole crops. Two more trays of onions and echinacea hardening off. Weeded in OG. Prepared 2 more beds, Repotted tomatoes, peppers and eggplant. Used last fresh carrot.

April 22

Repotted onions.

April 21

Watered at OG. Planted spinach and swiss chard in ends of transplant beds.

April 20

Repotted white and purple Echinacea. Repotted F kiwi. Transplanted pitiful spinach and swiss chard in OG. Transplanted lettuce and basil at H.

April 19

Repotted onions. Watered in OG. Broad-forked a couple beds. Planted Red Haven peach tree at H.

April 18

Repotted onions. Planted beets in OG. Watered. First pea is peeking through. Pulled Relience peach tree out of the ground at H for NR.

April 17

Weeded in NR & OG. Finished preparing 2 beds.

April 16

Weeded in NR

April 15

Repotted broccoli.

April 14

Covered the beds broad forked yesterday. Repotted tomatoes.

April 13

Covered the beds made yesterday. Broad forked 4 more (for melon patch). Began hardening off more spinach and swiss chard.

April 12

Started melons and summer squash for OG. Made up the other 4 beds in OG that had been covered. Fertilized seedlings.

April 11

Final raking of the 4 beds and tentative cover with landscape fabric. Pitiful spinach seedlings harding off.

April 10

Planted carrots in OG. Heavy weeding in 2 reset beds. Broad forked 4 beds.

April 9

Planted lettuce in OG. Sprayed indoor rosemary with Neem. Thinned and fertilized seedlings.

April 7

Repotted spinach. Started sugar baby and honey rock melons.

April 6

Repotted onions.

April 5

Covering peach trees at home at night. Repotted onions.

April 3

Weeded in OG. PLanted snow peas and peas.

April 2

Moved Apple tree, cherry trees and honey berry in NR.

April 1

Broad forked and weeded in OG.

March 31

Broad forked 1 OG bed. Thinned seedlings at home.

March 30

Broad forked 2 OG beds and put in pea trellis posts. Weeded.

March 29

Put hardening frame in garden at H.

March 26

Broad forked and prepared 6 OG beds. Weeded in OG.

March 25

Started basil and dill. Broad forked two OG beds. Weeded in OG.

March 23

Moved wood chips to backyard and OG.

March 22

Put down pathways in NR.

March 21

Weeded in NR.

March 19

Planted peach trees for H (2). Started caw.f (12) and blue kale (12)for NR,

March 18

Weeded at OG. Started sw peppers for OG (6). For NR started Al Cr (96) and Redwing onions (48); broc walt (12), crown (12). Bought peach trees for H (2).

March 17

Inoculated Sycamore logs with lion's Mane at home.

March 16

Inoculated Sycamore logs with lion's Mane at home. Started Tomato: SH (30) Abe (6) Red Oct (12) and Eggplant: Turk O (6) Long Purple (6) Black (6).

March 15

Inoculated Sycamore logs with Lion's Mane at home.

March 13

Put down pathways in OG. Weeded. Thinned seedlings.

March 11

Pruned a bit in NR.

March 10

Fertilized perennials in NR.

March 9

Put down plastic pathways in OG and weeded. Fertilized perennials.

March 8

Thinned and transplanted seedlings. Put down plastic pathways in OG and turned grass patches in beds. Fertilized perennials.

March 7

Thinned and transplanted seedlings.

February 29

Thinned Marigolds, transplanted some blackeyed susan and a couple echinacea.

February 28

Started red Brussel Sprouts (6), L.I.B.S (6), Cat B.S. (6), green cabbage (6), cauliflower (12) and swiss chard (72).

February 22

Put down more plastic pathway in OG and did garden cleanup. Started onions (Redwing 72) and spinach (GN 72).

February 21

Started onions (AC 72) and spinach (157 72)

Febrauary 14

Froze garlic.

January 14

Froze garlic.

January 13

Started poppies.

January 3

Prepared new bed of strawberries in OG. Started bougainvillea cuttings.

January 2

Weeded at OG. Thinned strawberries.