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 Organic Gardening] [Cliff's 2017 Garden Blog] [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 31
Pruned grapes in NR. Froze garlic and Potatoes.December 24
Weeded at OG. Pruned grapes. Froze garlic.December 22
Dug carrots at OG. Weeded. Froze garlic, potatoes and onions.November 4
Harvested beets, brussel sprouts, raspberries and a tad of kale in NR. Garden cleanup. Froze small pumpkins.November 3
Harvested beets at OG. Clean up.October 24
Harvested sweet potatoes and dried beans at OG. Clean up.October 22
Harvested peppers and sweet potatoes at OG.October 21
Harvested spinach, broccoli, kale, cranberries, dried beans, beets, brussel sprouts, snap peas in NR. Covered cranberries and spinach with straw. Clean up at OG. Harvested beets, carrots and dried beans. Froze pumpkin NR & H.October 20
Harvested spinach, raspberries in NR. Planted Yugoslavian and White Germain garlic. Transplanted painted daisies and blueberry shoots.October 19
Gathered volunteer painted daisies at OG.October 18
Harvested beets, carrots, peppers, celery and eggplant in OG. Cleanup.October 15
Harvested kale, beets and spinach in NR.October 14
Harvested dried beans and celery in OG.October 13
Harvested cherry tomatoes, tomatoes, raspberries, beans, last summer squash, lettuce, brussel sprouts, red cabbage, snap peas in NR. Lots of clean up.October 11
Harvested cherry tomatoes, raspberries, pinto beans, beets, carrots, cauliflower, and peppers in OG. Some clean up.October 7
Harvested tomatoes and snap peas in NR. Started a sauerkraut crock.October 6
Harveste wax beans, raspberries, beets and potatoes in NR. Painted tree trucks white.October 4
Garden cleanup and sprayed copper soap. Harvested peppers and pinto beans.October 3
Lunched on raspberries and grapes at OG. Garden cleanup. Harvested pinto beans, brussel sprouts, and camomile.October 2
Harvested raspberries, mini watermelons in OG. Garden cleanup. Pinto beans look to be rotting.September 30
Sprayed nematodes in NR. Planted Metechi, Germain Red, Music, Siberian and Bogatyr garlic. Harvested raspberries, spinach, lettuce, tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, green beans, dried beans, summer squash, cucumbers, broccoli, kale in NR. Garden cleanup.September 29
Canned sauerkraut. Harvested raspberries & spinach in NR. Harvested rasberries and lettuce in OG.September 27
Clean up in OG. Harvested tomatoes.September 26
Weeded in OG. Picked peppers, tomatoes and eggplant.September 23
Weeded in NR. Harvested tomatoes, pumpkins, melons, watermelon, spinach, kale, broccoli, and lettuce.September 22
Weeded in OG. Harvested potatoes, cucumbers, tomatoes, raspberries, spinach, andgreen beans in NR.September 19
Weeded in OG. Harvested tomatoes, raspberries and brussel sprouts. Sprayed BT.September 18
Drying apple slices.September 17
Weeded in OG. Harvested peppers, grapes, raspberries and an eggplant.September 16
Froze melon. Harvested string beans, cherry tomatoes, apples, broccoli, squash, cucumbers and spinach in NR. Weeded in OG. Harvested basil galore and celery.September 15
Weeded at OG. Harvested pumpkin. Canned sauerkraut.September 13
Canned grape juice twice.September 12
Harvested grapes in OG.September 11
Drying apples.September 10
Harvested spinach and concord grapes in NR. Froze cherry tomatoes.September 9
Harvested cantaloupe, tomatoes, apples, lettuce, green beans and dried beans in NR. Dug potatoes. Froze roasted squash.September 8
Weeded at H. Harvested cantalopes, squash, cucumbers in NR. Dug potatoes. Froze cantaloupe and watermelon.September 7
Canned grape juice.September 5
Harvested grapes (9+gal) and a watermelon in OG.September 4
Weeded at OG.September 2
Weeded in NR. Harvested plums, grapes, (17lbs) potatoes. Started sauerkraut in %L and 10 L crocks.September 1
Weeded in NR. Harvested cucumbers, tomatoes, squash, pumpkins, string beans, plums, cantaloupe, (80lbs) potatoes and kidney & black beans. Canned 24 pints of sauerkraut. Dried plums.August 31
Weeded at OG. Harvested beets and carrots.August 30
Weeded at OG. Harvested cabbage.August 29
Weeded at OG. Harvested cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and a few raspberries.August 28
Juiced and cannned Marquette grapse.August 27
Harvested a couple watermelons and cataloupe at OG.August 26
Harvested beans, cucumbers, squash, spinach, beet greens, and plums in NR.August 25
Harvested marquette grapes, potatoes and tomatoes in NR. Froze melons and green beans.August 24
Harvested beans, squash, cucumbers, broccoli, plums, apples and tomatoes in NR.August 22
Harvested cantaloupe and watermelon, beets, corn, carrots, celery in OG. Weeded.August 21
Harvested cantaloupe and watermelon, cucumbers, beets, corn, eggplant, peppers in OG. Moved 2 yards of mushroom soil to OG.August 19
Harvested potatoes (38 lbs), tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, string beans, a few plums and a couple apples. Sprayed a tiny bit of copper soap. Froze roasted squash, watermelon, string beans.August 18
Cleanup/weeded at OG. Froze melons.August 17
Cleanup/weeded at OG. Harvested basil, celery, cucumbers, cauliflower. Froze watermelon and corn. Harvested cucumbers, squash, tomatoes, basil, and cabbage in NR. Started a 10L crock of sauerkraut.August 16
Harvested 3 plums (not ripe yet). Froze melons.August 15
Harvested melons, tomatoes, corn, squash and cucumbers. (included a 22.8 watermelon and 8.5 cabanzza melon) Froze melons.August 14
Harvested broccoli in NR. Froze broccoli. Harvested string beans. Froze string beans.August 13
Harvested blueberries, beets and broccoli in NR.August 12
Harvested cucumbers, summer squash, string beans, onions in NR. Trimmed siberian garlic. Froze string beans and squash.August 9
Harvested melons, tomatoes, peppers, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers and squash at OG. Froze cherry tomatoes.August 8
Weeded at OG sprayed copper soap & BT. Harvested corn. Froze corn (~80 ears harvested so far)August 7
Harvested 3 melons, tomatoes, peppers, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers and squash at OG.August 6
Harvested blueberries, raspberries, in NR. Froze basil. Harvested tomatoes at H.August 5
Harvested string beans, basil, tomatoes, summer squash in NR. Cleaned garlic. Canned 5 qts of tomatoes. Froze string beans, broccoli and cauliflower.August 4
Harvested cucumbers in NR. Planted sugar snap peas. Started Sauerkraut in 5L and 10L crocks. Added 1.5c Maple syrup to 5L crock of pickled cucumbers. Canned 5 (1.5 pt) & 4 pts of pickles. Canned 7 qts of tomatoes.August 3
Harvested cucumbers, string beans, blueberries, peas, raspberries, tomatoes and cherry tomatoes in NR. Froze grilled squash, squash, string beans, and corn. Gave away cucumbers and squash.August 2
Harvested corn, cabbage, cherry tomatoes, peppers, eggplant in OG. Put down fabric on old starwberry beds. Harvest green peaches at H (trying to keep something from the squirrels).August 1
Weeded at OG. Harvested onions. Planted lettuce and 2 beds of spinach. Harvested tomatoes. Canned tomatoes.July 31
Weeded at OG. Harvested tomatoes, corn and thyme. Canned tomatoes.July 30
Weeded at OG. Harvested tomatoes and picked off diseased leaves. Harvested squash and cucumbers.July 29
Weeded at OG. Harvested tomatoes and picked off diseased leaves. Canned tomatoes.July 28
Sprayed Bee Safe 3-1 at OG. Harvested tomato, minipeppers, thyme and corn.July 27
Sprayed BT in NR. Harvested cherry tomatoes. Planted lettuce and spinach. Rearranged curing garlic. Harvested tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers and summer squash at OG.July 26
Canned tomatoes. Harvested raspberries, summer squash, broccoli, and cucumbers in NR.July 25
Harvested raspberries, blueberries in NR. tomatoes at H and OG. Transplanted painted daisies. Froze cherry tomatoes, roasted squash & eggplant.July 24
Harvested tomatoes at H and OG. Eggplants and a unripe melon at OG. Dug up painted daisies. Canned tomatoes.July 23
Harvested cucumbers, summer squash, cherry tomatoes and blueberries in NR. Watered. Harvested peppers, cherry tomatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers and summmer squash in OG.July 22
Harvested cucumbers in NR. Watered. Planted beets and spinach. Cut out old raspberry canes. Froze cherry tomatoes.July 21
Harvested summer squash, cherry tomatoes, blueberries in NR. Planted replacement trees: apricot, intrepid and contentor peaches. Watered. Curing garlic remixed. Started crock of sliced cucumbers to ferment.July 20
Harvested cucumbers, summer squash, mini-peppers, eggplants and first substantial tomato harvest in OG. Sprayed BT. Transplanted last 6 cauliflower plants. Cut out old raspberry canes.July 19
Harvested kale, cucumbers, basil, thyme in OG. Sprayed BT. Transplanted broccoli and cauliflower plants. Squirrels caught in blueberry cover at H. Froze kale.July 18
Harvested cherry tomatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers, summer squash and a few berries in OG.July 17
Harvested cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, blueberries and summer squash in NR. Harvested germain red (68) and siberian (42) garlic.July 16
Harvested cherry tomatoes and summer squash i NR. Watered and weeded and mulched. Updated landscape fabric by Honeycrisp apple and cherries.July 15
Harvested kale. Sprayed BT. Watered and weeded and mulched. Dug up dead PF24C peach and last russian almond.July 14
Picked bugs in NR. Harvested Bogatyr (75), Music (22) and Metechi (58) garlic in NR. Also squash, raspberries, peas, currents and blueberries. Froze currnts. Watered. Dug up dead contender peach.July 13
Harvested tomatoes, squash, eggplant, cucumbers, raspberries at OG. Blueberries and tomatoes at H.July 12
Watered at OG. Harvested squash, tomatoes, cucumbers at OG.July 11
Watered at OG.July 10
Watered and weeded in NR. Harvested a few berries. Picked bugs. Harvested cucumbers, squash, raspberries, eggplant, tomatoes, and a few peas in OG.July 9
Harvested summer squash, peas, cauliflower, currents, blueberries and strawberries in NR. Picked bugs. Watered.July 8
Harvested and froze blueberries at H. Picked a few berries and cherries in NR.July 7
Harvested raspberries, cherry tomatoes, lettuce, summer squash, a cucumber and basil at OG. Weeded. Mulched and weeded at H.July 6
Picked bugs in NR (not many) and harvested peas.July 5
Weeded and pruned in OG. Removed one cherry tree. Harvested red cabbage, raspberries and red minipepper and a few peas.July 4
Weeded and pruned in OG. Harvested first cucumber, summer squash, and red minipepper and a few cherry tomatoes.July 3
Weeded at home and harvested blueberries. Froze raspberries.July 2
Harvested raspberries, a couple eggplant, a few cherry tomatoes and snap peas in OG. Weeded and pruned.July 1
Weeded in NR, picked bugs, spread multch. Harvested 11 heads of broccoli and froze them. Hot wave expected for several more days.June 30
Weeded in NR, picked bugs, cut garlic scapes. Noted contender peach tree is dead but cranberries are blooming. It's hot!. Harvested one head of broccoli.June 29
Weeded and watered in NR, harvested misc berries. Sprayed pyrethrin.June 28
Weeded at OG. Harvested kale, raspberries, swiss chard, a graffiti cauliflower, a cherry tomato and tomato at OG. Sprayed pyrethrin due to grasshoppers and new cole worms. Froze raspberries and kale.June 27
Harvested a few cherry tomatoes at OG. Weeded and mulched. Thinned fall cole seedlings.June 26
Harvested raspberries, snap peas, and a few cherry tomatoes at OG. Watering trees at home.June 24
Harvested raspberries, snap peas, and a few cherry tomatoes at OG.June 23
Harvested strawberries in NR; froze some. Drying rosemary and basil at H. Weeded at OG.June 22
Harvested strawberries, cherries, raspberries, peas, basil and cherry tomatoes at OG. Froze raspberries. Harvested and froze kale in NR. Picked pests and watered.June 21
Harvested first blueberries at H. Harvested strawberries and garlic scapes in NR. Picked pests. Watered. Froze strawberries.June 20
Harvested raspberries, strawberries, peas and a few cherry tomatoes at OG. Sprayed neem on pumpkin and summer squash at OG and almond and peach at H. First sungold tomatoes at H.June 19
Weeded at OG. harvested kale and swiss chard. Froze strawberries.June 18
Harvested strawberries, peas and first indigo tomatoes & raspberries at OG. Watered.June 17
Harvested strawberries and asparagus. Sprayed neem on currants and columar apples. Picked pests. Cut garlic scapes. Froze strawberries.June 16
Harvested kale. Weeded, watered & mulched. Picked pests. Thinned apples and plums. Cut out tent caterpillers. Put down landscape fabric in barn garden.June 15
Harvested asparagus and strawberries. Weeded, watered & mulched. transplanted basil and parsley. Planted beets, pinto and white beans. Picked pests. Froze strawberries.June 14
Watered new asparagus crowns et al. Weeded & mulched. Replaced some landscape fabric. Hand pucked rose chafers and potato beetles. 2011 Garden Blog]June 13
Harvested strawberries, snap peas, and swiss chard in OG. Planted asparagus crowns in NR.June 12
Weeded at H. Transplanted parsley. Pruned tomatoes, grapes and raspberries at OG. Harvested radishes. Froze basil.June 11
Sprayed nematodes at H. Thinned and OFM trimmed peaches. Sprayed BT at OG. Harvested kale, strawberries and basil. Planted dry pole beans in 3 sister portion. Weeded & mulched. Started fall cole crops (3 ea), caulifower (graffiti, snow, panther, flame, broccoli: Green magic, arcadia.June 10
Harvested asparagus in NR. Hand picked potato beetles. Watered. Sprayed neem on currants and columar apples, BT on cole crops.June 9
Harvested kale, rhubarb, asparagus and a couple strawberries in NR. Mulched & weeded. Froze rhubarb, kale and asparagus. Hand picked potato beetles.June 8
Transplanted late broccoli and cauliflower in NR. Put down landscape fabric. Tended blueberries cuttings. Harvested a bit of kale and first NR strawberry. Harvested strawberries in OG.June 7
Watered, weeded, mulched at OG. Planted a row of carrots and beets.June 6
Watered, weeded, mulched at OG. Filled in corn. Moved some summer squash.June 5
Harvested spainach, kale and strawberries in OG. Watered, weeded, mulched. Froze kale, spinach and strawberries.June 4
Weeded and watered in OGJune 3
Harvested asparagus in NR. Harvested ~9 pints of strawberries in OG and transplanted sweet potatoes. Thinned peaches and trimmed OFM damaged branches.June 2
Harvested asparagus in NR.June 1
Harvested asparagus in NR. Sprayed nematodes. Weeded, chipped and mulched. Harvested 9 pints of strawberries in OG.May 31
Harvested asparagus in NR. Transplanted cucumbers and melons. Started cuttings from NR blueberries. Put down landscape fabric for apple tree bench and old blackberry bed. Planted Kakai pumpkins.May 30
Harvested asparagus and kale in NR and 6.5 pints of strawberries at OG. Garden cleanup in NR.May 29
Harvested spinach, kale, lettuce, strawberries in OG. Prepared 3 beds and put up cucumber trellises. Started SFP blueberry cuttings.May 28
Harvested spinach and cilantro at H. Started basil for NR. Took rosemary cuttings.May 27
Harvested spinach and asparagus in NR. Planted summer squash, cinnamon pumpkins, black beans and kidney beans. Weeded and watered.May 26
Harvested asparagus in NR. Transplanted tomatoes. Planted pole beans. Weeded. Put up fencing. First attempt at removing blackberries.May 25
Put down landscape fabric at OG. Harvested spinach, kale and rhubarb. Froze rhubarb.May 24
Took up landscape fabric at OG and put some down.May 23
Took up landscape fabric under tomatoes at OG.May 21
Prepared bed at OG and planted summer squash. Harvested oregano. Put up more tomato cages at OG. Froze spinach. Drying basil and oreganoMay 20
Prepared beds at OG. Redirevted grape branches blown off the trellises. Planted 10 beds of sweet corn. Harvested spinach (4.5 gal bags), kale, basil, beet greens from thinning, and basil. Weeded a bit too. Put up more tomato cages at OG and H.May 19
Planted thyme at H.May 18
Harvested asparagus. Planted Adirondack Red, Lehigh and Superior potatoes in NRMay 17
Froze spinach and asparagus. Hardening off tomatoes for NR.May 16
Planted Molly Magic, Salem, Adirondack Red, Rose Apple Finn, and Yellow Russian banana potatoes in NR Harvested 4 beds of overwintered spinach (9 gal bags).May 15
Transplanted painted daisy, marigold and lavender into bed by house in NR. Transpalnted 2 trays of cole crops. Harvested a bit more asparagus. Planted Red Maria potatoes.May 14
Flame weeded at OG. Dug up painted daisies and washed roots bare. Harvested asparagus in NR and cut seed potato.May 13
Transplanted cucumbers, cantelope and wateremlon. Started fall caulifower: grafitti (6), flame (6) and broccoli: green mountain (6) and acadia (6).May 12
Transplanted thyme, margoram, chamomile, basil, eggplants and peppers. Weeded and broadforked 2 beds.May 11
Finished preparing 4 beds and began covering them with landscape fabric.May 10
Weeded in OG and broad forked 3 beds.May 9
Weeded in OG and broad forked a bed. Put out eggplant, spices for OG and cole crops NR out for hardening off.May 8
Transplanted 4 trays of tomatoes, 2 trays of cole crops and celery at OG. Started cucumbers (9), melons (10), and watermelon (6) seedlings for NR.May 7
Harvested asparagus in NR.May 6
Putting down landscape fabric around reliance peach in NR. Planted lettuce, beets and swiss chard. Harvested spinach in OG and NR.May 5
Planted potatoes and 3 trays of cole seedlings.May 4
Putting down landscape paths in NR. Preparing beds. Transplanted 2 trays of onion seedlings.May 3
Weeded at OG. Watered later. Watered desperate plants at H. Cut seed potato for NR.May 2
Watered at OG.May 1
Repotted peppers for OG. Finished cutting 1 ft piece off weed barrier. Hardening off remaining OG tomatoes and celery.April 30
Planted 4 tomatoes at H and 12 at OG. Brought eggplants back inside.April 29
Garden cleanup in OG. Harvested spinach.April 28
Bit of garden cleanup in NR. Transplanted a tray of cole crops in OG in gusty wind. Put up a makeshift windscreen.April 27
Transplanted 2 trays of onions in NR. Planted peas. Moved 4 blueberry sprouts. Moved Rhubarb. Thinned and transplanted strawberries. Dug up 3 honeyberries and 3 currants. Starting chitting the seed potatoes.April 26
Began hardening off more cole for NR. Weeded at OG and prepared a bed. Noted peas, lettuce, beets are starting to come up.April 24
Weeded at OG and prepared a bed. Began hardening off broccoli and cauliflower for NR.April 23
Began hardening off kale and cabbage. Started cantelope (15) watermelon (9) and cucumber (9) for OG.April 22
Repotted early tomatoes. Began hardening off early tomatoes and eggplant.April 21
Transplanted 3 trays of onions in OG. Weeded and watered. Harvested spinach.April 20
Broad forked 2 beds in OG. Weeded. Repotted rosemary.April 19
Broad forked 2 beds in OG. Weeded. Repotted a few herbs.April 18
Repotted early tomatoes for Valhalla. Thinned 2 trays of cole crops for NR.April 16
Repotted tray of early tomatoes.April 15
Planted 2 rows of swiss chard at OG. Thinned 3 trays of NR cole crops.April 14
Planted 2 rows of carrots at OG.April 13
Uncovered spinach, garlic and crannebrries in NR. Put Praying mantis egg cases in NR. Sprayed Neem on fruit trees at H and cane berries in OG. Planted a row of beets at OG.April 12
Took markers to OG.April 11
Repottted last seedling tray of crops stunted by bad soil. Planted peas, lettuce and radishes in OG.April 10
Repottted 1 seedling tray of crops stunted by bad soil. Finished preparing beds and trellises for peas in OG. Thinned onions for NR.April 9
Repottted 1 seedling tray of crops stunted by bad soil. Worked on preparing beds and trellises for peas in OG.April 8
Repottted 2 seedling trays of cole crops stunted by bad soil. Harvested spinach at OG and dug up old lovage plants.April 6
Put up bean trellises in NR. Garden cleanup. Froze garlic.April 5
Built compost bin in NR.April 4
Started for OG: basil (18), purple basil (6) and H: thyme (12). Reseeded parsley starts. Thinned and divided tomatoes.April 2
Started cole crops for NR, BS red ball (6), LI, (6), Catskill (6), cabbage: bruns (15), red (9), kale: siberian (6) starbor (6).April 1
Cut off old asparagus plants in NR. Thinned and transplanted strawberries.March 30
Transplanted small number of spinach plants at H. Started broccoli GM (18) and cauliflower: flame (6), graffiti (6) Snow (6) for NR.March 28
Moved blueberry sprigs to potting soil (no roots in sight). Set sweet potato root in water. Thinned early tomatoes. Prepared bed in OG. Transplanted spinach and filled in spinach in OG.March 24
Canned and froze the last 2017 potatoes!March 23
Canned potatoes.March 22
Started onions for NR: AC (72). Thinned cole seedlings.March 21
Started onions for NR: Red (72).March 19
Started eggplat for OG: Galine (12). Moved spinach to hardening box.March 18
Started Tomatoes for OG: SH (18) Mountain Magic (6) and Lunchbox peppers: Red (5) Yellow (4)March 16
Froze onions.March 15
Froze lots of potatoes.March 14
Froze lots of potatoes.March 11
Cleanup at OG & mapped beds. Harvested a bit of over wintered spinach. Started OG cherry tomatoes: sungold (3), indigo (3) yellow (3) chocolate (1) white (1) tomatoberry (1), sweet 100 (2) baby boomer (1) and tomatoes: defiance (6).March 7
Started celery (6), marjorim (6), chamomile(6), lavender (12), cumin (12), and marigold (12) for OG.March 6
Cleanup in OG.March 5
Started for OG: Brussel sprouts Red Ball (6) and Long Island (6) Celery (6)March 4
Thinned onions and spinach. Started for OG: Cauliflower Flame (6) and Graffiti (6) Red cabbage (6) Green cabbage (6) kale Siberian (6) and Starbor (6).February 28
Took pea trellises to OG. Cleanup and overwintered spinach transplanting to two beds.February 27
Froze 2Bkd potatoes.February 26
Sprayed Neemin OG and H. Froze 2Bkd potatoes.February 24
Set out Praying Mantis egg cases in OG (9) and H (5).February 21
Weeded in OG. Set up hardening off box at H.February 17
Thinned strawberrries in OG.February 16
Started GN spinach (72 OG) -- fill-in for over winter. Started onions for OG: AC (72), Red (36).February 15
Thinned strawberries and transplanted some at OG. Started Goliath spinach (72 OG) -- fill-in for over winter.February 14
Thinned strawberries and transplanted some at OG. Froze twice baked potatoes.February 13
Fertilized perenials at H.February 1
Pruned trees and blueberries at H and grapes at OGJanuary 27
Froze potatoes. Pruned in NRJanuary 26
Froze potatoes and pruned in NR. Fertilized most perenials (forgot the asparagus).January 24
Pruned and garden cleanup at OG.January 20
Froze potatoes. Pruned large fruit trees and sprayed neem in NR.January 19
Froze potatoes and garlic.