Cliff's 2020 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 Organic Gardening] [Cliff's 2019 Garden Blog] [Cliff's 2018 Garden Blog] [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 16

Dug last carrots in OG.

December 11

Pruned larger bed of raspberries.

December 9

Trimmed asparagus.

December 2

Harvested 7 gal of spinach. Have been freezing potatoes and garlic. Thai Fire, Bogatyr, Thai purple and many rounds have sprouted.

October 15

Clean up at OG. Harvested dried beans, and a few beans and peppers.

October 15

Clean up at OG. Harvested dried beans, and a few beans and peppers.

October 12

Froze spinach and kale.

October 10

Harvested spinach, kale, brocolli, white wine grapes. Froze spinach.

October 9

Froze spinach and harvested 35 lbs of pears in NR. Harvested spimnach, kale and carrots in OG.

October 8

Harvested spinach and a couple dozen pears in NR. Started a crock of sauerkraut.

October 5

Planted the second batch of 8 new garlic types. Harvested spinach in NR.

October 3

Sprayed BT and bee safe in OG. Harvested the amyrylis and spinach and carrots.

October 1

Clean up in OG. Harvested 23 pumpkins and several butternut squash.

September 27

Canned 17 qts of apple sauce in NR. Made concord grape pies. Garden clean up! Added Germain Red, Yugoslavian and Sicilian Silver bulbis. Froze spinach. Apple jelly?

September 26

Harvested 115 lbs of gala apples in NR. Spinach too. Juiced grapes and apples. Garden clean up.

September 25

Harvested concord grapes in NR. ~35 lbs.

September 22-24

Planted 20 varieties of garlic in NR. Sprayed bee safe on grapes; weeded.

September 13

Sprayed bee safe on grapes; weeded.

September 12

Harvested basil, beans, tomatoes, peppers cucumbers at OG. Sprayed bee safe on grapes and tomatoes.

September 9

Juiced and canned wine grapes.

September 6

Harvested last plum drops, squash, cucumbers, dried black beans. Sprayed bee safe on squash and tomatoes. Shelled dried beans.

September 5

Harvested pkum drops and broccoli. Cut tomatoes.

September 4

Drying somerset grapes. Made plum jam. Froze string beans and squash. Shelled dried beans.

September 3

Harvested squash and 12 lbs of plum drops; over 30lbs of Marquette grapes.

September 2

Harvested basil, cucumbers and tomatoes i NR. Cabbage, peppers, tomatoes in OG.

September 1

Made somerset grape jam.

August 31

Harvested cucumbers in NR. Harvest ~10 lbs of somerset grapes. Froze plums. Canned plums.

August 30

Harvested cucumbers and squash in NR. Started selling garlic.

August 29

Harvested cherry tomatoes in NR. Froze beans, squash and broccoli.

August 28

Harvested grapes and plum drops (11 lbs) in NR. Froze grapes, dried grapes.

August 27

Harvested grapes and plum drops in NR. Froze grapes, dried plums.

August 26

Froze squash with egg and cheese. Dried squash. Harvested plum drops. Sorted garlic for planting, eating and selling.

August 25

Harvested corn, summer squash, cucumbers, watermelon, plum drops in NR. Froze corn.

August 15

Harvested summer squash, cauliflower, watermelon, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, grapes, sweet corn in NR. Also potatoes: Salem 7.8, Lehigh 30, Red Maria (T) 21, Molly Magic (T) 21.4. Planted lettuce.

August 15

Harvested summer squash, cauliflower, watermelon, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, grapes, sweet corn in NR. Also potatoes: Salem 7.8, Lehigh 30, Red Maria (T) 21, Molly Magic (T) 21.4. Planted lettuce.

August 14

Harvested cabbage and summer squash in NR. Started 5L crock of sauerkraut. Planted peas. Sprayed BT. Trimmed all garlic. Harvested Red and Paterson onions.

August 13

Weeded in NR. Harvested cucumbers (35), string beans and first sweet corn. Canned peaches. Planted 4 beds of spinach.

August 12

Harvested potatoes: Salem (17.6lbs), canned peaches.

August 11

Weeded in NR. Harvested cucumbers and squash and potatoes: Adir Red (20lbs), Upstate (37.6), Yellow russian bananna (17.6).

August 10

Weeded in NR. Canned tomatoes and peaches.

August 9

Harvested squash, cucumbers, string beans, basil in NR. Froze squash.

August 8

Harvested melon, tomatoes, cabbage, and squash at OG. Sprayed BT and bee safe. First adult SLF seen. Froze blackberries. Harvested 4 trays full of peaches at H.

August 7

Harvested beans, tomatoes, blackberries, carrots at OG. Weeded. Froze blackberries.

August 6

Harvested last corn and onions in OG and backyard peaches at H. Froze cherry tomatoes and corn. Canned peaches and tomatoes.

August 5

Harvested beans, corn, blackberries at OG.

August 4

Froze cherry tomatoes and corn.

August 3

Harvested tomatoes, blackberries, string beans, onions and corn at OG; peaches and blueberries at H. Froze string beans and made blackberry jam.

August 2

Harvested cherry tomatoes, summer squash, cucumbers (24 XL) blueberries and raspberries in NR. Put down landscape fabric in the cherry garden.

August 1

Harvested Siberian garlic (40). Sprayed BT. Hand picked bugs. Expanded the cherry garden fencing.

July 31

Harvested blueberries and raspberries in NR.

July 30

Harvested Inchelium Red (10), Sicilian Silver (29) and Bogatyr (36) garlic in NR. Froze squash. Put down landscape fabric by main gate.

July 29

Harvested garlic Germain Red (34) Music (24) Germain White (14) Inchelium Red (9) in NR. Also cucumbers, raspberries, blue berries, summer squash, string beans in NR. Froze basil and tomatoes.

July 28

Harvested tomatoes, lily melons, beets, basil, 1st corn in OG. Picked peaches at H. Picked cucumbers and summer squash in NR.

July 27

Harvested blackberries, beans in OG. Froze blackberries. Picked peaches at H.

July 26

Harvested tomatoes in OG. Froze basil. Picking up peach drops.

July 25

Harvested swiss chard, pre-me-melons, and blackberries in OG and lettuce, beans and blueberries at H. -

July 24

Harvested tomatoes, string beans, and kale in OG.

July 23

Harvested blackberries, tomatoes, basil in OG.

July 22

Harvested some Asian Tempist (7), Metechi (40) and Kettle River (19) garlic. Harvested raspberries and blue berries, peas and lots of cucumbers. Mulched and weeded potatoes.

July 21

Harvested Music (12) and Asian Tempist (11) garlic. Raspberries and blue berries, lettuce and kale.

July 20

Harvested some Germain White (12) and Germain Red (14) garlic.

July 19

Harvested Ajo Rojo garlic (30). Picked bugs and spot sprayed bee safe. Harvested raspberries, cucumbers and summer squash.

July 18

Harvested raspberries, blueberries basil in NR. Weeded. Picked bugs and spot sprayed bee safe.

July 17

Weeded in NR. Harvested lettuce.

July 16

Harvested peas in NR. Harvested Yugoslavian garlic (38) with 2 scapes at 4am.

July 15

Harvested cherry tomatoes at OG. Sprayed BT. planted peas, carrots, cucumbers, and melons.

July 14

Sprayed bee safe in OG. Hand picked bugs. Harvested kale, basil, cherry tomatoes. Harvested blueberries at home.

July 13

Hand picked bugs. Harvested cherry tomaatoes; weeded in OG. Harvested blueberries at home.

July 12

Updated some landscape fabric. Harvested cucumbers, zuchinni, raspberries, blueberries and strawberries.

July 11

Updated some landscape fabric. Picked bugs in OG.

July 10

Harvested raspberries, and currants in NR. Froze the currants. Picked bugs in OG and harvested beans, squash, tomaotes and swiss chard at OG. Blueberries at H.

July 9

Harvested peas, kale, swiss chard and zuchini in NR. Froze the swiss chard anf kale. Cucumber, tomatoes and squash in OG.

July 8

Harvested white curents in NR. Froze them. Also harvested a pint of cherries.

July 7

Harvested strawberries in NR. Weeded in OG.

July 6

Harvested peas, raspberries, swiss chard, kale and lettuce in NR. Froze swiss chard and kale.

July 5

Sprayed BT and bee safe in OG. Harvested basil.

July 4

Quick check at OG. Harvested peas.

July 2

Sprayed BT on cole and apples in NR. Harvested peas.

July 1

Harvested strawberries.

June 30

Harvested strawberries in NR. Weeded.

June 29

Harvested lettuce and peas.

June 28

Hand picked rose chafers. Harvested strawberries, kale and swiss chard.

June 27

Hand picked rose chafers. Harvested strawberries.

June 26

Hand picked rose chafers.

June 25

Hand picked rose chafers. Harvested strawberries.

June 24

Hand picked rose chafers. Harvested strawberries.

June 23

Hand picked rose chafers. Planted pinto beans in popcorn bed, tarbais beans in two sweet corn beds, morning glories in nw cornern of the barn garden. Cut garlic scapes leaving one per bolting variety.

June 22

Sprayed BT on a few grapes in NR. Hand picked rose chafers. Watered. Transplanted celery. Planted 3 types of string beans on the north end of the barn garden.

June 21

Hand picked rose chafers. Weeded. Picked straw berries

June 20

Sprayed BT in NR. Hand picked rose chafers. Watered. Transplanted basil and margoram.

June 19

S prayed Bee Safe in OG. Weeded. Harvested 9 pints of strawberries, lettuce, basil. Watered in NR.

June 18

Spot sprayed Bee Safe in OG. Weeded. Watered.

June 17

Spot sprayed Bee Safe in OG. Weeded. Harvested 10.5 pints of strawberries. Transplanted peppers (6) and celery (8).

June 16

Spot sprayed Bee Safe in OG. Weeded. Harvested lettuce. Planted tarbias beans and cinnamon pumpkins.

June 15

Spot sprayed Bee Safe in OG. Weeded. Harvested 8 pints of strawberries. Thinned peaches at H.

June 15

Spot sprayed Bee Safe in OG. Weeded. Harvested 8 pints of strawberries. Thinned peaches at H.

June 14

Sprayed Bee Safe in OG. Weeded. Harvested spinach and lettuce. Thinned peaches at H.

June 13

Harvested asparagus and kale in NR. Harvested 16 pints strawberries in OG.

June 12

Harvested asparagus and kale in NR.

June 11

Harvested asparagus and kale in NR. Harvested strawberries in OG.

June 10

Harvested asparagus in NR. Put down landscape fabric. Harvested spinach and lettuce in OG and 7 pints of strawberries; Sprayed Bee Safe in OG. Weeded.

June 9

Harvested asparagus in NR. Hand picked asparagus beetles. Weeded.

June 8

Harvested asparagus in NR. Hand picked asparagus beetles. Watered. Harvested a few strawberries in OG; covered them. Weeded.

June 8

Harvested asparagus in NR. Hand picked asparagus beetles. Watered. Harvested a few strawberries in OG; covered them. Weeded.

June 7

Harvested asparagus in NR. Sprayed Bee safe on asparagus beetles. Transplanted tomatoes.

June 6

Harvested asparagus in NR. Sprayed Bee safe on asparagus beetles. Transplanted watermelons.

June 5

Harvested asparagus in NR. Put down landscape fabric. Watered. Transplanted melons. Harvested spinach and first strawberry in OG. Weeded.

June 4

Harvested asparagus in NR. Put down landscape fabric.

June 3

Harvested asparagus in NR. Put down landscape fabric. Transplanted cucumbers.

June 2

Harvested asparagus in NR. Put down landscape fabric. Weeded.

June 2

Harvested asparagus in NR. Put down landscape fabric. Weeded.

June 1

Harvested asparagus in NR. Put down landscape fabric. Sprayed BT on apple trees.

May 31

Harvested asparagus and last spinach in NR. Weeded. Pruned young trees.

May 30

Harvested asparagusin NR. Weeded. Sprayed Bee Safe on asparagus bugs and apple trees.

May 29

Harvested asparagus and spinach in NR. Weeded. Sprayed Bee Safe on asparagus bugs and summer squash seedlings.

May 28

Harvested asparagus in NR. Planted Pinto and Christmas dry pole beans. Watered a bit.

May 27

Harvested asparagus in NR. Planted Carminat, Monte Gusto and Monte Cristo pole beans. Basil transplanted in OG and string beans planted here and there. Transplanted basil in OG. Weeded. Moved kozies.

May 26

Watered. Harvested asparagus in NR. Transplanted melons and summer squash in OG.

May 25

Planted kidney and black dry beans in NR. Also bed of Tarbais beans and carrots and nearly full bed of carrots and beets. Watered. Harvested asparagus in NR and spinach, kale, beet thinnings in OG.

May 24

Planted sweet corn in NR. Watered. Harvested spinach and asparagus.

May 23

Planted popcorn, swiss chard and lettuce in NR. Watered. Harvested spinach and asparagus.

May 22

Harvested asparagus. Watered.

May 21

Transplanted cabbage (6) and kale (6) in NR. Planted Lehigh (Tucker 5lbs) Salem (Tucker 5lbs) potatoes. Harvested asparagus and a bit of spinach. Mulched onions and spring garlic. Watered. Transpalnted basil in OG and started putting up tomato cages.

May 20

Lightly mulched and watered potatoes and cole crops in barn garden. Planted Red Maria (NR 3lbs) Rose Apple Finn (NR 1lbs) potatoes. Harvested asparagus and one shiitake mushroom.

May 19

Put down landscape fabric and prepared beds. Transplanted cabbage.

May 18

Put down landscape fabric and prepared beds. Planted Red Maria (Tucker, 5lbs) and Yellow Russian Bananna (NR 3 lbs) Transplanted kale and cabbage.

May 17

Transplanted 3rd tray of onions in NR and planted Magic Molly (5lbs) and Upstate Potatoes (5 lbs). Transpalneted brocolli and cauliflower. Harvested spinach.

May 16

Harvested asparagus and shiitake mushrooms in NR. Weeded in OG.

May 15

Harvested celantro parsley at H. Pulled up old pathways in barn garden and put down white fabric around the mystery barn garden apple tree. Harvested a dozen lovely spears of asparagus in NR.

May 14

Put down main pathways in the barn garden. Planted NR adir red (3.25) potatoes and transplanted Paterson onions. Garden cleanup. Cut French Fingerling potatoes. Transplanted 40 tomato seedlings and pole beans at OG. Harvested parsley at OG

May 13

Started 8 melons Lilly (2), Granite (2), Milan (2), Diplomat (2), and 4 watermelons Sugar baby (2), Crimson (2) and and Pumpkins (4), Winter squash (4), summer squash 8, cucumbers (8), celery (12). Cut Lehigh ans Red Maria potatoes to size.

May 12

Started 12 cherry tomatos and 3 San Marz tomatoes, 6 peppers, and 3 FL eggplant. Cover asparagus in NR.

May 10

Transplanted Amarylus in OG.

May 9

Weeded at OG.

May 6

Flame weeded at OG. Put a kozy around a lone tomato.

May 5

Weeded at OG. Moved mushroom soil.

May 4

Started pumpkins (2), Melons (10), Watermelons (4), Summer squash (8), Cucumbers (6), Winter squash (4) Stevia (2) for OG.

May 3

Weeded at OG.

May 2

Transplanted early tomatoes in OG. Planted a bed of swiss chard.

May 1

Transplanted early tomatoes in OG.

April 29

Transplanted trays of onions and cole in OG. Weeded. Hardening off early tomatoes and NR onions. Planted Nova Spy tree in NR. Reinforced 6 ft fences with zip ties.

April 28

Transplanted trays of onions and cole in OG. Weeded. Hardening off early tomatoes and NR onions. Planted Nova Spy tree in NR. Reinforced 6 ft fences with zip ties.

April 25

Transplanted trays of onions (2) and cabbage and kale in OG.

April 20

Planted peas in NR.

April 11

Planted peas and spinach in OG. Weeded. Continued sorting dalylilies & daffodils in NR.

April 19

Started replacing fence around the barn garden. Planted beets and carrots and lettuce in OG.

April 11

Planted peas and spinach in OG. Weeded. Continued sorting dalylilies & daffodils in NR.

April 6

Started mostly for NR: Basil (12) Cabbage, Red (6) Cabbage, #4 (6) Kale, Siberian (6) Zinnia (6)

April 6

Started mostly for NR: Basil (12) Cabbage, Red (6) Cabbage, #4 (6) Kale, Siberian (6) Zinnia (6)

April 5

Started mostly for NR: Broccoli (18) Cauliflower. Snow (3) Graffiti (6) Flame (9) Cabbage: #4 (6) Murdoch (6) Red Acre (6) Kale: Siberian (6) Dwarf Scotch (6) Basil (6) Rebedding daylilies and daffodils in NR

March 21

Sprayed many fruits with Bee Safe.

March 20

Planted replacement peach tree in NR. Pruned the remaining fruit trees.

March 19

Started Cherry tomatoes for OG: Indigo, 5 star, Super 100, Citrine, Sungold, Chocolate, Tiger, and tomatoes Big Boy (7), San Marzano (21). Cut down the girdled peach. Noted a Somerset grape girdled too.

March 18

Weeded at OG.

March 14

Added compost on top of the new garlic planted yesterday. Pruned the grapes and trees in the main garden.

March 13

Spring planted Kettle River (21) and Inchelium Red (21) garlic in NR. Ground 1/2" thawed, covered with bagged soil.

March 12

Started for H in Kozy: Big Beef tomato(1), Cherries: Indigo (1), Sunburst (1) Baby Boomer(1). For OG in kozy: Cherry: Tiger(1), White(1), Yellow(1), Ingigo(1) and mixed lunch peppers (2) and eggplant Florida (2).

March 10

Started for OG: cabbage: #4 (6), Murdoc (6), Red acre (6) and Kale: Siberian (6), Starbor (6), Dwarf (6), Cauliflower: Snow (3), Cheddar (3), Flame (6), Graffiti (6), Brussel Sprouts: Long Island (6), Catskill (6), Brocolli: Arcadia (6).

March 6

Started onions for NR: Alisa Craig (36), Monastrell (36), Patterson (36).

February 22

Started onions for OG: Alisa Craig (36), Monastrell (36), Patterson (36).

February 21

Made a batch of potting soil with homegrown compost.

February 20

Ordered 8 new varieties of garlic for fall planting: Thai purple, Korean Mountain, Pskem, Rose du Lautrec, Chesnok Red, Purple Glazer, Youghiogheny Purple, and Rose du Var.

January 24

Froze last potatoes from 2019. Ordered 2 varieties of artichoke garlic for spring planting: Inchelium Red and Kettle River.