Cliff's 2021 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 2020 Garden Blog] [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]


August 21

Dug potatoes. Harvested plums, spinach, onions in NR. Picked bugs, sprayed BT, cut down tent caterpillers.

August 20

Trimmed last garlic. Froze peach pie filling. Dug potatoes.

August 19

Cut peaches.

August 18

Harvested tomatoes, beans, peaches, corn, winter squash & melons. Canned tomatoes and peaches.

August 14

Harvested tomatoes & first plum in NR. Cleaned garlic.

August 13

Harvested broccoli, kale, string beans in NR. Trimmed and sold garlic. Froze tomatoes, string beans, kale, squash, broccoli.

August 12

Harvested corn and tomatoes in OG, pulled summer squash. Harvested cucumbers, squash and string beans in NR.

August 11

Harvested cucumbers and corn in OG.

August 10

Harvested cucumbers, squash, tomatoes, and string beans in OG, froze string beans.

August 8

Harvested cucumbers and blueberries in NR.

August 7

Harvested summer squash, kale in NR. Froze them. Sold garlic in NR. Canned peaches and tomatoes. Harvested beans in OG. Froze them.

August 6

Harvested summer squash in NR. Prepped garlic for sale. Froze cherry tomatoes. Cooked tomatoes. Picked basil, cherry tomatoes, beets, cauliflower, in OG.

August 5

Froze cherry tomatoes. Made 10 qts of refrigerator pickles. Watered in NR.

August 4

Harvested peaches at H, squash, cucumbers, beans and tomatoes at OG. Blueberries in NR. Watered in NR.

August 3

Harvested peaches at H. Blueberries at H and NR. Watered in NR.

August 2

Harvested cherry tomatoes, tomatoes, string beans in OG. Made 7qts of refrigirator pickles.

August 1

Harvested cucumbers and summer squash in OG.

July 31

Harvested cherry tomatoes in NR. Planted 4 beds of spinach. Trimmed garlic.

July 30

Harvested 1.8 lbs yellow russian bananna potatoes, cucumbers, squash and blueberries in NR,

July 29

Garden cleanup/bed preparation. Sifted charcoal.

July 28

Harvested squash, kale in NR. Picked bugs. Garden cleanup/bed preparation.

July 27

Watered in NR. Harvested squash and cucumber. Picked bugs.

July 26

Harvested garlic (Silverskins and misc experiments) in NR. Planted peas.

July 25

Trimmed some garlic. Harvested summer squash. Planted spinach, carrots, beets, and swiss chard.

July 24

Harvested garlic (Siberian) in NR. Trimmed some garlic. Harvested summer squash, and tomatoes in NR.

July 23

Harvested garlic (Music ) in NR. Trimmed some garlic.

July 22

Harvested garlic (Metichi, Sicilian Silver late, Ajo Rojo Late ) in NR. Trimmed some garlic. Harvested summer squash, blueberries, currants and tomatoes in NR. Harvested cucumbers, eggplants, beans in OG (thanks Ben).

July 21

Harvested garlic (Germain White & Russian Red) in NR. Weeded.

July 20

Harvested garlic (Inchellium Red, cloves, bulbils, rounds), basil and zucchini in NR.

July 19

Harvested garlic (Spanish Rojo, Germain Red, Yugoslavian, Kettle River) in NR. Harvested tomatoes. Planted summer squash and lettuce.

July 18

Harvested garlic (Red Grain, Pskem, Bogatryr, Montana Zemo) in NR. Harvested swiss chard, basil in OG. Froze kale in NR.

July 17

Harvested cucumber in NR.

July 16

Harvested peaches at H.

July 15

Harvested kale, carrots, beets, cucumbers in OG.

July 11

Harvested blueberries, cucumber and garlic (Red Toch, Youghiogheny, Chesnok Red) in NR. Harvested swiss chard, basil and beans in OG. Froze blueberries.

July 10

Picked a few of lots of veggies in in OG.

July 9

Picked bugs in OG. Sprayed BT and bee-safe Harvested a cucumber.

July 8

Picked bugs in OG. Sprayed BT and bee-safe Harvested a cucumber.

July 7

Picked bugs in OG. Harvested kale. Weeded.

July 6

Picked bugs in OG. Harvested blueberries at H.

July 5

Covered blueberries in NR. Harvested peas and cucumbers in OG. First ripe cherry tomato. Weeded.

July 4

Harvested broccoli in NR; Harvested garlic: Rose du Lautrec.

July 3

Harvested kale in NR; Harvested garlic: asian tempist bulbis.

July 1

Harvested broccoli in NR; froze broccoli. Harvested garlic: thai fire, thai purple, korean mountain.

June 30

Harvested cucumber, broccoli, peas at OG; blueberries at H. Froze blueberries. Harvested cherries in NR, froze them. Watered. Sprayed pyrethium on potatoes.

June 29

Thinned peaches at H.

June 28

Harvested lettuce and a cucumber at OG. Harvest blueberries at home. Thinned peaches.

June 27

Harveted swiss chard and peas in OG. Sprayed vinegar.

June 26

Harveted cucumber in OG. Expanded cucumber covers.

June 25

Harveted kale and strawberries in OG. Sprayed bee-safe/fish and BT.

June 24

Weeded and picked bugs in NR. Harvested basil and a few cherries. Harveted basil, water starved broccoli, and snap peas in OG. Harvested a few blueberries at H; covered them.

June 23

Sprayed bee-safe&fish on potatoes, raspberries, squash and cole. Weeded. Hand picked bugs. Picked strawberries in NR. Harvested and froze kale.

June 22

Weeded and picked bugs in NR.

June 21

Handpicked potato beetles and chafers. Weeded. Cut garlic scapes.

June 20

Watered a bit in NR. Sprayed BT on apples and cherries et al. Sprayed fish on peas, corn and brocolli. Weeded. Assembled/installed gate for middle garden and added landscape fabric. Planted more tarbais beans.

June 19

Watered sweet potatoes in NR. Weeded. Uncovered broccoli.

June 18

Harvested peas and strawberries at OG.

June 17

Sprayed fish/neem and vinegar.

June 16

Harvested strawberries. Froze strawberries.

June 15

Weeded/cleanup in OG. Made strawberry jam. Froze spinach, kale and strawberries. Started cleaning kozys.

June 14

Planted watermelon in OG. Picked strawberries, kale and spinach. Froze strawberries.

June 13

Planted watermelon and tarbais and christmas beans. Picked strawberries. Froze strawberries.

June 12

Sprayed bee-safe/fish on potatoes and grapes. Planted last 9 sweet potatoes and parsley in NR. Picked spinach and strawberries in OG. Froze strawwberies at H.

June 11

Planted last 9 sweet potatoes and parsley in NR. Froze strawwberies at H.

June 10

6 ft fence in middle garden in NR is getting there. Planted 21 sweet potatoes. Spinach and strawberries harvested in OG. Froze strawwberies both places.

June 9

Handpicked potato beetles. Sprayed potatoes with fish&neem. Started putting up 6 ft fence in the middle garden. Froze strawberry rhubarb pie filling and strawberries.

June 8

Harvested strawberries in OG. Froze strawberries.

June 7

Harvested spinach, lettuce and kale in OG. Found spotted lantern fly in OG. Sprayed neem on summer squash, pumpkins and grapes. Froze strawberries, spinach.

June 6

Harvested spinach and strawberries (44 lbs) in OG. Found spotted lantern fly in the house. Froze strawberries, spinach, and rhubarb pie filling.

June 5

Harvested asparagus in NR. Hand picked potato bettles.

June 4

Harvested asparagus in NR. Weeded garlic. Prepared beds. Planted popcorn and pinto, black and kidney beans.

June 3

Harvested asparagus in NR. Transplanted peppers and summer squash into kozys. Planted sweet corn. Sprayed fish on garlic. Transplanted NR amaryllis into the barn garden. Prepared beds, watered.

June 2

Froze strawberries. Harvested asparagus in NR.

June 1

Harvested strawberries, spinach and kale in OG. Sprayed fish/neem. Froze spinach.

May 31

Harvested asparagus in NR. Overseeded weakly gemerinating carrots, beets and lettuce in NR. Harvested strawberries in OG and put bird cover in place.

May 30

Harvested asparagus in NR. Transplanted cucumbers, melons in row covers. Harvested and froze rhubarb. Weeded asparagus and some strawberries.

May 29

Harvested asparagus in NR. Transplanted celery and basil.

May 28

Harvested strawberries in OG. Transpalnted basil.

May 27

Harvested lettuce, spinach and strawberries in OG. Froze spinach.

May 26

Harvested asparagus. Sprayed raspberries and Kozys with Neem/Fish. Froze asparagus and spinach. Planted string beans on two trellises.

May 25

Harvested asparagus. Sprayed raspberries and Kozys with Neem/Fish. Froze asparagus and spinach.

May 24

Harvested asparagus.

May 23

Harvested asparagus. Sprayed fish on garlic.

May 22

Transplanted acorn squash, butternut squash, stryrian pumpkin and peppers in Kozys in NR. Harvested asparagus. Watered garlic and potatoes.

May 21

Applied nenmatodes in NR. Watered coles. Sprayed BT&fish on apples and cole crops. Harvest asparagus and spinach. Planted Monte Gusto and Carimant string beans. Sprayed fish on garlic and smaller pear trees.

May 20

Watered garlic and tomatoes in NR. Harvested asparagus.

May 19

Transplanted cucumber under row cover and peppers (6) and cantaloupe (6) in Kozys. Harvested spinach. Started rinsing seedling pots and trays.

May 18

Planted sweet corn. Sprayed Neem/Fish. Put down Landscape fabric for cucumbers.

May 17

Transplanted eggplants in OG. Planted green/yellow/purple string beans. Watered. Took amaryllus outside.

May 16

Transplanted sunflowers and pumpkins in OG. Harvested spinach, rhubarb & weeded.

May 15

Harvested asparagus in NR.

May 14

Sprayed nematodes in NR. Harvested spinach.

May 13

Sprayed BT on apple trees in NR. Harvested spinach; froze spinach.

May 12

Sprayed fish on cole and garlic in NR. Transplanted 18 tomatoes into Kozys. Harvested some spinach.

May 11

Sprayed fish on garlic and flowers in NR. Transplanted (3) trays of onions.

May 10

Another try at starting parsley. Harvested asparagus in NR.

May 9

Prepared bed in OG. Froze spinach.

May 8

Started for NR: Winter squash: JWS 6823 Butternut (4), Tiptop Acorn (4), watermelon: Crimson (2), sugar baby (1), Melons: Lilly (2), Granite (1), Diplomat (2), Milan (1), Cucumbers: Itachi (2), Summer Dance (2), Unagi (1), Nokya (1). Transplanted Patterson onions and celery in OG. Harvested end of overwintered spinach.

May 7

Transplanted last 24 tomatoes in OG into kozy coats. Started Styrian pumpkins for H as only 1 previously came up.

May 6

Filled Kozy coats in OG.

May 5

Filled Kozy coats in OG. Weeded.

May 3

Resprayed bad patches of yard with nematodes. Transplanted remaing cole seedlings. Harvest asparagus. Weeded.

May 2

Sprayed rest of yard with nematodes. Transplanted cabbage, broccoli and kale. Harvest asparagus. Weeded.

May 1

Sprayed 1/4 of yard with Hb+SC+SF nematodes. Reset landscape fabric blown by the wind. Prepared beds. Planted potatoes: Upstate (1.7 lbs), Molly magic (1.5), Yel Rus Ban (1.4), French Fingerling (1), Adir Red (4.75), Adir Blue (25). Harvested spinach in OG and weeded strawberries.

April 30

Sprayed/watered 1/8 of yard with Hb+SC+SF nematodes. Plums blooming, pears just about to.

April 29

Transplanted 9 more tomatoes in Kozys in OG.

April 28

Started pumpkins for H: Styrian (3) and OG: Musquee de Provence (3) Candy roaster (3), Cucmbers, 1 each: Nokya, Itachi, Uagi, summer dance, melons, 1 each: Milan, Diplomat, Granite, Lily and watermelon for OG: Crimson (2), Sugar Baby (2).

April 27

Transplanted 1st tomatoes (3) into Kozy's at OG and put up a row cover over the uncovered cole crops.

April 26

Transplanted remaining cole seedlings and two trays of onions in OG. Put up one row cover.

April 25

Harvested asparagus in NR.

April 24

Harvested spinach and weeded in OG and NR. Sprayed liquid fish in NR.

April 23

Cut first asparagus in NR.

April 19

Transplanted into OG: kale (9), brocolli (12).

April 17

Transplanted cabbage in OG (12); cut blueberry stems for rooting.

April 15

Started flowers: marigolds (12), african daisy (12), (12).

April 14

Started flowers: sunflowers (9), spider plant (9), zinnia (12), pinks (12), snapdragons (12).

April 13

Started basil for OG (18) and NR (18). Started tomatoes for NR: Cherries (13), Big Beef (4), San Marzano (3).

April 10

Laid out potatoes for chitting. Planted 3 post widths of peas in NR. New beds: carrots and beets.

April 8

Prepared OG beds for eventual corn. Planted spinach now.

April 7

Prepared beds and put up 2nd pea trellis in OG. Planted peas and lettuce, carrots and swiss chard. New beds: carrots and beets.

April 6

Prepared beds and put up one pea trellis in OG.

April 4

Harvested spinach in NR.

March 31

Started for OG: eggplant: Oreiental express (6), peppers: Ace (6), lunch box yellow (3), Lilo (3), Flavorburst (3), Red embr (3).

March 30

Thinned seedlings. Started more cole for NR: Cabbage, Murdock (9), Ruby (9), Kalettes (6), Brussel Sprouts (6), Broccoli, Monty (6), E. Magic (6). Started cherry tomatoes for OG: Chocolate, Indigo (2), White, Yellow (2), Citrine, Lucky Tiger, Baby Boomer, SS100, Valentine, Sungold (2), Tomatoes: San Marzano (11), Big Beef (12).

March 29

Wind blown fabric reset in NR.

March 27

Garden cleanup in NR.

March 25

Started cauliflower for NR: Graffiti (3), Flame (6), celery (9), kale curly (9), broccoli: green magic (3), monty (6).

March 24

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

March 23

Thinned cole and onion seedlings. Broadforked 1 bed in OG.

March 21

Thinned barn raspberries in NR. Sprayed Lime Sulphur on raspberries, apples and plums. Planted garlic: Kettle River round (1) and Inchellium Red (6)

March 11

Started for OG: cabbage: Murdoc (6), Ruby (6) and Kale: Dwarf (9), Cauliflower: Flame (6), Graffiti (6), Brussel Sprouts: Dungen(6), Kalettes (6) Brocolli: E Magic (6), Green Magic (3), Monty (6), celery (12).

March 6

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

February 24

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

January 24

Froze last potatoes from 2020.

February 28

Flame weeded OG.

March 15

Restarted Patterson onions.