Sprouts, and Planting, Finally

I got some help from Rudy our cat. He is checking to see if the Italian Cucumbers my Aunt Pat set me have sprouted yet. They haven't, it's only been three days.
My carrots, squash, Romaine lettuce, onions, and others are finally sprouting.
Middle photo shows some Romaine in foreground, behind it is Broccoli Rabe, and third row is broccoli and Brussel sprouts.
I put up a small trellis of fence posts and chicken wire for my pole beans, Roma II, and Blue Lake. The Blue Lake seeds are a year old so I'm taking a chance, we'll see if anything pops up.
The squash, melons and some cucumber are in "hills", although I have some cucumber in rows.
Tomatoes are still VERY small under the patio cover. I will plant tomatoes after checking the weather.

Not a lot to report

With such a late frost date, June 15th, I still have my seedlings in the kitchen window. Tomatoes are doing well and I did plant my potatoes, carrots and onions in the garden, but not much to see yet. Fennel looks good, apple tree is starting to show a few blooms, my Brussel sprouts, broccoli, rainbow chard and cabbage seem to be growing slowly.
June 15th we'll go "wild with the planting!
Squashes, 3 types, lettuce several varieties, radish, French Breakfast, cucumbers lemon, Verde Ortalani and Marketmore, celery, melons, 3 varieties including watermelon, Charentais , Jarrahdale pumpkins, peppers, herbs and catnip for our kitties will be direct planted around the first of June.
Patience, patience, patience!

More wildflowers

My wife, Becky and I headed towards Lake Isabella for a picnic. Along the way we took some Photos of the wildflowers. They are peaking in the high country as they are here in Stallion Springs now..

Tomatoes, Tomatoes, Tomatoes, and Other good Stuff

Well I've finished planting Beefsteaks, Yellow Pear, Stupice, and Roma Tomatoes. Added more peas, and dug my trenches for my Potatoes, Yukon Golds, Pontiac Reds and Russets. This weekend we'll also plant Scarlet Nantes Carrots, Romaine Lettuce, Oak Leaf Lettuce, maybe some Escarole.

When Planting potatoes I dig large deep trenches (about 4"-6" deep), plant the seed potatoes, cover with about 2"inches of soil. Once they grow to about 6' inches in height I cover with about 2 more inches of soil. I continue to mound soil around them until the rows are approximately 4" high. This allows for a higher yield. When the leaves start to brown I discontinue watering so that the skin will dry and get thicker. Weeks later it's harvest time. You know I should pick up some fingerlings they are always fun to cook.

Well I've planted some Boccoli Rabe/Broccolini, the sprouts are up. Just started some tomatoes (indooors) San Marzano. The weather has turned cold again, light snow last night, temp got down to 26.
The challenge here is the weather. Last frost date is June 15th, gosh I hate to wait!
Will start planting in earnest (indoors)this weekend. More broccoli, will plant cabbage in the garden. Need to start my potatoes soon, probably in a couple of weeks. I have Yukon Gold and Pontiac Reds.
Tilling and soil prep is nearly done.

Crop Rotation

Crop rotation is an important element in keeping your garden healthy. I have added a link to information and a simple chart to help you and me.
Crop rotation keeps us from depleting the soil of the nutrients plants need and replacing what they do need. See link "Crop Rotation Chart" on the right side.

First Planting and Fertilization

This past Saturday I planted broccoli and Brussel Sprouts, and added lots of cow manure and compost to my garden area. My compost pile is now depleted.
I chose this weekend to take advantage of the snow we received on Sunday.
Also did some soil tests. Our ph is between 6 and 7 which is perfect, but I need more organic material and nutrients.
I like Dr. Earth and use it only in the plant holes and in the rows. It contains natural micorrhizae for the soil.
Also picked up some 50+ year old blocks from an old cement plant that were used for a kiln. I plan to recycle them as stepping stones near the garden.

Spring Wildflowers near Tehachapi

I was on my way back to Tehachapi and took these photos on the West side of the Tehachapi Mountains. Wildflowers include the orange and yellow of Fiddlenneck.

Seeds from Italy!

My Aunt Pat sent me seeds from Italy, they arrived in the mail today!
I am so excited, pumped, jazzed!
She sent me endive, San Marzano tomatoes, Cornaletto peppers, zucca (squash) Moscade de Provence, Tortareno Abruzzese cukes, VerdeOrtolani cucumbers, Zucca Padana, and Peppers Frigatello.
This will save me a few buck but more importantly it was a pure act of love, and I am grateful.
I look forward to sending her some of my seeds when I get all my orders in.
Isn't seed exchanging fun? Heck yes.
My garden looks like it will be larger than I expected, oh darn.
My wife thinks I am going "over the edge" and
I have to re-plan my space.
Photos are from leeks in the garden, they overwinter well, Daffodils and Crocus, Spring blooms of Fruitless Cherry.

Sowing Plans

I plan on sowing my first seed next week, indoors. Will return on Monday from San Diego and hopefully start that afternoon.
It may seem late for some folks, but our last frost date here is June 15th! That is very late, but not for 4000ft. I do have some gardening friends only 10 miles away in Golden Hills and they tell me they sow outdoors a full month earlier. They are on a southeast facing slope and I am at the base of a northwest facing alluvial fan, so they get more and earlier sun than us.
First seeds to sow will be:
Celery, broccoli and kale, some cool weather lettuces and maybe escarole. We already have some lettuce coming up in the garden, seed from last year. I thought it would be much too cold, in the 20s many nights, but looks healthy. It also looks like endive but is still a bit small to be sure.
I want to start tomatoes although it is weeks early, but it is hard to resist getting started!
I need the discipline.
I will be adding chicken manure and compost to the garden by April 1st. Need to test the soil to verify the other nutrient needs.

Garden in snow

My garden gate and garden a couple of weeks ago, February 24 I believe.

Just Beginning

This is my first attempt and having my own blog. The intent is to communicate gardening ideas and share my experiences gardening at 4000 feet in the Tehachapi Mountains of California, and of course have fun.
I hope I can share my ideas and also gain knowledge from other gardeners.
I must say I have been inspired by Skippy's Vegetable Garden.
It will take some time to build, of course. I hope to share photos, ideas on water conservation, fertilization, composting, etc. I try to apply organic methods most of the time. I grow almost exclusively heirloom vegetables.
Thank you, Nick