Soil Testing

Results for this cup of dirt were back within a week. I expected some lead, with the BQE and industrial New York as prime suspects, and moderate levels were found. It was in the low end of the moderate range, so it's not too concerning. The tomatoes, which would have been fine because they are a fruiting vegetable, unfortunately succumbed to a fungus, perhaps fusarium wilt.

June crops

Here's the first strawberry from the pot out front - not really much of a harvest - but the plants are ever-bearing so these small sugary lumps should be appearing all summer.These are garlic scapes, a bonus that I wasn't aware of a week ago. They are the flower of the garlic cloves I planted last fall. We cooked them with zucchinis on the grill. They added a mild onion/garlic flavor.

Hops Find Twine

At the current rate of growth, the hops will outgrow the beanstalks.

Striped Snail

Roaming in the back of the garden, not the typical brown shelled oozer. I think it is a Cepaea nemoralis.

Garden pic

The current state of the back garden as of May 24, 2010. Last year we hadn't even started yet. And the hops have sprouted. Today I planted morning glory seeds after work. They soaked for about 20 hours beforehand, which may have been overkill.

Brownstone Hops Farming

A couple Golding hop rhizomes.I planted them in the sunniest part of the back yard and improvised a twine course for the vines to climb once they emerge.

Upstate Ramps

These ramps, collected in Roscoe, New York, were being sold at the Union Square green market a couple weeks ago. I've been wanting to try them for the last couple years.I opted to saute them in some olive oil, bulbs first, then then tops. The green part cooks like spinach. After salt and pepper, I ate them as a side with macaroni and cheese. They were good but they leave you smelling worse than onions.