Germinating Seeds

I took 100 Nigella seeds.


I separated 25 seeds into each bowl.


I put the seeds on 4 damp paper towels.


I wetted them some more.


Now I wait for the seeds to germinate.

Wikipedia: Nigella sativa is an annual flowering plant, native to south and southwest Asia. It grows to 12 inches tall, with finely divided, linear leaves. The flowers are delicate, and usually colored pale blue and white, with five to ten petals. The fruit is a large and inflated capsule composed of three to seven united follicles, each containing numerous seeds. The seed is used as a spice (Kalonji).

Food Values

Three Root Crops:

1. Radish: Riboflavin, B6, Calcium, Magnesium, Copper, Fiber, C.

2. Potato: Potassium, Calcium, Iron, Phosphorus, C.

3. Carrot: B6, A, C, K, Beta Carotene.

Three Above-the-Ground Veggies:

1. Broccoli: B Vitamins, C, A, Calcium, Iron, Zinc.

2. Tomato: C, A, K, Fiber.

3. Spinach: Zinc, Fiber, A, C, E, K, Folate, Calcium, Copper

Three Fruits:

1. Mango: Fiber, A, Potassium, Calcium.

2. Banana: Fiber, C, B6, Potassium,

3. Strawberry: C, Fiber, Folate, Potassium, Manganese.


(Strawberries)

Garden Update, Late May

Radishes (grown from seed).




Flowers (grown from plants).


Lettuce (grown from seed).


View down the length of the plot.


Peas (grown from seed).


Bag of lettuce and radishes.


Lettuce (grown from seed).


Carrot (grown from seed).


Baby Bok Choy (grown from seed).

Garden Pests

Five garden pests and two recommended solutions for each pest. All my solutions are organic.

1.Aphids: Lady Bugs, Natural Aphid Control Powder.

2. Caterpillars: Hand Pick, Invite Birds to Garden.

3. Ants: Tobacco, Boiling Water.

4. Beetles: Garlic and Hand Pick.

5. Birds: Flash Tape, Netting.



Tomato Horn Worm

From the Garden

Lettuce.


Radishes.

Worm Update: 5/26/11

Community Garden Work Party, 5/21/11

I hauled lumber for the fence.




I stacked lumber.


I drilled holes in boards for a picnic table assembly.

First Radish Picked

Grown from seed.

Things from Seed

Bachelor Buttons on the lower right (to the left of the stick).


Lettuces.


Arugula.


Nasturtiums (under the chives).


Radishes.


Onions (from sets).


Peas.


Salad (from seed-grown greens).

Worm Bin Project, Part Two

I looked on Craig's List for redworms and found a seller in North Portland.




I bought a pound of redworms.


I got shredded newspaper wet.




I put the paper in the bin.


I put a cup of dirt in the bin with the paper.




I put the worms in the bin.


Here are the worms.




I put a damp cardboard on the top of the bin in side to make it dark and cool for the worms.


Finished bin.