Fall Crops, easy crops for beginners part 5 Spinach and Broccoli

And we are back with the 5th entry in the FALL CROPS series!! In this entry I will be covering on how to plant and take care of Spinach and Broccoli! Let's get started..

     Bloomsdale Spinach, 7 days after seeds were sown

     Spinach is one of those consistent crops I grow every Spring, Fall and Winter in Las Vegas. Spinach can be cooked or eaten raw and will still taste incredibly delicious! The flavour profile changes tremendously when Spinach is grown throughout different seasons. I recommend Spinach to every single beginner gardener because it's extremely easy to take care of when planted correctly and can even grow throughout harsh winters due to it's high sugar content, making the crop pretty much resistant to freeze.

Bloomsdale Spinach, 45 days after seeds were sown

     As you can see, certain varieties of Spinach can grow larger leaves than normal, making it a great staple vegetable in your garden. Spinach can become a large plant if you let it creep on the ground like I do, waiting to harvest fully grown leaves. Or you can harvest spinach leaves that are about 2-4 inches (5-10cm) wide, which is a baby version of the full sized leaf and is also fully nutritional at that stage. I give my spinach plants some extra space between each seed when I plant, 8-10 inches (20-25cm)  apart, so I can have various sized leaves when I harvest. When harvesting Spinach, make sure to pull each leaf out singularly so that the regrowth happens a lot faster, when you leave bits of stem still attached to the main Spinach head the plant thinks that the leaf died and wasn't harvested. This then shocks the plant and tricks it into sending out seed shoots to ensure it's future survival.

Di Cicco Broccoli, 50 days after seed germinated

     Broccoli is another staple fall crop in my household, everyone loves fresh grown broccoli. Roasted, steamed, raw, baked or put into a pie Broccoli is another crop that can change your dishes flavour profile immensely. I always grow a couple plants of Broccoli each Spring, Fall and Winter because of how quickly the crop regenerates after harvesting several Broccoli heads from the plant. The typical time-frame from harvesting a head of broccoli to full regeneration various and usually for me only takes about 3-4 weeks. Which isn't that bad considering it took a full month and a half to produce the original head of Broccoli in the first place.

     I plant my broccoli seeds about 10-12 inches (25-30cm) apart from each other so that when the plant fully develops, it will have enough air flow in between each other and won't compete for nutrients. I prefer more space between Broccoli plants because in my experience stagnant air can cause loads of bacteria issues on the leaves and head of the Broccoli. Which is a complete downer, but I mean as humans we don't live shoulder to shoulder with people do we? We have space to breathe and grow, plants need this as well not just for aesthetic reasons but for health reasons.

     That is it for this entry of FALL CROPS friends! Subscribe to my Google+ and Social Media outlets to stay tuned in with all these blog posts and future videos. I send blog emails daily to my followers about relevant garden topics for the current and on-going seasons. And thank you for reading my media and always being there. <3

Happy Gardening

Farmer Jeff

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Fall Crops, easy crops for beginners part 4 Kale, Leeks and Garlic

Welcome back for the fourth blog post in my series of FALL CROPS 😎

Blue Curled Scotch Kale, grown from seed 40-65 days from harvest

     In this post, I will be going over more beginner Fall crops that need minimal upkeep and will ensure a potential harvest. I chose to write about Kale, Leeks and Garlic this entry because these crops grow exceptionally well with each other. Leeks and Garlic act as a natural bug repellent for the Kale, making it a bit easier for the gardener to tend to other parts of their garden. Also the vegetable crops feed off of each other. Every plant sucks in nutrients through the root system but also puts back certain nutrients it doesn't need for growth. In this case, Garlic will improve the overall growth of your Kale by accumulating traces of sulfur through its growth, which the Kale will feed off of increasing it's overall plant health whilst enhancing its flavour.

Red Russian Kale, 3 weeks from planting and about 3 more before first harvest

     Kale is a versatile crop, you can use it in almost do anything with it and it'll still taste amazing 😋 I've grown almost every single cultivar (breed) of Kale there is out there and I still am amazed at how each cultivar has it's own unique flavour. Regarding SOIL for your Kale plants, I find that high NITROGEN soil with WORM CASTINGS does wonders for your Kale plant. When planting your Kale seed leave about 6-8 inches (15-20 cm) of space in between each plant. Or if you plant on having the Kale plant in your garden for several seasons, leave about 12-16 inches (30-40 cm) in between each plant so that the roots will not be competing for nutrients. I recommend mulching your Kale, if you are indeed growing it from the Spring season, about two weeks after Fall has started so that it will ensure your Kale plant has enough nutrients in the soil to continue growing you a viable and healthy crop for weeks to come.

     I grow my Kale year round, but there are particular times to start your Kale plant in your outdoor garden. I recommend starting your Kale a week after frost in Spring and between 2-3 weeks after Fall has started. Reason being is that during those time-frames are the perfect conditions for your seeds to germinate without much fail. I've personally have had a Kale plant last through 3 growing seasons producing healthy and nutritional leafy greens on a consistent basis. If you take care of the plant, you can get about 4-5 lbs (1,8 - 2,2 kg) of a harvest every 5-6 days. Isn't that amazing?!

Alto Leeks, 60 days from planting 50 days from harvest

     Leeks are one of my addictions and also one of the higher end costing vegetables from the farmers markets. I grow around 300 each Fall for my family because we use them in loads of different stews, soups, pies, stir fry and tons of other recipes. Leeks require soil that has high levels of Nitrogen and also soil that can drain exceptionally well, if you have soggy soil you WILL run into mold issues at the bulb of your Leeks.

Blue Scottish Leeks, 100 days after seeds sown

     As you can see above I planted my seeds pretty close to one another, reason being is that Leeks are one of the crops that take transplanting exceptionally well. When you do transplant, soak the bed a little bit so that it is easier to pull the Leeks out individually instead of all together. Then replant each Leek with about 4-6 inches (10-15cm) of space in between each other. That way you will get thick, healthy Leek stalks and you can just pull them from your garden as you need. Again, this is another crop I grow year round and once you have your garden soil set up, you really don't need to tend your Leeks that often. Most cultivars (breeds) take about 120-210 days to fully mature, it is a slow growing crop but totally worth the wait. 

Italian Purple Garlic, 150 days after planting clove 

     Garlic is another staple crop in my household, we use it on a daily basis. So it is another vegetable I grow on the heavy side. Garlic is super picky with it's soil, it has to be well drained and have certain key nutrients in it. Those nutrients are Nitrogen, Sulfur, Potassium and Phosphorus. The best fertilizer in my experience for Garlic is animal manure, in my case I use horse manure. Just like Leeks, Garlic can run into mold issues if you have soggy soil problems.

     When you plant Garlic, you actually plant it by the clove. Yes, the clove. So find a specific type that you like to eat and buy a head of it. When you get home take it apart CAREFULLY, you will want to keep the skin on the cloves. If you remove the skin the Garlic will not sprout it will just mold in your garden and cause potential infestation issues. Plant each clove with the skin on about 6-8 inches (15-20cm) apart from one another. It'll take some time before you harvest the crop, about 120-200 days depending on cultivar (breed). But on the plus side I've had certain heads of Garlic store in my pantry for up to 6 months and they were still edible. So figure out how much Garlic you go through and plant a bunch, then store for later use. It's always nice to have home grown Garlic ready for cooking😘

     That's it for this entry in my Fall Crops series, don't you just want to start growing your own food and reaping the healthy rewards?! Again thank you for reading my posts, but more importantly thank you for taking the first step to bettering your health and the planet. Follow me for e-mail updates on my posts and stay tuned for future posts in this series.

Happy Gardening

Farmer Jeff

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Fall Crops, easy crops for beginners part 3 Escarole, Romaine, Bibb, Red Leaf Lettuce & Bok Choy

FALL CROPS BLOG SERIES PART 3

      We are back with the third entry in our "Fall Crops" Blog Series for beginner gardeners! In this post we will be covering more Fall Crops that are super easy to maintain and have high return on harvest and nutritional value. Let's get started!

Escarole, Romaine Lettuce , Red Leaf Lettuce and Bibb Lettuce

harvest 25-50 days after seeds are sown

     Whenever anyone thinks of Fall Crops, they barely mention lettuce. Lettuce or Salad Greens are almost always associated with Spring, but they can grow year round if you know how to manipulate your garden into having a series of different micro-climates. Most Lettuce or Salad Greens contain solid amounts of Vitamin A & K, which aides various organs in our body. (The heart, lungs and kidneys). 

     As you can see in the photo I mixed my Salad Greens together, they are not grown in individual rows. I did this for aesthetic reasons not because of some grand scheme. You can plant one variety in rows if you'd prefer. When I sow my Salad Greens I plant extra, reason being is that when you thin Salad Greens, they can just go right into a salad bowl as a micro or baby version of your fully grown crop. When I thin I leave at least 2-4 inches ( 5-10 cm ) of space in between each head of lettuce. 

Bok Choy, 

harvest 30-55 days after seeds sprouted

     I've always grown Bok Choy in spring and fall. So for me it's a must have! Super hardy plant, little disease and infestation issues. An extremely easy crop to grow for first time gardeners! Whenever I went to the lower level public schools and the students who have never been in a garden before come to see what is growing, I have them plant their own Bok Choy seed. Just by doing that gesture the student was more involved and wanted to actually see their seed grow. I have always had success with this method and that's why I recommend it as a beginner crop. If a 5 year old can do it, you can too. 😁

     Bok Choy has high traces of Vitamin A, Fiber, B-complex Vitamins, Calcium, Potassium, Phosphorus, Manganese and Iron. Making it a well sought out vegetable for people whom are doing RAW diets and are Vegan or Vegetarian.

     In the photo above, you can see the Bok Choy is fully mature. I planted the seed about 35 days ago, and that is the result of growth. When I planted the seed I made sure to have enough space, about 10-12 inches ( 25-30 cm ) of space in between each seed. I gave it that much space just so that the airflow in between each crop won't be stagnant, if it is stagnant it can lead to a whole slew of bacteria issues that you can just avoid by planting at proper lengths. I planted 4 seeds in each hole, thinning out as they sprouted leaving the best looking plant left so it can grow into the beauty you see above. 

     Remember folks, all we have is time! Why not pass the time with a beautiful vegetable garden that you can reap the benefits from and share its bounty with your loved ones. Or if you are just a health nut then why don't you start a garden for your own well being. Freshest most nutritional food comes straight from the garden, not from the market were it takes time from shipping and handling to then being put on display in the market. Which usually takes about two weeks! So imagine all those nutrients that are dieing off because of the way our food is handled. 

Until next Episode....

Happy Gardening

Farmer Jeff😍

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Fall Crops, easy crops for beginners part 2 Pumpkins & Eggplant

Hello Friends!!

     It's the continuation of Fall Crops! In this post I will be talking about more beginner level vegetable/fruit crops that you can grow with minimal effort. So let's get started 😁

New England Pie Pumpkin, Harvest after 65-90 days from germination

     Whenever I think of any fall crop the first thing comes to my mind are pumpkins. Pumpkins are extremely versatile. You can store them up to 4 months and they will still be edible. You can turn them into home grown jack-o-lanterns and make it a new family tradition. Or you can just harvest them right away, make some pies or dredge them in tempura batter for a quick fry. Pumpkins are  high in vitamin A, fiber, antioxidants and potassium.

     When planting your pumpkins please make sure you have enough space for a huge vine to grow. I've grown over 20 different varieties of pumpkins and certain vines can grow from 15 feet ( 4,5 metres ) long to 35 feet ( 10,6 metres ) long. Sow 3-5 pumpkin seeds in your garden, and when the seeds have sprouted thin out your pumpkin seedlings to one plant. That way you can get the most nutritional value from your pumpkin harvest and also you will have an easier time maintaining one pumpkin vine instead of 3 growing from the same spot. A word of caution with pumpkins, you will have some squash bugs attack your vine!!  The best and most effective organic way to deal with squash bugs is by using diatomaceous earth, which is a powder. You can either sprinkle the powder all over your plant or use an accordion sprayer (a miniature bellows) to apply the powder all over the foliage of your vine, front and back of leaves.

Black Beauty Eggplant, harvest 55-80 days after germination

Plant can last up to 3 growing seasons

     Eggplants are the one crop that I always think I end up planting enough of but end up getting a ridiculous bounty from just 1 plant. The photo above is also a harvest from just 1 plant and the most amazing thing is your Eggplant bush can provide you with a harvest like this every 3 weeks. Eggplant is rich in antioxidants, helps lower cholesterol, high in fiber, and vitamins A, B & C.

     When looking for a spot to plant your Eggplant starters there are several factors that come into play. First, make sure to have enough space. Eggplants can grow to 4 feet ( ) in circumference. Second, make sure to have something to trellis the Eggplants on. For me being in a valley, the wind can rip through at high speeds. So it is best to secure the plant either by trellising it or by using poles to keep the stems of the plant from just lying on the ground. You do NOT want to have your crop lying on the soil because the portion of the crop that is sitting on the soil will start to mold. Third, make sure to have some thick gloves and be careful when you tend to this plant. Eggplants have thorns on the crop itself and on the plant. The only issues I have had with growing Eggplants are rust spots, which can be easily taken care of with a quick Calcium Magnesium solution. 

     I hope my research helps you all out with deciding what to plant and your concerns growing pumpkins and eggplants for fall. I find so much joy writing these guides for you all. I cannot thank you enough for living my passion with me. Again thank you all and please follow/subscribe to stay updated with all my posts and future videos. I post on Instagram daily, so follow me if you'd like. Mention that you found my blog and I will promote your Instagram! Till next time folks....

     Happy Gardening!!

Farmer Jeff <3

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Fall Crops, easy crops for beginners Part 1 Kohlrabi, Turnips & Cabbage

Hello Friends!!

     It's such a beautiful time of year. The weather starts to cool down, rain storms pass by every week which means it is the perfect time to start your fall garden to have a huge bounty throughout the season, especially for holiday events like Halloween or Thanksgiving. I figured, why not share my fall planting tips and what fall crop I plant with you all. So let's get started!

 Kohlrabi, grown for 55-75 days before harvesting

     Kohlrabi has a high nutritional value, high fiber content and low calorie count. The flavour is compared between a broccoli stem and cabbage, which I agree with but has a sweeter taste. Now when I plant this crop I always leave 8 inches of space (20 cm) in between each seed I plant so that the crop will have enough space to grow healthily, also so that the air in between the plants does not become stagnant. That is when serious bacteria can develop. When its harvest time I pull the whole crop out cut the stem off, clean it and freeze it. The stem is also edible but I use it for vegetable stock. Waste not want not!

Milan Purple Turnip, grown for 40-65 days depending on what size you want

     Turnips are super delicious and provide us with antioxidants, minerals vitamins and dietary fiber which our body needs to function at a healthy level. Only downside is that this crop, like kohlrabi, has a low calorie count as well. When I sow my turnip seeds I am not too worried about sowing too many at once, reason being turnips are super easy to thin and replant. The turnip will go into shock when you replant it, what I do is water the replanted turnip a bit extra for 3-4 days. After the turnips have started growing I thin the crop so that there is at least 3-4 inches (7-10 cm) of space in between each one. That way the turnip can grow to a decent globe form without impacting the vegetable growth itself.

Cabbage, 55-70 days from seed sowing. Some varieties take on faster.

     Cabbage is a versatile crop, you can cook it in almost any type of cuisine and it will taste brilliantly delicious. Cabbage is a great source of antioxidants and vitamin C, with a low calorie count and also low fat count. Great vegetable if you are into eating raw, vegan or vegetarian. When I sow my cabbage seeds I only sow 3-4 seeds at a time. Cabbage does not take well when thinning and replanting so I would rather not waste any of my organic seed just to make sure I get a cabbage crop. What I do is I start my baby cabbage inside for about 2 months, June-July for fall planting and October-November for spring planting. After that propagation period I bring my cabbage starters to the garden and plant them with 6-8 inches (15-20 cm) apart depending on how big of a cabbage crop I'd like. 

I'll be posting more Fall Crop blogs daily so keep a look out for them!

Happy Gardening!

Farmer Jeff

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