Plot 85

I have nurtured my plot for the last few months and have harvested my mustard greens twice. 
Advice for Harvesting greens:
Pull plants only when thinning. Otherwise, snap off leaves, leaving the growing tip to produce replacements. Leaves of 3 to 4 inches in length are tender enough to use in salads. Stringy stems are usually trimmed off larger leaves before the leaves are cooked. Light frosts don’t bother mustard; harvests can con­tinue until heavy freezes wipe out the plants.

I have noticed fast growth when I harvest them. To keep them longer I cook them for 30 minutes and then put them in a freezer bag. 

Currently my plot has exploded with growth and hopefully I will have enough to harvest for myself and the local food pantry. Below is pictures of how my bed has grown:

Plot 85

I was told by a fellow gardener to sow seeds in my garden to maximize the use of my plot and the space in it. Hand sowing or (planting) is the process of casting handfuls of seed over prepared ground. I sowed carrot, radish, and spinach seeds. Below is the growth from the seeds that I sowed early last month.

Plot 85

Because I started in late August, I had to find a list of plants that are best planted around this time of year. Below is a list of vegetables for fall planting:
Mid-season crops - Approximate maturity 60 days. Plant by mid August. Use any of the dates from above as well as the Best Dates below.

ROOTCROPS

• Early Carrots
• Leek
• Turnip
• Kohlrabi

LEAFCROPS

• Early Cabbages
• Winter Cauliflower
• Collards
• Perennial Flowers
• Perennial Herbs
• Swiss Chard

Early maturing crops - Approximate maturity 30 days. Plant by mid September. Use the dates from the previous page as well as the Best Dates below. The latest dates are for warmer climates, later frosts, or protected plantings.

ROOTCROPS

• Chives
• Bunching Onions
• Radishes

LEAFCROPS

• Broccoli
• Cover Crops
• Leaf Lettuces
• Mustard
• Spinach
• Lawn seed

I used starter plants to fill my plot. The plants I used were cabbage, broccoli, mustard greens, and sage. I used Farmer D's organic fertilizer and soil to fill the plot. I purchased the plants from Lowes. 

Plot 85

We finally got some much needed rain here in Georgia. So while there was a light drizzle, I finished pulling all the weeds in my plot. I was already in the process of weeding my plot but the ground was so dry and rocky. The recent rain made the ground softer so I was able to pull the grass out. Because the community garden is all organic, I had to get untreated wood. I chose cedar planks for my 4x8 plot.


I also put down mulch around my bed to stop the weeds from growing so all that back breaking work won't be for nothing.! I will soon go to Farmer D's so that I can get more supplies and a little education on organic growing and gardening in general!
Doesn't the community garden look so much healthier after a nice rain?

Plot 85

I just received my plot from the Dunwoody Community Garden two days ago. I have started to weed it out which was back breaking work. I can't wait to get started planting. I did go to Lowes and get some seasonal plants like greens, broccoli, and mums. I thought this would be easy since we use to grow a garden every year back at home but this "organic only" and "raised gardens" are new to me. We will see how it works out.
I even employed my son to work with me!

Dig Drop Done

I love this colorful new website Dig Drop Done. It gives great information about planting bulbs, when to plant them, and how to plant them. This foundation was created to help others get excited about planting or gardening and to use it to benefit from the act of gardening and the beautiful flowers you will get in return. This playful website has 3 characters, the fashionista, the super mom, and the empty nester, that give you various pointers or ideas on planting bulbs whether it's in the subarbs, city, or country. This website makes me so excited about gardening because I miss the country but can have a piece of it anywhere I live.

Giving Back

I have been looking for ways to use my "green thumb" to satisfy my recent urge to grow something and to give back. I found a local community garden that allows you to have a plat to grown flowers and vegetables and also help with the plots that are for the local food bank.
Dunwoody Community Garden is a place where you can learn about organic gardening, healthy lifestyles, and be a part of  helping others in the community meet their needs by providing wholesome food.
When I am able to get my plot set up, I will post pictures of my progress.

Happy Growing!

*Here are some pictures of the community garden.