Webmaster’s Note: The CMG Volunteers at the Vegetable Rose Garden (VRG) are again going to document their work and harvests in the AgriLife Vegetable Rose Garden (VRG) to help new veggie gardeners (or those new to Comal County). They’ll provide weekly updates on what they did the past week in the garden and what they were planning to do the following week. We hope you’ll log on each week, follow along, and learn from the experts! The garden layout is HERE and their planting plan for the Spring 2024 garden is HERE. The current weather at the garden is HERE, courtesy of the 2022 training class.
Happenings and Harvests in the Vegetable Rose Garden (VRG)
Week of: 11/11 – 11/15//2024
Happening this week:
Monday
– Harvest
Green peppers: 2.4 lbs
Tomatoes: 10.0 lbs
Poblanos: 0.6 lbs
Green beans: 12.4 lbs
Cabbage: 0.8 lbs
Broccoli: 7.0 lbs
Okra: 0.6 lbs
Kale: 0.6 lbs
Radishes: 0.1 lbs
– Beyond harvesting, a few of us worked on dismantling the greenhouse. I now have a
newfound appreciation for the crew who originally put it up—there was a lot of hardware
involved!
Wednesday
– Dug out old pea gravel and detritus from the area where the new greenhouse
the foundation will be poured.
– Removed debris from Monday's demo to the appropriate collection sites so there will
be a clear path for new construction work
– Moved an Artichoke planter so the gate would open wider (lots of thought went into this)
– Michael worked the soil in the Propagation Bed, looks like a wonderful recipe for
success!
– Heather brought several great-looking plants (from HEB) to get started in the Square
Foot Garden, we left her there toiling away because we ate too many fried greens
tomatoes!
– Harvested a bit, 9.4 lbs
– Lori delivered the harvest to SOS.
Friday
– Harvested:
Green Beans 16.8 lbs
Tomatoes 2.6 lbs
Bell Peppers 12.0 lbs
Poblanos 2.0 lbs
Calabacita and Cucumbers 5.8 lbs
Eggplant 0.8 lbs
Radishes 0.2 lbs
Turnips w/ greens 41.4 lbs
Okra 1.8 lbs
– Luz delivered the veggies to Sattler…thanks, Luz!!!
– As we harvested the Green Beans in Raised Beds 5, 6, and 7 we pulled all plants and
placed them in the compost bins back by the amphitheater.
– Also, we pulled the calabacita (and squash and cucumbers) in the Traditional Bed and
Long Bed Back 1. A small amount of veggies was harvested and Richard took the plants to the County Compost…thanks!!!
– Rachel, Richard, and James met with the new Greenhouse “foreman” to discuss
the installation of the new Greenhouse. Exciting times in that corner of the garden!
– Luz trimmed up the bottoms of the tomatoes in Long Bed Back 2 to get the foliage
off the ground. Those bushes are loaded with green tomatoes. We are hoping any cold temps
we get in the next few days are not too cold.
– Molly, Michael, and Emily were doing their usual care-taking of the roses,
trees/grapevines and overall garden respectively.
– Richard repaired an irrigation leak in the Green Beans in the Traditional Bed and was
working on some of the irrigation lines for the Demo Garden with Heather (I think).
– Luz and I harvested about 4 Jerusalem Artichoke plants and the washed artichokes (or
sun-chokes) are drying in the barn. They have not been weighed. We will continue to
harvest a few plants at a time over the next few weeks just for curiosity’s sake.
– When I left, Luz was tending the “real” artichokes. 🙂
Happening Next Week:
We plan to start the new one this week, with the concrete footers being
poured first, followed by the walls and roof. We’ll have plenty of photos to share as we
make progress. Just a note: the gardeners are not responsible for building the
greenhouse this time —we’ve hired professionals for that part. However, we will
be assisting with the electrical installation.
VRG Volunteer hours this week: 84 hrs
Harvest YTD: 4757.2 pounds
Week of: 11/04 – 11/08//2024
Happening this week:
Monday
– We sprayed the cabbage with Promethean because the worms were back. Lori thinned out some of the green beans and RB eight.
– We picked:
Okra 1 .6 lbs
Tomatoes 5.6 lbs
Bell peppers 12.4 lbs
Green beans 22.0 lbs
Mixed vegetables 9.4 lbs (Cucumbers, Kale)
Wednesday
– Richard shut off all water since rain is predicted for Thursday and Friday.
– Stalks were removed from the artichokes.
– Heather contemplated the square foot garden. Like a good Master Gardener, she’s doing her research.
– Harvested.
Calabacita 13.8 lbs
Tomatoes 2.2 lbs
Bell Peppers 3.0 lbs
Green Beans 7.8 lbs
Cucumbers 3.6 lbs
Friday
As usual, we harvested:
Bell Peppers 18.12 lbs (Very exacting measurement, right?! Go figure why I did that. Hee Hee)
Green Beans 20.3 lbs
Eggplants (thanks Luz) 2.0 lbs
Tomatoes 6.4 lbs
Poblano Peppers 1.2 lbs
Okra 1.6 lbs
Cabbage 4.4 lbs
Broccoli 1.8 lbs
– The veggies were divided between SOS and CRRC. Thanks, Georgia, for delivering to CRRC! (I took them to SOS).
– Richard turned the drip system back on since the chance of rain is small.
– Rachel, Richard, Dwayne, James, Emily, and Kelly had extended discussions regarding the Greenhouse. Now that the CMG Board has approved the purchase of a new greenhouse, plans are being made to dismantle the old one. That work will begin next week! This is going to be a fun project, right, Rachel?!
– The broccoli and cabbage plants in the New Traditional Bed were sprayed with promethium (sp?) to try and ward off worms.
– Emily did her usual sweep around the amphitheater…looks so nice.
– And, Molly did her usual care-taking of the Rose Bed…so many pretty blooms in there!!!
– Garlic was planted in the high trough.
– The Bush Bean plants were pulled out of Raised Bed 1.
Happening Next Week:
Work dismantling the old greenhouse will begin.
Luz and I will do a little experiment with the Jerusalem Artichokes. We plan to harvest one or two plants per week to see if leaving them in the ground for different lengths of time deteriorates the harvest….we’ll keep you posted.
The Calabacita may be on its last leg…the powdery mildew is pretty bad. But, there is some small squash on the vines; so, we’ll see?!
VRG Volunteer hours this week: 48 Hours
Harvest YTD: 4,630.52 pounds
Week of: 10/26/24-11/2/24
Happening this week:
Monday
Harvest:
Okra 2.2 lbs
Calabacita squash 22.8 lbs
Poblano peppers 6.0 lbs
Bell peppers 11.0 lbs
Green beans 20.8 lbs
Cucumbers 4.4 lbs
Trimmed okra
Planted onions, spinach
Richard played with the water
Hung wreath
Wednesday
Veggies Picked:
Bok Choi 2.8 lbs
Tomatoes 20.8 lbs
Okra 1.8 lbs
Cucumbers 1.6 lbs
Calabacita 14.0 lbs
Green beans 22.8 lbs
Bell peppers 10.0 lbs
Pablano 5.2 lbs
– Finished installing drip system to Tuberville.
– Installed drip lines to The Magnificent Seven Dwarf tubs
Friday
Harvest:
Okra (donated). 6.4 lbs
Cukes. 1.4 lbs
Kohlrabi 3.0 lbs
Calabacita squash 10.5 lbs
Green peppers 25.2 lbs
Green beans. 21.8 lbs
Taken to SOS and CRRC by Lori and Georgia.
Trough A planted:
Cherry Belle radishes.
Majestic White Daikon radishes,
Dan. 126 carrots.
Red-cored chanteray carrots.
VRG Volunteer hours this week: 46 hrs
Harvest YTD: 4,563.9 lbs
Week of: 10/21 – 10/25//2024
Happening this week:
Monday
Today’s harvest:
Green Beans 10.2 lbs
Bell Peppers 8.8 lbs
Calabacita 19.0 lbs
Cucumbers 4.0 lbs
Okra 1.8 lbs
– Lori took to SOS.
– Watered
– Michael cleaned out under the fruit trees and messed with the grapes
– Larry started work on a backsplash for the vegetable cleaning table.
– Had a long meeting discussing the greenhouse project and probably other important
stuff
– Richard has about got the spring schedule set. He discussed this with Rachel
– The chard and beets are coming up (again) and the spinach is coming up in the
keyhole.
– Things are looking up now that we’re past the armadillo invasion. Kohlrabi that
survived are getting close.
– The Calabacita are going crazy.
– Emily brought in some iris plants. We like it when Emily brings us stuff!
– Richard brought more bunching onions which were much less well-received.
Wednesday
We:
– Harvested
Calabacita 14.4 lbs
Cucumbers .8 lbs
Poblanos 2.4 lbs(they’re growing larger)
Green Beans 13.8 lbs
Beets(2) 2.8 lbs (a couple of beauties!)
Bell Peppers 9.8 lbs
– Produce went to Provisions
– Watered
– Emily and Richard continued to revise the spring schedule. Richard is declaring it
final. Lori lost some turf.
– We are taking over the square foot and giving up on using it as a new class training
garden.
– Fruit tree identification was discussed.
– Michael maintained fruit trees, grasses, etc., and planted Elbon Rye
around the grape vines.
– The green beans in the TB are starting to produce.
– Kelly found a couple of football-size Calabacita that we all missed.
– Kelly and Rick talked about burying a 2”x6” just under the back gate by the
theater to prevent animals from digging under.
Friday
– First, and, mostly, we harvested:
Bell Peppers 17.8 lbs
Kohlrabi 1.4 lbs
Calabacita 28.6 lbs
Cucumbers 4.6 lbs
Okra 3.8 lbs
Poblano Peppers 19.2 lbs
Green Beans 28.6 lbs
Beets 2.4 lbs
The Veggies were divided and Kelly S. took some to CRRC and Lori took the rest to
SOS. Thanks, y’all!
– Bunching Onions were planted in Demo Bed 4.
– Kelly and Rick added a 2×6 to the Back Gate to help keep critters out.
– Rachel and Richard discussed Tomato Varieties for the Spring Garden
– Molly tended the roses – she said that chore is lessening some as we approach their
dormant season.
– Michael was checking on the trees and grapes.
– Richard watered the pots around the Barn.
Happening Next Week:
We need to decide what to do with the back left corner. It’s too congested and we need
a path thru there. Do we remove the Jerusalem artichokes?
VRG Volunteer hours this week: 64 lbs
Harvest YTD: 4,347.9 pounds
Week of: 10/14 – 10/18//2024
Happening this week:
Monday
– Hand-watered buckets and grape arbor cans
– Picked Veggies
– Fertilized Bell Peppers
– Sprayed Demo Bed 4
– Lori delivered the veggies to SOS.
Wednesday
– We harvested and then talked about the greenhouse.
Okra 2.2 lbs
Calabacita 5.8 lbs
Cucumbers 2.2 lbs
Bell Peppers 23.6 lbs (a couple of baskets)
Green Beans 9.2 lbs (a couple of baskets)
– Lori and Richard worked out plans for spring planting in some locations that were not
previously nailed down. We’ll grow some cool beans in Demo 1 on TP’s we’ll
construct. The keyhole will be Romanesco cauliflower (8). Not sure what else but tomato
varieties need to be determined.
– Michael showed up late with a buddy. Emily and Walter joined them back in the grape
vines for one of Michael’s little CE sessions.
– Emily might have planted some strawberries back in troughs C & amp D maybe?
– Larry N. also showed up for a while to talk about CMG projects he’s working on.
Friday
– We harvested:
Sweet Potatoes 10.2 lbs
Okra .1 lbs
Bell Peppers 4.2 lbs
Poblano Peppers 6.8 lbs
Calabacita Squash 8.2 lbs
Cucumbers 1.2 lbs
Kohlrabi 2.0 lbs
Green Beans 5.0 lbs
– The veggies were delivered to SOS.
– Watered Tubs by the front gate and reseeded the #2 tub of carrots and both tubs of
leaks.
– Side-dressed and fertilized Kohlrabi in a New Traditional Bed.
– Deleafed (all the lacy bug-eaten leaves) Kohlrabi, Broccoli, Cauliflower, and Cabbages
in the New Traditional Bed
– Emily did some mowing and general clean-up in and around the garden and
amphitheater….prepping for the CMG membership meeting tomorrow.
– Picked and cleared Sweet Potatoes from the second trough.
– Caught and repaired a couple of irrigation blow-outs.
– Molly, as always, was caring for the roses.
– Michael, as always, was caring for the fruit trees.
– Vickie watered around the Greenhouse as requested by Rachel.
Happening Next Week:
Continued plans for deconstructing the current Greenhouse and projects necessary to
get the new Greenhouse in place.
VRG Volunteer hours this week: 48 hrs
Harvest YTD: 4,157.7 pounds
Week of: 10/7 – 10/11//2024
Happening this week:
Monday
– Over the weekend, we were once again breached by the enemy. This time, we captured the
culprit—a smaller armadillo, likely exploiting weaknesses in the perimeter & #39;s larger gaps. The
invader has been relocated to a distant sector.
– After cleaning up the damage, we moved forward with our mission:
– This morning’s harvest yielded okra, green beans, calabasita, and poblano peppers totaling
20.7lbs
– Emily remained stationed at her post in Tubberville
– Kelly and Lori fortified the keyhole garden, and Lori planted spinach in the process.
-We secured all dry areas and repositioned irrigation lines to optimize water distribution.
Wednesday
– Watered everywhere.
– Pruned and played with fruit trees and berry vines.
– Replanted beets in RB8.
– Replanted chard in RB6.
– Harvested:
1. Calabacita 16.8lbs
2. Green Beans 4.8lbs
3. Okra 2.6lbs
– Richard took the vegetables to one of the food banks in the Bulverde area.
– Lori is thinking of lima bean vines in Demo 1 for spring.
Friday
– First, we harvested:
Green Beans 5.0lbs
Okra 1.2lbs
Eggplant 4.2lbs
Bell Peppers 11.2lbs
Poblano Peppers 5.0lbs
Sweet Potatoes 6.0lbs
– Luz delivered the veggies to Sattler. Thanks, Luz!!
– Lori cleared the Eggplant plants out of the Keyhole Garden and replanted that garden
with Spinach in a circular pattern. PLEASE HAND-WATER THIS GARDEN ON THE
REGULAR WORK DAYS…THANKS!
– Emily cleaned up the amphitheater fire pit (and was working on some project involving
concrete, pots, and PVC pipe… I don’t know…I’m sure it is something that will make the garden
“work” better. :-))
– James completed planting Swiss Chard in Raised Bed 6 (there are now 3 rows) and
hand-watered.
– Michael was tending the fruit trees.
– Molly was tending the roses. (She has purchased a new rose for the Rose Bed…not
sure if it was planted today, or not??)
– The Cauliflower, Broccoli, and Kale rows in the New Traditional Bed were dusted for
bugs.
– Kelly harvested the sweet potatoes in one of the troughs and cleared that trough.
Happening Next Week:
– No additional armadillos were caught; but one trap is still in the garden…just in case.
– Dwayne and Kelly (and Larry N.) plan to make a replica of the wooden trap used to
catch the last armadillo to have on hand for the garden in the future.
– Lori plans to plant Lima beans next spring, and she, James, and I kicked around
the idea of sourcing our poles for a Teepee for them to grow on. We were thinking
that the stems/trunks of the okra and Jerusalem artichoke plants might be stripped of
their leaves and dried to use for same; so, when those crops have run their course,
please try to take those stems/trunks out carefully and save them for Lori.
Coincidentally, Michael had trimmed out some of the pear tree shoots, and Lori and I
have those stored back in the corner along the fence line… please don’t
throw them away. Thanks!
VRG Volunteer hours this week: 50 hrs
Harvest YTD: 4,026.8 pounds