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.
Week of: 4/22 – 4/26/2024
Monday
– Built a table for the new washstand
– Trimmed tomato plants that had received some hail damage
– Dead-headed some roses
– Harvested: Broccoli 9.4 lbs.
Wednesday – Harvested any remaining broccoli and pulled the plants. The leaves went into the compost bins and the stalks went to the recycle center.
– Dwayne worked on the flying wing extension to the vegetable cleaning table.
– Emily raked leaves and tidied up in the amphitheater area.
– Harvested:
Broccoli 5.2 lbs.
Squash 2.0 lbs.
Friday – Pulled Broccolini plants (after harvesting) in New Traditional Bed Rows 1&2– Larry L. pampered (i.e., tied up and trimmed up) the tomato plants in the Raised Beds.
– Luz, Justin, and Scott cleaned up the hail-damaged plants throughout the garden …I am not sure if that was necessary, but the plants look nicer.
– Molly was tending the roses.
– Richard finished sifting some donated soil and has 2 tubs (back by the fruit trees) ready for carrots in the Fall.
– Larry N. and Dwayne continued working on the new washing station….looks great!
– Scott blew the leaves out of the amphitheater with Heather’s help and some weeding was done over there, too.
– Michael sprinkled and then watered in Chelated Iron on the Peggy Martin Roses on the back fence.
– Harvested:
Cabbage (just 2 big heads of cabbage) 2.6 lbs.
Assorted Lettuces and Kale 24 lbs.
Broccolini 2.6 lbs.
Green Beans .2 lbs.
Yellow Squash and Zucchini 4.0 lbs.
Happening Next Week:
Harvesting is about to kick into full gear!
VRG Volunteer hours this week: 55
Harvest YTD: 875.0 pounds.
Week of Apr 15–Apr 19
Monday
– Harvested these veggies:
Green Onions 8.4 lbs.
Broccolini .8 lbs.
Broccoli 7.0 lbs.
Lettuce 10.0 lbs.
– Sprayed/dusted all squash
– Placed edging around the grapes under the new arbor
Wednesday
– Worked on the leaking sink drains(would have made an entertaining YouTube)
– Rose maintenance and Jeanette brought 4 new ones.
– Grape maintenance by Michael the Grape Man
– Dusted lettuce again
– Watered here and there including Richard’s compost cages.
– Weeded the long beds and new traditional.
– Pulled the mustard lettuce in the keyhole(the worms had eaten most of it)
– Harvested:
Broccoli 6.4 lbs.
Lettuce(variety) 15.8 lbs.
Broccolini 1.2 lbs.
Kohlrabi 1.2 lbs.
Friday
– David donated and planted basil seedlings amongst the tomato in Raised Bed (RB) 4. (Go juice was added)
– Georgia and Vickie helped Molly and Jeanette dead head the roses and Jeanette added 4 new rose bushes. The Rose Bed is just beautiful these days!
– Emily was doing her usual garden maintenance on any issues she found and sprayed the occasional weed in the walkways with Round-Up.
– We watered as necessary (hoping we get some good rain this weekend).
– Richard repaired and added irrigation lines to the Rose Bed.
– Suzanna had donated some large pots that were filled with soil, so we sifted that soil and filled 2 large tubs back by the fruit trees. (Richard is planning on planting some carrots in one of them this Fall.)
– Emily (with my “expert” help) is experimenting with some okra seeds back by the fruit trees. She literally just drew a line in the “dirt” and then I dropped in the okra seeds (spacing approximately 1 foot apart). Emily then walked down the rows to secure the seeds and we were done. Let’s see how resilient okra really is?!
– We harvested:
Broccolini 1.8
Onions 2.6
Kohlrabi 1.8
Happening Next Week: Harvesting, weeding, watering and watching for pests. This is the fun time in the garden.
VRG Volunteer hours this week: 72
Harvest YTD: 821.0 pounds
Week of Apr 8–Apr 12
Monday
– Kohlrabi was diligently harvested from Long Bed 1 (LB1 Row 3), ensuring a bountiful yield for our efforts.
– In LB2 Row 2, Tromboncino found its new home, ready to flourish under our care. Poblano peppers, planted in LB2 Row 1, were thoughtfully caged to protect their growth, alongside the remaining assortment of peppers.
– Under the guidance of our expert mentors, the trainees set to work planting various vegetables in the square foot garden, a testament to their burgeoning skills and dedication.
– The humble onions received their due attention, dressed with care to ensure their vitality.
– As the day unfolded, our collective efforts bore fruit, resulting in the impressive harvest of 26 lbs of Kohlrabi.
Wednesday
– Expertly harvested several items.
– Installed plumbing for the new sinks and table. Looks really nice and functional.
– Thinned the cucumbers.
– Lori added some nitrogen to RB6 to kick those cucumbers.
– Trainees were looking at the Square foot garden and planning.
– Serious meetings going on in the greenhouse area.
– Weeding and worm scanning.
– Lori also harvested some greens from the Keyhole garden.
– We harvested:
Broccoli 4.8 lbs.
Bib Lettuce 26.6 lbs.
Kohlrabi 9.2 lbs.
Kale 20.6 lbs.
Friday – Cut Asparagus. Also, put up posts and rope to hold in Ferns.
– Finished Wash Table.
– Trimmed lower tomato leaves.
– Added leaves to center compost bin.
– Tended the rose bed.
– Greenhouse ladies did their thing.
– Harvested vegetables:
Kohlrabi 6.2 lbs.
Lettuce 1.6 lbs.
Asparagus 0.6 lbs.
Kale 3.6 lbs.
Broccoli 7.2 lbs.
Broccolini 0.2 lbs.
– Georgia took the produce to CRRC in Sattler.
Happening Next Week: Several of the vegetables are beginning to produce; so, more and more harvesting will be happening. Continued monitoring of the garden for pests, weeds, etc.
VRG Volunteer hours this week: 92
Harvest YTD: 765.0 lbs.
Week of Apr 1–Apr 5
Monday – Holes were diligently excavated for the installation of three remaining rose trellises, enhancing the aesthetic appeal of our surroundings.
– In collaboration with his trusted assistant, Larry initiated the construction of the eagerly anticipated vegetable cleaning and drying station, a vital addition to our infrastructure.
– A bountiful harvest of asparagus was reaped, adding to the abundance of our provisions.
Wednesday – Poles were set for the rose trellis along the wood fence.
– Sprayed BT/Captain Jack.
– Planted more Christmas Limas.
– Watered the jasmine in the amphitheater area plus other stuff.
– Rose maintenance again. I think they’re selecting specific leaves to prune.
– The fancy new vegetable washing table with sink is getting close to the finish line.
– Emily mowed the Amphitheatre area with her cool new EGO lawn mower.
– The recycling and some brush were taken to recycling next door.
– Extensive research was done to discover the variety of worn eating one of the lettuce varieties in the Keyhole and the broccoli throughout the garden complex. (NOTE: According to Donna Vandiver it was a Cross-striped Cabbage Worm and her research via ChatGPT revealed: A cross-striped cabbage worm, also known as the cross-striped cabbage moth (Evergestis rimosalis), is a type of moth in the family Crambidae. Its larvae, often referred to as cabbage worms, are pests commonly found in vegetable gardens, especially in cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and other cruciferous vegetables. These worms can be destructive to vegetable gardens as they feed on the leaves, causing significant damage to the plants. The larvae are greenish-yellow with black stripes and can grow up to about 1 inch in length. They typically feed on the foliage, creating large irregular holes in the leaves. Here are some methods to control cross-striped cabbage worms and minimize their damage to your vegetable garden:
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- Handpicking: Regularly inspect your plants for cabbage worms and manually remove them by hand. Drop them into a bucket of soapy water to kill them.
- Row covers: Use floating row covers to physically block the moths from laying eggs on your plants. Make sure to secure the edges tightly to prevent any gaps.
- Natural predators: Encourage natural predators such as birds, parasitic wasps, and predatory beetles that feed on cabbage worms. Planting diverse vegetation can attract these beneficial insects to your garden.
- Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt): Apply Bt, a naturally occurring soil bacterium that is toxic to certain insect larvae, including cabbage worms. Follow the instructions on the product label for proper application.
- Neem oil: Neem oil is a botanical insecticide that can be effective against cabbage worms. Dilute it according to the instructions on the label and spray it onto the affected plants.
- Companion planting: Planting aromatic herbs such as mint, thyme, and sage near your cruciferous vegetables can help repel cabbage worms.
- Crop rotation and sanitation: Practice crop rotation to reduce the buildup of cabbage worm populations in the soil. Clean up garden debris and remove any infested plant material to minimize overwintering sites for the pests.
By implementing these methods, you can effectively manage cross-striped cabbage worms and protect your vegetable garden from their destructive feeding habits.)
Friday – Cut Asparagus – 1.6 pounds
– Sprayed Cpt. Jack on Broccoli, Cabbage and Kohlrabi.
– Completed putting up trellis for the Roses.
– Tended the Rose bed.
– Weeded everywhere.
– Hand watered most of the Raised Beds and adjusted some of their drip lines to better water the plants.
– General clean up around the garden.
– Took the produce to CRRC in Sattler.
Happening Next Week:
– The Kohlrabi are nearing harvest size.
– Continued monitoring of all crops for pests, weeds, and first possible harvests.
– Continued garden maintenance.
VRG Volunteer hours this week: 94
Harvest YTD: 658.4 lbs