3-4 year old seeds will they sprout ?

Too many seed companies have a one year expiration date.   This is because they cannot guarantee growth past that date.

Most seeds taken care of will do just fine. But I've decided to do my own test.  Wet paper towel-place seeds inside Zip lock bag and seal and place in warm place.  It took 3 days for old basil seeds from my garden I saved long ago about four years.  Tomato shown above will take longer if it works. 

Parsley cubes

Have to much parsley or too much cilantro?   I am set for soups in the winter.  Or even to add to salsas.  Try freezing cubes.  

Wash the parsley remove the stems and chop my hand or use a blender,

I used a small hand blender

Add olive oil enough to make of thick paste in consistency and spoon into ice cube trays. 

I placed in the freezer for two days but 12 hours is good enough

To remove the cubes from the tray I placed the ice cube tray in another shallow container and added hot water for 5 seconds without wetting the parsley

This loosened the cubes so they would come out easily

I've placed the kids in a Ziploc bag removing all excess air by sucking it out.  Close zip the bag and label with content and date. 

place back in the freezer avoid piling them up.  And that is it Papi Q in winter soups.  I also like to add to rice with Parmesan cheese.   Google recipes using parsley.   I'm doing the same thing for cilantro.   

Radishes and Swiss Chard

Lessons to share.  Made a quick cell phone video today

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofpZa2_wFxU&feature=youtube_gdata

pulled radishes and Swiss chard.  gonna have to research more on SC but radishes I knew something about from the Web.  

plenty of water now added 2x a day, more minutes and a hose that is twice as wide.   replenish soil with good earthy compost and replanted radish.  these are very fast growing veggies due now in about 25 days and seed sprout in like four days.  

happy growing !

My mini farm

A panoramic view of my vegetable farm 

Our home came with the small fence as a dog area.  Kinda nice to keep Sammy away from the plants he just has to smell everything.  

composting the right materials will break down very nicely will amend soil for next year.  

In a short paragraph use water to wet but not completely soak.  Fresh air, dried up grass with no weed killer, leaves brown or green, kitchen scraps that are vegetable only except crushed egg shells.  Skip avocado skin never breaks down either.  

I also added saw dust with no chemicals, and horse manure cause I had the opportunity.   

This summer I got the chance to add several buckets of composted material from similar pile aged a year at least.  From a friend people who share of course I share what ever grows and taste good.  Same from a friend with two horses.   I met her by posting on Facebook on westernslope site need aged manure.  She said sure come on over.  You know it will be a pleasure to share with friends who just have an open heart.  

Just a little over a month ago

Potato towers

On the internet lots of talk about making towers out of discarded wooden pallets

http://shar.es/M55Nl

that means taking apart and using my nail hammer skills that don't exist so I figure something creative that I can handle.  3 long pillow cases at Salvation Army $2.20 for the three towers I have with potato plants

Cut them open on long sides 

sew, I did by hand with yarn, I crochet so I have lots of yarn.  The side to close is the original opening side    

Slide into the four stakes.  I had used duct tape at the base but this is not necessary.  It was just a cheap roll I bought.  

If too loose you can readjust stake or sew a pinch for tightness 

fill with dirt mix I use regular dirt and old horse manure mix I gather from horse owner friend and a new home construction site down the street

Cover until leaves top show.  The plant continues to grow and more dirt is needed to continue covering until plant flowers and dries out late September

When covering Potato main stem forces plant to make root and grow taller repeat procedure 

 More info here...

http://www.thegardenhelper.com/potato2.html

 I get the soil for free so it's worth it.  

Cute little tomato

Cute little tomatoes have started to form all tomato plants are busy flowering now I pinched off all the suckers 

http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/tomato/tomato-plant-suckers.htm

but there still lots of green bushy plants.  

 One thing to remember is too much nitrogen as soon too much horse maneuver although it is all dried up it still makes tomatoes plants very pushy and long leaves.  I think that's one thing I'm doing.   When flowering also make sure they have extra extra water.  

It's only five weeks !

Vegetables are really growing and fast I was moving rocks out of the way and planting seeds just give weeks ago.   Nice !   Pepperoncini peppers are so good pickled.  I got e plants and will pickle in a jar when ready !