Monday, May 25, 2015

Seedling identafication

I have looked and so far not found seedling identification for these plants. So I am going to post photos like these. To help others  find what there plant will look like.These were planted May 12. 2015. They were up and growing by May 16, 2015
Belezian cranbe sprout
Faro Quinoa (Pedros select)
Camelina  Sativa L.Crantz

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Trying new seeds

This years garden will be full of many new things from around the world.

I ordered bitter melon on the 28th of April. I did not realize it was coming from China. It arrived on the 16th of May. I only planted 2 seeds for now. Not sure how productive the plant will be. So I will add one the the ground also. I do this for seed identification also. I was interested in this plant because of what I read about it being good for people with diabetic conditions. But after further research. I have learned you must pic and eat it before it is fully ripe. It is toxic when it turns orange. I should have done more research on it before purchasing. But I am glad I learned more before I just grew and ate with out knowledge.
I planted a sampling of seed I still need to put in the garden. This year I have many special things, I never grew before. I am so thankful for the internet.  It opens our eyes to knew food from all over the world. I was lucky to get seed for the kajari melon too. It is from India. But I did not know I would receive treated seed, Something the government requires to stop import of insect or virus. I assume this is not required from all country's. Because the bitter melon, was not treated seed. 
Update, June 3, 2015
Many of the seeds are sprouted and read to transplant soon.


TPS
The photo above is of the (TPS) True potato seeds. I started the seed back in March. And transplanted to the garden bed this month. They are really happy to be in the ground. Even with all the rain here in Missouri. They are growing fast. But no where near as fast as planing pull sprouts and tubers. But that is ok. I love all the different variety's. I will have a multitude of colors.
Update 6-10-2015
many of the TPS plants are ready to bloom. They are 14-18 inches tall.

Friday, May 1, 2015

Planting new to me seeds



1. Pea (Dwarf gray sugar)
  red blossoms and subtly reddish-tinted stems and leaves. Shoots are used as garnishes and in salad mixes, Small snow pea pods avg. 2½" long.

sow 1-1 1/2" apart
1/2-1" deep  28" vines may be grown with or without support
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2. Phaseolus coccineus
( Black Coat Scarlet Runner Bean )Pollinated by bumblebees, Soil temperature must be at least 50 Farenheit to germinate seeds. http://www.backyardgardener.com/plantname/pda_53d5.html
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3. BUSHITENO  (Grif 1490) cowpea from Sri Lanka
 Vigna unguiculata  Accession was collected. 1999. Sri Lanka.
Locality: From South Ratnayake, Dambulla.
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4. Plum Lemon (Lycopersicon lycopersicum) (PI 64753)
Heirloom Tomato 80 days, indeterminate
 Seeds. from Moscow, Russia.Bright canary-yellow 3” fruit looks just like a fresh lemon. They are said to be very "dry" in the meat of the tomato, like paste tomatoes.

Height: 4-6 ft weight one to three ounces

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5. Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz
Genus: Camelina
Family: Brassicaceae (alt. Cruciferae) tribe: Camelineae

 Grows 30cm (12 inch) to 120 cm (48 inch) tall

 Use
 Human food: potential as oil/fat. Exceptionally high levels (up to 45%) of omega-3 fatty acids, which is uncommon in vegetable sources
Animal food: fodder   (seeds used in the birdseed
 Fuels: potential as petroleum substitute/alcohol

NE2006-1 
Developed in: Nebraska, United States (winter variety)
 PI 650168
 Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz
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6. Belenzian Crambe seed
  A fine, firm seedbed is required for even germination and vigorous seedling growth
 Harvest
 Maturity three months. Plants erect, uniform, .6-1m (3.28 feet) tall at maturity. Tolerant of chilling and temperate summers  
When crambe fruits approach maturity, the leaves turn yellow and drop; a few days later the fruits and small branches turn straw-colored. When the last seed-bearing branches have turned color, the crop is ready to harvest.
 Crambe has orthodox seeds with usually about 4 months dormancy. Once the dormancy is broken, the seeds take 1–2 weeks to germinate at temperatures of 10–20°C. Germination is retarded below 8°C and inhibited below 5°C. Early growth is rapid. Plants reach the 2-leaf stage 6–12 days after germination and the 6-leaf stage after 15–27 days. Inflorescence develop from the 10–13th node upwards. Flowering starts 33–42 days after germination. Crambe is mainly self-pollinated, but about 15% cross-pollination occurs. Leaf growth virtually stops soon after flowering and the onset of anthesis generally coincides with maximum leaf area index and biomass accumulation rate. (Anthesis is the period during which a flower is fully open and functional)

Early senescence of the foliage is a major factor in the low yield capacity of crambe, especially because the surface area of the fruits is small and can intercept only at most 25–35% of incident radiation. Physiological maturity is reached after about 80 days.
Bean and pea seeds




Links to more info 

http://www.prota4u.org/protav8.asp?en=1&p=Crambe+hispanica+L.

 http://uses.plantnet-project.org/en/Crambe_hispanica_%28PROTA%29
http://www.oilseedcrops.org/crambe/
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faro Quinoa (Pedros select) Bountiful gardens Chenopodium quinoa
PLANTING DEPTH: 1/4" APPROXIMATE GERMINATION DAYS: 3-4
Spacing 12" 
Height 4-6'/  DAYS TO MATURITY: 108-120

Related to lambsquarters, beets and spinach.Cook like rice or millet. most quinoa is from the high Andes and won't consistently perform well at lower elevations.
Excessive water will kill it and it is extremely drought tolerant. Quinoa is naturally covered with a bitter tasting soapy substance called saponin.
This coating must be washed away before quinoa can be eaten, This can easily be done in small quantities by putting it in a blender with cool water and running at slow speed. The water is replaced until it no longer foams (is soapy). For larger quantities, seed can be placed in a sealed cloth bag and run through a washing machine (without detergent), until the soapy coating is gone