I recieved the multiplier onions I purchased.

 This is from the order I bought from.. I paid $13.00 including shipping.

Green Mountain Multiplier onion

Green Mountain Multiplier onion : (Allium cepa)  Large variety recently selected by Kelly Winterton.   I find that it doesn't cure out as reliably as the yellow potato onion it was bred from, and it has more tendency to bolt.  Once cured though, it keeps very well, into spring, and it is most definitely larger, at least twice as large on average.

Copper Shallot

Copper Shallot..pink tint to the flesh   Info from person I bought this from.
This is the old school type of shallot that does not tend to go to seed, but reproduces like a potato onion from planted bulbs.  For each bulb planted, a cluster of new bulbs forms.  Usually the reproduction rate is somewhere around 6 to every one planted.  These form hard bulbs that store like a rock once cured.  Some losses are always incurred during curing and storage, but most will easily keep until spring in fine eating and planting condition.  It is still better to plant this fall if you can, because they may not all make it till spring.  I have no idea how hardy this variety is in very cold climates.  The person I got this from said" Here I can grow it all winter through temps down to 20 degrees and it won't bolt if fall planted.  The bulbs are nice, with fewer divisions under the skin than the yellow potato onions I grow.  This is a great variety of french shallot that you can grow indefinitely without ever having to buy seed!  The modern varieties are bred to grow from seed and will bolt if a bulb is planted"

I'itoi onions

I'itoi onions  This is a very rare multiplying onion that make little bulbs that are a lot like a tiny shallot.  It is very small, but very productive.  It was supposedly introduced by the Spanish centuries ago and has been grown by the O'odam people of the southwest ever since.  It can also be grown and harvested as a scallion or as chives if left to grow without dividing. A single bulb can turn into over 100 at the end of the season

Re-growth begins again in July and prosper for about 10-11 months annually. As a hardy onion, they require about a third less water than most, since they

seldom get water more than twice a month in Arizona type weather 

Plant 12 inches apart about 2 inches deep.  

When they are young (green onions) they should be dug up with a spade or garden fork and not pulled like regular onions. Fibrous roots go down about six inches, which is why many end up pulling off the tops and leaving the bulbs in the earth.

Yellow potato onion

 The Yellow potato onion  small to medium multiplier.  Extremely good keeper once cured out.  It is a hardy heirloom multiplying onion once popular in home gardens, but now uncommon.  When one bulb is planted in fall, winter or spring, a cluster of onions is produced.  The ratio of reproduction is around 6 produced for every one planted.  The number of bulbs in a half pound will vary, but it’s usually 10 or more.  Generally, if a small bulb is planted, a few large onions will be produced.  If a large bulb is planted, more, but smaller, onions will be produced.  The bulbs are planted between fall and spring.  If fall or winter planting in cold areas, the onions may need to be hilled up with dirt for the winter and the dirt pulled away from the bulbs in the spring. Yellow potato onions are similar to traditional shallots.  The flavor is generally somewhat mild and sweet.  They grow to about 2 to 2.5 inches in diameter if well cared for.  The flesh is yellow.  They can keep extremely well, into and past the following spring.  They mature in late summer from either fall or spring planting, with earlier plantings ripening slightly earlier. The average multiplication is around 6 bulbs per one planted.  So, if 10 bulbs are planted, survive and reproduce and all the offspring are planted, the math works out to, 60 in year one, 360 in year two, 2,160 in year three and 12,960 in year four.  So, consider these bulbs an investment that you can start to share with other gardeners in a couple of years. Be warned that someone on ebay has been selling small commercial onion starts as potato onions for years.  Potato onions do not produce perfect, round, clean, small uniform bulbs.  These are the traditional yellow potato onion.

 The potato onions and shallots usually produce about 6 bulbs for each one planted.  The math works out to 6 = 36= 216= 1296 in year three! and the I'itoi can produce large clusters of small onions in one season.

Growing Glass Gem corn to harvest for seed.

With all the rain we had in Missouri, this year corn was not easy to grow. At the grocery store they want $3.99 for 3 ears. That is proof to me I am not alone in losing my yellow corn. But I waited till later i the summer and planted a few kernels of Glass gem. I had 3 ears grow. Today I had to pull them off. Rain and cold were getting to them. But I should have enough to save for seed to plant next year. 

I find some of the kernels have cracked and look like they were starting to pop.
This is from the outer shell drying up and the inside decided to try and grow some more. Like when tomatoes crack. It is the added water and growing temp returned for a few days. The plants are confused this year. Too hot or too cold. Up and down. But I have these hanging upside down in the house right now. I think they are dry enough but want to make sure before I remove them from the cob.

I really wish I had enough to try popcorn. The ones that have been cracked can still be used for corn meal, But they would not have internal pressure to build up inside of the kernel to create popcorn. I have read you can eat this corn as sweet corn only at a limited amount of time when it is in the milk stage of growth. This corn takes 105 days to mature for dry corn.

Results of the seed grow out for the EFN

It is time to pack up and seed the send back, what I grew out for the EFN (Experimental Farm Network)

BUSHITENO  (Grif 1490) cowpea from Sri Lanka 3 pounds 10 oz
Plum Lemon tomato (Lycopersicon lycopersicum) (PI 64753)
Phaseolus coccineus
( Black Coat Scarlet Runner Bean )Pollinated by bumblebees) I had to hand polinate
 Pea (Dwarf gray sugar) Low yeild
The grain seed that failed to grow, because of too much rain were.
Belezian cranbe sprout
Faro Quinoa (Pedros select)
Camelina  Sativa L.Crantz

Soil temperatures for vegetable seed germination

Soil temperatures for vegetable seed germination

VEGETABLE	MIN. (°F)	RANGE (°F)	OPTIMUM (°F)	MAX (°F)	DAYS TO GERMINATION
ASPARAGUS	50°	60° - 85°	75°	95°	21 - 30
BEAN	60°	60° - 85°	80°	95°	7 - 14
BEAN LIMA	60°	65° - 85°	85°	85°	10 - 14
BEET	40°	50° - 85°	85°	95°	7 - 14
CABBAGE	40°	45° - 95°	85°	100°	7 - 10
CARROT	40°	45° - 85°	80°	95°	10 - 21
CAULIFLOWER	40°	45° - 85°	80°	100°	3 - 10
CELERY	40°	60° - 70°	70°	85°	14 - 21
CHARD SWISS	50°	50° - 85°	85°	95°	7 - 14
CORN	50°	60° - 95°	95°	105°	7 - 10
CUCUMBER	60°	75° - 95°	95°	105°	7 - 10
EGGPLANT	60°	40° - 80°	85°	95°	7 - 12
LETTUCE	35°	40° - 80°	75°	85°	7 - 14
MUSKMELON	60°	75° - 95°	90°	100°	7 - 10
OKRA	60°	70° - 95°	95°	105°	8 - 12
ONION	35°	50° - 95°	75°	95°	10 - 14
PARSLEY	40°	50° - 85°	75°	90°	10 - 21
PARSNIP	35°	50° - 70°	65°	85°	14 - 21
PEA	40°	40° - 75°	75°	85°	8 - 10
PEPPER	60°	65° - 95°	85°	95°	14 - 21
POTATO (TPS)	60°	60° - 80°	70°	80°	2- 14
PUMPKIN	60°	70° - 90°	95°	100°	7 - 10
RADISH	40°	45° - 90°	95°	95°	3 - 7
SPINACH	35°	45° - 75°	70°	85°	7 - 10
SQUASH	60°	70° - 95°	95°	100°	9 - 12
TOMATO	59°	60° - 85°	85°	95°	5 - 14
TURNIP	40°	60° - 105°	85°	105°	6 - 7
WATERMELON	60°	70° - 95°	95°	105°	7 - 10

Strike bush green bean

I ordered Strike bush green beans, I have seen videos on how productive they are. It is a 55 day to harvest green bean.  I paid $4.50 for 200 seeds.

Plant seed approximately 1 in. deep, space 4-8 inches  in row with rows 24-30 in. apart. These Beans do not tolerate frost so not a good choice to plant in fall. They like soil tempature to be at least 60 degrees.So I will wait till May to direct sow. Unless we have an early start of temps in April again. 

I also purchased 

Daikon Radish  (300 Seed's) It was only $1.75

 The word daikon means "great root" in Japanese. In cool weather, daikon growth is quick and steady. The fully mature daikon can grow up to about 18 inches long and weighs 5 or 6 pounds. There are several varieties. Some are thin and long, while others are short and round. All radish greens are edible.

 This is a cool-season, fast-maturing, easy-to-grow

 Place the seeds ¾ inch deep and 6 inches apart. Leave 3 feet between rows to allow for mature spread. The plants will mature within 60 to 70 days. 

The  tap root that can reach far into the soil to reclaim nitrogen.

This is a very large white radish, from Japan. Eaten raw daikon root  has a very mild taste and is very low in calories, coming in at around 6 calories per ounce. They're a prolific vegetable and can often grow up to 20" in length with a diameter of 4" 

The radishes store well once the tops have been removed. The radish leaves cause moisture and nutrient loss during storage. Store greens separately for 2-3 days

It can be shredded like cabbage or Sweet Pickled.
Sliced up and tossed with carrots, red peppers, shallots, olive oil, salt and pepper. And then roasted. 

Luffa sponge gourds

It is getting close to harvest time for the Luffas. I planted 1 on each end of a 16 foot cattle panel. They have taken over the top half of the fence. I started the seed inside last March. These were slow to start as the need the day length to shorten. The needed more heat also. I am in Zone 5b Missouri. If I were farther south I would have had more female flowers and already harvested them. But I hope before a frost I will get them to dry on the vine.

This is a smaller one that may not get big enough to turn into a sponge. So I may try eating it. It is in the family of squash and cucumbers. But, more closely related to a cucumber. I have heard the skin tastes like a green bean. I have seen it used as a face treatment, or cleanser. But Will let you know, when I try it.

NAME: Luffa (Sponge) Gourd

OTHER COMMON NAMES: Vegetable Sponge / Smooth Luffa / Sponge Luffa / Climbing Okra / Dishrag Gourd

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Luffa Cylindrica

COLOR: Green

PLANT SEEDS: Outdoors after frost / Indoors weeks before last frost

HARVEST: 60 Days

HARDINESS ZONE: N/A

PLANT HEIGHT: 48 - 72"

PLANT SPACING: 5 - 6'

LIGHT REQUIREMENTS: Sun

SOIL & WATER PREFERENCES: Average

QUANTITY: I had 25 Seeds

OTHER: The Luffa Gourd is an open pollinated variety. You just allow the gourd to dry & peel off the skin to reveal the sponge. How cool is that?

See this page for a video and more information 

Delicata Winter squash

Today I bought seeds for  Delicata Winter squash, (Intro 1891)  80-100 day
It is an heirloom squash, they say it tastes like a sweet potato. I paid $1.80 for 3.5 oz (79) seeds total.

Fruit is around 3 inches across and 6 inches long.the skin of Delicata is tender and edible, unlike other winter squash variety.

The Cornell Bush Delicata requires only 4 square feet of garden space, but if growing vine type Delicata squash, allow at least 20 square feet of space.
The bush plant will attain a height of 10-12 inches with a 24- to 28-inch spread.
I think I have the vine type

To test Delicata for readiness, press a fingernail against the skin. When the skin is hard, remove the fruit from the plant with pruning shears, keeping about 2 inches of the vine attached. Although its storage life is a little shorter than hard skinned varieties, Delicata can be stored for about 3 months at room temp in a cool, dry area (50-55 degrees F/10-12 C). Or, the fruit can be frozen

When is the best time to plant garlic?

 Fall is the best time to plant garlic

This is a tricky plant to grow. The way our temperatures have changed in Missouri.Some winters have been mild. Some with lots of snow, We have had outdoor family gathering on Christmas and Thanksgiving a few times. 
So just picking a set time is no longer an option. We were in the 80's f yesterday and they say rest of the week will be hot,So I have to hold off on planting right now.

Garlic requires 
1.Full sun and good drainage. That is why my garlic failed this year. Too much rain and not enough sun.
2. 1-2inchesof water per week, stop watering when leaves turn yellow.
3.Phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) are important for health and growth.
4. Keep garlic well weeded, as it cannot stand much competition.

 Hard neck garlic should be planted in the fall, when soil temperatures are at 50f (10c) The months of October or November will depends on the temperature of your area. If it is really hot you should hold off on planting. Soft neck garlic can be planted in spring, but bulb size may be reduced. The goal is to get well established roots and as much leaf as possible. That is all we have control over.

If planted too early too much top growth may happen before winter, if planted to late there may not be enough root growth to survive winter. So you really have to know the weather forecast to make a good judgement. The plant will start growing again if temperatures warm up in the winter. The plant can handle stop and start. But if it dies back 2 or more times it will reduce the yield.

 Roots will grow as long as the soil is not frozen
 The tops will grow as long as temperatures are above 40f (4.5 c)

Garlic needs at least 40 days at temperatures below 40f (4.5 c) to make the bulb divide into separate cloves.

Garlic is day length  sensitive
Bulbs start to form and leaf growth stops when the day length reaches 13 hours and soil temperatures are over 60f (15c).  Both has to happen before bulbs form.
.Temperatures cause harvest time to be early or late even if the day length is at least 13 hours.

It can be harder to grow in colder northern  climates Because it takes longer to reach the right soil temperature. 

It is important to have larger plants before they reach the stage of bulb growth. More leaf and root growth, will make a larger bulb..

Temperatures above 91f (33c) will end the growth of the bulb, and trigger the plant to start drying of the plant. The bulb will double in size that last month of growth. So removing the scapes (central stem)  on hard neck garlic will help increase the bulb size at that point.  .

Note garlic should be stored at temperatures of 50-60F (10-15c) Do not refrigerate
Temperatures between 40-50f (4.5-10c)  will cause sprouting before you are read to plant.  .

Here is a good read for in depth information. 

Notes: Don't wait for garlic leaves to start to die back to check for maturity, start checking for mature cloves about late June

The amount of nitrogen (N), phosphoric acid (P) and potash (K) in 

 common manures

Manure	Chicken	Diary cow	Horse	Steer	Rabbit	Sheep
N-P-K	1.1 .80 .50	.25 .15 .25	.70 .30 .60	.70 .30 .40	2.4 1.4 .60	.70.30 .90

RED CALYPSO BEAN

RED CALYPSO BEAN (Phaseolus vulgaris) - 100 Seeds - Bush, Dry Bean - Heirloom  It is also called a Ying Yang bean because of the red and white that flows along the bean's length. About 3/8 inch long.  Occasionally there will be a red spot or two on the white half. plant grows 20" tall. The pods resemble a Roma type bean. 

This bean is said to be native to the Caribbean region and dates back to the late 1600’s.


Mild flavor and creamy rich texture. Beans double in size when cooked and retain their color once cooked. This bean can be eaten as a green bean when young or let it mature for a dried bean.  50 days until harvest for fresh beans.
$2.69PAID : $5.64 with shipping

WHERE ARE ALL THE EARTH WORMS?

We had 3-4 months of rain this summer, here in Missouri. You would see many worms come up to travel around the top of the soil. You would also see many birds feasting on them. Temperatures were cooler than normal too. (70f/21c+/-) But, still in the range for worms to be happy.

In the fall and spring. There were may giant night crawlers to be  found. Earthworms like cool temperatures of 50 - 70 degrees F (10-21C) and moist conditions. Earthworms aren't active when it's cold or dry. So that is the answer. They are hiding out deep in the soil. Waiting for the right conditions. We have not had much rain since early August. 

I was starting to think the worms may have drown or floated away. It is possible. But I have read can survive for several weeks under water providing there is sufficient oxygen in the water to support them. 
They will come to the surface of the ground as a response to high relative humidity.  They can move around safely without drying out thanks to the humid condition.

 They breathe through their skin, yet the skin must stay wet in order for the oxygen to pass through it. 
Earthworms will dye if they are frozen, so the go deep below the frost line till the ground thaws.


 live deep in the soil, where smaller worms live near the surface. 

Growing Turmeric and Ginger in Missouri

Did you know Turmeric is in the Ginger family?

There are 3 variety's we use for spice.

 Curcuma aromatica, found  predominantly in eastern Himalayas and in the warm forests of the Western Ghats (India)cream color inside. The rhizomes are often used in cosmetic herbal medicines and as a culinary ingredient in limited quantities as a food flavor.
 Curcuma zedoaria   it has a white interior and a fragrance reminiscent of mango; however, its flavor is more similar to ginger, except with a very bitter aftertaste The plant is native to India and Indonesia but now naturalized in other places including the US State of Florida.
 Curcuma longa, has a orange or yellow interior
It is native to southwest India It requires temperatures between 20 and 30 °C (68 and 86 °F) and a considerable amount of annual rainfall to thrive.

 More information can be found on Wikipedia.
 
Thanks to the internet we can learn anything with a few searches on Google.
I am ready to harvest the ginger, I placed in one of my home made grow bags.

All I did was buy a piece of ginger from the store back in Feb or March of 2014. I broke off a couple of pieces that had nodes. I used a high quality potting soil in.the grow bag, Place 2 pieces of ginger about 1 inch deep. I kept the soil moist and it sat in the south facing window with a grow light near by.  It sprouted up in no time.
 I placed it out doors when the weather was warmer in April/May. It took care of it's self. We had so much rain.I never watered it. The roots went thew the bottom of the bag and planted them self to hold the plant to the ground. Next year. I will Start them in the grow bag and see how they do transplanted into the soil. to see If I get bigger roots. Soon I will add a video to the bottom of this post, to show the results of harvest.

I have read so many good things about the health benefits of Turmeric, I find it is quite expensive and can not find any locally. So I placed an order online for Whole Raw Organic 1LB -NON GMO - Fresh Harvest Yellow Fresh.I paid $13.49 with free shipping.  This is shipped from NJ, but has Country/Region of Manufacture: Jamaica,
So I searched Turmeric grown in Jamaica. I find the type grow there to be Curcuma longa. This is not indigenous to Jamaica, yet farmed there. and shipped to the US.
It is said to be a robust, perennial, tropical herb of the ginger family and like ginger has a thick, round rhizome with short blunt "fingers".
In some ways, it can be compared to saffron.

It also has a fluorescent yellow-coloured extract of a mixture of three dyestuff, including curcumin which has been known for many centuries to give a rich color to silks and cottons I read turmeric is extremely sensitive to light, for this reason curry powders should be stored in the dark.

Growing  

These plant do not produce seeds for propagation.
Days to germination: Started by root cuttings, not seeds
Days to harvest: 250 days or more (8 to 10 months)
Light requirements: Full sun, or slight shade
Water requirements: Regular watering
Soil: Well-drained soil
Container: Necessary for most climates

So with this information.I need to start my cuttings by December. 
 If there are any knobs or buds on the root, turn it so they are facing upwards. This is where the new stems will come from. It could take a month or more to see the growth depending on the depth you planted the root. 2 inches is recommended. But you can just add more soil later on, if you do less.

Turmeric is a plant that is seldom bothered by insects or disease. Your plant may develop leaf blotch or leaf spot, which is a fungus infection that will start out as brown patches on the leaves. The leaves will eventually turn yellow and drop off If you are growing turmeric outside of Asia, there are not many insects interested in the plant. Aphids and mites sometimes cluster on the leaves, but they can easily be washed off with a spritz of water or a spray of insecticidal soap

 For storage, place the unpeeled roots in an air-tight container. Keep it in a cool dark place for up to 6 months
You can freeze turmeric, but will be mushy when it thaws out. It is still usable.

A great page to read on this is http://www.therainforestgarden.com/2011/12/how-to-grow-turmeric.html

Seed potatoes to grow in 2016

Muru

Blue and white potatoes, patterns of splashes. Will segregate for white flesh or partially blue flesh. Good blight resistance

Huagalina   PI 619141 Peru

Tetraploid. Very late maturity (probably has some day-length sensitivity). Tiny, yellow with red splashes, yellow flesh. 

Katahdin

Tetraploid. Round white, flavor typical of a commercial potato

 

Touch Down 

Tetraploid. White skin, white flesh, descended from a high-flavored line

Pig Knuckles:
Tetraploid. Pink skin with yellow and pink flesh. Some frost resistance in the tubers.
Pokhipsie
Variable shape and colors. Red, yellow, and purple with assorted flesh colors. Diploid.

Maris Piper
 GRIN: PI 377745
 Floury white-fleshed potato. Sets tuber high. early-mid season
Bora Valley
GRIN: PI 634776
 medium-late maturing potato cultivar with purple skin and flesh color, good processing quality, and excellent stability. It has medium plant height and dark foliage. ‘Bora Valley’ has a profuse flowering habit and light purple flowers. Tubers have smooth skin, round, with medium eye depth, and short to medium dormancy. It has stable yield under wide range of climatic conditions. This variety is grown in Korea for raw eating - NOT a cooking potato

TPS seeds for 2016

Pig knuckle  purple berry
Yukon gold
Huagalina PI 619141 Peru

Chaucha Amarilla CIP 703308  Peru (Open pollinated)  Genus Solanum, Species phureja

Blue

Tollocan  (Tom Wagner)
yellow skin and flesh 
seedling of Tollocan Fiesta

white Fingerling

Red tuber fingerling

Chiar Choque Pitu PI 604207 (Bolivia) (BE-4832 < Other names> Q 30933 )
 female parent is a S. x curtilobum, a pentaploid, so ploidy of the progeny is probably variable. [60 chromosomes instead of 48].

Late harvest
Tetra mix, White- tuber/flesh/flowers
  
 (TL)

Multiplier Onion's and shallots order recieved.

 I received an order I purchased  for real multiplier onions.

 The red white and yellow sets I received on another post may be just onion sets. I paid allot of money for. But will not know till next summer if I was cheated. 

What I have now you can tell by looking at them. They are real!

Green Mountain Multiplier:   Large variety recently selected by Kelly Winterton.   I find that it doesn't cure out as reliably as the yellow potato onion it was bred from, and it has more tendency to bolt.  Once cured though, it keeps very well, into spring, and it is most definitely larger, at least twice as large on average.

Copper Shallot:  This is an old school shallot that has a very low tendency to flower.  Newer shallots are almost all grown from seed and will blot if planted.  This one is a beautiful coppery color and makes firm little bulbs and store very well.

I'itoi:Multiplier Onion  This is a very rare multiplying onion that make little bulbs that are a lot like a tiny shallot.  It is very small, but very productive.  It was supposedly introduced by the Spanish centuries ago and has been grown by the O'odam people of the southwest ever since.  It can also be grown and harvested as a scallion or as chives if left to grow without dividing.

Latin Name: Allium cepa var. aggregatum. Synonym: Allium cepa Aggregatum Group.  

Details from the seller. 

2 bulbs each of the classic heirloom






Yellow Potato Onion:  small to medium multiplier.  Extremely good keeper once cured out.

Yellow Potato Onion,  The newer Green Mountain Multiplier potato onion, Copper Shallot and I'itoi  All of these reproduce from bulbs, so you plant one and harvest many.  Small bulbs of Yellow potato onion, copper shallot and green mountain produce large bulbs if small bulbs are planted, or they produce many smaller bulbs if a large bulb is planted.  The collection contains two of each bulb.  In many areas, these can be fall planted and should be.  The yellow potato onion is very hardy, and I believe the Green Mountain is too, but I can't be positive about that.  Copper shallot can easily survive temps down to 20 where I live, beyond that I'm not sure.  I'itoi may be more cold sensitive, but should survive temps above 20 degrees if fall or winter planted.  Fall is a traditional time to plant potato onions in the south.  Since these reproduce by bulbs, there is no need to ever buy seed again.  Consider this an investment and a great way to test several varieties without spending a lot.  The potato onions and shallots usually produce about 6 bulbs for each one planted.  The math works out to 6 = 36= 216= 1296 in year three! and the I'itoi can produce large clusters of small onions in one season.