I'm trying to encourage everything to wild itself. If seeds will survive over the winter and come up on their own, I don't need to worry about seed shortages.
I planted dry beans this spring and they thrived, produced, and did their last gasp just before the heat hit. A full quarter of my dry garden space goes to that next spring, and a quarter to corn, while I test out new dry crops in the rest.
Main garden goes into full production next year.
ROFL. First, my system is a heart-attack inducing excuse for a freakout from both aquaponics and hydroponics purists. Both scream that 1) I'm doing it all wrong, 2) that it's neither hydroponics or aquaponics, and 3) that it will never work. So I call it hydroponics, blah, blah, blah...
My...
Trimmed back the last squash plant in the hope of getting some viable seeds. Wandered aimlessly and dreamed about next spring. Dug up a dry garden tomato that was starting to fruit and stuck it in the greenhouse.
I have transitioned back to hydroponics for the winter. Salad garden is growing...
My process is basically shotgun-STUN. Plant any seeds I can get my hands on, let them fight it out. The 5 apricots and 5 peaches are the survivors. I planted dozens of seeds for each, and many died. Most died either on transplant or during their first summer.
By not coddling them, I now have...
Take a look at the kernels. I suspect that the pink kernels are white inside. If they are, do not plant them. They inherited the red gene from only one parent.
White kernels should not be planted at all.
A few things to consider. First, this is NOT a flop.
Second, each of those kernels is made up of a male and female parent. By keeping only the red kernels of the partially red cobs, you're moving closer to your goal.
That entirely red cob is probably self pollinated and both "parents" have...
General rule with many plants is that you should end up with something in between the two parents. Normally if you cross two good peaches you should get a decent peach. Crossing across species barriers gets much more complicated.
For example, the peach-leafed almond mentioned above has a female...
My seedling peaches have survived 2 summers with minimal watering--I think I watered once in August. Yes they are small, but I have no problem with that. I am actually trying to encourage a bush form. I think bushes will do better with our high winds.
I planted a bunch of different varieties...
Almond x peach. Peach form from an almond seed. There was a nectarine about 20 feet from the almond at my old house, so I run across these periodically.
The hope would be to get an edible pit peach, but likely it will be a bitter almond with bad flesh. :) We'll see.
Locols think I'm loco for planting fruit trees as well. "Nobody" tries to grow fruit trees here, and from seed? Horrors.
"Don't you know those won't germinate?"
"I have grown them."
"They won't survive here."
I point to baby trees.
"Well, then they won't fruit. Trees have to be grafted to...
If no one in the area grows them, look for raw nuts in your grocery store or order them online. Mine came from my tree in Utah so they're used to entirely different conditions. Some were a gift. If you can't find any, IM your address and I'll send you some.
I am till trying to decide how to close in the west end. The east end closest to the house can simply be plastic or siding since it shouldn't get the direct wind or direct sun.
I did siding for the bottom half of the west end, but it's the round section that has me stumped. I may end up using...
@RoseTeas thank you for the reminder of this post.
Three seedling grapes survived the summer, and one seedling apricot. Both almonds appear to have died in the last few weeks, but I have them marked and we'll see if they come back next spring.
Of the 2nd year seedlings, all that made it...