January 15, 2010
This is for all of you out there who are trying to start seeds and also searching for an excellent resource to help you along the way.
The book is called Gardener to Gardener Seed-Starting Primer & Almanac: A Month-By-Month Guide for Planning, Planting, and Tending Your Organic Garden (Rodale Organic Gardening Book)
It has helped me tremendously with the nitty gritty of how to’s of seed starting.
[ No Comments ] Posted on 01.15.10 under Recommended Books, Seed Starting
Transplants
December 23, 2009
I will be starting some seeds in the next week or two because I can’t help myself. 
If any of you have any in particular that you would like me to grow for you, please let me know. I still need to place my seed orders this next week, so please let me know ASAP. I live in the west valley and can deliver to my dad’s (Farmer Darrell’s) in Tempe, or also near 35th Ave. & Peoria. I can grow any plant your heart desires. I’ve always charged very little for my plants, just because I like to grow things and it gives me great pleasure to be able to grow for others.
The tomato planting season starts promptly in the middle of February here in zone 9 so no time to delay for tomatoes seed starting…also peppers and basil. Almost anything will grow in the spring…lots of fun lettuce, swiss chard, onions, spinach, beets, carrots, bok choy, broccoli, cauliflower, eggplants, bunches of herbs, hot peppers, bell peppers, and lots of tomatoes!
Here are a few websites to check out for seeds:
http://www.tradewindsfruitstore.com (hybrids and heirlooms)
www.tomatobob.com (heirlooms and hybrids)
www.rareseeds.com (all heirloom)
www.tomatogrowers.com (hybrid and heirlooms)
[ 2 Comments ] Posted on 12.23.09 under From My Garden, Seed Starting
Unexpected
December 09, 2009
Well, I thought I would update y’all on where I’ve been over the last few months. We ended up moving right as I had my winter garden all planned out, I might add. It’s a good thing and we are just four miles from our old house, but I can’t have a winter garden…or a spring garden…or any garden. Boo. We have only a small patio and it is in shade all day long. I have searched to see if I can find anything that will grow in complete shade and have found a few flowers that will. Any ideas? I’m just not much of a flower grower and still prefer edibles.
How are all y’alls winter gardens going? If anyone has any extra greens or beets and live over in the northwest valley let me know!!! I’d be happy to take them off of your hands. :) After checking prices for organic greens and beets I know without a doubt that it was saving me money to grow them myself. Do you know that it costs close to $2 for three little swiss chard leaves? And it’s the same for three little bitty beets. That is crazy. Do you know how many I would have to buy to feed all 7 of us for one meal? After having an abundance of it, it really stinks to have to buy it now.
Ok, enough pouting…I am SO happy that we are in our new house. My kids have a really great playground just ten steps outside our front door plus a big field. It’s so perfect for them.
If I figure out anything that grows in complete shade I’ll be sure to let you know…
[ 4 Comments ] Posted on 12.09.09 under From My Garden
Corny Pictures!
October 10, 2009
Here are some updated pictures of my corn and sweet potatoes. They are about 3/4 of the way to maturity. I am letting them go until I can harvest them. After that I will dive in to my fall garden.
[ 1 Comment ] Posted on 10.10.09 under Farmer Darrell's Tips, Fellow Gardener's Photos
Farmer Darrell’s October Gardening Tip
October 02, 2009
Well, we all made it through the long hot summer. This is it! This the big time for us Desert Dwellers. I assume all of you spent the last half of September getting your soil ready for the fall garden season. The weather has changed and NOW is the time to plant your seeds and get your transplants in the ground. If you need a good source of where to get them I always go to Baker’s Nursery at 3414 N. 40th Street Phoenix, AZ, 602-955-4500. Here you will get honest answers to your question by the owners themselves. They aren’t like clerks at some of the big box stores like Home Depot & Lowes. I’m not saying to not shop there, but the plants are contracted out to another company and once they arrive no one takes care of them. Time after time I go look when I’m there buying something else and most of the plants don’t even get watered! How sad!!
Ok, enough is enough. You can plant all of your cool season veggies now and they will do just fine until March etc. Tomatoes, squash, corn & peppers are not a good idea now. The nights are long and cold and then you run the risk of frost killing them and your hard work is gone. If you absolutely can’t get to planting seeds right now you can always go to the nursery and get 4 in. pots of plants that are already established and they will do just fine.
I always get excited this time of year because I can grow almost anything to my heart’s desire, and so can you!. So, get out there and good digging & planting . May the Veggie Force be with you!
[ 3 Comments ] Posted on 10.02.09 under Farmer Darrell's Tips
I Would Rather…
September 29, 2009
I would rather
clutch my invitation
and wait my turn
in party clothes
prim, proper
safe and clean.
…………………………
But a pulsing hand
keeps driving me
over peaks
ravines
and spidered brambles.
…………………………………
So, I’ll pant
up to the pearled knocker
tattered
breathless
and full of tales.
- Janet Chester Bly
[ 2 Comments ] Posted on 09.29.09 under Home Life
A competition!
September 26, 2009
Well, I just became aware that my blog, along with my dad, Farmer Darrell, has been nominated for an award at blotanical.com for best Arizona garden blog. A plethera of garden blogs await your reading there! Who knew that there were so many kindred spirits?
So, if you have nothing better to do than visit and vote, then please do!
[ No Comments ] Posted on 09.26.09 under Recommended Books
Farmer Darrell’s September Gardening Tip
September 22, 2009
Well it is September again! Sorry I’m late getting this to you. I took the summer off and made a trip to West Virginia. I was very interested on how they garden there. What I found was that it is about the same, except things really grow there in the summer. Really big things. Being an Arizona native I was amazed that people plant their gardens and then hope it will rain to keep them from dying. Odd, I thought, because here in the desert, if we didn’t water the seeds would at least get a decent burial. O.K. enough on that.
It is time to get out there and start digging up your soil and adding organic mulch, manure and turn it under. This will give it enough time to get the microbe action going in your garden after a long HOT summer. If you are a gardener like I am, the time is about 3 weeks away from the time you can grow almost anything your heart desires. Dust off those seed catalogs and start a wish list, because here it comes!. I am growing sweet potatoes and I started an August crop of corn.
So far, the sweet potatoes have taken over a major portion of my garden. You might note that if you want to plant sweet potatoes they will grow during the summer, but you have to give them a lot of water and a lot of room.
Well, I will pick this thing up around the first of October. I am interested to find out from you out there in gardenland what you are planning to grow in your fall gardens? Until then get out there and get some dirt under your fingernails, you’ll love it.
[ 5 Comments ] Posted on 09.22.09 under Farmer Darrell's Tips
Veggie Trader
September 15, 2009
I just ran across a website to post or look for locally homegrown veggies and fruit called Veggietrader.com
I hope to see all you local Phoenix people there with your extra veggies to trade later this fall and winter!!
[ No Comments ] Posted on 09.15.09 under Local Arizona Gardeners
Harvest Crusade 2009
August 14, 2009
If you want to meet Jesus and haven’t yet, here’s a place to do it:
The crusade will go live online tonight (Friday) and tomorrow night at 8pm MST and Sunday night at 7 pm MST. My dad and I got saved there 9 years ago and our lives have never been the same since. Plus, you can watch the archives if you are watching this after the crusade has already happened.
[ 2 Comments ] Posted on 08.14.09 under From My Garden, Home Life, How to Start A Garden
