Nobody's Mad

Florist, mixed colors

Expected germination: 14-20 days

Approximately 18 seeds

7/18: Planted 2 per cell in 9 cells.

7/29: Noted first seedlings.

–MJH

French Breakfast
Expected germination: 5-7 days
Expected harvest: 23 days

18 seeds

07/18: Planted 2 per cell in 9 cells.
07/24: Two cells excavated, perhaps by squirrel.
07/24: 8 of 18 (44%) have shoots 1/2″ to 1″ tall.
08/01: 8 of 18 (44%) have shoots 1-1/2″ to 2-1/2″ tall.
08/04: Planted out.
08/07: 1-1/2″ to 3″ tall, with foliage diameter 2″ to 5″.
08/15: Started harvest.
08/15: 2″ to 5″ tall, with foliage diameter 2″ to 7″. Many holes in leaves.
08/23: Completed harvest.

Harvest: 28-36 days

Jack O’Lantern
Expected germination: 7-10 days
Expected harvest: 110 days

5 seeds

07/18: Planted 1 per cell in 5 (of 9) cells.
07/24: Two cells excavated, perhaps by squirrel.
07/24: 1 of 5 (20%) has a shoot 1″ tall.
08/01: 3 of 5 (60%) have shoots 1-1/4″ to 2-1/2″ tall.
08/04: Planted out in raised mound.
08/07: 3″ to 4-1/2″ tall, with foliage diameter 1-1/2″ to 4″. Crowded by winter squash.
08/12: Moved to new mound further away from winter squash.
08/15: 4″ to 8″ tall, with foliage diameter 3-1/2″ to 8″.
08/23: 4″ to 8″ tall, with foliage diameter 5″ to 9″.
08/30: 7″ to 13″ tall, with foliage diameter 7″ to 13″.
09/22: Removed two sunflowers and trimmed squash to provide better light to melons and pumpkins.

Parris Island
Expected germination: 7-10 days
Expected harvest: 60-70 days

18 seeds

07/18: Planted 2 per cell in 9 cells.
07/24: One cell excavated, perhaps by squirrel.
07/24: 16 of 18 (89%) have shoots 1/4″ tall.
08/01: 11 of 18 (61%) have shoots 1/4″ tall – remainder probably lost to heat.
08/04: Planted out.
08/07: 1/2″ to 1-1/4″ tall, with foliage diameter 1/2″ to 2″.
08/15: 1/2″ to 4″ tall, with foliage diameter 1/2″ to 8″. Very uneven.
08/23: 2″ to 4-1/2″ tall, with foliage diameter 1-1/4″ to 5-1/2″. Uneven.
08/30: 3″ to 7″ tall, with foliage diameter 2″ to 7″.

Bibb / Limestone
Expected germination: 7-10 days
Expected harvest: 57 days

18 seeds

07/18: Planted 2 per cell in 9 cells.
07/24: 17 of 18 (94%) have shoots 0″ to 1/4″ tall.
08/01: 13 of 18 (72%) have shoots 1/4″ to 3/4″ tall – remainder probably lost to heat. Half of the survivors are severely heat damaged.
08/04: Planted out.
08/07: 3/4″ to 1-1/2″ tall, with foliage diameter 3/4″ to 2″.
08/15: 1″ to 2-1/4″ tall. Some crowded by winter squash.
08/23: 2-1/2″ to 5″ tall, with foliage diameter 2-1/2″ to 4-1/2″. Some crowded by winter squash.
08/30: 3″ to 6-1/2″ tall, with foliage diameter 2″ to 5″. No longer crowded.

Long Imperator #58
Expected germination: 8-12 days
Expected harvest: 77 days

36 seeds

07/18: Planted 2 per cell in 18 cells.
07/24: One cell excavated, perhaps by squirrel.
07/24: No visible change.
08/01: 12 of 36 (33%) have shoots 1/4″ to 1″ tall.
08/07: 14 of 36 (39%) have shoots 1/2″ to 1-3/4″ tall.
08/15: 14 of 36 (39%) have shoots 1″ to 3″ tall.
08/23: 12 of 36 (33%) have shoots 4″ to 6-1/2″ tall.
08/29: Planted out.
08/30: Stressed. 0″ to 5″ tall.
10/13: Harvested a couple of 2-3″ carrots.

Harvest: 87-TBA days

We make bread with a bread machine, and if I am careful, the bread turns out velvety and delicious.  Because it tastes so much better than “shop” bread, we eat it nearly exclusively.  Bread is chemistry, if not alchemy: I think it’s important to measure the ingredients exactly, especially the yeast; and to use bread flour, not the all-purpose kind.  (The label on the bag of flour should at the very least mention bread.)  Getting the water-temperature right is a tricky issue that I assume you have mastered.

Your bread machine will dictate the order and method, but here are the ingredients for our brown bread.

Makes a 1.5 pound loaf.

• 1 cup + 3 T. water (80 degrees f.)
• 2 T.  oil
• 3 T. molasses
• 1 1/2 t. salt
• 2 T. dry milk powder (skim is OK)
• 2 cups white bread flour
• 1 1/4 cups whole-wheat bread flour
• 1 1/2 t. active dry yeast*

*We use the granulated kind that comes in a jar.  I prefer a brand that at least mentions bread machines on the label.

6 plants (pony-pack)

07/15: Bought.

07/16: Planted in upstairs window boxes.

–MJH

Expected rooting: 2 weeks.

Approximately 12 cuttings

07/08: Placed cuttings in jars of water.

07/16: Noted first roots.

07/20: Planted 1 cutting in pot.

07/22: Planted 2 cuttings in pot.

07/24: Planted all remaining cuttings in pots (about 6 cuttings).

–MJH