I continue to be a delinquent as far as keeping not only things I am doing updated on the blog here, but getting the things I have in my mind, as things that need to be done, done.
The Bluebell grapes here at home, of which I lost nearly the entire crop in one day to birds last year, as of last week, had emerging bud clusters and looked wonderful
Guess I know this year to pick them the morning they are ripe, and not to wait until I am home from work that evening.
In the realm of mass plantings I have had to modify, down, how much I am doing. So far at the Adickes farm in Buffalo I have planted only a few things, and no seeds. Simply have not had the time. Shown above is one of 9 seed potatoes from a single TPS seedling grown last year from seed I got from Renville Tom. Have not eaten one yet, but the impressive size for TPS grown potatoes, plus that at room temperature they stored since last fall with only minimal sprouting while retaining firmness has me really pleased on two different levels as far as permanent viability as a future food crop source. 8 of them went in the ground, 1 went back to Renville Tom. They also grew in a relatively tight cluster in the ground immediately under the plant which is great for digging with minimal effort. They are a part of a 130 foot row of potatoes I put in. The only row I plan on doing this year.
They have a hand raised young hen who is rather personable.
Another first for me this year is sweet potatoes. Dont know the variety, but one that Renville Tom has been maintaining for years, and gave me 8 rooted slips to try. Early to have these in the ground, but unlike last year, it appears we are going to have a good & hot summer and daytime temps are in the 70s and 80s. They should do fine.
The cuttings I got From Great River Vineyard just went into the soil two weekends ago. Also up at Buffalo. These I had simply stored with the butt ends in water in mason jars above the sink. About 80% of them leafed out or swelled buds, while the rest just ended up as dead sticks. 37 wine grape plants that will become a part of the vineyard we will start next year up north at our own farm.
I honestly do not know if these are going to do better than the ones I just stuck directly in the ground without soaking in water first.
But they do look pretty.
Here at home the clematis is flowering beautifully.
The Swenson Seedless grapes on the frame in the backyard look good, though of the three I had on there, one died this last winter. No idea why, but the other two there, and the two in other places, all are showing good flower bud clusters.
This is a Bluebell Grape that was a cutting that was packed in potting soil in a ziplock bag in our crisper for two months before going into the ground. One of about 50.
This is a Swenson Seedless, that got the same treatment, and about the same number of those rooting as well.
This is a DM 8521-1 wine grape cutting, of which I have 8, from Dave McGreggor himself. Those spent no time packed in potting soil, and were placed directly in the ground. If there is something to be learned from this, it is that it appears you get earlier leaf emergence if you do. It remains to be seen if they have better or poorer root development.
The dozen Antonovka seedlings I stuck in the garden to do T-Bud grafting of my Kleffman & Cortland apple trees have all shot up to 2 feet tall already. Probably 6 inches of new growth. Looking forward to see if the 13 already placed in the orchard up north are showing similar growth.
We do plan on getting up to the farm this weekend. Weather (up there) has held us back a day as I do not relish camping wet with the family, but it will be limited planting, and cage building (deer protection) when we do get there. Shown above is another gift from Renville Tom. 5 sections of root cuttings from his wild plums.
Might be hard to tell, but that is about 50 seedling Manchurian Apricots from Renville as well.
And last but not least, Renville’s favorite sand cherry, which I had thought had given up the ghost, but is now showing new leaves. Might keep that home until later in the summer to make sure it is going to make it and is strong.
I have a bit over 50 tomato plants in the garden here. Still a lot to get done. Trying to keep my priorities as I have set them, straight with the rest of the demands on our lives.
