The strawberries came, and they’ve almost gone. While most popular strawberry varieties are called “June bearing,” most of our crop matured in May. There are still a few stragglers here and there, but it looks like we’re done with the big juicy strawberries. That’s okay, because I’ve developed a taste for smaller berries… but at […]
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The year of the strawberries
Last spring I planted 4 strawberry plants in containers in the rooftop garden. As the weather got warmer and the plants took root, small flowers started to appear. But following the advice of pretty much everybody who talks about growing strawberries, I resisted the urge to let those flowers bloom and pinched them off in […]
Jury Duty
Monday – Jury Selection The prosecutor had a story to tell: One night, two years ago, Joe S was at home when his friend John M came over for a little bit. Joe’s wife Deanna S was at a family picnic with their 2 year old son. She called when she was pulling the car […]
How the garlic grows (or doesn’t)
Garlic is an interesting vegetable. In some ways it’s incredibly easy to grow. Just grab a clove of the stuff you get at a supermarket or a farmers market, stick it in the ground, and see what happens. You may or may not want to peel away the papery covering first. You’ll probably want to […]
Tomatoes, green beans, and basil
It’s been hot on the east coast. Like really, really hot. A week or two ago I started to see blossoms on my cherry tomato plants. Then I saw the flowers fall off leaving nothing in their wake. Blossom drop is apparently associated with a few different things, including excessive heat or overwatering. I’m pretty […]
Turn of the season: Out with the snow peas, in with the beans
It’s late May and the temperatures have been unseasonably warm in Philadelphia for this time of year. There’s also been a lot of rain. In the rooftop garden that’s meant the snow peas came in a little earlier this year than last, and the plants offered up a lot of peas. But over the past few […]