Holy Saffron...

Did you know that Saffron, the spice used in cooking is the stamen of a particular strain of crocus flower? (Crocus sativus)

Did you know that said crocus flower is hardy to Zone 6? (I am on the border of Zone 6 and 7)

I had no idea... I admit that I barely use saffron in my cooking, but I have a lot of family that does ... so I figured... lets give it a try.  The picture above is the crocus "corms". I have planted them in three different areas of my yard (with hopes that the local voles/gopher won't find all of them).

Raspberries....

One of my goals is to be able to produce enough berries to eliminate the need to buy them from the grocery store during the spring, summer and fall. I usually buy some sort of berries on a weekly basis.  So this way if I grew them at home I wouldn't have to worry about  ... whether I should pay double to get the organic ones ... will we be able to finish a huge container before they go bad... none of that.

Slowly but surely I am getting there. Both of my kids like raspberries and strawberries (only one likes blueberries but I am hoping to change that).

The raspberries were definitely a success this year. I have two relatively small sections of raspberries and these days I am getting probably at least 6 oz of berries every other day, often much more than that. (the picture below is a good 12 oz at least. )

Yellow Golden Ann
 One section is Yellow Golden Ann Raspberries, these do so well in my yard. Last year I planted 2 plants/canes and this year I have more than a dozen (I actually had more but was giving these away early in the summer). The first year fruit on these were really quite good.  If they are not fully ripe they are a bit tart, otherwise they have a great flavor... some say with a hint of banana. My son loves these (he tolerates a bit more tartness than my daughter). 

Red Heritage
My second section of raspberries are heritage. These are the type of raspberries that you commonly find in the local u pick fields. I have to say that my first year heritage berries did not have that great of a taste. They were fairly bland. So when this patch started shading out my strawberries I did not hesitate to chop these guys fairly low to the ground. I let one grow completely and realized the error of my ways. These berries were DELICIOUS! Both my kids were fighting for the red berries. Lesson learned "don't judge a berry by the first year fruit".  To add salt to the wound the deer came around and ate my strawberry plants so we didn't even get any strawberries (needless to say the strawberries are getting moved to a more protected area).

Raspberry culture
These plants are similar to strawberries in that they grow like WEEDS.  Just one plant will give you at least 6 the following year. I learned I really need to give them room. The key to weeding them is to find the "last plant" on the root and start pulling from that end. It is a very cost effective plant. If anyone is local and wants to try their hand at these let me know, I am always weeding these. Not all of them survive, I've had some of my transplants die and some tell me that the roots took and they are growing properly. I haven't quite figured the key to successfull transplanting yet.

They also grow tall and thin so they need some sort of support. I made makeshift supports this year but I really need to figure out something better for them next year.

Feeding/Fertilizer
I must say that I don't give these guys much by way of any sort of fertilizer. I gave them two boosts of liquid fish/seaweed spray but I probably didn't even need to do that. I give them very thick heavy layers of mulch in the fall (wood chips and/or fall leaves) and compost when I can spare it. Also when they started to flower I would throw my banana peels at the base of the plants for added potassium. Otherwise these are very "easy" plants.

Pruning
Ok so when it comes to raspberries pruning can be a bit complicated. Luckily these two varieties are really easy when it comes to pruning.

 I waited till the spring for the first pruning(usually when I see the new canes emerging from the ground).  I COMPLETELY cut last years canes down to the ground (real easy no primocane/floricane nonsense). I read somewhere not to cut them in the fall when they are done because the roots draw some nutrition from the dormant cane during the winter.

Second  pruning I did for the Golden Ann's. When the new canes are 30-36 inches high I cut the tops off the plants ( I think this will work for the heritage as well but haven't tried it yet).  When I did this the cane started to branch into two which was great because I then got 2 fruiting ends instead of just one.

What's growing on....

Ok... I started this earlier in the week but its been a busy with getting the kids ready for school but anyway... here it is. 

Asparagus- You can see the asparagus ferns peaking out of this wild overgrown area of my yard... I put them there because I had no where else to put them. I think I have found them a home. So hopefully I can move then soon.

Sunchokes- So I think the deer have been eating the tops off this plant. The plant does not seem to mind and is growing as vigorous as ever and since I am interested in the tubers underground I don't mind either. 

Okra- This millionaire (F1) okra has been doing great this year. I am not keeping on top of the pods as quickly as I should but luckily they don't get fibrous until they are really huge so its ok. I may grow this one side by side against Clemson spineless next year to see which one I like better.

Small sized tomatoes- My cherry and grape tomato plants did outstanding this year. They are so consistent and reliable even with the odd summer we had (with repeated nights down to 50 degrees). I think for this reason I may add back a dark cherry plant next year, I have my eye on this one. (This also means I need to drop one of my large tomato plants). 

Large Tomatoes- Its been an odd summer for these guys. They have been coming down with fungal diseases earlier than they should  likely because of the cooler nights. I have had to ripen them indoors (which my husband hates) but I've also had to toss quite a few as well. I think next year I need to have a more regimented antifungal regimen The Opalka in the picture below has not ripened yet (in all fairness it did have a rough start).

Cantaloupe- I made the mistake of trying to trellis this plant but ended up taking the whole thing down when the fruit came in. Anyway, these fruit should have ripened by now but are really taking their merry time about it. I am hoping the weather stays warm so these guys can ripen before the frost hits.

Cucumbers- These did great this year.... and are still growing strong. At one point I told my kids that we have to finish one cucumber a day to keep up with these plants.

 
Watermelon- I learned so much about this plant this year. First they need MASSIVE vines in order to fruit. I gave one plant about 3ft by 4 ft of space and boy was it not satisfied with that. It ended up growing UP and OUT of the fence. So now I have this one watermelon growing about 4 ft off the ground (in the picture below) and one growing outside the fence (in the picture to the right underneath the mass of  vines). I really didn't want to have to figure out how to support a watermelon on a trellis but I guess I am going to have to.  Lets hope that this one stays small. Next year I want to grow a more compact variety. I'd rather not grow them altogether but my kids LOVE watermelon so I need to figure this out. 

  

Nasturtiums- I have been eating these flowers all summer long... love them. Yes I am turning into my parents... when I was little I thought they were a bit nutty for eating these flowers. Now I love them :)

Bhut Jolokia or Ghost Pepper- Early in the summer my son picked the leaves off this plant thinking it was the stevia plant. It took a while for this guy to recover and is just now starting to  flower/fruit. A bit late, yes, I know but I am growing this one to keep year round so I am ok with that.

Stevia- Great year for this plant! May try making stevia extract this year.

Pumpkin- I pruned this one down to one vine which has 3 pumpkins on it, two of which are already ripened. I am wondering whether I should take them off or let them stay on till Halloween.

Curry Leaf Plant- This one is chugging right along. I am wondering how well it is going to take to being transplanted when the fall hits.

Golden Anne Raspberry- These guys are filled with fruit getting ready to ripen, just in time for school to start. Hoping that I can regularly send raspberries to school for snack or lunch. 

Mukunuwenna- This is one of two Sri Lankan "greens" that a friend of mine gave me. It was just transplanted so its leaves don't look very full but this one has been growing well and sending out runners like crazy.  

Gotu Kola- This is the other Sri Lankan "green", like the mukunuwenna it has also been growing well and sending out runners. I hope I don't kill them over the winter. I've given them nice big pots so lets see what happens.

Blueberries- I've moved all my young blueberry plants into this row with the mature ones. My focus now that they are finishing up is to strengthen the plants for next year. 

Turmeric- I am having fun growing this one. I am wondering how well it will do in the winter when I bring it in. I was hoping it would be a bit bigger and stronger but oh well.

Lemongrass- Do you remember the plant I talked about in this post? Well this is what it looks like today... need I say more!

Ginger- I was also hoping this one would be bigger by now... oh well the season isn't over yet. I am also hoping to keep part of this plant growing over the winter too.