You can now find me on: http://www.thebackyardbounty.com  This will keep you posted on our current projects, as well as what's happening in the garden and soon-to-be chicken yard.

To keep up with my writing projects, go to: http://www.amygrisak.com

See you there!

You can now find me on: http://www.thebackyardbounty.com  This will keep you posted on our current projects, as well as what's happening in the garden and soon-to-be chicken yard.

To keep up with my writing projects, go to: http://www.amygrisak.com

See you there!

You can now find me on: http://www.thebackyardbounty.com  This will keep you posted on our current projects, as well as what's happening in the garden and soon-to-be chicken yard.

To keep up with my writing projects, go to: http://www.amygrisak.com

See you there!

You can now find me on: http://www.thebackyardbounty.com  This will keep you posted on our current projects, as well as what's happening in the garden and soon-to-be chicken yard.

To keep up with my writing projects, go to: http://www.amygrisak.com

See you there!

  I used a razor blade dipped in a bleach solution in between cuts, and sliced each stem at a roughly 60 degree angle. It’s an odd process contrary to typical plant practices. Usually, when I lop the top off of a plant I don’t expect it to grow again. I slid the Brandywine top on the Maxifort rootstock in the clip lining up the angles as best as possible. They were challenging to handle without crushing or getting dirt all of the stem, which I was trying to keep clean. I placed them in 4-inch pots, and set them in the sink filled with a couple of inches of water so they drew up the water from the bottom as Donna from Baker’s Produce in Wadsworth, OH recommended. (I saw grafted tomatoes at their place several years ago, so I’ve been emailing Donna for advice.) After a light misting, I placed a plastic grocery bag over them and set them aside.

   I must admit. It wasn’t looking good at first. All of them looked pretty haggard. This morning offered more promise, though. One is probably not going to make it; two look so-so; the fourth is probably going to be okay. One out of four isn’t too bad for a first try. I’ll graft a few more tomorrow using slightly larger plants, and we’ll see how they go!

  I used a razor blade dipped in a bleach solution in between cuts, and sliced each stem at a roughly 60 degree angle. It’s an odd process contrary to typical plant practices. Usually, when I lop the top off of a plant I don’t expect it to grow again. I slid the Brandywine top on the Maxifort rootstock in the clip lining up the angles as best as possible. They were challenging to handle without crushing or getting dirt all of the stem, which I was trying to keep clean. I placed them in 4-inch pots, and set them in the sink filled with a couple of inches of water so they drew up the water from the bottom as Donna from Baker’s Produce in Wadsworth, OH recommended. (I saw grafted tomatoes at their place several years ago, so I’ve been emailing Donna for advice.) After a light misting, I placed a plastic grocery bag over them and set them aside.

   I must admit. It wasn’t looking good at first. All of them looked pretty haggard. This morning offered more promise, though. One is probably not going to make it; two look so-so; the fourth is probably going to be okay. One out of four isn’t too bad for a first try. I’ll graft a few more tomorrow using slightly larger plants, and we’ll see how they go!

   Actually, I'm going to experiment. I planted a dozen pea seeds in containers in the greenhouse that I'll transplant when they emerge, plus I'll direct seed peas inside one of the Wall-O-Waters later this week. This is a milder than normal spring, but it would be great to know I can squeeze a few more weeks of peas in the season, particularly since Sam eats them like candy.

   It was blustery, but warm, yesterday so I spent a little time in the greenhouse. I need to begin transplanting – and it looks like I'll try my first grafting attempts this week – but I'm dragging my feet since I don't want to carry in the extra trays at night. Oh well, by the end of the week, I'm sure I'll have to find room for about 8 trays instead of five. It's temporary. Before long I'll set out the heat mat in the greenhouse to accomodate at least a few flats of cabbage and other cool season crops that will tolerate the nighttime temps.

   I did transplant the lettuce I started a month ago in the ground in the greenhouse. The soil is so dry in there, but I doused them thoroughly and expect they'll take off. It's good that the batch of spring greens I bought at Sam's Club last week will hopefully be my last for many, many months!

   Actually, I'm going to experiment. I planted a dozen pea seeds in containers in the greenhouse that I'll transplant when they emerge, plus I'll direct seed peas inside one of the Wall-O-Waters later this week. This is a milder than normal spring, but it would be great to know I can squeeze a few more weeks of peas in the season, particularly since Sam eats them like candy.

   It was blustery, but warm, yesterday so I spent a little time in the greenhouse. I need to begin transplanting – and it looks like I'll try my first grafting attempts this week – but I'm dragging my feet since I don't want to carry in the extra trays at night. Oh well, by the end of the week, I'm sure I'll have to find room for about 8 trays instead of five. It's temporary. Before long I'll set out the heat mat in the greenhouse to accomodate at least a few flats of cabbage and other cool season crops that will tolerate the nighttime temps.

   I did transplant the lettuce I started a month ago in the ground in the greenhouse. The soil is so dry in there, but I doused them thoroughly and expect they'll take off. It's good that the batch of spring greens I bought at Sam's Club last week will hopefully be my last for many, many months!

   Actually, I'm going to experiment. I planted a dozen pea seeds in containers in the greenhouse that I'll transplant when they emerge, plus I'll direct seed peas inside one of the Wall-O-Waters later this week. This is a milder than normal spring, but it would be great to know I can squeeze a few more weeks of peas in the season, particularly since Sam eats them like candy.

   It was blustery, but warm, yesterday so I spent a little time in the greenhouse. I need to begin transplanting – and it looks like I'll try my first grafting attempts this week – but I'm dragging my feet since I don't want to carry in the extra trays at night. Oh well, by the end of the week, I'm sure I'll have to find room for about 8 trays instead of five. It's temporary. Before long I'll set out the heat mat in the greenhouse to accomodate at least a few flats of cabbage and other cool season crops that will tolerate the nighttime temps.

   I did transplant the lettuce I started a month ago in the ground in the greenhouse. The soil is so dry in there, but I doused them thoroughly and expect they'll take off. It's good that the batch of spring greens I bought at Sam's Club last week will hopefully be my last for many, many months!

   Actually, I'm going to experiment. I planted a dozen pea seeds in containers in the greenhouse that I'll transplant when they emerge, plus I'll direct seed peas inside one of the Wall-O-Waters later this week. This is a milder than normal spring, but it would be great to know I can squeeze a few more weeks of peas in the season, particularly since Sam eats them like candy.

   It was blustery, but warm, yesterday so I spent a little time in the greenhouse. I need to begin transplanting – and it looks like I'll try my first grafting attempts this week – but I'm dragging my feet since I don't want to carry in the extra trays at night. Oh well, by the end of the week, I'm sure I'll have to find room for about 8 trays instead of five. It's temporary. Before long I'll set out the heat mat in the greenhouse to accomodate at least a few flats of cabbage and other cool season crops that will tolerate the nighttime temps.

   I did transplant the lettuce I started a month ago in the ground in the greenhouse. The soil is so dry in there, but I doused them thoroughly and expect they'll take off. It's good that the batch of spring greens I bought at Sam's Club last week will hopefully be my last for many, many months!