Monday, February 22, 2016

February 22, 2016

February has been a dry month this year, El Niño notwithstanding. Apparently there is plenty of activity over the Northern Pacific but a fairly persistent ridge over the past several weeks has been blocking any of it coming in at this latitude or lower. Seattle has had record rainfall while So Cal has hardly had anything. Over the past couple of weeks meteorologists had been hinting at/hoping for signs of storm activity resuming again in March but now that seems to be dissipating altogether. Oh well, still an improvement over last winter but I'm thinking we're going to just have to get used to a new warmer and drier climate overall and adapt to it.

I started up the irrigation again a few weeks ago with a short break for last week's rainfall. Now it's running again until if/when we get any further precipitation which at this point may not happen until next Autumn. I think I'm getting the idea now, letting the raised bed stations run for 60 minute 3 times a week. Since the drought-tolerant material in the yard has now been established, they'll need only infrequent irrigation if any which saves more water for the vegetables which require regular watering.

First harvest of winter peas

Cilantro seedlings in Box 5

Dill seedlings in Box 5

Isis guarding the onions and garlic in Box 3

A full harvest in Box 2 of greens and the peas

The next generation of greens seedlings coming up in Box 1

Butter lettuce and broccolini

Beets, mesclun, Russian white kale

Radish and arugula from the left

Saturday, February 6, 2016

February 6, 2016 - mid-winter

Mid winter here now, just in time for the 'El Niño' rains to subside for a while perhaps even end? So far we've received about normal rainfall for this time of year although compared to the past few years it seems like a lot more. Unfortunately there is no longer any rain on the horizon for the foreseeable future and the coming week promises temperatures up into the 70's. From my experience here in the Bay Area, the chance is always open for an early end to the rainy season altogether, hope sincerely not is not the case this year. Regardless, I'm starting up the drip irrigation again tomorrow for the first time since the end of October.

Box 1
Radish and arugula seedlings in front.

Beet seedlings just coming up to the left, mesclun on the right.

Close up of the beet seedlings.

Lettuce up top, broccolini plant below

Box 2
Peas are flowering ready to set fruit

Box 5
Parsley, cilantro, chives, dill

Oreganos, thyme, chervil