Bearded Iris Planting - Bandera's Waltz

These are the last of the bearded irises  I am planting this season.    For those of you - who are frozen solid,  I can plant all year long in wonderful Southern California.    This will be the last of the bearded irises.  I have over 1000 planted and will start selling rhizomes next spring.

Here is a stock picture of Bandera's waltz.

Flora Flow - Self watering plastic mulch

I installed a 50 foot roll or flora flow plastic mulch.  It has a drip irrigation line built into the plastic.   There are also pre-cut holes to stick the plants.   I have two more rolls to set up - but going to work out the kinks on this one first.   The first set-back was the end of the watering line - popped open at the end, letting all the water run through the line -and out the end.  Working on a solution.  
Here are some pictures of my father and I -laying out the row.  There are a couple more pictures showing the holes for plants.  The row is 4 foot wide with about  1/2 foot on each side covered with dirt to keep the wind from picking up the mulch and blowing it away.

Thanksgiving Feast for the critters at Fox Farm

I prepared my first row of vegetables yesterday.   I prepared the row by forming it in a mound, then placing a flora flow watering mat on the row.   The flora flow is a plastic mulch with a low drip irrigation line already in the mat.   There are also pre-punched holes to place the plants.    The mat is 4 feet wide - and you cover the sides with dirt to keep the wind from getting under the mat.  
I planted about napa cabbage plants yesterday.    I was shocked to see each plant was chewed down to the stem either by rabbits or ground squirrels.   Not a single plant was spared.   All my work became a Thanksgiving salad bar.     Here are some pictures of the rows with the Flora Flow mats in place and after I planted the cabbage plants.

Planting Bearded Iris - Black Knight

I planted some more bearded iris.   This variety is Black Knight.   Its a very deep purple that looks almost black.   I planted a 100 rhizomes in a bed that I just pulled a bunch of gladiolus bulbs that had already flowered and were turning brown.

They were small size 2 or 3 rhizomes which if fine because I got them for a really good price and I will grow them out until they are large enough to divide and sell.

5 Vegetable rows tilles

We finished tilling the first section of the vegetable garden.   We set out the rolls in 50 foot lengths and 3 feet wide.   There is a 20 inch walkway between each 3 foot row.   2-3 inches of compost was placed on the rows before the first tilling.  Some granulate chicken manure was spread on the row and then was tiller 5 times to really work up the soil.  There are 5 rows that are ready to plant.   Here are some pictures of the tilled rows.

A Robin - In November

I saw a what I thought looked like a Robin - fluttering around the grass looking for worms.   I have never seen a Robin in Southern California before.  They are typically found in Central California.   He/She was nice enough to sit in a tree long enough to take a picture for proof.   It then flew off into the larger Grapefruit trees.  

Planting Update - New Red Fire Leaf Lettuce and Red Ace Beets

I haven't planted any seedling for about 3 months as I am busy transplanting and tending to the started plants.  I have 45 trays of started plants but need to start planting again so I have a steady supply of vegetables.  
I planted New Red Fire Leaf lettuce.  Its a compact leaf lettuce with a nice red and green.  Its slow to bolt and will be ready to harvest in about 45 days.

Here is a stock image of the mature plant

I also planted some Red Ace hybrid seeds.  This is a hybrid of Dark detroit.  It resist bolting in the head and has a very flavorful beet.