Bolt into Summer

Howard F. Schwartz, Colorado State University, United States

It's April 30th. You know what that means? Summer in DC has arrived. Today, there are wildfire warnings and it should hit 90. Obviously. Because it's almost May. (wtf? south.) While this does mean tomatoes are in the ground and growing (upside) it also means our beautiful beds of salad greens and kale are about to totally loose their shit. I found StillTasty while searching for a way to save this pretty, pretty kale, and I am a little bit in love. While it doesn't have canning advice, It does suggest the best way to preserve in the freezer, which is way easier than canning non-acidic things. Use it, save your harvest, and be glad.

Now for Something Bottled: Swedenburg Estate Vineyard

From Swedenburg Wines

Last Summer, Mr. Bottled and I dedicated just about every weekend to exploring the vineyards of Virginia. One that we found, and really enjoyed, was Swedenburg. I really enjoyed their Chantilly. 100% Syval, light and fruity, but not sweet, a great w

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ine for summer. The only place to find VA grown Pinot Noir, this classic was impressively crafted, considering the climate. We went home with a bottle or two of each.  

Today, groupon has a great deal: $15 for a tasting for 2 and a $30 credit. That means you can have a day of wine tasting, (bring a picnic to have on the lovely grounds), and leave the tasting room with 2 bottles of the Chantilly (at $14). We'll be sure to post our review when we get out there this spring.

Deal: Swedenburg Estate Vineyard Deal of the Day

Pruning Tomatoes - Fine Gardening Article

We celebrated spring this weekend by attending the Friends of the National Arboretum Plant Sale, where we picked up lots of herbs and all the tomato and pepper plants we're putting in our community garden bed, and then some.

I am making a garden resolution this season: keep tomatoes to no more than 4 stems. I'm inspired by this article in Fine Gardening that I refer to at the start of every tomato season, but never keep to. The tangle of vines and smallish fruits, with lots of blight every summer makes me a bit crazy. This year, friends, it will all be different. What are your garden resolutions?

How-to: Seed-Starting Set-Up

Our first garden was a total stroke of luck. We were living in a 4th floor apartment with no place for even a house plant when I decided I needed some dirt. I started tomato seedlings in an egg carton on our windowsill that the cat kept flipping over. Which was fine, actually, because I didn't have a clue as to where they would grow up. By accident a few days later, I found someone on Craigslist that wanted someone to "farm" their backyard, and our love of gardening was born.

Since that first year, our seed-starting set up has gotten a little more mature, and a lot easier to manage. Lots of guides are out there on how to start seeds, but Mr. Bottled and I are super happy with our set up: it works great for us, it's inexpensive and can be used multiple times a season, and it can also be taken apart and hidden in a closet when not in season. Here's what it consists of, from the top down: