Broccoli grow good in Alaska

[bogydave]

Grand kids:

 

[BrotherBart]

Good place to keep the stuff.

 

[bioman]

Thats amazing, can't even grow it in Missouri. Good job!

 

[begreen]

It grows well here. Time to plant a fall crop.

 

[StihlHead]

Your grandkids are named Broccoli?

 

[PapaDave]

Nice to see how big it gets.
No weeds in Alaska?.

 

[begreen]

Yeah, it's disgusting. No doubt about it, Dave's a master gardener.

 

[PapaDave]

Alaska Dave may be, but Michigan Dave needs a primer on garden weed control.
Dang goats and sheep we had really fertilized the garden to the point I could probably grows rocks out there.

 

[begreen]

We grow rocks. It's easy, no fertilizer at all. Quack grass, shotweed and buttercup are also easy peasy. Maybe we should send a bag of seeds and roots to AK Dave for starter stock?

 

[PapaDave]

We've got plenty of Chocolate mint he can have.
In a couple years, he'll have that, and nothing but that.
For some reason, my wife thought (and still thinks) it's cool stuff.......me, it's a nuisance.

 

[bogydave]

Nice to see how big it gets.
No weeds in Alaska?.

Nice big heads too.
Raised beds, wood ashes between beds

 

[PapaDave]

Ahhh, wood ashes.
I have those.
Do you find that a problem after rainfall?

 

[bogydave]

Ahhh, wood ashes.
I have those.
Do you find that a problem after rainfall?

I dump them in the garden all winter.
In the spring, when dry enough, I mix them in the soil & it packs pretty tight.
No problem when it rains so far.

 

[Adios Pantalones]

Seems like of all the veggies that grow better with those longer days, all the brassicas do exceedingly well. That may be common knowledge, I guess

 

[bogydave]

Seems like of all the veggies that grow better with those longer days, all the brassicas do exceedingly well. That may be common knowledge, I guess

"Seems like of all the veggies that grow better with those longer days, the brassicas do exceedingly well"
& the cooler temperatures.

Cooler temps such that tomatoes, peppers & cucumbers have to be grown in a green house.

Picture of the Greenhouse "Early girl" tomatoes:

 

[PapaDave]

Wow, nice Dave.

 

[bogydave]

Wow, nice Dave.

Thanks
Lots more work here to get a good tasting tomato.
The taste of a vine ripened tomato is worth the effort, for me anyway.

Kinda like firewood, the "work / reward " thing

Side note for tomato growers.
I'm growing some "brandy boy hybrid" tomatoes.
Awesome yield & taste.
Worth a try for old fashioned tomato taste lovers.

 

[begreen]

Is the Brandy Boy a hybrid of Brandywine and Better Boy? I like the taste of Brandywines a lot.

 

[bogydave]

Brandyboy

Has the Brandywine texture & flavor. Potato leaf, good size & yield.
I don't know how they name the hybrids (boy , girl).
Burpee don't say what species were used to develop it.
But they got it right IMO.
Hard for me to admit, but I like it better than the early girl

 

[begreen]

Interesting. I've been growing Brandywines, but it looks like I'll have to try these tomatoes next year. The GardenWeb has some good discussion about them.Sounds like a good choice for cooler climates.

"I haven't noticed a huge difference in the color of the leaves. I've got Brandy Boy and Sudduth's growing side by side, and nothing has jumped out in that regard. What HAS been noticeable, is the faster plant growth, quicker fruit set, MUCH more fruit set, and more disease resistance. There is enough difference to warrant growing the two. If Brandywine has a bad year, I have a pretty good insurance policy in the Brandy Boys"

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/tomato/msg071203321045.html

 

[bogydave]

I've tried the Brandywine Cow Licks a few years.
Warm years like this one they would do well in my GH.
Cool like last year, it didn't do well so I didn't grow any this year.

Limited space so limits the species, room for 8 plants.
Now with 2 Brandy boys , 3 Ealry Girls, & 1 Sun Gold, 1 "Hillbilly" heirloom.
not much room to experiment. (Bloody Butcher OP, the experiment tom next year)

But have done the experiment over the 30 years here &
selected tomatoes that have good flavor, production & do the best for my growing techniques & conditions.
The 4 above are working out well this year.
" 4th July " got cut after this years results & will be replaced with "Bloody Butcher next season.

 

[bogydave]

Eating some fresh & freezing some

 

[Paulywalnut]

Eating some fresh & freezing some

View attachment 106487

Nice Great size and coloring. Mine seem to get those darn cabbage butterfly worms in them. Cooking them makes them float to the top. My wife will not eat them.. More for me.

 

[begreen]

Mine just got eaten up by giant four legged rats, aka deer.

 

[bogydave]

Mine just got eaten up by giant four legged rats, aka deer.

Know the anger.
Lost 24 plants that were big & ready to freeze up to moose in one night, years back. Almost cried.