Bicycling

"The voluptuous pleasure that cycling can give you is delicate, intimate, and ephemeral. It arrives, it takes hold of you, sweeps you up then leaves you again.  It is for you alone.  It is a combination of speed and ease, force and grace. It is pure happiness."

- Jean Bobet

By September 1, 2015

1. Weigh 158 lbs from 160 lbs
2. Learn to bunnyhop

By October 1, 2015

1.  Weigh 155 lbs
2. Learn to track stand

I've decided to resume blogging again, but I'm not sure how long it will last.

There are a couple of things that I would like to do in 2016

1. Garden.  Hence the name of this blog.

2. Bicycling.

Gardening

I've been inspired by my mom and my best friend Dave who has started a garden plot.   The holy grail has been the cultivation for tomatoes, but didn't do so hot on my first try.  Here is a list for planting dates from TAMU

Recommended Vegetable Cultivars For North Central Texas

Prepared by:
Dr. Nancy Roe Extension Horticulturist
Dr. Jerry Parsons Extension Horticulturist
Dr. Larry Stein Extension Horticulturist
Dr. Sam Cotner Extension Horticulturist Planting dates apply to the Dallas/Ft. Worth area and refer to the planting of seed unless otherwise indicated. South of the Metroplex (i.e. in the Corsicana area), you can plant 5 days earlier in the spring. North of the Metroplex (i.e. in the Wichita Falls area and along the Red River), spring planting should be 5 days later than the dates shown.
Listed cultivars were selected for their productivity, resistance to common diseases and adaptability to north central Texas conditions. Proper watering, fertilization, weed control, etc., are necessary, however, if the desired results are to be achieved. Cultivars are listed at random, not in order of preference.

Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis)

Jersey Giant, UC 157

Planting dates: (spring only) crowns, February 15 - March 1

Beans, Snap Bush (Phaseolus vulgaris var. humilis)

Blue Lake 274, Top Crop, Tendercrop, Contender, Tendergreen, Derby

Planting dates:

spring: March 20 - May 1
fall: August 1 - September 1

Beans, Yellow Bush (Phaseolus vulgaris var. humilis)

Goldcrop, Improved Golden Wax

Planting dates:

spring: March 20 - May 1
fall: August 1 - September 1

Beans, Pinto (Phaseolus vulgaris)

Improved Pinto

Planting dates:

spring: March 20 - May 1
fall: August 1 - September 1

Beans, Snap Pole (Phaseolus vulgaris)

Blue Lake, Kentucky Wonder

Planting dates:

spring: March 20 - April 20
fall: August 1 - August 15

Beans, Lima Bush (Phaseolus limensis var. limenanus)

Henderson Baby Bush, Jackson Wonder

Planting dates: (spring only) March 20 - April 20

Beans, Lima Pole (Phaseolus limensis)

Florida Speckled, King of the Garden

Planting dates: spring only, March 20 - April 20

Beets (Beta vulgaris)

Pacemaker III

Planting dates:

spring: February 10 - March 1
fall: September 1 - September 15

Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis)

spring only: Premium Crop, Emperor

spring or fall: Green Comet, Galaxy, Packman, Baccus, Early Dawn

Planting dates:

spring: transplants, February 15 - March 1
fall:
seed: August 1 - August 15
transplants: August 20 - September 15

Brussels Sprouts (Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera)

Prince Marvel, Royal Marvel

Planting dates:(fall only)
seed: August 1 - August 15
transplants: August 20 - September 15

Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata)

spring only: Early Jersey Wakefield

spring or fall: Sanibel, Rapid Ball, Savoy Ace (wrinkled leaves), Ruby Ball (red color)

Planting dates:

spring: transplants, February 15 - March 1
fall:
seed: August 1 - August 15
transplants: August 20 - September 15

Cabbage, Chinese (Brassica pekinensis)

Jade Pagoda, Michihili, China Flash (napa type), China Pride (napa type)

Planting dates:

spring: February 15 - March 1
fall: August 10 - September 1

Cantaloupe (Cucumis melo var. cantalupensis)

hybrids: Magnum 45, Ambrosia, Mission, Explorer, Caravelle, Minnesota Midget (bush type, good in containers)

non-hybrids: Uvalde, Perlita

Planting dates:

spring: April 5 - May 1
fall: June 15 - July 1

Carrot (Daucus carota var. sativus)

Royal Chantenay, Burpee's Toudo, Park's Nandor, Danver's 126, Red Cored Chantenay

Planting dates:

spring: February 10 - March 1
fall: August 15 - September 5

Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis)

Snow Crown

Planting dates:

spring: transplants, February 15 - March 1
fall:
seed: August 1 - August 15
transplants: August 20 - September 15

Chard, Swiss (Beta vulgaris var. cicla)

Rhubarb (red color), Lucullus, Fordhook

Planting dates:

spring: February 10 - March 10
fall: August 1 - September 1

Collards (Brassica oleracea var. acephala)

Blue Max, Georgia

Planting dates:

spring: February 10 - April 1
fall: August 1 - September 1

Corn, Sweet (Zea mays var. saccharata)

yellow: Golden Queen, Guadalupe Gold bicolor: Sweet G-90, Honey & Pearls white: Silver Queen, Frontier

Planting dates:

spring: March 20 - May 1 fall: August 1 - August 15

Cucumber, Pickling (Cucumis sativus)

County Fair 87, Liberty, Saladin

Planting dates:

spring: March 20 - May 1 fall: August 1 - August 15

Cucumber, Slicing(Cucumis sativus)

Sweet Success, Sweet Slice, County Fair 87, Burpless, Dasher II, Slicemaster

Planting dates:

spring: March 20 - May 1
fall: August 1 - August 15

Eggplant (Solanum melongena var. esculentum)

Tycoon (oriental), Florida Market

Planting dates:

spring: transplants, April 5 - May 1
fall:
seed: June 15 - July 1
transplants: July 1 - July 25

Garlic (Allium sativum)

Texas White

Planting dates:

fall only: cloves, September 15 - October 15

Greens (hybrid of Chinese cabbage x stubble turnip)

Tyfon Holland

Planting dates:

spring: February 10 - March 10
fall: August 25 - October 1

Kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala)

Dwarf Blue Curled, Blue Knight

Planting dates:

spring: February 10 - March 10
fall: August 25 - October 1

Kohlrabi (Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes)

Grand Duke

Planting dates:

spring:
seed: February 10 - March 1
transplants: February 15 - March 1
fall
seed, August 1 - August 25

Leeks (Allium ampeloprasum var. porrum )

American Flag

Planting dates:

spring: seed, February 10 - February 25
fall: seed, September 10 - October 1

Lettuce, Butterhead (Lactuca sativa)

spring or fall: Buttercrunch

fall only: Tom Thumb

Planting dates:

spring: February 10 - March 15
fall: August 15 - September 10

Lettuce, Head (Lactuca sativa)

Classic, Park's Mission

Planting dates:

spring: February 10 - March 1
fall: August 15 - September 1

Lettuce, Leaf (Lactuca sativa)

Salad Bowl, Black Seeded Simpson, Red Sails (red color)

Planting dates:

spring: February 10 - March 15
fall: August 15 - September 15

Lettuce, Cos or Romaine (Lactuca sativa)

Romaine

Planting dates:

spring: February 10 - March 15
fall: August 15 - September 15

Mustard (Brassica juncea)

Florida Broadleaf, Southern Giant Curled, Tendergreen

Planting dates:

spring: February 15 - April 1
fall: August 1 - September 10

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus)

Blondy, Lee, Emerald, Clemson Spineless

Planting dates:

spring: April 5 - June 1
fall: July 15 - August 15

Onion, Bulbing (Allium cepa)

yellow: Texas Supersweet (Grano 1015Y), Yellow Granex

red: Red Granex, Burgundy

white: Crystal Wax, White Granex

Planting dates:

seed: sow previous year September 10 - October 1
transplants: plant current year February 10 - March 5

Onion, Bunching [Scallions] (Allium cepa)

Beltsville Bunching

Planting dates:

seed: sow current year February 10 - March 1

Parsley (Petroselinum crispum)

Moss Curled, Plain (Italian)

Planting dates:

spring: February 10 - March 5
fall: August 1 - October 1

Peas, English (Pisum sativum)

Little Marvel, Wando, Dwarf Gray Sugar

Planting dates:

spring: February 10 - March 1
fall: September 1 - October 1

Peas, Edible-Podded (Pisum sativum var. macrocarpon)

spring only: Sugar Snap (bush)

spring or fall: Sugar Ann (bush), Sugar Pop (bush), Super Sugar Mel (vine)

Planting dates:

spring: February 10 - March 1
fall: September 1 - October 1

Peas, Southern (Vigna unguiculata subspecies unguiculata)

Blackeye #5, Mississippi Silver, Purple Hull, Zipper Cream Crowder, Colossus Crowder

Planting dates:

spring: April 1 - May 20
fall: July 1 - August 1

Pepper, Hot (Capsicum annuum var. longum)

Super Chili, Hungarian Yellow Wax, Long Red or SlimCayenne, Hidalgo Serrano, Jalapeno, TAM Mild Jalapeno

Planting dates:

spring: transplants, April 1 - May 1
fall: transplants, July 1 - July 25

Pepper, Sweet Bell (Capsicum annuum var. grossum)

green: Big Bertha, Jupiter (mature color: red), SummerSweet 860 (mature color: yellow)

yellow: Golden Summer

purple: Purple Belle

Planting dates:

spring: transplants, April 1 - May 1
fall: transplants, July 1 - July 25

Pepper, Sweet Salad (Capsicum annuum var. cerasiforme)

Gypsy, Sweet Pickle, Cubanelle, Top Banana

Planting dates:

spring: transplants, April 1 - May 1
fall: transplants, July 1 - July 25

Potato, Irish (Solanum tuberosum)

red: Norland (early season), Red LaSoda (midseason)

white: Kennebec (late season)

Planting dates:

spring: seed pieces, February 15 - March 1
fall: seed pieces, July 25 - August 10

Potato, Sweet (Ipomoea batatas)

Jewell, Centennial, Vardaman

Planting dates: (spring only) slips, April 15 - May 15

Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo var. pepo)

Connecticut Field, Spirit, Small Sugar, Autumn Gold, Jack Be Little (ornamental)

Planting dates:

spring: April 1 - April 20
fall:
for large pumpkins June 15 - July 15
for small pumpkins July 15 - August 15

Radish (Raphanus sativus)

red: Inca, Champion, Cherry Belle

white: White Icicle, Snow Belle

Planting dates:

spring: February 5 - May 1
fall: September 1 - November 1

Rutabaga (Brassica napus var. napobrassica)

American Purple Top

Planting dates:

spring: February 1 - April 1
fall: August 1 - October 15

Spinach (Spinacia oleracea)

Melody, Coho, Iron Duke

Planting dates:

spring: February 10 - March 15
fall: August 1 - October 15

Squash, Summer(Cucurbita pepo var. melopepo)

Multipik, Dixie, Sun Drops, Burpee's Butterstick

Planting dates:

spring: March 25 - May 1
fall: August 1 - August 25

Squash, Summer Pan-Type (Curcurbita pepo var. melopepo)

yellow: Sunburst

white: Patty Pan

green: Peter Pan

Planting dates:

spring: March 25 - May 1
fall: August 1 - August 25

Sqaush, Winter (Cucurbita moschata)

Early Butternut, Sweet Mama, Table Ace, Table King Bush Acorn, Cream of the Crop

Planting dates:

spring: March 25 - May 1
fall: July 1 - August 10

Squash, Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo var. melopepo)

green: Senator, President

yellow: Goldrush

Planting dates:

spring: March 25 - May 1
fall: August 1 - August 25

Note Regarding Tomatoes: Cultivars listed as determinate are the bush type whereas those listed as indeterminate are the vining type. "A" indicates genetic resistance to Alternaria, "F1" to Fusarium wilt race 1, "F2" to Fusarium wilt race 2, "N" to root knot nematodes, "S" to Stemphylium (gray leaf spot), "T" to tobacco mosaic virus, "V" to Verticillium wilt.

Tomatoes, Large-Fruited (Lycopersicon esculentum)

spring:

determinate: Celebrity VFNT, Carnival VFNT, Surefire VF1, President VFNT, Merced VF1F2ST, Heatwave VF1F2SA
indeterminate: Champion VFNT, Quick Pick VFNT, Simba VFNT, First Lady VFNT, Superfantastic VFN

fall:

determinate: Surefire VF1, Heatwave VF1F2SA

Planting dates:

spring: transplants, March 25 - April 15
fall: transplants, July 1 - July 25

Tomatoes, Paste (Lycopersicon esculentum)

indeterminate: Roma VF, San Marzano

Planting dates:

spring: transplants, March 25 - April 15
fall: transplants, July 1 - July 25

Tomatoes, Small-Fruited (Lycopersicon esculentum var. cerasiforme)

determinate: Small Fry VFN

indeterminate: Porter, Cherry Grande, Sweet 100

Planting dates:

spring: transplants, March 25 - April 15
fall: transplants, July 1 - July 25

Turnip (Brassica rapa var. rapifera)

spring or fall: Tokyo Cross, Royal Globe II, White Lady

fall only: Just Right

Planting dates:

spring: February 10 - March 10
fall: August 25 - October 15

Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus)

regular: Crimson Sweet, Sugar Baby, Royal Jubilee, Royal Sweet, Orange Golden, Star Brite

triploid or seedless (transplants only)

Jack of Hearts, Supersweet 5032, Tiffany

Planting dates:

spring: March 25 - May 1
fall: June 15 - July 1