Cowlick Cottage Farm
1070 Boston Highway
Monticello, FL 32344
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Carolyn… Brandy and Ted at Just Fruits told me you were the one to ask advice on growing French Grey Shallots. I purchased 4 bags from Southern Exposure Seed Exchange http://www.southernexposure.com/
And need growing tips so I do not waste these very expensive shallots.
I am located in midtown Tallahassee, soil is a lovely mix of compost and sandy loamy dirt. Garden faces South and I have an irrigation system.
Tips? Advice on what to feed, how much moisture, soil ph, do I treat them like my Vidalia’s and cut the green fronds that come up?
Thanks Jim Eppes
Hi Jim – Nice to meet you. I find shallots very easy to grow, and I don’t think they are too picky at all. I raise mine in raised beds in typical garden soil mixed with our own compost. I’ll be planting them this coming week. We use a microsprinkler system and usually water 2-3 times per week, unless it rains. Once I plant them in the fall, I do very little to them until I harvest in the spring, other than occasional feeding with an organic foliar spray. I do use some of the greens as scallions all winter – shallots actually produce true scallions. They are fabulous. But I don’t think you need to trim them at all other than what you trim to eat.
I hope that this answers your questions about shallots. If you have any other questions, please let me know!
Hello Cowlick Cottage Farm,
My name is Caitlin Scott Ellis and I am a current member of Bread and Roses food cooperative in Tallahassee. Bread and Roses is the pick up location for the Red Hills Online Farmers Market, which carries your products that I have been enjoying recently!
Being a member of Bread and Roses is very inspiring because the co.op’s values are aligned with mine and as a member I have a say in many procedures at the store. Currently, I am working on a information board in our store to inform shoppers where the produce they can find at B & R comes from. I am including mileage to the farms, for those concerned with their carbon footprint, as well as some pictures of the farms, farmers, and if applicable the animals.
I was curious if you would be willing to send me any photos of the above images that I could use for the board and the Cowlick Cottage Farm section? Either electronic or real photos can be sent to this email address or to the store:
Caitlin Scott Ellis
C/o Bread and Roses, Inc
915 Railroad Ave.
Tallahassee, FL 32310
Or, as I am sure you are very busy, I could also pull them from your website, I would just need your permission before I did that. I saw many great photos on your website that would be perfect for our info board. Whichever would be easier for you! just let me know.
Thank you for helping me educate the public about local farms, their farmers, and the products they are consuming.
I am very appreciative,
Caitlin
Hi Caitlin:
Thanks for inquiring about using my photos for your bulletin board. One note of explanation–we produce food primarily for our family and friends and currently do not sell through RHO. You are welcome to use the photos from my blog, but please point out my gardening blog, http://www.cowlickcottagefarm.com, as a source of local gardening information and recipes for enjoying our local harvest. I hope your customers will enjoy our site.
Thanks,
Carolyn Binder
Hi Carolyn,
I am so glad you enjoyed the Hoppin’ John! Did you see my post on our Louisville trip? I thought you might really enjoy doing this with us. http://www.bunkycooks.com/2011/06/on-the-road-culinary-adventure-to-louisville-kentucky-september-18-20-2011/
Hope to see you soon!
Gwen
Have had an opportunity to weekend to “dig into” your blog. Wow! Your raised beds are got me thinking…. A box of roses, a box of veggies!…. This site is very well put together and is an easy read for anyone wanting info on planting…. Thanks
Thanks, Chris. I think a box of roses is a wonderful idea. Raised beds are a perfect environment for growing roses, don’t you think? Right next to the taters.
We live on about 1/4 acre, in town. Being East Texas, there are lots of trees, in our yard, and the neighbors.
The problem is, as you have no doubt figured out, is all that shade. We have tried tomatoes in the past, but we got lots of plant, and no tomatoes. Obviously we aren’t going to cut down trees to make a garden. Are there any good choices for veggies that will do well in the shade to partly sunny?
Thanks,
Steven
Hi Steve: Most veggies require 6-8 hours of full sun. However, if you want to try again, cherry tomatoes do better than full-sized tomatoes in more shady conditions. You can also try the leafy greens, like lettuce, spinach, arugula, and chard. I’ve heard that herbs do pretty well in shadier conditions and would definitely give them a try. Instead of cutting down your trees, consider giving them a good pruning! If done properly, it won’t hurt the trees, and it will give your garden a little extra sun. You’ll be surprised at the difference. Also consider using really large pots if you have any areas that get full sunlight. Good luck!
Thanks for coming to visit Carolyn and Eric, what a great day! We talked about so many things it will be weeks before I process them all. I did want to pass along the link to Front Yard Farmers blog http://niceville.com/Garden/FYG-Blog/FYG-Blog%201.htm there is a great write up on getting success growing artichoke in north Florida! The challenge is on!
Hi Brandy: It will take us weeks–if not months–to absorb all that you taught us. Eric is hard at work on greenhouse plans already, and the pummelo and Meyer lemon are settled into what has suddenly turned into a little citrus grove. Makes me so happy. Thanks for the link to the Front Yard Farmers blog. I am up for the challenge!
Thank you again for such a wonderful visit and for being so willing to share your treasure trove of gardening knowledge.
Hi fellow food bloggers!
After attending the foodblogforum last weekend, a couple of us decided it would be great to get together on a regular basis to talk about blogging, what’s working, what’s not and help each other out. It’s a chance for great networking and we’ll plan it around a meal. We’re planning on having our first meeting Wed. Sept 22 at 10:00 at OK Cafe near I-75 and West Paces Ferry Road. Please let me know if you can come. Hope to see you there!
Becky Reynolds Smith
http://whats4dinnertonite.wordpress.com/
so I went to the grape festival yesterday and I overhear someone talking about their local farm, which i am heartily interested in and then my boss says hi, saw you at the library conference yesterday and then i come home and tell alan that i want to check out this new site of someone in monticello that we haven’t heard of doing their thing in the garden, so i start reading it aloud to him and we’re reading about mangos and these almost yearning musings about the “mango man”, and i’m thinking you’re picking them up from herman and louise which means the mango man is my old man that i’m sitting next to reading this delightful blog to….yes virginia there is a mango man and i’m glad to say that he isn’t jolly, as i wouldn’t do jolly well, tho all those little elfen menfolk might be nice around the house, and no he doesn’t have floppy ears, but he is rather nice and he loves the mangos we bring up so he has turned tallahassee on to them so that we can make the trip to get them..(we are going tomorrow again) ..so isn’t life curiouser and curiouser and rich and ripe…and i am thoroughly enjoying your site..and there is a tupelo’s bumper sticker on our car’s rear end…thanks for the smile you brought..that is unless there is another mango man that we don’t know about..
Mrs. Mango Man!
What a hilarious coincidence that we crossed paths at the grape harvest
festival! Your note gave me quite a chuckle this Monday morning. Please
tell the Mango Man hello from Cowlick Cottage Farm, and we love the
mangoes!
The librarian in the family is actually my daughter, Natalie, who was with
me at the festival.
Thank you so much for the note, it made my day. And I’m glad you enjoyed
your virtual visit to Cowlick Cottage Farm!
Best regards,
Carolyn
PS: If the little elfen menfolk show up, please send them this way,
because we could use some help in the garden!
Wow! I knew you guys were a cool family the first time I saw you but I have to admit I’m always delighted when new windows open up into your lives. I gonna try my hand at becoming a stalker and add my email to your list. I can’t wait!
Thanks for making Jefferson so very much more interesting!
-Claire
Hi Claire!
Welcome to our email list! It’s great to welcome local followers, especially community leaders like you! Tupelo’s is such an important part of Monticello, and it is always a treat to visit the bakery. Mmmmm! Not only is your food amazing, but the vibe is wonderful. I also enjoy the Grower’s Market–we plan to join in soon and offer our gourmet garlic. And I love the classes you host. I took Rick Harter’s class on raising chickens, and we are now awaiting our first eggs from Heavenly Homestead chicks, the Spice Girls! They are fat, sassy and trying to figure out what they are supposed to be doing!
Tupelo’s is a valuable part of our little community, and we are really lucky to have you. See you soon for coffee and a pecan roll!
Thanks,
Carolyn