I live, write, and garden in the PNW with my husband of 28 years, disabled daughter, adult son, and my 84-year-old mother. We have paid off $250,000.00 worth of debt (if you include the interest) in the last fifteen years and as of 6/12/2020 are 100% DEBT FREE!!!!You know how I thought I didn't have any more raspberries to pick? I decided to double check the overgrown canes just to be sure and underneath everything I found more berries. A gallon more. I guess it's a good thing I looked. Then I picked a little less than 2.5 gallons of blueberries.
My first brandywine tomoato is almost ripe. I think maybe by Monday it'll be ready for picking.
I've never grown brandywine before and everything I've ever read says they'll never get ripe here. But this one did and there are a few more darkening and there are lots of green ones, so maybe this is just the year for it. It's been hot almost every day of July and so far all of August, so it could just be this is a tomato year. I certainly hope so.
My paste tomatoes are coming along nicely, sizing up, if not showing any color but green yet.
I am very hopeful that I will be able to get at least two canner loads of tomato sauce from my own garden. I will have to buy some from one of the organic farms here to get my year supply, but at least some of them will be from my own hard work.
I have two sowings of broccoli. The one I planted first is smaller than the one I planted second. They are on opposite sides of the house. The bigger ones get the morning sun and the smaller ones get the sun from about 1 p.m. until sundown. They are different types of broccoli so that may make a difference, too.
Older plants:
Younger plants:
The cauliflower, which I still have to tie a few of them off to blanch, is doing well:
The biggest of the kohlrabi that I hope to start eating in a few more days:
The patty pan summer squash is starting to get fruit:
The hubbard squash is taking over its area. This is one plant.
The hubbard squash grows really well here. Most of the winter squashes do not like it here even though they are supposed to. The chickens will eat most of the hubbard squash. We will take a chunk of each one as we open it, but it is really hard to get through all of one before it starts to go bad and I do not want to can it. They love having the winter treat of hubbard squash and particularly like the seeds.
One of my yellow zucchini plants needs to be moved. It is not liking it's location at all. I think I can still save it if I put it in a better spot. It's been a tough one from the start, a rescue plant, but even with all the care I've given it, it may not make it. And it is hard to kill zucchini.
And finally the chard:
It is beautiful. This was planted for the chickens, but we are going to try cooking some for ourselves. I've never eaten it before. Growing up, pretty much the only vegetables Mom made were green beans, potatoes, pickles and corn. If we were having guests we would also have a plate of carrots, celery, radishes, and olives. Oh, and I would take peanut butter and celery in lunch to school. I have branched way out as an adult, eating all kinds of vegetables, but some things I have balked at. Chard and kale are two of those things. This year I have sworn I would try them. Kale I liked. Chard I will try soon. Since they are both so easy to grow here, pretty much fool proof, it would be great if I liked them both.
No photos of the corn, apples, Italian prunes, blackberries (which need to be picked tomorrow), green beans or bunching onions. My camera battery was starting to die. I will probably post those tomorrow, along with some of the flowers so you will know that it isn't just about veggies, but also the beauty that attracts pollinators, too.
Today's Harvest and (Most of) the Rest of the Garden
August 5th, 2012 at 03:36 am
August 5th, 2012 at 04:50 am 1344142241
August 5th, 2012 at 05:50 am 1344145825
August 5th, 2012 at 01:19 pm 1344172768
You're supposed to fold over some of the leaves of the cauliflower over the forming head to protect it from the sun as it could turn green. Then watch it daily; you want to pick before thge head starts to separate. Also watch out for tiny green worms! I've got tons of them and they can shred those leaves in no time.
I notice a lot of people plant veggie gardens right up close to their house. I would worry about old lead paint in the dirt. If your house has ever been painted, and especially if it's an old house, I would be very leery of planting in dirt that could have lead chips in it. At the least, you could do a soil teste for that. Just a thought.
August 5th, 2012 at 01:33 pm 1344173636
August 5th, 2012 at 04:16 pm 1344183411
August 5th, 2012 at 05:49 pm 1344188995
August 5th, 2012 at 07:52 pm 1344196372