There are some amazing things happening in my garden right
now! We are coming into the best weeks
of the year, when things are ripe enough to pick, and instead of heading out to
the grocery store we are able to shop our back yard for lunch.
We have had an awful time with weeds this year. Surprisingly, the weeds are not so much in the garden
beds themselves, but instead are in the pathways.
beds themselves, but instead are in the pathways.
At the beginning of the season I had put straw down in the paths, and that
helped for a time, but I have a feeling I should have continued to put straw
down every few weeks, and that has not happened. However, my husband did go out and get rid of
most of the weeds in the paths this weekend, and for that I am thankful. We will have to figure out some sort of
solution for the paths for next year, but for now we are making do. The wildness of it all doesn’t bother me,
although looking at nice neat garden beds is definitely the preference for Matt!
There are so many honey bees buzzing around in the garden
every morning when I go out. It is so
nice to see that they are alive and well, and their legs loaded up with pollen.
every morning when I go out. It is so
nice to see that they are alive and well, and their legs loaded up with pollen.
The slugs are still a problem. I have always been so hesitant to do anything
in the garden besides picking bugs off plants and plopping them in some soapy
water. There was a year that I spread diatomaceous
earth religiously, which helped, but I haven’t done that this year. I realized I had a problem when I went out to
pick green beans the other day, and half the green beans were missing…the slugs
had eaten the tops of my plants, and most of the beans I had been letting ripen
just a day longer. I am thinking of
trying the beer trap idea, and we will see if it works. Put some beer in several pie plates, and set
them in the garden for a good old slug pub.
in the garden besides picking bugs off plants and plopping them in some soapy
water. There was a year that I spread diatomaceous
earth religiously, which helped, but I haven’t done that this year. I realized I had a problem when I went out to
pick green beans the other day, and half the green beans were missing…the slugs
had eaten the tops of my plants, and most of the beans I had been letting ripen
just a day longer. I am thinking of
trying the beer trap idea, and we will see if it works. Put some beer in several pie plates, and set
them in the garden for a good old slug pub.
Despite the pests, I am still bringing in zucchini, green
beans, kale, lettuce, and we had our first sungold cherry tomato ripen – which Emma
promptly picked off the plant and ate it before I had a chance to take a
picture.
beans, kale, lettuce, and we had our first sungold cherry tomato ripen – which Emma
promptly picked off the plant and ate it before I had a chance to take a
picture.
There are so many tomatoes growing in the garden. I know that soon we are going to be
overwhelmed by the sheer number of them.
But, as that is my absolute favorite thing to pick from the garden, I am
very much looking forward to those days.
overwhelmed by the sheer number of them.
But, as that is my absolute favorite thing to pick from the garden, I am
very much looking forward to those days.
I planted one sungold cherry tomato plant in the garden, and
one in a pot. The one in the garden is
huge. The tomato cage I put around it
after I first planted is not really cutting it, and the plant is essentially
wild and falling over. I tried to help
it as much as I could, but I can’t get the old cage off and a new one on, so
instead I just hope for the best – you may see a theme with my garden posts – I
tend to hope for the best!
one in a pot. The one in the garden is
huge. The tomato cage I put around it
after I first planted is not really cutting it, and the plant is essentially
wild and falling over. I tried to help
it as much as I could, but I can’t get the old cage off and a new one on, so
instead I just hope for the best – you may see a theme with my garden posts – I
tend to hope for the best!
I have 9 sugar pie pumpkins growing which is definitely
awesome. There is nothing better than
roasting a pumpkin and then making a pumpkin pie. There is something wonderful about the savory
flavors that happen with roasting when combined with the sweetness of a pie. Yum, while I don’t want to wish away these
last days of summer, I am definitely looking forward to all the fall baking!
awesome. There is nothing better than
roasting a pumpkin and then making a pumpkin pie. There is something wonderful about the savory
flavors that happen with roasting when combined with the sweetness of a pie. Yum, while I don’t want to wish away these
last days of summer, I am definitely looking forward to all the fall baking!
While I am growing a lot of tomatoes in the garden, I know
that I will not have nearly enough for the amount of canning that I like to do
(I prefer to can my tomatoes for the winter, it goes a long way in helping my
meal planning in the middle of winter), so I will need to make arrangements to
buy canning tomatoes from a local farmer I know.
that I will not have nearly enough for the amount of canning that I like to do
(I prefer to can my tomatoes for the winter, it goes a long way in helping my
meal planning in the middle of winter), so I will need to make arrangements to
buy canning tomatoes from a local farmer I know.
Overall I am very pleased with the progress, even if it
means that more bugs and slugs are coming to visit. I don’t mind sharing a bit of my garden with
them, as long as they don’t devour everything!
Now, if tomato hornworms decide to show up, I might feel differently,
but so far so good!
means that more bugs and slugs are coming to visit. I don’t mind sharing a bit of my garden with
them, as long as they don’t devour everything!
Now, if tomato hornworms decide to show up, I might feel differently,
but so far so good!
What is coming into
season in your garden, or farmers’ market?
season in your garden, or farmers’ market?
Mrs Shoes says
August 1, 2016 at 8:48 amNice haul with a cute little helper.
I came to visit from Chicken Chick's bloghop – hope you'll stop by my place too & leave me a message so I know that I've had some company!
Shane Floyd says
August 1, 2016 at 1:59 amEverything looks so beautiful, thank you for sharing at the Homesteader Hop
Robin Rue says
July 28, 2016 at 12:22 pmOh my gosh! It's week eight already. I have followed your journey from the beginning and I love seeing what you have gotten. Awesome!
jillconyers says
July 28, 2016 at 9:41 amThis is my favorite time of year for seasonal eating. I'm going to live vicariously through your garden this year. I'll be joining you next spring.
Kiana Abram says
July 28, 2016 at 6:49 amI've always wanted to grow a small garden! Definitely something I would consider when moving out of an apartment. It's great seeing the progress your garden has made!
reesa says
July 28, 2016 at 1:33 amOh look at your pumpkin!!!! Everything looks so green and beautiful!
Shirley Martinez says
July 27, 2016 at 1:21 pmYour garden is wonderful. My kid would probably be inclined to eat veggies if she grew them herself
ana de jesus says
July 27, 2016 at 9:27 amIt has been a lovely journey following your progress in the garden and its great that it is flourishing week by week. I wish I had a garden.
Debra Hawkins says
July 27, 2016 at 1:54 amEverything is looking so good! Our tomatoes are ripening up and I am so excited to get cooking with them.
Ashleigh Walls says
July 26, 2016 at 7:42 pmEverything looks like it's coming along great! I just bought a venus fly trap that I'm using to get some bugs away, works great.
Amanda Love says
July 26, 2016 at 12:32 pmIt's so nice to see fresh produce from your garden. You've been working hard and it's paying off! It's good that the weeds are just in the pathways so it's easier for you guys to handle. I hope the slug issue ends soon!
Kimberly Stroh says
July 26, 2016 at 12:03 pmYour garden is so pretty and lush. Send some of those tomatoes my way!
Donna M says
July 26, 2016 at 4:27 amThere is something so satisfying about growing your own food isn't there! This is the first year we have had enough to go out and pick something nearly every day. Haha my kids have picked every single cherry tomato as soon as it started showing the slightest tinge of red!!
tiarastantrums says
July 26, 2016 at 3:23 amOh I am so jealous. I didn't have time to plant a garden in early June as we were out of town for an extended period. I so miss fresh green beans!
Quezzo says
July 26, 2016 at 3:09 amYour garden is beautiful! We have everything popping in our's finally too. Although I am battling some sort of issue with fungus on my zucchini.
Author TP Keane says
July 26, 2016 at 2:30 amYou guys have done an amazing job. Well done. It must be nice to eat freshly grown produce.
Amber N says
July 26, 2016 at 1:18 amOur garden just has not been successful this year. It is sad, so I am a bit jealous of your garden there!
Terri Steffes says
July 25, 2016 at 10:17 pmWe are overran with cherry tomatoes right now and I pulled 4 big tomatoes off the two tomato plants we have. I have had a couple of peppers, too!
Karen Morse says
July 25, 2016 at 6:54 pmHaha about the slugs. Again. Ick. But, you are growing lots of amazing veggies and fruits in your garden so yay! Tomatoes can grow like weeds! I used to plant those… and would use for a pasta sauce!
Karen | GlamKaren.com
Michele Katsaris says
July 25, 2016 at 6:30 pmEverything looks so greeeeen!!! I love it! I don't have the yard space for a garden but I hope to one day be able to! Love this !
Rebecca Bryant says
July 25, 2016 at 6:26 pmYour garden is so pretty. I love eating fresh picked veggies.