I think that this may be my last weekly garden tour of the
season! Of course I still plan to share
my garden with you all, but we have come to the point when there really is only
garden cleanup, tomatoes, and potatoes left.
Not that tomatoes and potatoes aren’t extremely important, they
absolutely are, but obviously there are only so many pictures of tomatoes and
potatoes that one may want to look at.
season! Of course I still plan to share
my garden with you all, but we have come to the point when there really is only
garden cleanup, tomatoes, and potatoes left.
Not that tomatoes and potatoes aren’t extremely important, they
absolutely are, but obviously there are only so many pictures of tomatoes and
potatoes that one may want to look at.
Instead, this week I am going to talk a bit about how we are
starting to clean up the garden.
starting to clean up the garden.
Last week I shared with you that I picked all of our
pumpkins. It was early, but this has
been an odd hot and dry summer in Maine, and they were ready. In fact, I used one last week to make pumpkin
soup – I know, it is still summer, but I had roasted a chicken earlier in the
week so I had a lot of chicken stock, and thought, easy dinner, pumpkin soup
(it was delicious by the way – served over brown rice). But, I needed to pull the actual plant.
pumpkins. It was early, but this has
been an odd hot and dry summer in Maine, and they were ready. In fact, I used one last week to make pumpkin
soup – I know, it is still summer, but I had roasted a chicken earlier in the
week so I had a lot of chicken stock, and thought, easy dinner, pumpkin soup
(it was delicious by the way – served over brown rice). But, I needed to pull the actual plant.
 |
| radish flowers |
This week I also went to check my zucchini and there were a
lot of zucchini. I am happy to say that
my experiment with the radishes planted around the squash plants seemed to
work. The zucchini (and pumpkins) had
enough time to establish themselves in the ground and grow before the pests
started to come, so while the pests were there, they didn’t do the same amount
of damage to the plant. Will this work
again next year? I’m not sure. I planted cucurbits in three of my nine
garden beds, which means that I can’t plant them there next year, and the other
beds in the garden are not nearly as sunny, so I don’t exactly know how that
will go. However, I am planning on also
trying out row covers next year to help combat the pests. We shall see!
lot of zucchini. I am happy to say that
my experiment with the radishes planted around the squash plants seemed to
work. The zucchini (and pumpkins) had
enough time to establish themselves in the ground and grow before the pests
started to come, so while the pests were there, they didn’t do the same amount
of damage to the plant. Will this work
again next year? I’m not sure. I planted cucurbits in three of my nine
garden beds, which means that I can’t plant them there next year, and the other
beds in the garden are not nearly as sunny, so I don’t exactly know how that
will go. However, I am planning on also
trying out row covers next year to help combat the pests. We shall see!
The tomatoes are still going strong, which is good. The kale is growing, and I am still planning
on leaving that until it is good and dead I believe. I am still up in the air as to whether I will
clean that bed out or not. I need to
pull the green beans out, but I think I might let the kale flower and re-seed
itself again. If there is some way that
kale will miraculously show up in this garden bed again next year, I will be
extremely pleased!
on leaving that until it is good and dead I believe. I am still up in the air as to whether I will
clean that bed out or not. I need to
pull the green beans out, but I think I might let the kale flower and re-seed
itself again. If there is some way that
kale will miraculously show up in this garden bed again next year, I will be
extremely pleased!
I have no idea what is going on with the potatoes. I can’t actually see the plants with all the
weeds growing…but I know that they are there under the ground – at least I
think they are. I have been waiting for
flowers to appear on the potato plants, to signify they are getting ready to be
dug up, but nope, nothing, so I am still waiting to see. Maybe in another week I will start digging up
the potatoes, I really don’t know. The
last time I grew potatoes there were flowers on the plants, and then once the
plants fell over, that was how I knew to dig up the potatoes. This year, none of those things are
happening, and my friend Google, as well as my handy dandy Reader’s Digest
Gardening book (thanks mom!) doesn’t mention anything about the non-flowering
varieties of potatoes!
weeds growing…but I know that they are there under the ground – at least I
think they are. I have been waiting for
flowers to appear on the potato plants, to signify they are getting ready to be
dug up, but nope, nothing, so I am still waiting to see. Maybe in another week I will start digging up
the potatoes, I really don’t know. The
last time I grew potatoes there were flowers on the plants, and then once the
plants fell over, that was how I knew to dig up the potatoes. This year, none of those things are
happening, and my friend Google, as well as my handy dandy Reader’s Digest
Gardening book (thanks mom!) doesn’t mention anything about the non-flowering
varieties of potatoes!
I need to change that pile of zucchini into
something to put away for the winter. I
love to make zucchini bread and zucchini muffins, but to make all of those
things I wouldn’t have any room in my freezer for anything else. Instead, I will be shredding up the zucchini,
putting it in 2 cup increments in Ziploc freezer bags, and sticking it in the
freezer. It is super easy to do, and
then anytime I want to make zucchini bread, all I need to do is take out a
baggie and let it defrost. This also
gives me a few more options as far as using the zucchini. I can throw it in soup, put it in chili,
spaghetti sauce. The options are really
endless, and with it shredded it incorporates really well into most recipes I
make in the winter without bothering anyone with a change in texture.
something to put away for the winter. I
love to make zucchini bread and zucchini muffins, but to make all of those
things I wouldn’t have any room in my freezer for anything else. Instead, I will be shredding up the zucchini,
putting it in 2 cup increments in Ziploc freezer bags, and sticking it in the
freezer. It is super easy to do, and
then anytime I want to make zucchini bread, all I need to do is take out a
baggie and let it defrost. This also
gives me a few more options as far as using the zucchini. I can throw it in soup, put it in chili,
spaghetti sauce. The options are really
endless, and with it shredded it incorporates really well into most recipes I
make in the winter without bothering anyone with a change in texture.
Do you preserve any
food in the summer for the winter?
food in the summer for the winter?
Mardene says
August 30, 2016 at 9:05 amOoh I have garden envy right now…I can't wait to start my backyard garden when I move from this apartment
Arin | Heart of Chic says
August 26, 2016 at 6:02 pmbeautiful garden! unfortunately for me, i can't keep anything alive! i swear, i kill everything i touch, so in the mean time — i'll just be jealous of your work! ps: looks SO good and fresh!
Teresa Laura says
August 26, 2016 at 12:25 pmWow, it looks amazing! It has come such a long way since you first planted everything. I really want to start a garden when I have more yard space someday.
jillconyers says
August 25, 2016 at 8:02 amI've never preserved anything from my garden. Maybe I will try it when I plant next spring.
Whitney S. says
August 25, 2016 at 4:56 amAll of this produce looks so good, and I think it's awesome that you garden. Personally, I don't know anything about gardening, and I'm sure if I attempted to my two rambunctious dogs would ruin it. However, my friend has a small garden and has grown things like zucchini and whatnot!.
Cassandra says
August 24, 2016 at 10:08 pmWhat gorgeous produce. I'm so jealous that your green thumb allows you to grow such beautiful plants.
CourtneyLynne says
August 24, 2016 at 9:38 pmOoooo looks like your garden is really coming along!!! Makes me wish I had a green thumb!
Stacey says
August 24, 2016 at 8:34 pmI love your garden tour! I've tried to get a vegetable garden going but never seem to get more than a few veggies growing (if I'm lucky!).
Koninika Patel says
August 24, 2016 at 7:27 pmThat sounds simply amazing. Such a nifty idea on engaging children and having fun while learning. Learning through play in a garden! Beautifully done!
Hil'Lesha O'Nan says
August 24, 2016 at 6:54 pmI didn't get to work on a vegetable garden this spring/summer like I hoped, but I hope to do so next year! There's nothing like having fresh vegetables…from the garden. 🙂
Acacias Dreams says
August 24, 2016 at 10:19 amAh, I am so jealous of those zucchinis, they look fantastic!
Kez | acaciasdreams.com
Dawn McAlexander says
August 24, 2016 at 2:26 amIt seems as though your garden was quite productive this year. Ours is still producing. We are starting to get some bell peppers and cayenne peppers coming in.
Rachel Langer says
August 24, 2016 at 12:24 amI am so jealous of your beautiful garden. All we got this year were zucchini and my husband let it go and didn't even pick them because he was so mad everything else died. Your veggies look delicious!
tiarastantrums says
August 23, 2016 at 11:09 pmThat is how I always knew my potatoes were ready too – but they may be dormant – that happens as well. Hope you have a load of them – I LOVE fresh potatoes.
Caitlin + Dani says
August 23, 2016 at 11:00 pmHow does your garden grow? You can make a beautiful meal from your own backyard! How lovely.
Wendy says
August 23, 2016 at 5:04 pmI don't have a garden because we travel all the time, but I so love gardening. Nothing like growing your own produce.
blythe32 says
August 23, 2016 at 4:43 pmI don't preserve any food for winter, but that is a great idea. I have been trying to save things I make before they go bad. Some people in my household don't seem to like leftovers, and I hate all the waste.
Heather Lawrence says
August 23, 2016 at 1:24 pmWe mainly stick to flowers but after seeing all that yummy produce you have from your garden I am seriously considering starting a veggie garden for next summer. We do have sunflowers and strawberries but those zucchini look delicious!
Heather McMechan says
August 23, 2016 at 12:39 pmJust gorgeous! I wish I had a green thumb. This is the first time seeing your garden and I'm so impressed.
ana de jesus says
August 23, 2016 at 9:19 amOh those pesky potatoes, lets hope they behave themselves in time for winter! Still your garden is still looking in good condition!
Amanda Love says
August 23, 2016 at 8:30 amThe garden is still looking great! I wonder what happened to the potatoes though, maybe it's a little deeper than expected? I hope everything works out for you before winter comes!
Debra Hawkins says
August 23, 2016 at 5:35 amI love seeing your garden week to week! It looks like you are having a good harvest!
Jennifer Hamra says
August 23, 2016 at 4:22 amMy husband and I love gardens. He is more into actually growing a garden than I am. I am not very good with plants. We live in the city with a very small patch of yard, so we do not have the luxury to have a nice big garden. I think it's good that you keep a garden and document your progress. It seems like a beautiful journey!
Terri Steffes says
August 23, 2016 at 2:01 amHeather, I have had fun this summer with your garden posts. Our garden was a good one this year and I loved watching your progress compared to mine. I need to look at the post with the pumpkins, I missed it!
Reesa Lewandowski says
August 22, 2016 at 8:53 pmI also really love zucchini bread and muffins. That's a great idea to just shred it up and freeze it that way 🙂
Robin Rue says
August 22, 2016 at 8:52 pmYou have done so much better than I would have done. Good luck with those pesky potatoes!
Kimberly Stroh says
August 22, 2016 at 7:47 pmI think its such a passion hobby for you! I'm not sure I could maintain it like you do, but you do such a great job with it!
Kecia says
August 22, 2016 at 5:49 pmIt sounds like your gardening has been a success. Hopefully the flowers appear soon so you know the potatoes are ready. We don't preserve food ourselves, but I have family that does a ton of canning. We usually get some canned green beans and other veggies from them for the winter.
Aunty Edith says
August 22, 2016 at 5:44 pmAh, those tomatoes! Beautiful!
Nellwyn says
August 22, 2016 at 4:37 pmBeautiful garden! I definitely miss my mom's homegrown vegetables since I moved to the city.
Rebecca Bryant says
August 22, 2016 at 4:12 pmEverything looks so bright and fresh. Your garden is beautiful.
Karen Morse says
August 22, 2016 at 4:02 pmYou are so impressive with all the gardening. I didnt even know that I should plant certain veggies in certain spots or with other veggies. Maybe thats why mine never grow! haha… Good luck with those potatoes!