With the hot summer "night" yes, singular "night" behind us now....the days are growing shorter and the a bit cooler. Taking a look around the garden after my attention was drawn to other important matters for awhile, I see lots of the Backyard Crop doing well but some lettuce that has bolted and some Cilantro that has gone to seed. When I head out later I plan to cut the lettuce seed off and replant it in the same spot after I pull up the old lettuce and hope for another harvest before the frost. I will cut the Cilantro seed off the plants and dry them and save them for next year or perhaps an indoor windowsill garden in the future.
The Green Beans are making their way up the old ladder out in the garden making for a lovely site! The European and Canadian melons that actually made it through the long cool Spring are now full of blossoms and a few small melons! Hoping for a taste of each at least! I plan on getting some more cuttings from the Chocolate mint and dry it for winter tea. It has been nice to have the Basil so prolific, and I just pick the leaves and freeze them to use in sauces or on pizzas later in the year. I've also dehydrated some and used them in my homemade Whole Wheat Italian Crackers, which my husband really likes. It is always nice to find something healthy and homemade that he likes!
The carrots are growing contently as well as the green onions, but the potatoes grown in a separate container this year to control watering are not as healthy as I would like. (yellow and brown leaves...perhaps I under watered them this year hmmm) while the Purple Tomatillos are a spectacular sight of little lantern looking globes on tall sturdy stalks. I've already harvested my Lavender, and Sage and they are drying. The Bell peppers, and strawberry plants are not doing as well as I would like, but hey, You can't have everything. The tomatoes that are doing well are the ones I put in smaller containers like an old tire, and pots. It seems those in containers that stayed warmer, were able to do better than those in the raised garden bed. but it has helped to stagger the time of ripening to be able to eat them fresh. I've enjoyed watching the "silly little peas" growing right outside my kitchen window, and the grandchildren and niece and nephew have enjoyed eating them fresh from the Backyard Garden. It's probably time to harvest some the peas for seed next year too, and hoping the new batch I planted may bring a second crop in the cooler weather.
Fish Emulsion has helped keep the Garden growing well this year, but I'm sure Prayer and God's mercy are what brought a harvest at all this year.
One nice thing that has helped me keep the weeds down on the gravel, was Vinegar poured on the weeds during the heat of the day. It didn't take them long to whither and die, without chemical intervention.
I love a well manicured yard, but am adjusting to a more natural look to avoid chemicals. Good old fashioned weed pulling works wonders. I've got new respect for those spiders in the yard, and avoid them all by using thick rubber gloves.
I've been busy inside canning and freezing and organizing the kitchen, and making Kefir cheese balls, as well as homemade crackers and homemade bread and preparing for another workshop soon. If you have any suggestions on particular topics for the next workshop send me a comment or an email.
Happy Harvesting!
The Green Beans are making their way up the old ladder out in the garden making for a lovely site! The European and Canadian melons that actually made it through the long cool Spring are now full of blossoms and a few small melons! Hoping for a taste of each at least! I plan on getting some more cuttings from the Chocolate mint and dry it for winter tea. It has been nice to have the Basil so prolific, and I just pick the leaves and freeze them to use in sauces or on pizzas later in the year. I've also dehydrated some and used them in my homemade Whole Wheat Italian Crackers, which my husband really likes. It is always nice to find something healthy and homemade that he likes!
The carrots are growing contently as well as the green onions, but the potatoes grown in a separate container this year to control watering are not as healthy as I would like. (yellow and brown leaves...perhaps I under watered them this year hmmm) while the Purple Tomatillos are a spectacular sight of little lantern looking globes on tall sturdy stalks. I've already harvested my Lavender, and Sage and they are drying. The Bell peppers, and strawberry plants are not doing as well as I would like, but hey, You can't have everything. The tomatoes that are doing well are the ones I put in smaller containers like an old tire, and pots. It seems those in containers that stayed warmer, were able to do better than those in the raised garden bed. but it has helped to stagger the time of ripening to be able to eat them fresh. I've enjoyed watching the "silly little peas" growing right outside my kitchen window, and the grandchildren and niece and nephew have enjoyed eating them fresh from the Backyard Garden. It's probably time to harvest some the peas for seed next year too, and hoping the new batch I planted may bring a second crop in the cooler weather.
Fish Emulsion has helped keep the Garden growing well this year, but I'm sure Prayer and God's mercy are what brought a harvest at all this year.
One nice thing that has helped me keep the weeds down on the gravel, was Vinegar poured on the weeds during the heat of the day. It didn't take them long to whither and die, without chemical intervention.
I love a well manicured yard, but am adjusting to a more natural look to avoid chemicals. Good old fashioned weed pulling works wonders. I've got new respect for those spiders in the yard, and avoid them all by using thick rubber gloves.
I've been busy inside canning and freezing and organizing the kitchen, and making Kefir cheese balls, as well as homemade crackers and homemade bread and preparing for another workshop soon. If you have any suggestions on particular topics for the next workshop send me a comment or an email.
Happy Harvesting!