Finally things are looking up in the garden this year. To say we got off on a slow start would be an understatement. Between the unusually warm spring in NY and my acceptance of a new job just at the start of the growing season, the timing of things was a little off from the start.
Just a few days ago, I wondered if I was going to get anything but the bowls and bowls of sugar snap and snow peas that Alayna (my 3 year old) picks every night. Most bowls don't make it in the house, as she looooooooves to eat peas off the vine! My salad greens were a hit in early spring, but the heat caused them to bolt extra early, leaving them bitter and limp. My radishes were tasty for about a week and then they got woody and tough. Most of the veggies I had planned for love cool weather. The weather this year has been anything but cool.
I also had a buggy issue in the big back garden. Despite my watchful eye, most of the leaves off my pepper plants have been eaten nearly off. Luckily, I had planted one of each variety in the ground and one of
each in a pot. The potted ones are small, but leafy. The in ground ones are starting to recover, but slowly.
My corn plantings are my biggest "failure" of the year. I planted blue jade, sweet corn, and strawberry popcorn. Most of the corn seeds were dug up by some hungry creatures, who left the sad stalks to waste on the ground.
My tomatoes were started late, due to damping off of the first round of seedlings. The second set of seedlings all survived, but are much smaller than usual. The weekend saw a lot of green, but no blossoms or fruit. But, now, all the plants have at least a few blossoms, and some have hundreds. I have 4 potted cherry tomatoes, and my sungold looks like it will have the first tomato of the season, with one ready probably by tomorrow! Now, I hope I can get to it before Alayna! Last year I ate very few of my yield, as she would sit in the garden and just eat them one by one!
My eggplants have beautiful purple blossoms, and are huge compared to years past. Hopefully this will be my first success with them.
My beans all look fabulous. I planted several varieties of string beans. A handful will be ready in the next 24 hours and I see hundreds of purple and white blossoms in the front of the garden!
I thought my squash, both winter and summer were a loss due to the slow start, but it looks like all summer squash will be coming soon! Lots of blossoms for all! The winter squash is not vining as well as last year, and I hope it takes off soon! The cucumbers are just starting to climb the trellis. I tried for watermelon and charantais again this year. All are small, and with our short growing season, they may not grow any fruit in time for picking.
My best surprise this year is the random pumpkin vine growing right out of the bottom of my compost pile. My guess is that it is from a seed in one of the pumpkins we tossed in last fall. I can't wait to see what happens! I also planted 2 mini varieties and 1 sugar pie that look good so far.
For first time plantings this year, I tried onions, which are looking good. Every few weeks I am able to thin them and eat the thinnings! Yum! I do the same for kale and swiss chard, also first time crops. My potato crops are growing in bags near the garden, and they are large and leafy. I hope they are growing goodies underneath the soil!
So, what started as a dismal year is looking up this week. My guess is that soon, we won't be able to keep up with the produce! For now, we are enjoying the produce from our CSA farm box and from the local farmers here in upstate NY through farm stands, farmers markets, and the foodshed!
The past few weeks have found me blanching, chopping, and freezing. Some peas and beans, but mostly the super sweet strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries we have here in the NE. I have my first canning class on Sunday, where I hope to learn other ways of putting up food for the bleak months to come.
For any who are local, come by and visit my gardens anytime. I'll show you around! For the rest, enjoy my updates and pictures as the season gets in full swing!
My best surprise this year is the random pumpkin vine growing right out of the bottom of my compost pile. My guess is that it is from a seed in one of the pumpkins we tossed in last fall. I can't wait to see what happens! I also planted 2 mini varieties and 1 sugar pie that look good so far.
For first time plantings this year, I tried onions, which are looking good. Every few weeks I am able to thin them and eat the thinnings! Yum! I do the same for kale and swiss chard, also first time crops. My potato crops are growing in bags near the garden, and they are large and leafy. I hope they are growing goodies underneath the soil!
So, what started as a dismal year is looking up this week. My guess is that soon, we won't be able to keep up with the produce! For now, we are enjoying the produce from our CSA farm box and from the local farmers here in upstate NY through farm stands, farmers markets, and the foodshed!
The past few weeks have found me blanching, chopping, and freezing. Some peas and beans, but mostly the super sweet strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries we have here in the NE. I have my first canning class on Sunday, where I hope to learn other ways of putting up food for the bleak months to come.
For any who are local, come by and visit my gardens anytime. I'll show you around! For the rest, enjoy my updates and pictures as the season gets in full swing!
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