It's indeed been a "different" gardening year. Because of the slow start this season, I think the garden looks better (less done-in and on-the-way-out) than it usually does this time of year.
The Raised Beds
The raised beds on June 1st.
The raised beds on July 1st.
The raised beds on August 1st.
The raised beds on September 1st.
The Field Garden
The field garden on June 1st.
The field garden on July 1st.
The field garden on August 1st.
The field garden on September 1st.
The Pumpkin Patch
The pumpkin patch on June 1st.
The pumpkin patch on July 1st.
The pumpkin patch on August 1st.
The pumpkin patch on September 1st.
Still lots of life in the garden and lots to be harvested and processed for the coming winter months. Some crops such as the winter squash and pumpkins aren't going to make it this year. Remarkably enough, the corn is looking good and some ears are almost ready for eating. The majority of it will be left to mature for use as cornmeal and feed for the poultry.
The sweet pepper plants that have never grown to what I consider full sized are loaded with big fruit. I don't think they'll have time to turn red this year, but I'll use them as sweet green peppers with no problem.
Onions are still in the ground and although most of the tops have fallen over, they aren't brown or withered yet. There's still more growing time for the bulbs.
The last heads of broccoli went into the freezer two days ago, Brussel sprouts are forming as well as cabbage heads. The carrots are a really nice size and the beets are ready for processing. I just have to get to it!
Slicing cucumbers are producing faster than we can eat them. Organic ones at our co-op in town are still selling for $2.29 EACH so I'm pickled tink to have the bonanza in our garden.
For all of us with gardens, this is a time of year when finding time to do all that needs to be done is (puff-puff) a challenge. Also, trying to fit wood working with Papa Pea into my day has made me less than a good blogger lately.
But the push now should make for a comfy, easy winter with full bellies and toasty toes . . . and more time for blogging. I can hardly wait!
24 comments:
I adored this look at your bountiful garden month by month. You are so lucky to have such space. I am going to share on my FB page so all can see this. Elaine @ sunnysimplelife.com
Your garden looks wonderful, well cared for, what a job you have done!
Good job, now I won't have to send you rice and beans to get you thru the winter.
Elaine @ Sunny Simple Life - Thank you so much for your kind words! Would you believe that when we bought this piece of land 17 years ago the whole area where the gardens are now was a graveled, large truck parking lot?
Sunnybrook Farm - Thank you! I really, really love to garden, plus raising as much of our own food as possible is a high priority item for us.
Tombstone Livestock - Dang. And I was really looking forward to that shipment from you!
Wow, wish I had your space! Nice layout too :)
Love love love the tidiness of your garden.
I chuckled reading this post, because I thought it was going to be a bust because of the late start as well, but this cool summer has yielded so much.
We just had corn for supper last night and it was so good. I just wish more than 12 had germinated. At least I know where there is more. Ha.
Haha.
Hahahahahahhhahah!
just kidding.
Maybe.
:D
I love the comparison shots you do! Think I will do this next year, so I can see for myself, the progress. Have fun putting all that good food away :)
I too love your garden. May I ask what the dimensions are for your field garden & corn patch?
Little Homestead - Thank you! I can hardly believe it, but we're seriously contemplating expanding the "garden" space so we can grow some small patches of different grains. We're fortunate to have enough open space to do so.
Sue - When you garden, you (seriously!) never know what you're gonna get, do you? I guess this summer has taught us that we should never assume, just hang in there and hope for the best.
Your garden had a tougher time than mine getting going and you still ended up with more than you thought you would. Now the big question is: WHAT will we have to work through next year??!
Stephanie - Pictures sure do document things, that's for sure! My garden looked so pitiful in June and July that I never would have thought August and September would have brought such change. Yes, please do take the comparison shots of your garden next year. It will show so much!
DFW - Thanks! The field garden is 35' x 45' but one corner of it is given to the strawberry patch which is a little over 16' x 16'. The pumpkin patch (aka corn patch this year . . . I've got to think of a better name for this piece since I keep rotating crops other than pumpkins in it!) is 14' x 23'. We've got 26 raised beds which are all 4' x 8'. The raspberry patch and blueberry patch are in another area.
Might I suggest pickle relish for those excess cucumbers, or bread and butter pickles - lovely in winter months.
Your garden always looks amazing. I seem to be battling weeds every year no matter how much I plan to keep on top of it.
I need to remember to do this next year. I think it will be the only way I will be able to rein in the number of tomato plants I put in every year. Your garden is my ideal. I am going to have to study it closely and clone myself, so I can become two and keep it all neat and tidy. Rotsa ruck, as they say... but it's still my ideal.
JoAnn - GOOD idea to use the cucs for pickle relish! I got a little (?) carried away on my bread and butter pickles (and dills) last year and have so many I'm not making any pickles this year.
tpals - I think my ability to keep the weeds down is due to two things: 1) I plant very intensively so as soon as the plants get any size on them, they shade out 90% of the weeds that want to grow, and 2) I mulch heavily with grass clippings which keeps the weeds down and enriches the soil at the same time.
Susan - No, no, no, please don't say it's ideal! I make mistakes each and every year and sure can't grow tomatoes like you do at all. I'd never be able to keep the garden like I do if I had a full-time job OFF the homestead as you do. It requires A LOT of time especially during planting and harvesting when I'm a full-blown crazy lady trying to do it all. I don't know how you manage all that you do!
What a fantastic post. I love the progression of garden photos. You certainly kept up with it, especially the weeds! Any secrets you'd care to share on that?
Like the progress seen in each picture.
Leigh - Thank you! The weeds . . . well, in the raised beds, I plant so intensively that in short order the veggies shade the soil where any weeds would/could grow. And I do keep on top of all the little, sprouting weeds before the veggies get big enough. In the field garden, I also plant everything pretty close together (sometimes too much so!). In all the garden areas, very early on I start to mulch any open spots with grass clippings. I usually cover most areas twice in a season. As I'm doing this I yank out any weeds I come across. (Of course, I never use any poisonous sprays to eradicate weeds.) It's just me and my hands. I don't use a hoe because I want to be sure to yank all weed starts out by their very roots. I also remove them from the garden so there's no chance they can take hold again. I know it sounds weird, but I really don't have a problem with weeds. (Call me crazy, but I also LIKE to weed.) :o)
Haddock - Welcome and thanks for commenting! Yes, if it were not for the pictures, there's no way I would remember the progress the garden makes from month to month.
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