It really has been a busy summer hasn't it. I can tell it by how infrequently I have had time to be on here. Enough to look and read and post a few comments, but not enough time to do that AND post something about what has been going on here. We have a bit of bad weather, so look out...he's going to do some posting! To begin with: tomatos. The toms have done alright, but have one level of trusses less than usual. We have given them frequent "hair cuts" and few them regularly. They have rewarded us for the good care with an abundance of harvest for eating out of the hand as well as canning. The naked cordons reveal some happy toms reddening on the plant. Then the other side of the greenhouse: I should have taken the pics before harvesting. Here is the harvest: The toms that I grew for canning were called Tomato Roma 'Juliet". They were not very large, but their numbers made up for that. This year I tried melons again in the greenhouse this time. There are two plants and there are a total of four melons of varying sizes. The blueberries have done very well this year, but I had to net them to keep the merels (European blackbird) off them. On the bush: At home: This harvest weighed-in pretty good. For a change I have acquired what is called a "Red blueberry". It was developed in the United States a few years ago. I have had it for three years and it has finally produced some fruit. ..not much but some. I have tasted one of these and they are a little bit sweeter, I guess that you could call it. I ought to have waited a little longer until it was completely ripe. The gardens are undergoing a change. slowly, slowly...the winter stand is beginning to creep in. I have been planting Phacelia as a green manure. You can see them in the distance of the foto after this. Here, I am planting Borage. The herringbone patterns of the tamped-down rows will serve as markers until the germinated new leaves finally break through the surface's crust. The borage will not bloom before I lift them to lie on the soil's surface. The Phacelia is already blooming, so I shall let them bloom out before I lift those to bedeck the soil. It was also time to give those strawberry plants a trim and clean-up before the winter. A tiny bit of the strawberry bed is visible in the lower right hand corner of this overall foto of the veggie plots. One of the first courgettes that I got this year was a "Siameese Twin". Speaking of courgettes--this one was absolutely perfect. The plums also had to be protected from the tits and wasps. We got enough of these Opal plums to make 14 jars of jam. Ahhh there is still some harvesting to do, but the feeling that the season's end is drawing nigh is unmistakeable. In the flower garden there are many plants that have bloomed, gone to seed and died. It is only the middle of august. Its been a funny ole season this year. Merci, Mère Nature
Everything is looking great in your garden Sjoerd! Just the sight of those red tomatoes and perfect melons made my mouth water. I have never had much luck with melons. My zucchini crop was a failure this year too, I'm not sure why as I didn't think it was possible!
Fabulous, S. Those Juliets are beautiful. I wouldn't have thought of using those for canning. How did they work out for you? did you juice them, sauce...? You look to have gotten a noce number of blueberries, too. How many plants do you have? Our cousin got hit with hail a couple weeks ago and it ruined everything she had still on the plants. BUMMER! Netty, there is a new powdery mildew strain this year we just heard about and it is resistant to most of the regular sprays that are marketed for it. Out tomatoes and zukes are looking a little stressed. Maybe you have it there, too.
It is absolutely fascinating to see your garden and I am so jealous of the tomatoes. I am keeping my fingers crossed that I can get some tomatoes from my currently on going project tomato.
I've had a bumper crop season with almost everything. I have started pulling out plants because I can't process anymore and can't even give it away. My pantry and freezer are full. And I've loved every minute of it. ( photo / image / picture from Donna S's Garden )
Thanks NETTY--I am sorry to hear about your zucc's. I am still getting some, but it hasn't been like normal. Thank you so much, WARE--I am eating more fresh veg this year. Usually I am too busy to eat fresh every day. Hello MizzC-- Thanks for your comments. I make a sort of concentrate that I keep in glass jars. I can then crack-open one to use for sauces or soup later.I have six blueberry plants. This haul was just from one bush. I was well chuffed, as I had already harvested twice before from this bush. That really WAS bad news about the hailstorm and your cousin's blues. tch! Thanks so much.. KK-- My fingers are crossed for your tom project too. Hey....a big congrats DONNA-- for such sweet success there. Your pantry looks enviable. Say, since you are pulling plants out now...why don't you plant some type of green manure in their place? Thanks for your comments and piccy.
Thanks all. Sjoerd, I'm starting to plants a few cool weather crops. I've put in pak choi, 2 kinds of spinach, Swiss chard and carrots. Hope to do some sugar snaps as the weather came on to hot to fast and I got very few last spring. Besides borage, what else would you suggest for a green manure?
Thanks so much, CAYUGA. DONNA--It looks like you are getting a good start on the winter. Another green manure that I use is Phacelia. More plants that can be used for green manure are Fagopyrum esculentum and Raphanus sativus subsp. oleiferus (if you cannot get hold of the others).
Great looking garden. The heat has gotten to what I planted. I didn't get as much done this year. My arthritis was bad in the spring and I didn't get much done outside and then it got hot, hot, hot. I'm very happy to see someone had a good harvest. dooley
Oh my Goodness....thank you for those pictures...mine didn't do as well here...some kind of black gummy stuff was all over everything here in the back..I think from the trees next door and I believe it has suffocated my monarda and many other plants this year.... thank goodness I did get that one mater and a few romas!!! I'm so jealous of your garden but it is wonderful!!! Can't wait to have my yarden again someday!! :-D
Thanks so much, DOOLEY--I was so sorry to hear the heat got your plants. Terrible, that. I did have success with the tome, but they began yielding a bit higher up on the stem than normal, so one truss less this season. Ach, but there is enough to eat and can. I cannot complain. I shall harvest more this afternoon, if it stops raining long enough. HUMMERB--I wonder what that black sticky stuff was. I reckon it was either nectar from the tree or aphid excretions...perhaps both. It was good to hear that you did get something to harvest. i hope that you will be able to find a way to garden before too long...even if it is talking someone into letting you have a small plot on their land. It would be great if your town had municipal gardens, wouldn't it.
Sjoerd...we do have community gardens...i just can't get to them...if it's not one thing it's another...but I won't give up the fight or hope..lol. Looks like the plants are making new leaves without the sticky stuff on them....I mean it is everywhere..even on the steps..but cross your fingers...i broke off a piece of that tomato plant (Black Krim) because it was so tall and stuck it back in the container. And what do you know...it is blooming...only hope that it produces....so there's always hope..
