Garden Favorites

As our season is almost over, I have been thinking about next year (yes, already!) My favorites this year were the potatoes, sunflowers, and nasturtiums. It's funny, I put a large plot of the nasturtiums in, and they got no use. I didn't like the flavor of the leaves, and I didn't use any of the flowers, but they sure brought a smile to my face when I saw them. The flowers are still blooming and the leaves are still green. I even tried pawning them off to people, but apparently no one likes the flavor of the leaves. It's okay, they are keeping my butternut squash company (still only one,) and they bring an alive look to my mostly dying garden plots.
Our sunflower is wilting, but the head is still big and the seeds are very defined. I have a feeling the birds will get most of them, but I can hope they'll save me some.
The potatoes are in a bin in the garage, and I'm saving them for special occasions because they're so delicious. Next year more potatoes are in order, along with some different varieties. The 4x4 box will be full of them!
Today I removed the last of the bean plants, and tilled the tomatoes into the dirt. The cucumber plants are turning very brown, but there's cucs growing and we're still eating them! We were playing with our new camera last week and got the cutest video of our 2 year old explaining the garden. She can't pronounce the hard "c" sound, so she's holding a "twotumber" and says frogs grow in the garden. It's pretty adorable. I'll try to upload it when I figure out how.

Garden in the fall

The garden is coming to a fast end. Wednesday we pulled out all the potatoes and harvested our last meal of beans. The peppers are still hanging on, and we have a couple zucchinis which will grow a little more. Michigan had three nights this week where the temps got into the low 40's, and the tomatoes really felt it. I pulled them out tonight. My lone sunflower is beautiful, and I can't wait to have more next year. I'm going to dry out my pole beans and see how that works, maybe they'll be better dry than eating them fresh, or maybe I can do something decorative with them.

You can see our final mass harvest. I found a cucumber hidden behind some leaves that was way over ripe. We had a lot of potatoes, and next year I'll do a similar amount. The butternut squash is turning tan and I still only have one on the vine. We'll probably get 3 or 4 more Jalepenos, and I have been freezing them. I've also froze whole tomatoes, and Sarah told me to roast and puree them for easy freezing. Maybe next year.

Butternut Squash is so cute!

There's this squash in my garden and I want to pick it up and cradle it like a baby. I just think it's the cutest thing. I have found myself stroking its smooth skin and smiling at it fondly. Maybe I have baby fever? Except that I'm excited to eat this baby squash. I only have one on a huge vine overtaking the entire half of the garden, so it better be worth it. Here are two pictures, taken a week apart. It shows you how much it has grown. In the picture of my nasturtiums you can see its cute little butt poking out. I also included an updated picture of the garden, in which I removed my pea climber, and have given my pole beans over to the beetles. I figure if they like them they can have them. No one else does. My sunflower is so tall, it towers above everything and it would probably reach the roof if it was by the house. I love it. I can't believe this summer went so fast, school will be starting in 12 days and the garden is heading into its last leg.

Blueberry Cake

Last night we made Blueberry Cake out of our church cook book, and it was the most delicious cake I have ever eaten. That's saying a lot because I love cake. It tasted like something you would get at a bakery, it was even better than Panera Bread. I now understand why the Pioneer Woman always says to drop everything you're doing and make this right now. That is how I feel about this cake. Here is the recipe:

1/2 cup butter
2 cup sugar
2 eggs, beaten
3 1/4 cup flour
1 tsp. cream of tartar
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 cup milk
4 cup blueberries
Topping:
3/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 cup butter, melted

Cream first two ingredients; add eggs and mix until light. Sift flour, tartar, and baking soda together and add to mixture alternately with the milk. Fold in blueberries and pour into greased and floured 9x13 pan. Mix sugar and cinnamon for topping and sprinkle over top. Bake 1 hour at 350 if using fresh berries. Add 20 minutes if using frozen blueberries. Pour melted butter over top of cake as soon as cake is removed from oven.

It is also very easy to make, and I had all the ingredients on hand. The topping of sugar and cinnamon seems like a lot, and I admit I didn't sprinkle it all on, but now I wish I had. It's still good, but it forms a crispy crust on the top that is amazing. Next time I will have more of this crispy crust.

I feel like the best recipes come out of church cookbooks. I think it's because people's names are attached, and then the uppity church women will shun them if they're recipe isn't good. This one proves my point.

25 Pounds of Blueberries

So, this year we picked/bought 25 pounds of blueberries. Most have been frozen, but many were also eaten. This doesn't count random pints and containers from the store. I hope 25 pounds is enough to last us through the winter. It sure doesn't look like much in our freezer. They will mostly be used for the girl's morning oatmeal. The frozen berries help cool off the oatmeal and they are so good.
Tonight we will be making a Blueberry cake, which calls for 4 cups of fresh berries and I am very excited to eat. The lady at Palmer's told me fresh berries will be done by Saturday, so I'll have to travel north if I need more in the coming weeks.

Progress!

The garden is producing! Last year seemed so easy, and controlled, and there was always rain and no bugs. This year I have had a lot of panic attacks, but it seems to all be working out! The tomatoes are starting to blush, the bush beans are finishing their production, and we have gotten many cucumbers, zucchinis, and jalepeno peppers. The big dissapointments are the green peppers (which were eaten by the deer, so I don't blame them,) the peas, (which were my fault for not planting enough,) and the pole beans (which don't seem too tasty and have been attacked by Japanese beetles.) I have enjoyed the look of the nasturtium, but the edible leaves are useless to us, they are too bitter, but are producing many beautiful flowers.

The broccoli is done for the year, which is good because the winter squash is quickly taking over their plot, and the potoatoes are browning and wilting. We have been enjoying the Jalepenos on nachos, and I enjoyed the burning sensation on my lips and fingernails for hours afterwards. I'm surprised the girls will eat anything that comes out of the garden. They especially like the roasted zucchini and the beans fresh from the bush. We have one remaining sunflower, and it is towering above all our heads.

Beetles Invasion

Did you know the formal name of Beetles are Coleoptera? I didn't either, but now I do. It reminds me of Cleopatra. I wish Cleopatra had come to my house instead of these Japanese Beetles. Actually, ghosts are creepy so maybe not. Nope, it'd still be better than these pesky bugs.
So, I have been picking off the beetles from my pole beans and potato plants, and tonight there were only 3. Every night there have been less and less beetles, and I hope they haven't mated and spawned their infesting eggs. Last year there were NO problems with bugs. This year, there have been. I'm not going to post a picture, because they're gross, and if you don't know what one looks like, consider yourself lucky.
We ate a Jalepeno from the garden on nachos, it was SO spicy! My lips were burning, and my fingernails were burning, and I have so many left! Too bad the deer ate all my green peppers and not those! Everything is growing so good, we have so many beans, and zucchinis, and have been digging for potatoes, which is like christmas digging under the tree for a present! My Butternut Squash is growing really long, I have looped it around the garden and pulled out the broccoli stalks to make room. The tomato's bottom leaves are still yellowing and falling off, but the tomatoes are growing nicely. There are a lot of them too! So far, it's been more challenging this year, but also more rewarding!

Pickin'

Today we went Blueberry picking. We went to the Gold Barn, because I can't remember ever going anywhere else, therefore, they have the best blueberries. Unfortunately, we could only pick for about 20 minutes before it started storming. We picked "Collins" variety berries, and altogether our family of 3 picked 6 pounds, with 3.6 of it coming from me! Apparently toddlers don't really understand the concept of keeping any berries in your bucket, because she was constantly cramming her face with them. YUM!
To celebrate blueberry day, we made pancakes for supper, and bulked up on diaper rash cream. Someone ate A LOT of berries. I had to buy 10 pounds for freezing, and I plan on buying 10 more in the coming week. I also want to make a pie.
I was surprised at how many berries were on one bush, it can't be that hard to grow them, and I know the climate around here is made for it! Even if I just had two mature bushes, I feel like it would be beneficial. Something to look in to!

Baby Vegetables

I've got produce! These babies were really cute, but they're even better now that we can EAT them. Still could use more beans, and the broccoli went really fast, but I'm looking foward to lots of zucchinis, tomatoes, and potatoes. Last night there was a really weird ant swarm on the side of one of the boxes, and I sprayed it with Terro, so I'm hoping we don't die after eating the potatoes they were by. At least the ants are dead.

We have been eating beans and peas right from the garden, and one zucchini. I've decided not to do lettuce again next year, maybe romaine, but my lettuce is really bitter, not sure why.

So far everything's growing really well, and I finally have a nasturtium flower!

Dinner's ready!

We brought our Broccoli to a friend's house for lunch Wednesday and it was so good! I was proud I could bring something organic and delicious. I think it was ready early because I started the plants when they were half grown.
Anne ate the lone bean that was ready last night, most of them will be ready in the next couple days (the ones that weren't eaten.) I'm already thinking about doubling my garden again next year!

I'm lazy.

We haven't put up a fence. The deer also haven't come back, so that's a good thing. I have been spreading Milogranite around the entire garden regularly, which is helping keep the deer away! It must work because there have been a family of bunnies in our yard around the garden too and they have left everything alone, even the lettuce. So, I think we're going to pass on the fence because the ground is very hard and it's hard to poke in the stakes. And I'm lazy.
Everything is growing, and all my flowers are blooming, and I'm so happy with everything and how it looks. There are some yellow/spotty leaves on my tomatoes and peppers, but they are still thriving, so I don't think it's anything serious. I love all the flowers in our yard and on the vegetables. So pretty, and a contrast from the sour last post I had.

Stupid Deer

So, a little set back in the garden. It was eaten by deer on Wednesday, and I stood in the middle and cried. Oldest thought I was a little crazy and started crying too (not sure if it was because she finally realized what a nutcase I am.) Anyway, after researching many methods, many of which have already been in place, I decided we need a fence. A BIG fence to go all around the garden, which measures 19'x25'. Went to Menards to look last night, and I found the last deer fence available. A 7' high by 100' long mesh fence for only $13! Yeah Menards! Now the only thing I need to decide on is the supports. The menard's man was trying to get us landscaping lumber, 8' high for only $1.97. That would require us to use a post hold digger and they are quite large. Major problem with this is the ground around the garden is rock hard (which is why we have raised beds!), and it also seems more permanent. I'm leaning towards rebar stakes we can just hammer in, major problem with these is they only come 7' high. The fence would either drape on the ground or hang over the top. A Willie Nelson-eque man came up to us with some wisdom while we were debating the merits of the deer fence, and he said it worked well but hummingbirds and dragonflys get caught in the mesh and we would have to free them. I said it's a small price to pay for no more deer!

Luckily it's a long weekend coming up so I will have time to put up a fence and replant the beans the deer stole. I'm most upset about my sunflowers, it's too late to replant them and they were doing so well! The deer didn't touch the zucchini, peas, or nasturtiums, but ate the tops off some potatoes, and the sides off the broccoli. They also ate 3 pepper plants down, but I'm hoping I can go to the local greenhouse and maybe they will have some mature plants I can purchase and replant. I know it's cheating, but I fully acknowledge that and I'm over it. I'm so excited my husband has agreed to help me with the fence. I guess it beats having to pee around the beds at night, like he has been doing (which also hasn't helped.)

Vermicomposting

Last summer we had a "worm garden" in the back yard and for about 2 months it did really well, until it got hot and the worms baked. This year I started earlier, and kept the worms in the garage. It seems to be working better, except for the terrible fruit flies, which turn into nasty little black worms.
I used 2 plastic Sterilite bin; one with holes drilled into the bottom, sitting in the second one which collects the "juice." I think it's called compost tea. I got the worms from a local bait shop, I made sure they were local to my area, so when they are let free (like lots of little Willy's,) they won't destroy the ecosystem. I'd feel bad if I ruined Michigan because of my worms. The first two bins I emptied directly into the garden boxes. The garden boxes are too full to do now, so I emptied this last one onto my large compost pile in the yard. It also had weird black maggoty worms in it. I didn't like that part and I didn't want them to get by my garden. I'm letting the bucket dry out and hoping they will wriggle away. I was using a cardboard box topper on it, maybe I should use the air tight plastic topper if that will work better. I wonder if I can leave them in the garage in the winter too, do worms freeze?

Potato (Potatoe?)

My potatoes are still not popping back up. Possibly because it hasn't gotten above 65 in the last three days and near constant rain. I added some soil around the base of the stems, and ended up knocking some of them down. I also added some dirt around the base of the sunflowers, and it does seem to be helping. Everything else is still standing upright, and seems to be thriving, even in the cold weather. The broccoli is turning green and I'm in love with the nasturtium leaves, I can't wait until they start flowering!

Storm

There was a big storm yesterday. It has been raining for 3 days now, and the temperatures are very low for this time of year. My tall potato plants got squashed in the rain, as did some of my poor sunflowers. I hope they can bounce back, but I think without the sun to raise them, they are lost.


Weirdly, the horizontal garden wasn't affected at all. The sunflowers in this garden are still upright and the broccoli, beans, and nasturitums are thriving. Maybe it's more protected by the trees behind it. Or maybe it's just coincidence.


My garden is not the only one that is suffering. I was at the local farmer's market yesterday (such good strawberries!) and two of the ladies were talking between their stalls. I was eavesdropping, and heard them remark all crops are 2 weeks behind, especially corn. It won't be "knee high by the 4th of July." I hope the real farmers have an Indian summer or they will be out a lot of crops and income.

Fill-in beans

Monday the 13th I planted some fill in beans in spots that looked empty and lonely. They are just now sprouting, and hopefully staggered enough we can enjoy them longer. I'm thinking I also need to fill in some peas, I'm waiting until they train up the trellis a little more. Last year on 4th of July we were enjoying early beans and peas. It's hard to believe because this year the weather has been so cold, I feel like I got a late start, and then it took so long for everything to warm up. We're in for some hot, rainy days this week, I'm hoping that speeds things up. The potatoes don't need any help at all, they are growing so big!
We walked to the neighbors to share in his bounty of strawberries, with only 4 rows he has plenty, picking 14 pints in only 5 days! Unlike my strawberries, which the birds have discovered and ruined. I'm hopeful if I just leave them alone they will continue to take root and next year will be more productive and prosperous. Zucchini's right on track and the cucumber's just starting to climb. I found a little broccoli head yesterday, it was yellow and I'm hoping that's not a bad thing?

I enjoyed some lettuce out of the trays yesterday on some burgers, it was a little bitter, but I think I might have jumped the gun picking it too early. The picture is from last week, I can't believe how much it's grown in only 6 days!

Strawberries!

We had 4 ripe strawberries last night, and although they were small, they were tasty! Between the three of us girls, I got to nibble around a top. This morning I looked for more, but in the rain I noticed the hanging baskets are not draining at all. As soon as we dry up, I will try to get some straws in there for better draining, and not so much flooding. So far no birds are pecking the strawberries, and they are super small, hopefully they will be bigger in the second year.

Garden's Growing!

I finally got some pictures of the garden in its sprouted state. These were taken 4 days ago, and because of the heat and rain, the crops (especially the potatoes!) have filled in quite a bit more since then. The peas are training nicely up the triangular wires, but the beans under the tepee have yet to start winding. I'm still waiting to plant more beans, and still battling ants.

You can see in the pictures I have sprinkled cornstarch to combat the ants, but it has done nothing but make my garden look like a baby's butt. Hopefully the rain forcasted will wash it away. I read that Nutra-Sweet, or Equal will kill them, because it's essentially poison for ants. It makes me glad I don't use un-natural sweetners myself, if they can kill ants, what can they do to my family? I swiped some packets from the hotel we stayed in, and will start treating this weekend when it's supposed to stay dry.

I'm excited about my lettuce and spinach coming up, I bought myself a salad spinner at IKEA, and can't wait to use it! In related news: I LOVE IKEA! What a great store, I'm glad there's not one within an hour radius of here, I have a feeling I would splurge everychance I got. It was a special treat.

Getting Started

Here I am, with my own blog. If anyone ever reads this, for the record, I am keeping this blog/journal for myself, to remember what, when, where and why. I don't expect any readers, and I will post when I feel like it.
My garden is two 4'x12' boxes and one 4'x4' box. Once I figure out how to post pictures, I will.
Living in the woods, on a lake, it is difficult to find an area with good sun, so I decided to build the boxes (actually, I had Steve build them, I don't trust myself with power tools.) They are positioned on our drainage field, where nothing would grow, but got the best sun. It works perfectly. Today I'm excited because everything is sprouting. The Butternut squash was the last to come up, but today I noticed 2 sprouts, even though I planted 3. Here is what I'm planting, and the layout, from left to right, and top to bottom:
1st Horizontal box
Broccoli* (replanted from Weesies)
Nasturtium*
Butternut Squash*
Jalapeno Peppers* (replanted from Weesies)
Blue Lake Beans
Roma Tomatoes (replanted from Weesies)
Sunflowers*

2nd Vertical Box:
Sunflowers*
Peas
Pole Beans
Green Peppers (replanted from Weesies)
Bush Beans
Potatoes*

Small box:
Cucumbers
Zucchini

I also have two small portable planters with Spinach* and Lettuce* in them.

I also have two raspberry bushes I planted last year which are still alive and thriving!

I feel I planted too many potatoes. They are sprouting and spreading. I have room between the Green Peppers and the bush beans, I will plant more beans in a week or so so we can spread out the harvest. Last year I had just one box, and I feel like we needed more.

Along with the vegetables, I have Strawberries growing in the hanging baskets outside the front door. We have already picked one (small) Strawberry and split it 3 ways to share between the girls.

*New crop for me this year. Didn't plant last year.

I don't have a picture of the garden, so I'll just post this picture of an Eastern Screech Owl who hung out on our porch the other night.