Garden Update, August 2012

If you couldn’t tell, I’ve kinda been avoiding my computer for the last week or so.

I go through this every few months it seems, where I just don’t want to look at a computer when I get home from work. I’m on a computer for 8 hours in the office and it’s the last thing I want to do when I come home – even to do fun stuff like blog or chat with friends on twitter.

The last couple of weeks have been such a nice break from technology, and I don’t know when it will end. I’m sure as soon as summer is over, I’ll be back to normal.

I was going through some posts this morning and realized that I haven’t done a single garden update this year! We’ve been so busy with work and family and the garden that I completely forgot.

gardenplot

This year, we’ve got all kinds of stuff going on:

  • radishes
  • herbs
  • lettuces – butter and romaine
  • peas
  • green beans
  • corn
  • tomatoes – romas, some big red variety for canning, german pinks and cherokee purples (my favorite for just eating)
  • zucchini
  • strawberries
  • raspberries (coming in by the handful now!)
  • figs
  •  

    radishes

    The radishes, lettuces, peas, and strawberries are all done for the year – we had those in late spring/early summer and…I have no idea how I ever lived without strawberry plants in my yard. It was so fun to be able to go outside, pick cups of perfect berries, and not have to go to the farmer’s market to get them.

    I even got to make a spring-themed feast to share everything that was coming out  of the garden in May.

    peas

    I’m pretty sure the best thing I made with the strawberries is a tie between the strawberry rhubarb jam and those ridiculous strawberry mojitos. I can’t wait for next spring so I can make a lot more of both.

    strawberries1-1024x682

    The green beans have been just as busy this year as they were last summer. We only planted 4 rows this year – not 5 like last summer – but we’ve still been loaded down with them.

    Our basement has over 30 jars of green beans, waiting to be eaten this winter until we can plant some more next year. Although, I’m pretty sure we’ll only be planting one row next year. Just enough to have some fresh beans for eating, but not so many that we’re overwhelmed and have to can them every other day for a few weeks.

    beans

    And our tomatoes are finally coming in! We just picked the first ripe one a week or so ago, and now they’re ripening by the bowlful. I’ve got big plans for slow roasting the romas, canning some plain and sauce and salsa, and freezing some to use in chilis and stews this winter. Plus just eating as many as I can – in sandwiches, salads, on their own.

    tomatoes

    We’re still waiting on figs. The two bushes are loaded with them, but they haven’t ripened yet. I walk out there, every afternoon, hoping that a few are ready…but not yet. I know I’ll be picking pounds a day in just a week or two, so it’s worth the wait. Frog jam will be happening soon and lots of figs + yogurt + honey + walnuts for breakfasts and dessert.

    The most exciting part of the garden this year? Our raspberry plants are going crazy! We planted them last year and got maybe 1 handful – which was a surprise because I didn’t think we’d get anything the first year.

    But this summer? We’ve already picked a few cups and they’re still going. I’m so excited about them. Raspberries are my favorite berry, I think, and having our own plants still feels a little surreal to me. Do we actually have all this stuff growing in our own yard? It’s hard to believe. But then I see the baseball-size zucchini in the garden and the 5-foot-tall corn and I’m snapped back to reality.

    If we do plant the same amount of green beans next year, I may need to hire some garden help ;) Anyone interested? What do you have growing in your garden this year?

    8 comments

    1. WOW! Look at those beans! I love that you had so many fresh, delicious veggies right in your backyard!! :)

    2. Oh I am so jealous of how good your veggies look! Mine were okay this year but not the best. We had a lot of rain in the past few weeks and they ruined my tomatoes but I’m hoping for a better crop in the next few weeks. :)

    3. Yay garden but honestly I’m even more excited by the tree in the background. SO pretty.

    4. Now that Andy and I own a house, I really have the itch to start a garden but I am so overwhelmed! I need to do some serious research. Raspberries are my favorite berry too, I’d love to grow some of my mine.

    5. sounds like i need to get down there as soon as your figs are ripe ;)

    6. I have tomatoes and cucumber and peppers and corn and broccoli and zucchini

    7. I am very envious of your garden! I absolutely can’t wait until we move into a house so I can make one of my own!

    Comments are closed.