My 6 Month Garden Update!

It's been a long and interesting week. Some weeks are smoother than others, and this week? NOT my favorite. But one thing, always brings a smile to my face... THE GARDEN

Potato

Below These are the two Potato Grow Bags. I've had a decent harvest from both, already, and these will be ready for an end of Sept/early Oct harvest, too. No complaints so far. In fact, I will almost definitely ADD another bag, and do a staggered planting, to get three different timings for the harvest.

Cucumber

Below The Cucumber are doing well. These are Straight 8 Cukes, and usually found for salads, and eating.

Below Two Pickling Cucumber plants, doing well. I should be picking these end of September for making pickles. Hopefully, a jar of Bread and Butter Pickle and a Jar of Dill Pickles.

The Tomato

Below the Cherry tomato varieties are definitely a HIT. White Cherry will be replanted for sure. Sweetie 100 as well. Here, they are growing UP and OVER the trellis arch.

I have planted another half dozen Tomato plants, both White Cherry and Sweetie 100. None of the larger tomato variety have enough time to mature, so only the Cherry tomato will get a second planting.

Raspberries

Above I am picking about a bowl a day, now. Half of what I pick gets frozen for jam to be made in September. The other half is fresh for the eatin'! The Raspberry bush grows basically on a 3 year cycle. First year canes produce no fruit. 2nd Year canes are the ones that bear fruit, and third year canes die off. Those will get completely cut at the soil level this fall.

the REST!

I planted three kinds of Onion: Red Beard Bunching, Red Onion and Sweet White Onion. I need to be better at thinning to allow larger bulbs to form. Although, we have been taking some each week for a few weeks now... so, maybe I just need to be more aware of how many?

Chives are growing like gangbusters!

Peas are on their second planting. I planted 3 kinds, and I would say, next year, I will do more Golden Peas, and more Snow Peas, and less Snap Peas. Maybe no Snap Peas. The Family seems to love Golden and Snow peas.

Lettuce, Spinach, and Herbs!

I am always fairly successful with Lettuces, and Herbs. I need to plan more harvests, better timing for my rotation. Simply need to set it up as a new planted box every 3 to 4 weeks, from May 1st on.

The short answer is, as I do every year, I refine what works and what doesn't. Why keep spending energy on things that don't do well in my climate? And next year, depending on when we move, I will be planting more fruit, too. That's longer term planning, as first second and third year for many fruit trees are usually lost.

I'll keep pushing the types of vegetables and see what I can add for more Food Independence for my family and friends.