Winter is almost upon us, and our gardening has substantially slowed down (or completely stopped). However, it’s that time of year when the new seed catalogs will be arriving and we’ll be planning our spring garden. Many of you have asked me about what I like to plant year after year, or what grows well in my hardiness zone (8b). So, I thought this was a perfect time for a four-part series on my favorites for the garden. Nightshades!
Even though it’s been extremely hot and humid for weeks, my garden is still producing enough for enjoying right away with a little extra for preserving. (I know I’ll have harvests out my ears once it cools down a little!) This week, I harvested 14 cucumbers, 1 (almost 6 lb) white watermelon, 1 (half-pound) butternut squash, a half pound of snap beans (last harvest until I replant), almost a pound of lima beans (shelled), 3.4 pounds of eggplant, 6.6 pounds of peppers, and 19.5 pounds of tomatoes! Garden Bounty in pictures!
It was a great week of harvests last week. I picked my first lima beans, Amish paste tomato, honeydew melon, and white watermelon – along with everything else. All total, I harvested 1 (2 pound) honeydew melon, 1 (9 pound) white watermelon, 13 cucumbers, 1/2 pound of snap beans (they’re just about done), 1.5 pounds of lima beans (shelled), 3 pounds of eggplant, 1.5 pounds of peppers, and 11 pounds of tomatoes! I think it’s time to put up some tomatoes. Garden bounty pictures!
This past week I noticed so many of my plants are now fruiting! I’ve shared some pictures in my Sanctuary Gardener updates the past two weeks, but there were too many “firsts” this week to share in yesterday’s update. It’s nice to start seeing the fruits of my labor. 🙂 Fruits in my garden!
It seems we went from a cool spring directly into the intense heat of summer. The past week has been in the 90s and still no rain in sight. I’ve had to water my seedlings daily to keep them from dying, which has been mostly successful. However, I have lost a few melons and chard. (I’ll be replanting the melons – got to have my melons!) A couple cucumbers as well as a few of my pepper plants are looking poorly, as well. I was concerned that this early heat would wreak havoc on my new transplants and seedlings. Overall, though, I think the garden is holding up well, considering. This week’s garden pictures!
I have to admit, this has been a crazy gardening year. What I thought would do well, hasn’t; and what I thought wouldn’t make it, has. We’ve had so much rain this year, an actual spring that lasted well through May, then immediate scorching heat and humidity with three weeks of 90 degree plus temperatures without a break. I’m not sure my garden knows what to do! And sometimes, neither do I. But, all gardeners and farmers know, you can’t do much about the weather. However, I keep plugging away, nurturing the few spring crops still growing and planting the new fall crops. Come take a look!
Sanctuary Gardener 