Garden Bounty ~ Week Ending 7/26/14

I love how my garden grows and fruits in cycles. One week, I may have an abundance of tomatoes, while the next week it’s peppers. Some weeks I lose some fruit to insects or heat-related damage, while other weeks I reap the full available harvest. No matter what, there’s always something to eat – and put up – from my garden. This past week, I harvested 55 ears of Glass Gem corn, over a pound of eggplant, 12.5 pounds of melon, almost 6 pounds of snap beans, 1.3 pounds of chili peppers, and 8.7 pounds of tomatoes. Not only tasty to eat, but pretty to look at!

Garden Bounty ~ Week Ending 7/20/14

Last week was a slower week for harvesting – at least compared to the past few weeks. I lost close to a dozen cucumbers to pickle worms (so no cucumbers this week), and several tomatoes to stink bugs or from splitting on the vine. However, I still pulled in quite a bit. I harvested about 1 pound of butternut squash, a half pound melon (rich sweetness), almost 6 pounds of eggplant, over 5.5 pounds of peppers (mostly hot ones), and a little over 4 pounds of tomatoes (they’re growing a new batch that are just turning red).

Garden Bounty ~ Week Ending 7/13/14

Despite the continuing intense heat, I’m still harvesting quite a bit. Compared to last year, my pepper harvests are not as big; but I know I’ll be swimming in peppers soon enough (when the heat subsides). This week, I harvested 13 cucumbers, 1 (almost 11 pound) watermelon, 8 pounds of melons (honeydew, cantaloupe, tigger, and rich sweetness), almost 1 pound of lima beans (shelled), 7 pounds of eggplant, almost 2.5 pounds of carrots, a little over 2.5 pounds of peppers, and 9.5 pounds of tomatoes. 

Garden Bounty ~ Week Ending 7/6/14

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 ~ Week Ending 6/22/14

Although it’s been in the 90s for weeks, my garden is still producing. I harvested 15 cucumbers, 1.5 pounds of winter squash, 6.2 pounds of peppers, 5.5 pounds of tomatoes, 2 pounds of beans, and 5.5 pounds of onions. Not too shabby!

Fruits of My Labor

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. 🙂

Sanctuary Gardener Update ~ 5/12/14

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.

Sanctuary Gardener Update ~ 5/20/13

It’s been a wonderful week here at my Sanctuary Garden. The weather hasn’t been too hot – in the upper 70s to lower 80s most of the week. The sky has threatened rain several times, but never kept its forecasted promise. So, I’ve had to break out the hose and water. At least the clouds have kept it cooler. The garden is filling in and looking lush! Things are growing, fruit is popping, and flowers are blossoming (like my hydrangeas pictured above).