How did I miss this??
Zucchini has an uncanny ability to hide from sight. This is why I grow the costa romana zucchini. It doesn’t get mealy in texture when large. But I was obviously not doing my job when I found this one! I took the picture with Deron’s blackberry next to it so you could get an idea of just how big this zucchini was. I did what any person would do. I sat down and started grating. I knew it froze nicely grated. I like to keep it in packages of 3 cups as that is how much the zucchini bread recipe I use takes.
After an hour of grating, I was finally finished with task. I set aside two cups for a zucchini ginger cupcake recipe I found on epicurious, and froze two bags of three cups and one bag of 2 cups. Wait, I’ll do the math for you. That made 10 cups grated zucchini from just one. Guess I need to poke around a bit more from now on!
This year I was going to do something completely different in the front. I would need to expand it, tear up the “grass” and supplement the soil. Well, it took one hot day for me to change my mind. The soil was rough and the weather was HOT and HUMID. So I went back to the drawing board quickly.
Here is what I decided on doing:
I expanded the garden by 12″. I then turned all the soil and leveled it out a bit. Last year I dumped a lot of leaves on top of the garden, then continued my efforts of supplementing the soil by dumping all my pots on top. This worked out better then expected. I think do it again this year for one or two beds.
Next I planted a row of tomatoes. (at this point 31 tomatoes planted) After planting the 7 tomatoes I marked out two rows of 3′ squares. Here I planted CT field pumpkin, zucchini, ground cherries and butternut squash. The remainder of the space was for terragon and cucumbers.
After a trip to home depot, I put a fence around it and will keep my fingers crossed!
Ghostly white acorn squash growing
This is my second year trying the white acorn squash. Last year was a wash for all squash. This year is different. I planted two of the plants next to each other in my front “Victory” garden. They are a bush plant so spreading would not be an issue. I planted them kind of close and kind of half-hearted as I was sure that they would die before producing anything. Boy was I wrong.
I have already picked one, leaving 4 more on the plants growing. I am amazed how compact the plant is and how much it is producing. Although I have not eaten the one that was picked, I know I will grow them again. Who could pass up something looking so different and unexpected. I will follow-up after I make it to eat to let you know what I thought of the flavor. Who knows, tomorrow is supposed to be cool, maybe I will fire up the oven and roast with some butter and brown sugar..mmmm Now I can’t wait for tomorrow!
Zucchini plant - look hard there is one growing in this picture!
It has been a few weeks ago, but I finally picked my very first zucchini that I grew from seed. I think I am the only one gardening, that wishes I had more zucchini. I am lucky though. I am growing Costa Romana Zucchini. They are great because if you miss a zucchini (which I did when it was buried under the entire plant) and it gets huge (easy as I swear they double over night) These do not get mealy like the “normal” green ones. I think it was love at first sight. So to celebrate, I made my mothers zucchini bread…mmmmm!
I truly believe that next year I am going to grow a couple of plants. I really want to get enough to make my mom’s zucchini relish. I think that might get her out here to visit…we will see….
Filed under: Garden Planning, Herbs, outdoor gardening, Squash, Tomatoes, Uncategorized
Left side of yard - Beds 1,2,3 from roof
Just what am I growing this year? Curious? I was very surprised when I got the final list together. Below is the list, without quantities. I will blog more about tomatoes a little later discussing the final count. But until then, here it is:
Last 2 beds from roof
Herbs: Winter Savory, mint, lemon balm, thyme and lemon thyme, horehound, oregano, lavender, camomile, bee balm, borage, rosemary, eucalyptus, mallow, marshmallow, soapwort, rue, feverfew, wormwood, tarragon, many different basils, chives, garlic chives, parsley, dill, and marjaram.
Vegetables: 4 types of cucumbers Boston pickling, red, lemon and climbing; garlic, over 19 different varieties of tomatoes, 2 eggplants- fairytale and ping tong long; white acorn squash, zucchini, pumpkin, 5 types of carrots, mini red bell pepper, tomatillos, many varieties of cut and grow lettuce, kale, kohlrabi, cabbage, 5 types of hot peppers-2 different cayenne, red lantern, jalapeno and a mystery; 3 types of pole beans-Wren’s egg, Kentucky wonder and scarlet runner; 4 types of bush beans-dragon, cranberry, blue lake and Jacobs cattle; 2 types of onions-candy and mars; shallots, peas, Nicotiana, broccoli, turnips and parsnips.
Fruit: Blueberries, Glenora Grapes
I think I got everything. I might need to update again if I run across something not listed. But it is nice and green and lush. I am looking forward to a great season hopefully. I just know the rain is going to stop!
My entire front garden
As in past years, one of my favorite things is to plant out my little victory garden patch in the front side yard. This year I increased the size just slightly. It has made a delightful patch to come home to every day. I planted the beautiful scarlet red pole beans, tomatillos, an eggplant, 10 tomato plants, one japanese eggplant and two white acorn squash. Everything is looking healthy so far. I can’t wait to see everything producing. It should be really nice to see.
tomatillos
What makes this extra special is that it has everything that I grew by seed with the exception of the japanese eggplant that my friend Gwen grew for me. It makes me smile every time I pull into the driveway to know I grew everything planted. Wow I am growing leaps and bounds with my knowledge of plants. I have to admit, I love it!
It's that time again! The first bunch of herbs to be hanging in the window for drying.
I have been weeding and weeding and weeding my beds. It seems weeds have out numbered my plants is some cases. The problem is that I have to wait for what is planted to start to come up in order to know what to pull and what to leave.
I find it curious that so many plants look like clover when they are just coming up from the ground. Take kale for example, it looks like clover with a purple coloring or my summer savory – small clovers. It is interesting that they all start out looking a like but are so very different. Some grow tall, some stay small, some bushy some lean. It just goes to show you not to judge the little ones because they grew up to be very different.
So, parsnips really aren’t coming in. I am half tempted to plant it out as beets at this point. I am going to give it just a little bit more time before I do that as this was a Deron request. But on the flip side, for all those out there reading this that got christmas presents from us last year, you better start using them up as I am starting the drying process again already. It made me so happy to look up at my windows in my kitchen and see four bunches of herbs drying in the sun. I told Deron that if there was one thing that made me happy it would be to see the herbs in the windows in the kitchen. It makes it so welcoming and comforting all in one. He did not say anything, but I think he agreed with me.
The Iris opening up.
Today I completed the planting. Deron opened a bottle of red wine and made a nice dinner to celebrate. It is quite amazing process I just went through. So the easiest way I can think to let you know how large of an undertaking it was is to create a list of everything that I am growing in my garden. I have also planted Hollyhock, Marigolds and Nasturtiums which are not listed below.
Lemon Balm
Herbs
Winter Savory, Chives, Garlic Chives, Dill, Oregano, Marjoram, Feverfew, Rosemary, lime basil, lemon basil, Genovese Basil, Purple Basil, Spicy Globe Basil, Cinnamon Basil, Lavender, Tarragon, English Thyme, French Thyme, lemon Thyme, Golden Thyme, Catnip, Horehound, Lemon Balm, Mint, Spearamint, Peppermint, Sage, Parsley, Soapwort, Summer Savory, Wormwood, Lovage, Flowering Tobacco, Bee Balm, Anise Hyssop and Cilantro
Strawberry Plant beginning to fruit
Vegetables
56 tomato plants, Cabbage, Red Cabbage, Swiss Chard, Kale, Broccoli Rabe, assorted Lettuces, Red onions, Yellow Onions, Shallots, Sweet Onions, Arugula, Wild Arugula, Purple top Turnips, Toyko Turnips, assorted Beets, Parsnips, Perisian Cucumbers, Boston Pickling cucumbers, Pickling Cucumbers, Bush Cucumbers, Peas, Dragon Langerie bush bean, Vermont Cranberry bush bean, Wren’s Egg pole bean, Kentucky Wonder pole bean, Scarlet Runner pole bean, Yukon Gold Potatoes, Potatoes x 2, Garlic, Lemon Drop hot pepper, Cayenne Long hot pepper, Habenaro peppers, Jalapeno peppers, Cajun Black Hot Peppers, Cayenne peppers, Brussels Sprouts, Green bell peppers, Chocolate bell peppers, Okra, Eggplants, White Acorn squash, Pumpkin, Summer Squash, Carrots, Horseradish, Blueberries, Strawberries and Zucchini.
Filed under: Cantainer Gardening, Herbs, outdoor gardening, Seedlings, Squash, Tomatoes
The Front Garden Planted.
It was cooler today and that made all the difference in the world for working outside. Deron is going to make the final tomato count in the morning, but I think that I made over 50 plants. But it wasn’t all about tomatoes today. I finished the front garden area. I was able to plant 2 Okra, 2 eggplant, 1 pole bean, 6 tomatoes, 8 bell peppers, 2 acorn squash, 2 zucchini, 2 flowering tobacco, 3 bee balm and will be putting lovage seeds down in the morning. I still need to plant 5 tomato plants, 2 hot pepper plants, marigold, basil and nasturtiums through out the space. To say that I am getting excited is an understatement. I was telling Deron that we need to reorganize the cabinets to make more room for items that are in the pantry as I think that I should be able to can my way at least half way through the shelves. That means we need to find a home for everything else. We really don’t utilize the space we have very well anyway. It is about time we look at how to improve it. It should be no problem for completing the planting before the cookout at 4 o’clock tomorrow. It is going to be mostly neighbors coming over with the exception of a couple of people from my work. Deron is making pulled pork sandwiches with coleslaw and baked beans. I am hopefully going to make the rhubarb cobbler I found somewhere. I hope it will turn out.
I have to admit that I am getting ready for everything to be planted and all I have to worry about is weeding and picking produce. I hope it comes soon!
I can’t believe this is post 30. I guess congratulations are in order if you are still reading my rants/raves about gardening.
Raised beds taken yesterday - roots, onions and the fartherestis cabbage family
Today was even hotter then yesterday. My allergies have decided to appear with a vengeance. I barely took the dogs for a walk today. So no planting will be done as Deron and I have a cook out to go to this evening. So to prevent it from being a total wasted day (which I don’t have time for) I decided to figure out the front garden layout. I will have 5 tomato plants out front. This will make 51! I can’t believe that I made it! I will also have flowering nicotine, bee balm, basil, lovage, bell peppers, okra, eggplants and zucchini (not in order planted). I went through all tomato seedlings I had and figured out where they would be located. I went next door to Alvin’s to see if he wanted some. Alvin is the resident gardener on the block. He is 70 something and still enjoying the gardening in his backyard except that this year it is much harder for him to bend down. He was so tickled pink with the addition of tomatoes. Some of his didn’t make it this year. So, with the dozen left at his place, I still have a few extras. I guess that is a good thing.
Last two beds - tomatoes and bean beds
I also decided to plant the summer squash by the peas. So when the plant gets big, the peas will be gone hopefully. I can’t believe that with over 400 sf of planting, I am still having problems accommodating all the plants. I blame it on the tomatoes! So, Plant Day Three has to be a big one with Deron’s help. I have bean tee pees to make, plants to be planted and a front to get ready to plant and fully planted before Sunday afternoon. Not to mention I need to make dessert for our cookout and clean the house. When will it end??
