We’ll never need to buy onions again, I’m fairly certain.
We’ve got a ton of white and red onions from the garden. At this momnt, they are drying (in the garage) and we’ll eventually store them in the basement.
There’s about 100 of them. Which is a reasonable number of onions for a single pair of people to have. ๐ I’m anxious to see how long they last. After Ryan harvested them, he tilled up the bed with onions. Sounds like he may plant some more corn. Or radishes. Or something else. I’ll keep you posted.
In other garden news, the tomatoes have officially gone bat-sh*t. They have no idea what’s going on. They are easily twice the size of the tomato cages. The same cages that safely and securely held them last year. So, we tied some twine around all the plants to keep them contained. They were literally spilling over into other beds and I couldn’t get in there to harvest and such. I’m sure this isn’t what a real gardener would do, but this is Woodward territory.
They aren’t very pretty, but I hope we get some crazy good fruit out of the deal anyway. The largest of all the plants are the cherry tomatoes that I started from seed in the house. Isn’t that nuts?
The cucumber/broccoli/peppers bed seems to be doing well. I picked the heads of broccoli today, which I hope means the pepper plants will do better without the broccoli blocking the light.
And I have no stinkin’ clue what’s vining in this bed. I thought I planted peas. I don’t think those are peas. Any ideas?
And, the beetles have struck again this year. They’ve mostly run their course (I hope).
Mostly, they have been destroying my strawberries (which are already harvested), roses and petunias.
But, the little devils also decided they love my basil.
This seriously makes me want to cry. I love basil and they’ve destroyed it. Clearly the plant is about to die. I should just cut my losses and buy a new plant at the farmer’s market. But, I’m not happy about it.
How’s your garden growing?
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Jenny @ Anything Pretty says
I am so jealous of your onions. We lost all but six of ours to rabbits. There are super eaters this year as they have never touched them before….and they ate all the marigolds which I thought they hated. Maybe some deer are jumping our six foot fence.
Our tomatoes are taking off too! They were all nicley staked before we left. And when we came home they were about double the size and falling all over the place. We have had about three red ones and I can’t wait for the rest to ripen.
That is so sad about your basil….there is something wrong with ours as well and I am really worried it is basil blight. So I am with you on having to cut the losses and start over:(.
Amy says
Oh Kim, I am also a huge hater of the beetles! I use Sevin to kill those suckers but I know you guys are trying to go green and I’m not sure Sevin is a good way to do it…but it’s a good way to kill ’em! Sevin saved my petunias. The veggies look awesome! Good work!
Oonafey says
I cannot imagine that I would ever have a use for that many onions! lol. Your tomatoes are looking great!
Amber says
Your garden looks great! So yummy!! Good thing you can use onions in a lot of recipes.
Sara @ Russet Street Reno says
Whoa, those are some lacy leaves! Stupid pests. My tomatoes are also going crazy and overtaking everything else. But they are still not red! I’m impatiently waiting….
Kasey at Thrifty Little Blog says
Wow, you weren’t kidding about the onions!! So far our garden all-star has been the cucumber with four large cucumbers. It’s our first garden so we’re still learning on how not to kill everything :).
Amanda Sevall says
Another pumpkin plant maybe? That’s a lot of onions!!! And I like your method of taming the tomato vines… clever! ๐
Leigh says
You better find a good onion ring recipe fast! How long do they have to dry for? I’m crazy impressed with your garden. Are you sure you don’t want to come teach me (or just do it for me)?
Amanda @ Serenity Now says
That’s a lotta onions!! I hope you have lots of , um, onion recipes. ๐
Your tomatoes remind me of what happened to us last year–it was crazy! But you’ll get a lot of fruit. ๐
The Brick Cottage says
Wow, your garden is incredible! I planted 48 onions in our garden and almost all the white ones bit the dust. We’ve been plucking the red ones out a few at a time and using them but they don’t seem to be growing much. Onions freeze well so if you notice that they’re starting to go bad you can dice them and place of a cookie sheet to freeze, then bag them. I was hoping to do that with mine but I think all of ours will be eaten without a problem.
For your tomatoes, do you pinch off the suckers? That helps to keep them from producing too many leaves and they’ll produce more fruit. That might help in keeping them under control but if you’re already doing that, then you’ve got the greenest thumb ever! ๐
Juggling Thoughts @ One Fine Wire says
I’m so jealous of your garden! My husband would love what you all have ๐
Shanade says
Wow! Your garden looks great. That is a whole lotta onions. In case you didn’t know, you can dice up some of those and store them in the freezer. It’s great to have diced onions already to go sometimes.
I’ve just started getting tons of peas and I noticed this morning that I’ve got lots of baby green beans starting. It seems like everything comes late in Utah. Even my tomatoes are just tiny green things.
Jen@Notes From the Heartland says
Your garden looks great Kim!! The cherry tomatoes will produce bucket after bucketful! I’m going to try sun drying mine this year! I feel your pain with the basil….darn catepillars got to mine. I’m going to try Miss Eff’s suggestion. Great job Mrs. Green Thumb!!
Laurel @ Ducks in a Row says
That class you took sounds awesome – our garden is doing great! We haven’t harvested much, yet – just peas and radishes. I am so pleased, though, this is my first time gardening!
Marcy Tate says
Your onions are beautiful, nice job! I used to have a great garden, but I don’t currentoly (but hopefully just temporarily) don’t have one. This post made me really miss mine!
Mrs. Adventure says
Wow Girl I am really impressed you seriously make me want to move so we can have a garden!
Leigh @ Kesler Expressler says
You’re not kidding, that’s a lot of onions. Our tomatoes are exploding right now too- I think part of it is the quality of the soil. This is the second year we’ve planted in our raised beds and the tomatoes are doing so much better, I think it has to be the soil (cause it ain’t me). We’re finally getting huge tomatoes like my in-laws get from their garden.
jen @ homeinthecountry says
whoa! I am so impressed by the quantity of your onions and the ridiculousness of your tomatoes! Our tomatoes seem to be growing at a pretty decent rate, but none are as big as yours… and our onions are still pretty tiny, too. Do you guys fertilize or do any thing else to your garden? Other than weeding & watering, we’ve done nothing… I wonder if that’s the difference?
Rita/Fighting Off Frumpy says
Oh, the beetles. The BEETLES. They have destroyed my hollyhocks, which were the most meaningful plants in my entire yard (they came from my grandma’s house in Missouri, and she passed away last year). I HATE BEETLES.
Your blog is totally inspiring me to garden next year, btw … ๐
*claire* says
that’s impressive!!
this really makes me want to go back and read your old posts about gardening again and actually DO IT this fall/spring. you should be proud of your results!
Jenny @ Words on Wendhurst says
Wow, your garden is exploding. The midwest must have some seriously fertile ground! ๐ And, you guys are very dedicated gardeners. Next year, wanna come to my house and help my garden grow? ๐
Michael - Innkeeper says
wow. you’ve got to be kidding me with those onions. you need to open a farmers market in your back yard.
Danielle and Clint says
HOLY COW! You weren’t joking about the onions! They look so tasty and colorful! I that one vine possibly pumpkin?
clink says
Kim — cut your basil back .. down to the first set of leaves. And then spray it with water with a bit of dishsoap in it. Beetles hate it. It will survive.
Or come out here and get basil …. I will gladly share it with you and I have lots!