It’s been a while since posting on here about our garden. The truth is, it’s been pretty uneventful. Everything seems to be growing well.
But, for the most part – it’s really just been constant watering and (a heckuva lotta) weeding, which didn’t seem exciting enough to blog about.
A few updates:
Successes:
We picked a ginormous head of broccoli last weekend. If I didn’t pick it soon, it surely would have gone to seed. However, I was worried to pick it too early. That’s something I’m trying to learn, knowing when it’s time to pick the produce.
Ryan says it tastes better than grocery store broccoli, so that’s a success in my book.
I have also picked a green pepper and a small tomato to use for meals this week. They seemed to be early flukes of the garden, but both were delicious. The tomato was particularly yummy, much better than the watered down ones from the store.
I think I’m going to have LOTS of tomatoes and peppers, so I’m starting to look for ways to use them all – new recipes, preserving, etc. Let me know if you have any tips.
Failure:
One disappointment came in the form of our lettuce. I had iceburg lettuce, which was a mistake. I meant to buy leaf lettuce.
The heads were just starting to form and everything looked good. We went out of town for a few days and when we came back, they were covered in sticky, brown goop and little bugs. They were being watered regularly while we were gone, so I’m not sure how it happened and why. It was really disappointing to have to compost all of the lettuce, but I chalk it up to learning.
We will definitely be going with leaf lettuce next year.
Now, I have several empty square feet. We’ll probably try to replant them with leaf lettuce and radishes for a late crop.
How are your gardens growing?? (I hope well.)
Extra tomatoes?!?! Make Fried Green (or red, yellow, etc) Tomatoes! There are recipes all over the net, but the best ones tell you to soak them in buttermilk.
🙂
Isn’t it fun harvesting?! Well done. I’m also learning when it’s too early to pick and when it’s too late.
Try some carrots in your empty space, I promise you they are easy to grow (just sow thinly, then water) and SO rewarding! The difference between a store bought carrot and a home-grown one is phenomenal.
We don’t garden – yet. I love reading your updates and am trying to learn as much as I can before we get to start. Hopefully, next year!
I’m impressed – broccoli? I suppose I knew that grew in the ground, it just never crossed my mind before. You’re a natural! All I’ve got is some bountiful basil – but that’s the way I like it.