26 of 52: September Garden

We started out September with lots of corn coming out of the garden. Since we have had a garden, we don't remember a year when our corn has done this well. I even got to freeze 16 quart bags...
Here is the gardener bringing in the last of the cuc's and yellow squash. That yellow squash was one of our favorite things this year...
Then I made these refrigerator pickles with cucumbers and onions from our garden and garlic and dill from the neighbors garden. For this recipe go to www.countrykitchenrecipes.blogspot.com.
The neighbors left on a 3 week trip and asked us to "use and give away" the stuff in their garden so that it wouldn't go to waste. We enjoyed more corn, green peppers and LOADS of red ripe tomatoes. When he was showing me around the garden before they left on thier trip, he pointed to a round greenish thing on the ground and said, "That's a cantalope. Be sure to pick it if it freezes and see how it is. I've never tried growing them before."

Sure enough, it froze only a few nights later, so I picked it and placed it on my kitchen counter for about a week. Then one day, Maya and I cut it open...
What a HUGE SURPRISE! I never dreamed we could grow cantalope here! The fruit was juicy and very good. Maybe not as sweet as you would get at the grocery store but very good! Maya took this silly picture of me enjoying a bite!
We did get a couple ripe tomatoes from our garden but these were mostly from the neighbors hot house tomatoes. We enjoyed them SO MUCH!
Just the other evening we brought in the pumpkins and squash because of freezing temps... (7 pumkins and 4 squash)
The potatos and onions have all been removed and stored down in the crawl space in the basement...
And then we have a few green tomatoes. Hence, my plea for green tomato recipes the other day and would you believe there are some recipes! Thanks to those of you who sent these links! Fried Green Tomatos, Green Tomato Relish, Green Tomato and Orange Jam. Anyone else want to try these too...
And the sunflowers did quite well this year. Randy couldn't touch most of the flowers standing on his tip toes...


And that is the conclusion of our garden this year. We look forward to a winter of good things stored away in the root cellar and freezer.

Hosted by Forever in Blue Jeans

52 Weeks is a year long challenge for YOU to be in a picture once a week for 52 weeks. We are always the ones behind the camera, this is YOUR chance to get out in front and be in the pictures with our family. We are glad you are joining this challenge. More importantly your family will really enjoy having you in the picture. Thanks for playing along! Oh, you can just jump in now with 1 of 52, you're not getting off that easy! Now go take a picture!

Pickin' Time

We've been picken' and diggin' and shellin' and snappin' and washin' and blanchin' and freezin' and cookin' and eatin' from the garden lately...

It's was a cool day last Friday when we spent the morning pickin' and shellin' peas...

Creamed Potatoes, Carrots & Peas for lunch on Sunday...

and Raspberry Sauce on ice cream for dessert.

Recipe at Country Kitchen Recipes...

And now it ALL needs pickin' again!

Garden Progress- August 5, 2009

I can't believe it's been a month since I posted anything about the garden. I took these pictures this morning and as you can see I have some berries to pick! I am loving the zinnia's right now just like Amy and the sunflowers are just beginning to open up. Lots to look forward too!

Happy Wednesday to all,
Alison

Garden Progress July 3, 2009

Here are some pictures of what we have growing around here...
I always enjoy these red poppies (above) spilling over the edge of the barn. And here is the last of the pansies and violets (below) I cut out of my front flower pots before I replaced the pots with new colorful flowers. I have most of my flowers planted around the house and barn but haven't taken any pictures yet...
We've been giving the kids the chore of weeding one row in the garden a day...
I can tell by the way they look that they think they have the coolest parents in the world and would never think their parents are mean for making them weed. Can't you tell that too?

Other than getting sidetracked once and awhile they do a pretty good job...
Here is our peas coming up. This is our first year to plant peas. I am looking forward to making creamed potatoes/peas/carrots...
And we have been having this every night for supper. Spinach and strawberries-Yum. For a great spinach strawberry salad recipe, click here!
The rest of the garden is doing well. No more freezing...We Hope! This weekend is supposed to be HOT!

Hope you all enjoy your 4th of July weekend,

Hugs from us,

Yesterday and Then Today

So, it's been over 2 weeks since we planted our tomatoes outside in the hot boxes. I took these picture yesterday morning and they are growing and flourishing and smiling...
The buds are appearing on the plants and judging from the plants yesterday, we are certain we will have a bumper crop of tomatoes this year...finally!

Until this morning...



We had a freeze in the night and lost all the tomatoes which were covered in the hot boxes...
The hoses were completely frozen this morning. The potatoes that were up look black too. Luckily the corn, beans, lettuce, zinnia's, sunflowers, cucumbers, and squash were not up yet. The peas, spinach and onions are fine.

So off the the store we will go to get tomato plants...

Plant Potatoes-Check!

We had lots of help with planting the potatoes. Now they are all in the ground and we're just waiting to see that little cluster a fat green leaves burst up through the dirt.

Here is Randy cutting up some of our potatoes left over from last year as seed. We have done it every year since we first had a garden and it always amazes me that it works...

It's a dirty job, I tell you... but, this guy doesn't mind one bit!

This guy really doesn't mind either...

And this Mom tries not to mind but I had two loads of dirt laden jeans this week instead of just one.

And I'm hoping the washing machine doesn't mind either...

Tomato Hot Boxes and Planting

In our Northern Climate it is essential to have a "green house" environment to grow tomatoes. In the past we have used walls of water but haven't had much luck with those. So this year Randy built these "hot boxes" to house our tomato plants in the garden. He made six of them. Here you can see the construction of the frames...
After building the frames and staining them, he completed the other two sides with lengths of white pipe that can be removed for easy fold down and storage of the hot boxes. Then he surrounded and topped them in plastic...
He left the bottom of the plastic long to cover with dirt to give them more stability...
After they were positioned in the garden, he dug holes in them and...
planted four of them with tomato plants...

And watered them...
And covered them up....
So far they have been working GREAT! If you reach your hand inside you can feel the moist warm feeling. The tomatoes are smiling! ;) During the day, he opens it up a little and then closes it up at night. We are excited to maybe have our first decent tomato crop this year.

We will keep you posted!