Garden Evaluation: Everything Else!

Bottom Terrace: Peppers, Cucumbers, Beans, Carrots,

                         Sunflowers, Oregano

 

 

Peppers: Left and middle of bottom terrace

Planted: June 18 

Variety: 'Mohawk' and 'Italian Yellow Bell'

Yield: More than expected, although none changed color from green

 

Pests, problems, diseases: The biggest problem was the late planting date and our cool, wet spring/early summer. The plants themselves didn't grow very much, and by the time they started putting on peppers it was too late for them to ripen properly.

 

Finished: We picked all that were left Oct 7--figuring those last 2-3 weeks before frost were not going to make a difference in size or color.

 

 

Comments: Peppers were small, thin-walled (particularly the 'Mohawk'), and green. Maybe the flavor would have been better if they had time to fully ripen.

 

I don't love green peppers. I froze what we harvested this year, and have slowly been using them, but I am still buying red peppers for eating fresh from Costco. I may try them one more time next year, to see if putting them in the ground earlier will make any difference. These varieties were both supposed to be end up orange or yellow, and both supposed to very early (60 and 65 days, respectively.)  We harvested the first in mid-September and it was still green.

 

I've had more than one friend tell me that peppers don't do very well here.  So I may skip sweet peppers altogether next year and put in some chili pepper or jalapenos. At least those we could use in salsa. 

 

Lemon cucumber, when planted

Cucumbers: Bottom left and middle

Planted: June 18

Pests, Problems, Diseases: None that I noticed.

Finished: mid-October

 

Variety: 'Bush Pickle'

Yield: decent, for just one plant. 

Comments: 5-6 inch cucumbers, good flavor.  This was a good little producer, and kept us in cucumbers most of the summer. I like the smaller size. One plant was probably enough for eating fresh; if I want to ever make pickles, I would need 4 or 5, probably. It didn't die off mid-summer like my MO cucumbers always seemed to, so that was nice, too.   

 

 

Variety: 'Lemon cucumber'

Yield: Hardly any! Maybe 7 or 8 total.

Comments: This was supposed to yield lemon-sized, yellow cucumbers. The ones I got were very small--maybe 1/3 of that size--very pale yellow, and covered in spiny black hairs. They had a good flavor and were very crunchy, but did not live up to the hype.

 

This plant also tried to take over my entire bottom terrace. It was twining around the sunflowers and entangling the peppers (which were having enough problems of their own!) Perhaps if I had cut back the vines it would have produced more? It always had lots of blossoms on it, (see picture, above), just not very much in the way of actual cucumbers.

 

I will not plant this again next year. I would rather use the space for something that will produce.

 

 

 

Green Beans: bottom right

Planted: March 25 (from seed), June 18 (in garden--some transplanted, some new seed)

Variety: 'Royal Burgundy' (bush)

Yield: about a handful at each picking--enough for one meal's side dish

Pests, Problems, Diseases: None noticed.

Finished: mid-October

 

Comments: DO NOT start these from seed next year! They completely outgrew seedling trays, and I had them all downstairs growing in my basement window for a month. But I forgot to water them down there and most had to be trashed anyway. If I want to start them from seed--perhaps to let the kiddos try it, since they grow so fast--it would need to be beginning of May at the earliest. That way they could go directly into the garden, instead of languishing in my windowsill for weeks.

 

Kids and I enjoyed this variety. They grow purple and then turn green when you cook them. Good flavor, didn't need staking. Not super productive. I planted maybe 9-12, and harvested some for dinner from time to time.

 

Next year I want to plant 2 varieties, in hopes of getting a few more; perhaps the Blue Lake Bush that I tried before, which was very productive. I wouldn't mind having enough to freeze. We would eat green beans from the freezer! 

 

I also want to try planting some soup beans to let dry on the vine. 

 

 

the carrots are on the far right in this picture.

 

Carrots: bottom right

Planted: June 18, from seed

Variety: 'Short n' Sweet'

Yield: not very many

Finished: early October, because they were still so small.

Pests, problems, diseases: None noticed.

 

Comments: Pale orange, very small, decent flavor. I realized that I can plant a regular variety next year--my garden soil is awesome and deep, so I don't need the "especially developed for clay soils" ones.  Also, I need to plant more of them. And I'm sure thinning them would help somewhat, too. So next year I'll have to try some other varieties--maybe do a row of them all along the front of one of the terraces, or something.

 

Sunflowers: bottom terrace, along the back
Planted: June 18, from seed
Yield: lots of pretty blooms
Finished: end of October
Pests, problems, diseases: None noticed.

Varieties: 'Teddy Bear': the pure yellow, puffy-looking ones on the right
'Waooh': black centers, on the left.

Comments: Both varieties grew 3-4 feet high, which was perfect for the terrace they were on. Cheerful color for the fall garden. Didn't bloom until September. I think I do like the black middles better--traditional, I guess.

May or may not plant them in the garden next year.  I've thought about planting some along the west side of the house to add some color while we decide what to do with it over there, but I'm not sure they would survive on rainwater alone. Next time I'll let Jacob cut some to bring in. :)

Oregano: far left in front
Planted: June 18
Variety: 'Greek'
Yield: plenty for me
Finished: um...it's actually still out there and even looked green after the last snowstorm...

Pests, problems, diseases: almost died off when we went on vacation (not enough water?) but recovered nicely after that.

Comments: I'm going back to my thought with the basil: maybe I just need a pot of herbs on the deck, one of each variety. Unless it survives the winter. Then it can stay right where it's at.

 

I did it!

With this short reprieve in the weather, I was finally able to get the rest of the bulbs planted! That's a relief!  There was more to do than I had remembered.

I put 4 daffodils, Narcissus 'Obdam' (white, double) by the mailbox, along with 3 of the tulips, Easter Joy mix. The ground was a bit frozen and hard on top, but still soft underneath.  I put the remaining daffodil and tulips (1 and 2, respectively,) on the back slope, sort of behind the blueberry bush to the far right.

I also still had the Trumpet Mix daffodils to plant (5), so I put them on the slope between the middle garden terrace and the aspen on the right side. And then, I had probably 10 more crocuses to plant, along with 3 or 4 tulips that had gotten dug up from the back flowerbed when I was planting the new shrub.  Those went on the back slope, behind the shed, in some of the dry patches. I hope that they will brighten up that gray dry dirt over there, come spring.

Phew! It was not warm--probably high 30's--but Jacob and I bundled up good, and got it done. Now we're ready for snow FOR REAL.

Garden Evaluation: Tomatoes and Basil

Middle Terrace: Tomatoes and Basil

Tomatoes: middle terrace
Planted: June 8
Pests, problems, diseases: All the tomatoes this year suffered from lack of cages or staking. Many rotted on the ground that could have been saved.
Finished: they lasted right up until hard frost (end of Oct)
Variety: 'Golden Nugget' (2 plants)
Yield: fairly plentiful once it got going
Comments: Small, cherry tomato sized yellow fruit; regular tomato flavor. I'm not going to plant these next year. Cherry tomatoes are a pain to can, and we missed the tangy sweet flavor of Sungold varieties.

Variety: 'Early Girl' (4 plants)
Yield: Not as much as the others, despite having at least as many plants.
Comments: Big tomatoes with good flavor. Did not produce or ripen any earlier than the others. Probably won't repeat this one, either. May look for a bigger determinate variety for canning.

Variety: 'Roma Paste' (4 plants)
Yield: High producing plants, with the smaller bell shaped tomatoes.
Comments: Late to ripen--most of the ones we picked that last week were green Roma's. Another one that I probably will not replant next year. I would like to try a different paste tomato variety to see how it compares. Probably will only put in 1-2 plants, though. Mushy after blanching.

Variety: 'Cougar Red' (2 plants)
Yield: High producing.
Comments: Early to ripen, small heart-shaped tomatoes--many with "noses", less acidic flavor (sweeter). These were my favorites this year. Great for eating fresh, also stayed firm after blanching for good canning. Will have a higher ratio of these next year. Depending on how long our canned tomato goods hold out, I could see us putting in 4 of these, 1 Sun Gold, and perhaps 1-2 experimental varieties.

Basil: grown from seed, planted all along the front of middle terrace

Planted: March 25 (in seed trays), June 8 (in garden)

Variety: Genovese

Yield: Much, much more than I used.

Pests, problems, diseases: Amazingly enough, they survived the waterlogged episode at the beginning of their lives, and went on to grow big and lush. Were crowded and smashed by uncaged tomato plants gone amok later in summer, but no pests or diseases that I could tell.

Finished: Hard to really say, since they were so crowded out, but they were all in flower end of October when we pulled them out.

Comments: I'm still not very great at using fresh herbs--or drying them for future use, as it turns out. We could have been just fine with one basil plant. Maybe I should try it in a pot on the deck next year, along with a couple of other kitchen herbs. Easily accessible to the kitchen, and just one of each variety.

Weather

Saturday night (11/12) we had a snowstorm. It put down about an inch, which the kids played in happily, then was all melted off by Sunday morning. Still in a holding pattern for real winter weather.

I was going to get the rest of the bulbs planted today, with this slight reprieve, except it hailed off and on all day and was super windy.  Maybe tomorrow will work out. If I put a clump each of daffodil and tulip by the mailbox, that should do it, I think.

Garden Evaluation: Zucchini, Squash, Pumpkins, Nasturtiums

Top Terrace: Zucchini, Squash, Mini-Pumpkins, & Nasturtiums

Zucchini: 1 hill, from seed
Planted: June 8
Variety:  ?
Yield: Lots and lots--more than enough
Pests, problems, diseases: Some powdery mildew. Didn't effect production one bit.
Finished: end of season
Comments: Grew to nearly fill in the empty space beside it. Summer harvest was 2-3 times per week. If we waited a full week there would be huge ones waiting! Froze some, gave some away, ate a bunch...they still came on!

Yellow Straight-Neck Squash: 1 hill, from seed
Planted: June 8
Variety: Butterstick
Yield: plentiful
Pests, problems, diseases: none to speak of--some powdery mildew, but didn't effect production
Finished: end of season

Comments: Mild flavor, thin-skinned. More plentiful than the crookneck variety we grew in Mo. If left alone they grew huge just like the zucchini! One hill was sufficient for eating fresh.

Mini-Pumpkins: 2 hills, started indoors

Planted: June 8

Variety: Jack Be Little?  I started 2 each of Jack Be Little (orange) and Baby Boo (white). 2 didn't grow in the seed trays, and one hill died off after planting in the ground. The one that survived started white and turned orange, so my final answer is Jack Be Little....I guess.

Yield: 8-10 minis

Pests, problems, diseases: not sure why 2 didn't come up at all (see comment, above). I think the one that died off in the ground could have been animal related--i.e., trampled by Diamond or something. It was wilted away, not nibbled, but it looked like it had been broken off or crushed.

Finished: end of season

Comments: Very cute little pumpkins. The kids loved them! Great for small-scale decorating. However--10 tiny pumpkins for as much space as that plant took up is not that great a return on investment. Especially when I found out you can get a whole basket-full of mini-pumpkins at Safeway for a couple of dollars. So probably next year we'll go that route and save the garden space for something else.

Nasturtiums: planted all along top terrace in front
Planted: June 8
Variety: don't remember--whatever was left in the seed packet
Yield: 1 plant
Pests, problems, diseases: just old seed, I think
Finished: they lasted right up until hard frost (end of Oct)

Comments: I saved some seeds from the hardy survivor. The bright orange flowers were lovely once they started blooming, especially in contrast with the squash flowers. I want to buy fresh seed next year and start them indoors, so I can have those cheerful blooms earlier in the summer.

Winterizing

Since we had our first snowfall this week (even though it didn't stick) we decided it was high time to get our outdoor stuff ready for winter. Jason boarded up the rest of the empty spaces on the shed--mainly the big back door and attic wall above the porch--and officially declared it done for the season. We did stow the wheelbarrow and lawn mower in there, mainly to get them out of the garage.  He also got all of his extra wood stacked behind the shed, and his tools back in the garage. Jacob's bike and helmet were stored in the garage as well.

Other little chores we did:
** Took garden hoses off and hung them in shed (on newly installed hose holder hooks)
** Picked up last remnants of yard and gardening stuff still out--green plastic mesh fencing, sprinkler heads, etc., and stored them in the shed.
** Pulled the dead flowers out of all pots and put the pots, along with the one plant stand, in the shed.
** Removed cushions from outside rocking chair and stored in shed. I hope the cushions will be okay out there and not get too damp. I may regret that decision.
** Spread mulch on back flower bed around the new shrub and along the back where I planted all the bulbs.

Winterizing takes on a whole new meaning when you get feet of snow, instead of an occasional storm. Anything left out will be buried all winter, so we have tried to be extra careful to pick up any and all odds and ends.

Guess we're about ready for snow to come for real!

Now we just need to get the snow tires back on our vehicles.

Garden put to bed

While Jason's parents were here, they helped clear out the garden, including picking all the rest of the tomatoes.

I was going to put them on a table in the garage, covered by newspaper, and all that, but as I procrastinated that task I discovered them ripening up in the box. So last Wednesday I went through, picked out all the ripe or almost ripe ones, threw away all the rotten ones I could find, and left the rest to do their thing. I came out with about 1/3 of the box, with probably another 1/4 trashed due to rottenness. So not too bad. I know what to do with ripe tomatoes! So once this batch gets completely ripe, I'll get them processed and ready for tomato sauce, along with the other 3 bags-worth in the freezer. 

All cleared out. The tomatoes you see left on the dirt were all half-rotten anyway, so we left them there as compost.

Only things left are the nasturtium on top and the oregano bottom left. 

In lieu of an actual compost pile, we threw all the vines and such down the side slope.

Maybe if nothing else they'll help keep the weeds down.