Garden Evaluation: Berries

This was a big year for the berry patch.

Operation Berry Bliss started way back in the spring, with the blueberry bushes moved off the slope, down to claim the top terrace.

 

blueberry

4 different varieties of strawberries were then planted around and amongst the blueberry bushes. 

 

The strawberries took off!

Of all that was planted in the new addition of the terraces, the strawberries loved the sandy soil the most. On that end of the bed, they completely filled in every inch, and started sending runners down the wall.  You can barely see the blueberry bush in this picture, because it's surrounded by strawberries!

 

 

As you can see, the strawberry plants on the other end, where I amended with acidic soil for the blueberries, stayed much smaller. I may end up transplanting them further down, once the rest of the top terrace goes in next spring. The blueberries would probably appreciate the breathing room anyway!

 

 Production was great for strawberries and raspberries.

I picked off berries and blossoms on the strawberries for the first month to 6 weeks, then I just let them go for it. We harvested strawberries the whole rest of the summer. With my kiddos being the main pickers, it's a little hard to estimate how much was produced, but they found some to pick with enough to share almost every time they went out.

We missed the big crop in June, so I'm hoping next year we'll have enough to make jam. We may even designate the entire top terrace as a strawberry patch, which I would love! That is still to be decided, however.

 

 Raspberries started producing a bit later in June, I think due to the extra shade from the fence and the shed in the earlier spring months. However, they kept right on going up through July, with the heaviest crop probably the first 2 weeks of July. Again, the kiddos found plenty to forage almost every time they went out. The shoots for next year look big and healthy, so I'm looking forward to even more of a harvest next time!

 

I did add compost to the raspberry bed a couple of different times this summer, and tried to keep it well watered. It was so much easier to pick and keep weeded along the fence!    

 

Blueberries, once again, were no-shows in the production department.

I really need to test the soil acidity and add sulphur if needed.

Maybe I'll transplant those strawberries, first.
 

The blackberry vine at the top of the slope gave us a few handfuls.

I would like to add a few more vines up there next year.

October 11

 

This beautiful fall color in the berry patch was an unexpected bonus.

 

November 13

 

Strong start for year 1.

I'm looking forward to year 2.

Home-grown berries make up for a lot of weed-pulling!

Garden Evaluation: Herbs & Vegetables

Bottom Terrace

 

oregano, covered in bees

 

Oregano: grew like crazy this year! We cut off the stems in June, dried the leaves, and ended up with 3/4 of a quart. I divided it way back this fall and gave some of the starts away. The bees absolutely love it! I need to find room for it up front in my "bees and butterflies" garden.

Oregano = bee heaven. 

 

Rosemary: 2 varieties: 'Madelene Hill' and 'Salem'

Overtaken by the oregano midsummer. We didn't dry any, and I haven't done anything to protect it this winter. We'll see if it survives.

 

Basil: 2 varieties: 'Purple Ruffles' and 'Sweet Basil'

Overtaken by the beans. We did use it several times in recipes. The purple variety was a bit spicier, and added a nice dash of color as well. I might try these in a pot next time, just to give them a little more elbow room. 1 of each type of plant was plenty for how much we used them.

 

 

Onions: Mixed yellow and white.

These grew fine, without pests or diseases. They all stayed quite small. I don't know if that was due to lack of nutrients, or what. In any case, I'm on the fence about planting them next year. I use them often to cook with, but having to peel 5 or 6 very small ones to equal 1 regular-sized gets old fast. Maybe if I figure out what I'm doing wrong I'll give them another shot. If not, onions are pretty cheap at the grocery store.

 

 

Peas: 2 varieties: 'Little Marvel' and 'Super Sugar Snap.' 

The Sugar Snaps didn't come up, so I bought new seed and replanted. Second time around they did fine. They both produced well. I don't know that any made it into the house. I need to allot twice the space for peas next year (garden expansion project #2 is in the works--woohoo!).  I liked the flavor of the shelling peas better, but I think the kiddos liked eating the pods of the Sugar Snaps.  I wouldn't mind doing 2 packages, 1 of each kind, next year.

 

 

Beans: 2 varieties: 'Tenderpick' and 'Royal Burgundy'

Can't get enough purple beans! Having planted one whole package of them this year, we actually had enough for the dinner table a couple of times. I want to do some low supports for them next year. Even though they're the bush bean variety, they tend to flop over. I think they would do better up off the ground more. Plus, they would be easier to pick. The regular old green beans did fine, too, just not nearly as fun for the kiddos to pick!

 

Tomatoes: 'Cougar Red' x 4, 'Sun Sugar' x 2, 'Oregon Spring' x 2, 1 roma

Very poor showing this year. The soil in the new addition must not have had enough nutrients. Several handfuls of small tomatoes is all. Since I did not can any tomatoes or salsa this year, next year needs to be a bigger crop. Soil will be amended!

 

I had to add this picture of the Topsy Turvy planter, because I kept forgetting to include this tomato plant in any updates all summer. Which is about how I did with watering it, too. The planter wasn't my favorite--since I had plenty of herbs planted elsewhere, I didn't use all those extra holes. So they let soil and water stream out every time I watered. And since I'm so short, the cold water would usually run up my arm or splash down my front. No harvest from this one. Not that I'm holding a grudge or anything, but next year this nice little hook will have a basket of flowers hanging from it.

 

Tomatillo: Ground Cherry 'Little Lanterns'

This was fun and a little different. They were supposed to mature to orange, according to the tag, so I was surprised when they all turned purple. These were also very very small and slow to mature this year. I realized that, other than fresh salsa (which they were too small to use for this year), I don't have any idea what to use these in. If I plant another next year, I need to look up some recipes!

 

Marigolds: planted amongst the tomatoes. Also did poorly.

 

Middle Terrace

 

 

Potatoes: 3 hills of purples, 6 'Yukon Gold'

We must have had 2 varieties of purples, but I don't know the names. The bright purples had white flesh, and the darker purples had purple flesh. The kids didn't want to eat the darker purple ones, so I don't know that we would do those again.

Potatoes are great fun, especially at harvest time. A couple of things we would do differently next year: put seed potatoes in a sunny window, in an egg carton, to sprout them prior to planting.

Let them stay in the ground until frost.

Our 9 hills produced enough to share with friends. We didn't end up blanching & freezing any this year, and we just ate the last of them about a week ago. The itty bitty ones are perfect for throwing in with a roast in the crockpot, but I wouldn't mind having some grow bigger next year (hence leaving them in the ground until frost.)

I could see doubling the potato patch next year, but if so, I would need to get a better cold storage system figured out.

 

Carrots: 3 leftover seed packets from years past: 'Scarlet Nantes,' 'Tendersweet,' and 'Royal Chantenay'

Since these ended up here, there, and everywhere, I can't speak to the different varieties this year. Processed 6 quarts (frozen) and still have some in the freezer. They grew well, with no pests or diseases to speak of. I would like to do a big patch next year. They freeze so well and we eat them often. When buying new seed, I will probably go with the 'Scarlet Nantes' variety. 

 

Beets: No luck with the beets this year. Died long before any were ready to harvest. Not sure what happened there.

 



Spinach: 'Tyee'

We liked the spinach. We left on vacation for a week in June, and that was about it. It finished before I was ready! I may try a few varieties next year just to see if there are any that really stand out. I wouldn't mind doing a bigger patch of this as well, and freezing any we don't use right away.

 

 

Cucumbers & Zucchini: None of these did much this year. I think we harvested about 4 zukes and 2 cukes. Give or take. I had to beg for some from friends to even make zucchini bread. Not that I had to beg too hard. ;) Once again, I think the soil in the addition is to blame. Next year should be better, as we will amend it heavily in the spring.

For next year, I want to try a slicing cucumber, rather than the bush pickle.

 

Broccoli: 6 plants

I'm not doing broccoli next year. After the main heads were harvested, I just couldn't keep up with it. The side shoots were small enough that it would take 2 or 3 pickings to make a meal and they kept flowering before I got out there to pick. Plus, I got all squeamish about the bugs, when I realized you're supposed to soak them in saltwater for at least 30 minutes before cooking them. PLUS, there was some that went bad in the fridge and let me tell you what--rotten broccoli stench is enough to put you off eating entirely. It was disgusting.

So in the end, we will just buy the frozen kind and be happy that we don't have to deal with it.

The kids might miss it, since they got to raise a cabbage white butterfly from a caterpillar.

It's going to be okay, though. Really.

 

So, with expansion #2 in the works, next year I want to add:

sweet corn: yes, I'm going to try it again!

pumpkins & gourds: for jack-o-lanterns and for decorations

sunflowers! I missed having them in the garden this year

beans to dry

possibly lettuce, celery, leeks, or sweet potatoes

 

If you made it all the way to the end of this marathon post, you deserve a reward.

Preferrably something chocolate.

A Few Hardy Souls: November GBBD

Hello Bloom Day friends!

I didn't think I would have anything to contribute this month.

But despite most nights below freezing, and even a couple solid days of snow cover, I still have a few blooms hanging in there!

 

Winter--what?

 

A virtual round of applause for these tough beauties:

 

I knew unassuming salvia could take the heat.

It looks like the cold is also just a minor irritation at this point.

Even the leaves are still green and fresh-looking.

The dead, yellow phlox in the background is how just about everything else looks right now.

 

I had an inkling this hollyhock was tough as nails when it lived on our back deck this summer. It had died completely, I thought, so I stopped watering it. Two months later, I noticed small leaves and buds forming around the base. So I started watering it again.

Now it is out front in its new home and blooming like all I've done is treat it right.

Now that's my kind of plant!

Of course, the mums are hanging in there.

The colorful foliage almost swallows up the blossoms.

 

Almost as good as blooms this time of year:

the last of the fall colors.

This the strawberry patch.

It is easily visible from my kitchen window and I just can't get enough.

Those brilliant colors make me happy.

I was excited for the fruit.

I had no idea a gorgeous fall display was part of the package!

Thank you, strawberries!

 

 

The delicate leaves on this hardy geranium are a little harder to see, but they also have some multi-toned fall colors going on. Love it!

These pretty purple 'Hens and chicks', along with the Echeveria, just got replanted in my back flowerbed, in the dry strip along the house.

Not a moment too soon, either, as it is snowing right now.

 

Happy Bloom Day!

 

A Bit More Canning

Cinnamon Applesauce

40 quarts 

 

 

I realized about a month ago that we were down to our last 3 jars of applesauce, from the batch I made and canned 2 years ago.

So, it was time.

Unfortunately, we had missed all the u-pick weekends.

So we went up and purchased fruit from the university orchard instead.

We got one box of the "juice apples" mix, and one box of Golden Delicious, Rome Beauty, and McIntosh mixed.

 

The juice apples were quite a bit more sour than the other.

They were also a third of the price.

Even so, I think it would be worth it next time to get all of my own mix.

 

My husband has been the canning partner extraordinaire this year.

I am so thankful to have had his help!

My 5 year old was also a very diligent helper with this project, and the other two helped by playing nicely together and taking naps. :)

 

My husband was also in charge of adding the cinnamon and sugar to the applesauce. More of an art than a science, but we ended up with a final product we all thought was quite tasty.

Not to mention, the house smelled amazing the entire day.

Yum. Homemade applesauce is all kinds of work, but it so so good!

Pears

7 1/2 quarts

We got these at the same time as the apples.

It was my first time doing pears and first doing hot-pack.

For all the complaining I've heard about pears, especially because you have to peel them first, they weren't so bad. Then again, I was coming off applesauce day, so maybe that's why.

I'm actually tempted to do a few more of these, just so they last a bit longer.

 

Lemon-Ginger Marmalade

1 pint

7 half-pints

8 quarter pints (I guess that's the size...)

So, my neighbor brought me a jar of lemon-ginger marmalade last month.

It was gone in a couple of days.

Wow, it was delicious!

Especially on pumpkin pancakes....yeah, that's a happy food memory!

 

So, I decided I needed to make some to have on hand.

With the help of my mother-in-law this week, who was visiting, we got 'er done.

I try not to can every time she comes, but we're at about 50/50 right now.

She's very gracious to jump in and help (and she even keeps coming back!)

 

I'm thinking the smaller jars would be perfect size for neighbor gifts this Christmas, maybe with a basket of pumpking muffins to go along with it.

If I can stand to give it away!

 

I think this may be the last of the canning this year.

Unless I decide to do a few more pears.

Although, I'm not sure where we're going to put anything else, at the moment.

Guess we'd better get eating!

 

First Snowfall

I knew it would be coming soon.

Most of the leaves have fallen from the trees now, and there is a sharper bite to the air.

 

As the row of pots can attest, I was not ready for it to come this soon.

Although, according to last year's timetable, it's right on time.

 

Couldn't come soon enough for these two.

One bonus of having a slope: it makes a fairly decent sledding hill, provided you miss the apple tree at the bottom.

 

[It has since been rained away. We have a short reprieve.]

[I solemnly swear to get all of my pots and hoses inside the shed ASAP!]