or really...
how {did} your garden grow
because my garden...
besides the carrots, beets, garlic, leeks, swiss chard & peppers
is done for the year
but this is what it looked like last month {grin}
we had a field of cucumbers
okay, not really a field...
but it felt like it!
greens galore
baby watermelon
that just barely ripened before the first frost
zucchini and summer squash
fragrant garlic
have you ever eaten garlic greens?
oh my, they are delish!
gallons and gallons of swiss chard {literally}...
I harvested, washed, dried, de-stemed, chopped, bagged & froze
45 quarts of swiss chard
...and there is still that much if not more in the garden right now!
beautiful mustard
...which was planted for the spicy greens
but not that it's gone to seed
...hmmmmm
anyone know about harvesting mustard seeds {grin}
sweet corn
more and more greens
leeks
some gone to seed from last year
and some still growing
scrumptious sugar snap peas
...oh how I miss them already!
basil, basil, basil
more than enough for the 2 gallons of pesto {so far}
and 10 quarts of just plain basil
most of the garden
in all it's green goodness!
so tell me...
how does or did your garden grow?
Amazing garden I had one this year for the first time quite the learning experience. I to have an abundance of chard, did you blanch yours first?
ReplyDeleteDale Canada
Quite a learning experience is right! :) I didn't blanch mine first... I just didn't have the time. From what I understand the only advantage is keeping the chard from turning dark... which I really don't mind.
ReplyDeletehave fun with your chard! :)
We had a garden too this year! I wish that i had a BIG garden like you! Anyways just wondered how you made the pesto and what did you do with the left over basil... Can you freeze it? I love reading your blog!
ReplyDeleteI am SO not even going into how jealous I am of your garden!
ReplyDeleteI tried this year. I tried hard. But the heat, insane UV index (we're talking 11+, and yeah that's as high as it goes), and severe drought did my garden in months ago.
I got a whopping 2 zucchini, a handful of basil, 3 cantaloupes and 1 tiny watermelon before everything shriveled into a crisp.
Now I'm waiting for cooler weather so I can attempt a winter garden. We shall see!
All jealousy aside, your garden is FABULOUS!!!
Love all those flavorful greens! We had a community plot at our church. I'm inspired to have some raised beds at home, now!
ReplyDeleteOh My Goodness.... I didn't realise your garden was so big. It's quite simply awesome.
ReplyDeleteNow I know because you are a 'Farmer's Wife' now that you think "that's NOT a big garden Susan"..... but I am IN AWE!!!! Lucky you..... and to think I was SO excited to get a basket the other day from my neighbours mother with a few bunches in it! haha
I feel kinda pathetic..... *grin
Our garden was a disaster, as usual! This is the last time I"ll attempt it until we move...or chop down some trees! *grin*
ReplyDeleteYour pictures make my mouth water!!!
I am envious of your garden - but I know how much work is involved - so I say YOU EARNED IT SISTA! :)
ReplyDeleteWe have friends that live on an acreage that let us plant a few rows, so we get some and they are very generous with their extras! Nothing tastes the way homegrown veggies taste!
Canadian Cathy
Congrats on such an awesome garden. I'm with most of the commenters who say this is the worst season in a long while for me. But! I'm so thankful for every quart canned or frozen. It's always fun to look toward next year. :)
ReplyDeleteMine went pretty well; I sure do miss it! I did have problems with squash bugs. They killed my cucumbers before they even bore fruit. I didn't realize what the problem was until they attacked the zucchini. They ate out all the insides of the fruit and caused them to rot. I think I ended up yielding one? So sad. I tore them all out eventually just to kill the bugs. I read online soap and water will kill them, but I found it impossible to get ahead of them with all their eggs. Apparently dry spells cause them? I've never had this problem before; any advice?
ReplyDeleteMy parents have always had a small garden, this year it was mostly BURNED by the scorching heat and lack of rain. But since I hate tomatoes, squash and okra (most of what they grow), I don't mind - ha. It is so weird to hear someone mention having a first frost, given it could still hit 100 this weekend. Ugh. So tired of this heat!
ReplyDeleteohmygoodness WOW!! that is one heck of a garden; kudos to you for growing that :)
ReplyDeleteI'm also slightly jealous over your garden. Where do you store all your jars of goods? Would love to see a pic!
ReplyDeleteFound your blog a little while ago and have enjoyed reading about your life and family!
ReplyDeleteI don't have a home garden, but I worked on a few farms this summer that were filled with abundance of greens, zucchini, potatoes, cucumbers, carrots, tomatoes, melons, garlic, onions, and beans.
We freeze basil at my house in freezer bags the same as other vegetables. It does turn almost black in color, but still tastes good!
Beautiful bounty from your hard work. Wish I had the ability and mobility to do some gardening. I bought some herb pots and seeds for the sunroom, yesterday!
ReplyDeleteBeckie in Brentwood, TN
Question: How do you make your pesto without the cheese?
ReplyDeleteWe also have way too much basil, I froze 2 batches of pesto for the first time, the recipe I used said to mix the basil oil & garlic, freeze then add the pine nuts and parm cheese after defrosting.
The most plentiful thing from our garden was the cucumbers, I was eating 2 a day and giving away extras to friends, until all the plants died last week, ah well.
My zucchinis plants were doing great until my guy drove over them with the lawnmower...:( he claims he thought they were huge weeds, even though he helped plant them. Only a man, right? haha.
Peas and brocoli plants got eaten by the rabbits before they had a chance to grow, darn.