First Frost Warning....

We received our first Frost Warning of the autumn this morning. Time to go out and think about what to harvest, what to cover....and hope for the best.

Spinach, and more Spinach....

 The beds are definitely thinning out as harvesting goes on....and as crops are harvested I'm putting in more Spinach. It likes the cooler weather and I'm hoping to get enough for a good freezer stock before frosts set in.

This box has Spinach now planted in the end where the Leeks were and another row of Spinach coming up next to the Green Onions.

 The end box has late Peas in, Radish, Green Onion and off course, Spinach.

Richard's Apples are starting harvest...though slowly. A lovely crop almost perfectly blemish free thanks to our Apple Expert neighbor.

Autumn is arriving, slowly but surely.

The garden is still very productive but there is just a hint of autumn in the air.

A few pots are finished and are being cleaned and prepped for winter....and more spinach and lettuce is going in :)

This is the last of our leek harvest. I'm pretty pleased as it was a very dense planting and I didn't grow these from seed so I couldn't select the variety.

I had a bit of a problem with bolting due to the heat. Next year I will need to watch my watering much more closely though the loss was minimal.

This is our third pot of snow peas...with a fourth on the way. It seems to be enjoying the cooler weather and is already very productive.

Richard does love his snow peas.

So far we have harvested three of the Cleopatra melons. They are like a cantelope with very good flavor and will produce in our shorter growing season. They have been fun but I'm not sure if they are space worthy.

The "Fairytale" eggplant has started producing. I continue to be amazed at how much production we have out of the eggplant pots. Next year I may cut this down to two....you can only use so much eggplant.

We are continuing to harvest peppers and will be grilling more this evening for freezing. I'm so happy we decided to try to grow our own. Their productivity has been incredible and we just wouldn't have them if we hadn't taken it into our own hands.

Cucumbers are still going...though they have slowed down.

Not thrilled with my tomatoes. We've grown enough to freeze but I really need to learn more about growing them if I'm to have greater success next year.

Courgettes are still coming...as are beets, green beans, green onions, onions and lettuce. This is definitely a learning experience...not all on the "great" side, but a learning experience nonetheless.

Harvest and New Plantings

We arrived back from a wonderful visit to Port Townsend to find a lot of work to be done in the garden.

Our neighbors were kind enough to water for us and nothing was stressed but much was ready for harvest.

Today we harvested the first two heads of cabbage, eggplant, cucumber, beets, lettuce, snow peas, carrots and Kentucky Wonder and Fortex green beans.

My turnips came out a bit bumpy as I was not aggressive enough in my thinning. Lesson learned. I now get to spend this afternoon prepping beans and carrots for freezing.

This afternoon I will clean veg and plant new seeds. Decisions, decisions.

Mid-Summer Adjustments

We've reached the point of the year where its time to pause, rethink what has worked so far, and start planting for autumn.

My peas this year were a disaster and it was all my fault. Richard prepared a wonderful trellis system for me and I had him place it where I could not get to the peas because of other plantings.

These have now been moved and are being replanted. Hopefully some peas will arrive before the year is out though I may be rethinking the entire pea thing next year.

Speaking of peas this is a photo of our current pot of snow peas. The package said that they did not require support so I decided to simply plant them in the pot and see how it went.

We have been harvesting peas but nothing on the order of what I usually obtain..sooooo










The next pot is back to the regular system with the support in place. Snow peas are already showing and I'm hoping that these will provide a better show of produce.

This is a photo of one of the eggplant pots. I've been searching the web like crazy trying to find out what is the best size to pick and believe that we will have eggplants ready in 3 or 4 days. I'm amazed at the number of eggplants in each pot and they will keep producing for quite some time. Gifts for the neighbors :)

This is a photo of our HUGE cucumber pot. Loads of vines, healthy as can be with lots of blossoms....and no cucumbers developing. The smaller one has 5 or 6 coming so I'm simply going to be patient.

I didn't place a marker in this so I'm not sure what the variety is (I seem to do that with at least one plant or row a year!).

...and the experiment that didn't work.

Leeks do not thrive in pots...lessen learned. These will be pulled this afternoon whilst Richard is at his Chukar's game and perhaps more snow peas.

Bean harvest has started in earnest and must be done every day now.

Three spaghetti squash are developing, tomatoes were fertilized and courgettes are being harvested.

We are due for a trip to Western Washington soon and I'm nervous as can be about missing harvests because they plants won't be picked and may go dormant. Such is life.

Carrots!

I was thinning carrots the other day and was rewarded with some wonderful new ones that were delicious for dinner.

My history with carrots is not great so this has me very happy. I planted another row today and will probably do one more short row which should keep us happy through autumn.

These are a japanese turnip hybrid that have really performed well so far. I have them in one of the fence raised beds inbetween the parsnips and they worked well for keeping the short row productive whilst the parsnips made their slow start.

I baked a few of these the other evening and they were just great. We will see how the rest do. Perhaps I have solved my turnip problem.

My first cucumber pot is starting to show veggies. This one is already twice this size since I took this photo a few days ago. I believe I have about five showing at the moment.

My other cucumber pot, which is twice as large as this, is showing wild flowers and vine but so far no babies.

Back to the garden to plant some more green onions, etc..

I'm pleased with the Fortex.

Yesterday was Richard's birthday so we decided to indulge in a crumble made from plums and rhubarb from the garden.

I'm really pleased with how the plums have held up through freezing and they were perfect with the rhubarb. I used Splenda to add a little sweetness and a traditional crumble recipe but I substituted some of the brown sugar for Splenda and a bit of vanilla. Served with frozen yogurt it was a treat.

....and it came from our garden. We just love that.




...and speaking of the garden.

Whilst examining the Kentucky Wonder and Fortex teepees last evening we discovered that the Fortex had started producing beans. The plant is lighter in leafing than the Kentucky Wonder but the reviews for this variety are fantastic.

Last year we allowed are beans to get too mature before picking and ended up having to throw them out after freezing. This year we are picking them much young even though Fortex is supposed to hold its quality when getting longer lengths.

I won't test that theory and will still be picking them young and certainly will do the same with the Kentucky Wonder.

The Fortex is going to receiving a dose of fertilizer this afternoon as it is a tad pale (though that has improved since its last fertilization). I think I may have a weak spot in that raised fence bed that will have to be addressed in the autumn.

The onions are doing well in their wine barrel planter. This was a fun experiment that I may repeat next year, albeit with a different variety.

Walla Walla Sweets are nice but I prefer a yellow onion with good keeping qualities for the autumn and early winter months.

The Brassica raised bed is doing well. A bit of a white fly problem on a few of the cabbages that I hope to have solved with an organic pesticide..fingers crossed.

We have already harvested a bit of broccoli from the ONE plant that survived my early planting and should have a good amount of cabbage and broccoli to come.

I have four cauliflower plants in there but I'm not sure we will bother next year...the space for return isn't that wonderful when dealing with a small garden where every inch counts.

The tomato plants are doing very well and we will have our first soon. This is a Roma with the fruits showing signs of color. In the 90 degree heat we have had for the last few weeks it has been a race to keep everything in the Pot Farm watered and comfortable but so far so good. I know I'll never plant a Tomato or Cucumber in a garden plot again, they do so well in the pots. (Thanks Rose!!)

Peppers are starting to show on some of the plants. I don't think we will be able to get enough of these to please us.

This is my first time growing some of these varieties so I'm not sure what to expect regarding maturity date, etc., but will be willing to learn.

And the eggplants are beginning to show. Another new adventure but they seem to be very happy in their pots..two plants to each. I have three varieties growing including a small "ball" type that is just getting large enough to look as if it may get blossoms.

Richard loves eggplant so why not?

And finally, my lone winter squash to date. A Spaghetti Squash. I am watching the other plants and vines and keeping my fingers crossed but this one is pretty.

Time to go back out to the garden.

...And I Still Need To Post More Often

Returned from Denver after the 4th of July to find that my spinich and pak choi had bolted in the heat. No surprise really...though what was really disappointing was that our snow peas had come to fruition right as we were leaving and we missed that harvest. Another pot planted and hopefully we will be here to pick them.

Today I picked the first of the Patty Pan squashes, our first courgette (zucchini) rhubarb for Richard's birthday crumble and three types of lettuce.

The temps have been in the high 90's for a few weeks and it is stressing a few plants but I'm doing my best to keep them watered and as comfortable as can be.

Will post more later today. Have to get cooking. :)

I Need To Post More Often...

As I intend to use this blog as a "progress record" to improve on production for next year I certainly need to post more often.

This is a photo of yesterday's morning harvest.

It includes Pak Choi, Tom Thumb lettuce, spinach, Tokyo Cross turnips, French Breakfast radishes and Champion Radishes which are absolutely huge.

The Tom Thumb lettuce is perfect for our household. I pick the heads whole and rinse them and keep them in a large bag in the refrigerator. Crisp, no hard white ridges and we simply pull off leaves as we need them for sandwiches, salads, etc..

My Red Rover radishes were a total failure. I pulled the two short rows and will not be planting them again.







This is Bed No. 3 of the open bed area. In the foreground are the Tokyo Cross turnips. You can then see the Pak Choi and Spinach with the leeks at the end. Also planted in this bed are carrots, green onions and a Heat Wave salad mix.

The Pak Choi in this bed will be all harvested by July 5th as will the turnip and spinich. I will then place in a row of parsnips, two more rows of green onions and a row of Tom Thumb.

We are already sending greens to the neighbors and I have been amazed at how much even one bed can produce.

One of our neighbors, who is a very seasoned gardener said he had never seen this much produce so early out of a garden in this area. Whilst I am sure that is not accurate we did take it as a compliment.


These are our two bean poles. Planted with Fortex and Kentucky Wonder. I spent soooo much time fretting this spring about how slow the Fortex was to germinate and show and they have now well overtaken the Kentucky Wonder in progress. This photograph was taken just a few days ago and the Fortex is now over half way up its bands. The Kentucky Wonder must have felt shamed as it is catching bands and beginning to reach up.

We interplanted in the small open area of this space Leeks and Onion which are doing fine. Not brilliant, but coming along as expected.


The Snow Pea pot is in full bloom and already forming pods. They have absolutely thrived this year and I don't think that I will ever grow them in a garden bed again.




I spent much of today transplanting Broccoli and Cabbage.

One of the lessons I learned this year was that my brassicas do better in the fence beds. The soil in the open beds is too loose and they simply require firmer stuff. They have done well and are of good size but the lack of firmness in the soil means that they have the potential of weakness at the stem.

Also, other than the peas which are well and firmly trellised, tall plants such as the Broccoli capture too much wind in the open beds. Part of this wind tunnel effect may be due to the fact that we removed the scrub pines at the other end of the garden and as the fruit trees placed there mature it may be partially resolved but for the next few years if its tall into the Pot Farm or Fence Beds it goes.

Finally, a photo of Richard's fountain with the new Weeping Cherry tree just put in. The Cherry will gain quite a bit more volume and will become taller and is a perfect replacement for the messy pine that was there before.

Are You Kidding??? Frost Warning!?

 I'm used to Denver "springs" and a late frost or two but July 14?? We received word today that a frost warning has been issued for our area.

The Pot Farm is now dressed in black as are the raised beds.

I truly don't think this is going to be much of a problem but better to be safe than sorry....and I have several tender seedlings in the fence bed area that I will still worry about.

Fingers crossed.

Big Change on the Garden End.

 The far opposite from the Veg area in the garden proper we have a lovely patio with a fire pit. It has been a problem area since our purchase.

First, the firepit needs to be modified and built up so that it is not just a hole in the ground.

Most importantly the five trees lining this area are what I refer to as "scrub" pines. The look mangy and dry.

Another negative is that they drop their long needles constantly. Trying to keep a garden area underneath looking tidy and pleasant is simply a chore.

They were planted by the previous owners who wished for a quick growing barrier between the neighbors line of sight into this part of the garden but I'd rather live with some exposure for a few years than continue with this status.


Sooooo......

This is how the area looks now. The five offending pine trees have been removed and we will be making landscaping choices over the next few days. There are some lovely large stones in the area and I'm sure we will have no problem developing a scheme that is productive, welcoming and makes one wish to spend time here during the wonderful days of summer and autumn.

Harvesting, Small but Nice

We returned from a five day visit to the Denver area to find things progressing nicely.

 A LOT more green evident in the planters. My peas are still not growing as tall as I would expect though they appear to be as healthy as can be. Luckily if not a success this time there is still time for replanting but this has me puzzled.

 I've planted a short row of Autumn Torch. A chinese cabbage hybrid that has more than exceeded my expectations. A few of these will be cooked for tomorrow's dinner.

I am learning it pays to be adventurous with my seed exploring. Many other cultures have wonderful finds that whilst not "stand bys" here in the States are delicious and productive.

 This is a photo of my Tokyo Cross turnips. They are doing very well and I'm cautiously optimistic that I may have found a replacement for the seeds I used in the U.K.. These will be picked when they are a little larger than two inches across. I use the greens stir fried with a bit of onion, lean ham, a touch of vinegar and olive oil.

 The most mature row of Pak Choi is doing well. They are harvested "baby" sized and I have several rows in production throughout the garden beds. This easy to grow veg (when harvesting baby sized) is wonderful in soups, salads, stir fries and grilled.

 Our lettuce rows are starting to produce. These are Tom Thumbs and will be harvested throughout the summer, fall and early winter. The space left in this row after harvesting is simply filled with more seeds so there is always more growing.

These are nice when used for salads, sandwiches, etc., and also are very pretty picked and prepped whole and then served with toppings and dressing as an individual salad.

The weather here has produced a few days of very good heat and we now are experiencing a few cooler days with some nice rainfalls. So far I'm pretty excited about what gardening here in Idaho Falls.

Weeding of beds started today but I was rained out! Time to finish tomorrow but raised beds and pots make it sooooooooooo much easier.

Bees are busy!

A few photos of some of the flowers blooming in the main garden at the moment. The bees are loving this.

Our First REALLY Warm Weekend.

Wow, we asked for warm and we certainly have received it.

The garden is loving the extra heat and some seeds that were taking forever are finally peeking through....even my "Early Wonder" Beets which I had re-named "Wonder if they will ever come up".

The photo on the right shows two new Currant bushes that Richard brought home yesterday. One is White, the other Red so that will give us one of each color for the moment.

Richard has been spending the weekend battling with removing some truly obnoxious ornamental grasses. By now I think he feels towards them what he feels towards the Russians.

Still left to show are my yellow tomatoes, second pot of snow peas, more pak choi, spinich, brussel sprouts and parsnips, Richard's marigolds and nasturtiums. Patience is a virtue..

We will be traveling to Denver for part of this week. Will be interesting to see what changes occur whilst we are gone.

Back to the garden.

Cloudy and relaxing....

Today was a day to weed, plant a few short rows of extra spinich and turnips, and just wait for things to start appearing.

To the left is the rhubarb that we planted last year. Its doing very well and should turn into a very produce stand for years to come.

Richard laughed at me as I would stroll around the veg area from time to time today looking for seedlings. I was rewarded with turnips in one of the "wall" planters and a few nasturtiums peeking through where I planted them between my raspberries.

It is supposed to be getting warmer over the next few days which would be wonderful as this cool weather does little to excite growth in most of the young plants.

This is the row of built in planters that were here when we purchased the home.

They are wonderful as a "its already here" bonus but you will notice that there is no space alloted for walking back and being able to work the planters. Just a solid row of raised beds. Planting here has to be planned for access and placing those plants that you will not have to work for awhile or will harvest late into the most difficult areas to get to.

Eventually these will have to be altered into a more gardener friendly scheme.

This is one of the beds in the regular garden that Richard and I have moved on to. It is completed with selected plantings and new mulch. Every day we try to get at least a few more feet done in this area now that the veg garden is set and progress is being made.

At the opposite end of our garden from the veg area is this. A lovely patio with firepit. Unfortunately it is surrounded by scrubby pines that are simply messy. We are having them removed and where the garden "V"s behind them will be landscaped and brought back into the scheme for the rest of the garden. The Fire Pit will be built up with a small wall so its not just a hole in the ground.

Little D likes relaxing behind these pines during the day in the warmer weather so we will incorporate a Dog House for her in the landscaping plan. Work starts on this end as soon as possible.

If we continue to make a bit of progress each day by the end of the season we hope to have a relatively low maintenance bit of Heaven in Idaho Falls.