12 June 2009

first garden update of 2009





These photos are about two and a half weeks old, and they look really bare compared to what it is now, but I wanted to give a little peek at my garden for this year.

I'm working on a real diagram of the whole plot, but until then, a description will have to do...I'm also trying to be really good about keeping my garden journal, writing down when I plant each plant or seed, when it starts peeking out and sprouting, when I'm harvesting, when I'm watering everyday, when it rains or is really dry, etc. etc. Last year, I did horrible job and apparently I quit the journal altogether sometime in the middle of July. Hmm. So here's what I've planted this year at my community garden plot, which measures about 10'x12'. (And for a longer description of the community garden, hop on over to homesteading!)
  • Tomatoes: I have multiple varieties this year. 4 brandywine, 2 roma, 1 green cherry, 1 sun sugar (a yellow/orange cherry), 1 green zebra, and 1 purple slicer.
  • Peppers: Again, multiple varieties. 2 mini yellow/orange bells, 1 green bell, 1 jalapeno, 2 bhut jolokia (an asian variety I found at the farmers market- supposedly hotter than a habanero!)
  • 5 Broccoli (1 died so far)
  • 2 Eggplant
  • 2 cucumber
  • 1 yellow squash
  • 1 zucchini
  • lettuce
  • spinach
  • rainbow chard
  • carrots
  • golden beets
  • chives and strawberries were inherited with the plot.

Also, in my backyard garden at the house is where I have my herb garden and for the past couple years I've planted my beans as well. This year, I cleared a little bit more room in some beds that I've neglected and got overgrown with tall grass to start growing some medicinal herbs. So here's what I've got at home:

  • Beans: Royal Burgundy (A purple string bean variety), Provider (A green string bean)
  • Herbs: oregano, parsley, basil, thyme, rosemary, sage, peppermint, cilantro and spearmint appear to have re-seeded themselves from last year.
  • Medicinal plants: 2 echinacea, 2 calendula, 7 lavender, 3 chamomile.
  • Rhubarb
  • A sh*t-ton of raspberries.
So that's the garden loot for this year. I'm really hopeful that it's going to be a productive season. I'm most definitely looking forward to doing even more preserving than I have in the past to sustain us throughout the winter.

4 comments:

  1. wow.
    so much to take care of.
    I'm reading "animal vegetable miracle" right now, and she's describing the amount of work it takes to grow almost all of their own food.
    it's like a full time job:)
    it's so cool that you are growing medicinal herbs as well -I can't wait to see what you do with them.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Julia, this is so impressive! I can't wait to see what you cook with this haul.

    Our first attempt has proven difficult, as the small amount I knew about gardening does not really apply in the Southwest. Our broccoli is growing but the leaves look like lace thanks to some bugs. Everything else is slowly faltering, but hey, it's a learning experience!

    ReplyDelete
  3. we're having a difficult time with our garden this year. i am still in belief that we can have atleast some successful plants!
    & your garden looks beautiful. good luck with everything!

    ReplyDelete
  4. YUM! My seeds got all mixed up so it will be like Christmas morning when my garden starts producing. We had 16 straight days of severe thunder storms, which really made a mess of EVERYONE'S gardens around here.

    ReplyDelete