My garden progress - and the first harvest

[tam91]

Well my first harvest isn't tomatoes - but the snap peas are going strong, and they are just delicious. (I suppose my technical first harvest was the mint plant, for the mojitos, or the chive blossom butter, but I didn't count that).

The tomato plants are all looking terrific though - big and green and bushy. I'm about ready for my third row of florida weave. I just went out and tied a few strings between plants that wanted to lean on their neighbors. They're blooming like crazy - if all those turn into tomatoes, I will need hungry friends. Maybe some new hungry friends in addition.

My teeny tiny one is as big as some of the others, and doing fine.
Brandy Boy is going nuts - it's huge, and tons of blossoms.
Of course, the cherries are all running all over the place, with little greenies on Black Cherry, Sungold, and Juanne Flamme. My bet is on Black Cherry to win the race.

I am especially looking forward to trying some of the new varieties - Captain Lucky, Terhune, and Maiden's Gold. And also, Juanne Flamme - I was convinced by a forum member to try that, it looks so beautiful. So thanks to those who sent me those seeds.

The swiss chard is so multicolored and pretty, and will be big enough to eat soon. First though, I'll pull some of the fancy ruffled lettuce.

The only thing I am worried about is if my Neckargold seeds are going to germinate. It seems I had a lot of gaps, and I put in new ones, and nothing yet. Hmm. The seeds are from last year, but were packed for 2011. Hope I didn't make a mistake using them. All the other bean varieties I have are doing great, but I do really like my Neckargolds. I guess I'll see.

I should get some photos soon, but at the moment, it's dog wash day. Big hairy project.

[kath]

Glad things are going so well for you in your garden, tam. Looking forward to your photos. Do we get to see the big hairy project, too?

DH can't say enough about how he loves the Sugar Lace II snap peas this year. They've got crazy lots of tendrils that help hold the plants up and not many leaves so they're really easy to pick. Do you have a favorite? I prefer the old shelling peas myself, though.


Sounds like your tomatoes are really happy. It's really easy making friends when you have tomatoes to give away! I tried a variation on the FL weave last year and found it's not for me, so I've got two single vine plants growing up wooden stakes and some cages, too. So far, so good, but none of the plants are more than about 4' tall yet and some are still too small to tie to a stake. I sowed multiple plantings this year and set them out over a period of a month or so I guess, so size-wise, they're all over the place!

We're trying some of the same new varieties: Jaune Flamme, Captain Lucky, Terhune and Maiden's Gold. I'm trying lots of new cherry varieties, too, but Sungold always wins the race. My first one will be ready tomorrow.

Hope your Nectargolds come up. I had to resow several of the new-to-me pole bean varieties before I got some to germinate. That's one I haven't tried, but I generally prefer green beans to yellow.

Happy gardening!

kath

[tam91]

Thanks Kath. Wow, you're ahead of me, I'm nowhere near tasting a tomato yet.

I just planted Super Sugar Snap peas. I'll have to have a look at your favorite variety - if I'm a good girl, I'll put in a second crop for fall. I just love the things - especially just a light blanch, then eaten warm or cold. Mmmm...

I prefer the green beans to yellow also, if I have to pick just one. But I think a mix looks lovely on the plate, and the yellow have a nice mellow flavor that contrasts with the green. A favorite dish I make uses green and yellow beans plus red and/orange peppers, which looks just lovely. So I hope I get some Neckargolds. I presumed they'd be fine, but I guess I'd better start trying to germinate some inside, at the moment, it doesn't look promising. Ah well, can't win 'em all.

Last year I had sort of a hybrid of cages and Florida weave - this year I'm going just Florida weave. I think I love it - hopefully I'll be saying that later in the year also.

[tam91]

I'll get some garden pics once the misquitos die down. But here's the "big hairy project" - although they're dry in the pictures. Getting them clean and dry is the project part. Most are mine, visiting relatives too though.

[tam91]

OK, here's the garden (and of course a few more furballs, they are ever-present).

The garden in general
Tomato plants
Bean trellis
Snap peas
Lettuce
Chard
A beautiful potato flower (I think I'll grow these on the deck next year!)
Herb garden
4 varieties of basil (genovese, opal, red rubin, purple ruffles)
Gardenside table with my supervisors

[kath]

Great pics and beautiful dogs! That must've been a huge project indeed!

I admit to a chuckle at your "tomato heavy" garden...makes me not feel so bad about the proportion of "tomato:everything else" in my own.

Don't think we've tried Super Sugar Snap-DH just loved the lack of fiber and strings in the ones we have this year. Are the snap peas any easier to grow in the fall than "regular" peas? I've given them too many chances already and never get a crop.

[Mark0820]

That is a very nice garden.

[tam91]

Thanks.

I have the garden mostly to grow tomatoes - everything else fits around them. Although I do really enjoy the peas and beans. I have gone a bit crazy this year - twice the tomatoes I had last year. And last year I had too many! But there were so many varieties I wanted to try...

The super sugar snap are just available. They're good, but I have no idea if they are any better than others. As far as a fall crop, I didn't get as many as I did in spring, but I got some and the space was just sitting there, so I figured, why not.

[tam91]

Looks like Indian Strip might win the race for the first non-cherry - he's got little greenies today.

[BigBrownDogHouse]

Congrats on the great looking garden! Everything looks nice and healthy!

I thought I had my hands full with three dogs. Wow!

My sugar snap peas are coming along really well also. They are about a week away, maybe sooner. Once the kids spot them, they will be eating them off the vine.

Tomatoes are looking good too. Wish we had some more sun than we have been having lately but what can you do. That was a nice rain yesterday. Muggy out there right now along with muddy too.

Even the little Neves we were talking about is getting big. Gotta love this time of year!

[tam91]

Well only three dogs are mine, although I'll probably get another soon, I'm used to having four. Two of those were visiting. But I bet we have more dog hair than you do LOL Furballs!

Peas - omg, I'm buried in peas. I need to go pick - again. You may need to send me some kids!

My teeny tiny seedling caught up, and is blooming like crazy. Go figure.

[BigBrownDogHouse]

Originally Posted by tam91

But I bet we have more dog hair than you do LOL Furballs!

Peas - omg, I'm buried in peas. I need to go pick - again. You may need to send me some kids!

You probably will have me beat with the furballs but my three could at least give you a bit of a run for your money when they are shedding which seems to be constantly. Not in your league with your doggies and their long hair but at least a respectable showing....my two big labs and a fat beagle!

Send you some kids? Wow, my girls certainly have their moments. They might need to spend some time at Tam91's Summer Tomato Camp....the Aunt they never knew! Might need more than peas to keep them happy though. How is your supply of cake, ice cream and other snacks?

[tam91]

A shedding contest - what fun!

I am a great honorary Aunt. Supply of cake, ice cream, etc? Practically endless. I cook. This week - homemade strawberry ice cream, from hand-picked strawberries of course. And chocolate dipped ones to look like they have tuxedos. And fresh strawberry pie.

Oh yeah, there might be some "real" food produced in addition to the sweets I suppose.

[BigBrownDogHouse]

Originally Posted by tam91

I am a great honorary Aunt. Supply of cake, ice cream, etc? Practically endless. I cook. This week - homemade strawberry ice cream, from hand-picked strawberries of course. And chocolate dipped ones to look like they have tuxedos. And fresh strawberry pie.

Oh yeah, there might be some "real" food produced in addition to the sweets I suppose.

Real food? But Auntie! That will be as bad as being at home!

I may be picking on my girls. My older one, who is celebrating her 12th birthday today, has an awesome apetite. She'll try anything and she eats raw tomatoes like popcorn.
She's growing like a weed, 90% for height, and has a zest for food. Wide range of tastes but her sweet tooth gets the best of her. We really have to watch her.

Now my youngest(10 year old) is a much more picky eater but at least doesn't have as much of an apetite for junk food as the older one. She has also grown to like tomatoes too. That started last summer.
Older one eats everything in sight both good and bad, younger one is much more finicky on both ends.

Strawberries and chocolate are right up their alley. Use to grow strawberries years back but my one Chocolate Lab at the time would help herself to all the ripe fruit. I thought it was really cute! She was such a nutty dogger!

[delltraveller]

I've got snow peas and snap peas