If this summer is a marathon I’ve hit the 10K mark in my gentleman farmer pursuits. A lot of work started last February, nurturing seedlings. March brought transplanting those into bigger pots. April spent tilling and tilling and tilling and planting and planting and planting. We’ve been realizing our fresh bounty and have become strangers to city commerce. You savvy free groceries?
My dear sweet Linda has the complete trust of the flock, now numbering ten.
Our three rows of potatoes guaranteeing full larders this winter. Notice the 3 rows to the left, planted by a buddy and rarely tended, his first two rows of potatoes puny by comparison.
Proper hilling of your potatoes ensures you need not dig to harvest in the fall, simply reach in your mound and extract the Good Mother’s blessings. It took Linda, Katie and me several hours on our hands and knees to complete the three rows.
A myriad of tomatoes showing excellent growth and health. Notice how I build a well around the base of the plant to facilitate no waste watering. Extra work up front will pay big dividends later this summer.
Sweet Corn inhabiting its own corner, about 50 plants have broken through.
Carrots tardy-the last to show, finicky on germination, and difficult to weed by hand but what are you going to do? Few things better fresh out of the garden and worth the effort.
Pumpkins, Squash, Cantatlope, and Watermelon line the eastern fringe of the garden, free to extend their tendrils into the brome grass, needing little care until harvest this Autumn.
Closer to the house the Raspberries are thriving on their section of the fence.
Their neighbors the Blackberries also jumping.
Kentucky Pole Beans also have their place to climb.
The “Green” garden just out the back door. Swiss Chard, Lettuces, Kale, baby spincaches, tiny Cilantro sprouts, and herbs. This is my go to garden when preparing daily meals. Another bed holds the same cast of characters, set at two week intervals, ensuring fresh goodness for months.
The Chards my favorite for color and flavor. Varieties in the garden include luminaries like “Bright Lights”, “Rhubarb” and “Rainbow Swiss”, all contributing hues to the palette and palate.
Not bad from humble beginnings eh?
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