Harvest Monday: July 31, 2017

Despite some minor flooding again early last week, we have had a fair amount of sunshine and some new crops are kicking in!  Well, one new vegetable at least - the Tromboncino squash above. I managed to grow a couple of these last year but didn't have much experience before the squash bugs destroyed the plant.  This year I appear to have close to a dozen already on their way.  I thought I had harvested this one too early but then I know that they all seem to start right away with the bulb on one end - not sure why this one didn't seem to form properly? 

And a "newish" old crop in the form of the overwintered radicchio (below).  It was starting to bolt and wasn't fully mature for the usual beautiful colours of the Palla Rossa Bella Radicchio.  Nevertheless, it was quite tasty in a pasta dish.

And more beans and cherry tomatoes.

I made a quick pickle with the Hungarian Hot Wax peppers I've been collecting in the greenhouse.  I also finally decided to pickle some garlic scapes which were still sitting in the fridge (I still have to clean up my garlic harvest, should be able to post that next week, pathetic as it is).

I suspect the variety will start improving as the summer veggies are finally kicking in. I'm looking forward to seeing what other gardeners are doing this week, so will be popping by Our Happy Acres for the Harvest Monday collection.

Harvest Monday: July 24, 2017

I still don't have much in the way of harvests, but at least I have enough quantity and variety for a few small meals now and then. Like this burrata and cherry tomato salad:

And a side of potatoes and broccoli with a drizzle of truffle oil:

I've had several meals of Thibodeau De Comte Beauce, a fresh heirloom bean that I am growing for the first time - originated in Quebec Canada.  Here is one harvest shown below with some Royal Burgundy beans.

Ooh, and I am still picking a few (a very few) red and black raspberries from the various bushes growing wild around my yard.

And, unfortunately, that's about all I have to say for this Harvest Monday!  But the cukes and summer squash plants (planted in hay bales) are well on their way to producing very soon (likely this coming week).   This is two tromboncino plants in the same bale.

I highly recommend you pop on by Our Happy Acres to see what other gardening folks are doing around the world.

Harvest Monday: July 17, 2017

Wow, it's been 3 weeks since I've had any new harvests to share which is a solid indicator of my garden this year.  The constant rains and little sunshine have wrought havoc on many plants. Anything I have still in containers (whether temporarily for transplants or permanent such as potatoes) is suffering from too much water and I'm constantly tilting over containers to remove excess water.  That's one reason why I have harvested 2/3 of the garlic crop as shown above - it just seems too wet and I didn't want to risk any rot.  I've left the smallest of them in for another couple of weeks.














So far, I have harvested only 8 kg of food, with more than half of that rhubarb (and mostly frozen, not eaten).  And the garlic scapes make a large proportion of the rest.

But I have finally had my first (small as it is) harvest of greens.  

Lettuce, arugula and spinach seem to be suffering the most with the rain and lack of sunshine.  My entire harvest from yesterday has a bit more variety, but somewhat embarrassing in quantity.  And quality ... the cherry tomatoes in the upper left-hand corner are destined for the compost bin - they are  stunted and too tough to eat.

A few tomatoes, potatoes, berries and hot peppers

But the squash plants (both summer and winter) are looking well as are the carrots and a few other crops, so I still have faith in this gardening season!  In the meantime, some parting shots of the bunnies and wild turkeys who lurk about my yard when I'm not actively outside.

One of two adult bunnies ... which means there may be many more!

Two adults and five babies this year

I look forward to checking out Harvest Monday posts at Our Happy Acres to see what other gardeners around the world are doing this week!