Garden Happiness(es)

Garden Happiness(es)

Here's a glimpse into what's happening in the garden this week...The German Butterball potatoes are flowering!The red potatoes are flowering, too! Our first pie pumpkin is almost ready!Acorn SquashCherry tomsBlue corn & sunflowersOur blue corn is silking...although some of it is white......and some of it is this pretty maroon...interesting!The second summer squash!  They've been few and far between this year!  Weird!Mystery…
August 12, 2011
See-Through Tomatoes?!?

See-Through Tomatoes?!?

We have yet another garden mystery...What on earth causes tomatoes to have almost see-through skin???The skin itself feels super soft and I can actually feel the seeds underneath the skin!Every other tomato on this plant look perfectly normal.  It's just these two.  WEIRD!!!Ideas???
August 10, 2011
Harvest Monday!!!

Harvest Monday!!!

This weeks harvest is both exciting (the first Roma tomato) and redundant (tomatoes galore).We've continued to enjoy an abundance of Yellow Taxis, a few cherry toms here and there, several Romas, a sprig of mint (as a gift for Brother & Brother's girlfriend Eliza) and a very few snap peas (although I am grateful they are even still producing).Harvest Totals:Tomatoes…
August 8, 2011
Onion Stringing

Onion Stringing

One of my favorite books is The Self Sufficient Life and How to Live It  by John Seymour.  I love this book not only for it's information, but for it's inspiration.  Reading it makes me feel that, eventually, we just might be able to have an actual homestead (beyond our 1/8 acre in the middle of the city) to call…
August 7, 2011
Indeterminate vs. Determinate

Indeterminate vs. Determinate

This week I learned the difference between Determinate and Indeterminate tomatoes.  I really wish I had this knowledge before we planted all those tomatoes, but I guess now I'll have the information forever.Here's what I learned:Indeterminate tomatoes ~are vining tomatoes and take up lots of space~need lots of support~have fruit that matures at different ratesExamples include:Italian HeirloomBrandywineEarly girlYellow PearDeterminate tomatoes~are bushy…
August 6, 2011
When Spinach Bolts

When Spinach Bolts

My attempt at growing spinach through the summer has been foiled by all the crazy hot weather we've been experiencing.  I thought that because there is a spot in the front yard that never gets any direct sun, I just might be able to grow lettuces and spinach all summer.  Also, it worked last year perfectly!Well,  the arugula and lettuce…
August 4, 2011