We are experimenting with using black landscape fabric with our sweet potatoes. It is said to increase yields. We have one row with the fabric and one without. Behind you can see the pasture where we have our chicken tractor.
We are experimenting with a new way to cage our tomatoes this year. We cut some welded wire fence panels in half lengthwise and set them up on either side. The only disadvantage we see so far is the cut ends that stick down, which are sharp and can cut you when working underneath the plants.
Here is the East garden, so named because it is directly next to the house on the east side. The first row is our berry patch, where we have raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries planted. We're hoping for a good first harvest next Spring! Then we have some tomatoes and peppers, potatoes in the next row (I know, they shouldn't be so close to the tomatoes, but we have to seriously amend our soil for potatoes and this was the only area we had available for that this year), and onions that I started from seed way back in January in the last row. This garden benefits from afternoon shade, which has been very helpful these last two weeks of very hot and dry weather without a drop of rain.
We finally got a few grapes planted on the fence next to the East garden. Our apple trees and some vitex trees are here too.
The tomatillos are so neat. They are like little chinese lantern plants. Eliza can't resist picking them, so between that and the "Old Fashioned Potato Beetle" which seems to like tomatillos more than potatoes, we may not get that many.
Blue Lake green beans getting going.
San Marzano paste tomatoes. I planted a LOT of these, hoping to can enough tomatoes and paste for the entire year.
And just to prove that it's not all green out there, here are some close-ups of some of the color.
8 comments:
I LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!!!! It is so pretty and fresh looking and calming and just looks awesome! Can you get some overview shots of the house and the gardens, maybe from the street? I also haven't seen what Chris' shop looks like! I want to have a salad from your garden! lol We miss you guys! It looks like everyone is doing well and having a lot of fun. What's Eliza up to these days?
Jenny, your photos are beautiful!
Looks fab! Cool about the grapes—we've really been enjoying our fruit this year. Unfortunately, this would've been our first grape harvest and it looks like I'm battling black rot. I'm so bummed.
We use hog panels for our tomatoes, exactly the way you describe but with no sharp ends to contend with. They're very versatile and easy to lash together for temporary pens. I tried stakes this year too, cause I have so many, but I'm not at all thrilled with them. I prefer the hog panels.
I love seeing all the photos! Makes me want to take more. Very inspiring!
why cant i make such a great photos? Love your garden. Are tomatillos the same thing as wintercherries (Physalis alkekengi
)? They also suppose to get those laterns and tiny yello tomato like fruits.
MMMMMMmmmmm, I want to taste it all! And you know me...I love the flowers! BG
Jen, everything looks fabulous! And the photos are too! They bring back memories of your fresh salads while I was recovering from surgery. You can supply the salad at the next family gathering!
Love,
Mom
your garden looks fantastic!
yarrow and i have reached the limits of what we have time for in our garden with the way we are currently watering--which is to say, by hand. :)
we're currently planning a drip system to make our work a bit easier.
if you started seeding your onions in january, did you do so inside? when did you plant them?
Interesting way to cage the Tomatoes. Please post how well (or otherwise) it works out. I am busy planning my next Summer season's planting (S part of the planet ;-) so Tomato caging is much on my mind, especially since I neglected it quite badly last season, with the predictable results... :-(
Also very curious to know the name of that Lettuce (2nd-last pic) -- I have them here, obtained from a packet of mixed seed, and would love to know their "real" name. I call it "Blush" meanwhile. :)
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