I need some words of widsom (and maybe some encouragement as well)... I am bored, bored, bored with squash, squash, squash... I have been eating it, freezing it, donating it, etc... I finally pulled it all out last night. (Three plants). I am also making tomato sauce, tomato paste, tomato donations, tomato salads... I won't pull out the two tomatoes, but am harvesting 4-5 pounds a day, E-V-E-R-Y day. And they should both continue to fruit for another month or so...
So, dear gardeners: do you get bored, too? Do you ever find yourselves just wanting to be done already so you can move on to the next thing? (Broccoli! Brussels Sprouts! Cabbage! Radishes! Carrots!)
I am grateful that I have good soil, and things are going well. This grumpy phase has taught me that I need fewer of each thing and more variety... and a shorter harvesting season is probably a good idea as well.
Am I normal? Am I just not cut out to be a gardener?
Any support would sure be appreciated...
Thanks, oh wise ones...
-Patty
Getting so tired of summer vegetables!
patty - you didn't say if yoyu are a first time gardener becusethats what most of us do when we first strt out.
in my first grden i grew thngs i didn't even liketo eat. brocolli and cauliflower to name just two. even had honeydo and regular water melons.
several years ago i opted to grow all my veggies in contines becausethe deer were getting to everything.
i now plant, basil, hot peppers, sun gold cherry tomatoes and regular tomatoes.
i only hve about 9 or 10 plants so i look forward to everything that comes up.
I never get tired of planting and growing. But, boy do I ever get tired of being stuck in the house processing the produce. That is while I'm doing the work. This winter it will be like it never happened and I will be happy again.
Donna
Hi Herbie-
This is my second summer of gardening -- and the first year that I have carte blanche of the whole back yard (the dog died in the spring, and she had the run of the yard for the last 12 years... I just had a little corner). So, this year, we put in a 17 x 12 area -- and next year, I will have about 800 square feet to garden, (either vegetable or ornamental or both)...
I will put in an asparagus bed, I have artichokes, etc.
I was just wondering if others get a little antsy to get starting on the next season... good to know you've been there.
I think my favorite part of gardening is the planning, the potting, watching the little plants grow... so maybe this transition phase is just the price I pay for the joy of that phase...
Anyway, thanks for listening!
-Patty
Patty, did you start your own plants or buy transplants from the local nursery or farmer's markets? I find that if I have time to start my own seeds, I grow a larger variety of vegetables and then don't have so many of any one kind to get tired of them.
If I'm unable to use my own starts (due to time, space or pets unexpected dietary choices) and have to buy those 6 packs at the nursery, then I wind up with too much of a particular vegetable at any one time. I plant extra for the local food bank as well. If you have too much squash and tomatoes, see if the food bank or soup kitchen will take them.
Garden Mermaid - I bought from Navlet's, Orchard Nursey in Lafayette and started some from seed. I definitely prefer starting from seed -- and you are right - a six pack of anything would be too much! (except maybe lettuce).
I am going to start on my fall seedlings tomorrow. If you are putting in fall crops, when will you start fall planting?
Thanks - Patty
Patty-
If you're a canner try Zuccini pickles - best pickles ever! Well in my opinion...lol...they are a sweet and I have given them away as small gifts and then people come back begging...lol...not a hard pickle to make either...just a thought...I'm lucky to have canning as a hobby along with my gardening...might want to check out the forum for that before the next crop comes flying in...lol..
Just think of all those leftovers as great compost! You'll have wonderful soil!
Hugs - Jamie
I usually follow our local planting calendar:
http://www.commongroundinpaloalto.org/plantingcalendar.htm
This year fall crops will have to go in when I have the time. Not my best gardening year this year. I just received my soil test results and need to fix a few items in my soil before the fall crops go in.
Try different things like pasta salads with fresh tomatoes, or roast tomatoes in the oven along with garlic, basil, and olive oil to make bruschetta to spread on bread.
Here's how they do it in Spain...
http://www.pilotguides.com/destination_guide/europe/spain/tomato_fighting.php
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPQCH1b_LgE
You people are THE BEST!
I'm ready to go home and get started on fall... can't wait! Fresh kohlrabi, anyone?
i'll bet most of the east coast gardeners are chomping at the bit to get started after the year we had with the weather and the blight. they re probably right now looking through their seed booksto see wht they are going to plant. LOL
i alredy have most of my seeds for next season
Happygirl, I know what you mean. We garden for the farmer's market in addition to what we use out of the garden. Farmer's market is closed July-Sept and I'm so sick of melons. My neighbors won't even look at me as they go by because I might make them take a cantaloupe!
I know I"ll miss the melons during the winter, but I'm sure looking forward to fresh lettuce, cucumbers and tomatoes (we can't grow tomatoes in the heat of summer).
I've been grilling fresh veggies several times a week for several weeks now. I don't think I could ever get tired of them! This batch is typical, lacking only the Sweet 100 and Yellow Pear tomatoes that I usually include.
early_bloomer
Early_bloomer - this look SOOO yummy! Do you grow all of this? Very impressive!
I started my fall seedlings this weekend - butternut squash, 2 kinds of kohlrabi, broccoli, cabbage and brussels sprouts. I feel better already -- optimism is returning! WoHoo!
Patty...........I grew everything but the mushrooms. I'm just getting back into veggie gardening this year after a long break. No fall seedlings for me in this zone though. We have already had some lows in the mid to low 40's this week so we only get one shot a year.
early_bloomer
Wow - we get three planting seasons a year here... oddly - there isn't very much that's happy during the summer because it's so hot! Spring and fall are the best growing seasons around here...
Happygirl, when I lived near Pleasant Hill we were able to grow all the heat loving summer veggies like beans, okra, peppers, eggplant, tomatoes etc with ease in the summer. Have the temps increased that much in the past couple of years?
We are harvesting from the garden all year long on the peninsula. Many of my garden neighbours pack it up for the winter. They don't like to be out in the rain. My cabbages and peas don't mind, so neither do I. It does require using a lantern to see by though, as it is dark when I get off of work in the winter.
happygirl - I could have written your August 26th post! I know just what you mean. I've picked over 200lbs of tomatoes this summer - it's been the best year I've ever had for tomatoes. I'm really tired of spending my weekends cooking/freezing them, but I tell myself I might not EVER get another good season like this during what's left of my life time.
I did pull-out the "Money Maker" tomato plants to make way for some broccoli transplants, but only because most of the fruit had cracked and were attracting all kinds of flies!
I had already set out some broccoli transplants in a fresh new bed I made during the summer using the coco coir I purchased from Boca Bob. After I was all done, I decided to count how many plants I had set ----- I stopped counting at 75!
These were from last year's left over seed. I also sowed collards, brussels sprouts and kolrabi - these are of transplant size too - right now I don't know which is which - will have to wait until they get bigger.
I'm so glad my neighbors like veggies :) :)
Garlic will be new for me this year. I'm kind of getting all tingley about the garlic!
Good luck to you with your new seedlings!
I can't IMAGINE!
I haven't enough space protected from the groundhogs to even grow enough, much less enough to get bored with!
Some suggestions:
A freezer large enough to feed you all the way through to next growing season.
Swaps, trades, flea markets for fresh, dried, or even frozen food.
DONATIONS! Food pantries, nursing homes, religious organizations, the animal shelter (rabbits need greens!).
Ship it to ME! :)
Early_Bloomer -
YUM!
And a yummy photo, too!
Geez Gang! Send me some I can't get enough. I have canned lots of stuff this year and WANT more!
The squash makes great bread and butter pickles and last year I made cantalope pickles that won first place at our fair. My friends love them. I didn't get any lopes this year, crop failed so I was really sad to not make more pickles. Few days ago I put up my fifth batch of salsa with the tomatoes.
So much canning, so little time.
Folks, I've taken a breather for a few days from DG because my adorable husband is building me my very own playhouse! Some people might call it a garden shed - but seriously - 14 x 8, skylight, foundation, 3x4 window -- I call that a PLAYHOUSE! Meanwhile, I am contentedly watching my new seedlings - two kinds of kohlrabi, cabbage, broccoli, butternut squash and brussels sprouts. Additionally, it is finally warming up where I am so I am enjoying watching the little watermelon and galia melons get started... hoping I pollinated correctly...
I've learned that I like new beginnings better than slooooow endings. So I will grow more variety with shorter seasons. And for goodness sake, only one tomato plant next year! I think I harvested 10 pounds of tomatoes off two plants yesterday!
I am sooooo jealous of your new playhouse! :-)
Please post pictures.
Well, it took me a few days to get the pictures loaded onto my computer. I've included a few shots of the pier blocks - a strange contraption that will prevent "adobe heave", and will also not disturb the oak tree -- a prime consideration. Next come the walls! Dirt and plants will come up in front of the structure, so it won't look so tall in the long run...
Here's the next view of the pier blocks -- my husband is a research-wonk, and found this product in Washington. Wicked expensive to ship, but well worth it to not disturb the oak!
The footprint of the structure... my husband (Todd), is teasing me that I have to perform a play before he will start building the walls. Maybe I'll just quit feeding him!
I will post more photos as we make progress!
The plywood behind the structure is a barrier to the bee colony we have living in the base of the Siberian Elm tree...
happygirl - you are so lucky to have a hubby that will build something for you.
Update: I have been busy, busy, busy... see the link to understand WHY!
You can get a good view of the entire back yard toward the end of the slide show! We have covered the entire yard with newspaper,cardboard, compost and weed cloth (to protect the compost from blowing away). Now if the rains would just come and help with decomposition, we'll be in great shape next spring!
http://picasaweb.google.com/patty.c.peterson/PattySPlayhouse?feat=email#
I'm right behind you! Grass is not welcome here!
A beautiful job on the shed. Congratulations.
What fun to watch the progress of your shed! Did you ever find siding? Looks good without it, really!
Whoo-hooo - great job! I work for a builder here in NC, but I don't get to play with any of the builders' tools :(
Grass unwelcome here, too!!
Excellent!
Love the size. We're getting ready to do a 12 x 8 ourselves.
It he working from a set of prints?
What will use for the finish siding?
Ric
Happy Girl, I do have to admit to getting to the point that I can't look at another cucumber by the end of the season here. I'm not able to can, and a frozen cucumber is not a pretty sight. I take the extras to church or the food pantry.
A friend taught me how to freeze cucumbers; here's what I use:
Freezing Cucumbers
Slice them thinly, mix them with salt (about a tablespoon per large cucumber), and put them in the refrigerator for a day. Then rinse them really well and press them as dry as you can.
Mix them with sugar and vinegar, 50/50, enough to cover them.
Refrigerate for another day, then put them in freezer containers and
freeze. When you thaw them later, they're still crisp and good in
salads, gazpacho, etc.
I thaw them a bit before I use them, and also rinse any ice crystals off. They're not quite the same as fresh cucumbers but they're definitely acceptable!
wow, thanks for that information. All I've ever had from freezing is mush.
This actually works. I put them in salads! I should have frozen them in smaller bags, but what I do is break off enough for a nice addition to a salad and then refreeze the rest.
Do you freeze them in the vinegar solution?