Veggies!

I was never crazy about them but I'm starting to acquire a taste. Fresh is much better of course. I have heard that Copperhead snakes smell like cukes. Luckily I have not had the chance to verify it.

Grampapa, my "torpedo cukes" were also Parks Whopper, as are most of my other veggie seeds this year: cantaloupe; watermelon, tomato, zucchini, pepper, eggplant, and the aforementioned cucumber. Being a newbie, I just bought their collection of Whopper seeds. So glad to hear that you have had good luck with the Whopper series.
I'm keepin' an eye on them, which is getting harder as the various vines curl and thread their way around my garden. ("Cages! I laugh at your cages!")

I love cukes, just slice 'em up with some italian dressing...YUM!

I have to celebrate small victories...today it's my first 2 mini carrots 'Little Finger'. I have a self-watering box on legs from Gardener's Supply. it's fun to grow carrots 3' off the ground. very easy to weed & thin...love it!!

cute, huh?

Congrats Jan - very nice. Looks like lovebirds laying together!

Woo hoo! I've been harvesting zucchini for awhile now, but I thought I'd share..

and I can't wait for some of these to ripen..

isn't this a cute one??

Yummy! Can't wait for my maters too.

Thanks, Gram, I'll have to try them next year.
Currently I'm waging a battle with a rabbit who not only is lopping off flowers, but had the nerve to start eating some pepper plants I had moved out of the fenced veggie garden area to a location with more sun. So far he has not bothered the pepper plants I had in an EB, but I'm going to get some netting to try to thwart his ravenous appetite.

Yummy, Anita!

Making me hungry!!!

I'm having broccoli tonight!! I have 2 heads of "Pacman" ready and waiting to be picked. One will be steamed and the other eaten raw with dip!

Since you don't have a "fruit" thread started i'm going to put my fruit here I guess.
Apples are coming along and seems like a good crop.

And this is a pear on DH tree.....he's very pleased it's producing fruit but I wish he could go out and look at it himself. This taking pictures of a pear every couple of days so he can see it's progress is for the birds! (But I do it)

Nice. How many fruit trees, Celeste?

Geez....you would ask!
2 Cherry tree's, 2 pear trees, 2 plum,
2 peach, and multiple apple trees. Also have approx. 10 blueberry bushes, blackberry, and red raspberry.

Yummy.

very yummy - alot of work though...

Great eating, Pixie. It's grand to pick a few raspberries in the garden.

Anita, Gram, Pixie,
Your fruits and vegetables are picture-perfect.

Gram, Victor,
As a future vegetable grower (I hope), I have a question for you: why do you grow yours in planters rather than directly in the ground?

Pixie,
That's too bad that your DH can't go out to the garden. Is there no way for him to go out in a wheelchair?

Loretta

Hi Loretta,

I do it for a number of reasons. First, remember mine are truly 'raised' - they are 30 inches high. This was done a) because of my back problems and b) to keep the plants away from rabbits. Raised beds in general, and especially mine, heat up faster in Spring so you can start earlier.

Also, it's very easy with mine (8 ft x 4 ft) to to use pvc pipe to form arches and throw any type of cover on it, though I've never done it yet.

I have better control of the growing conditions - I put the soil in. I used all composted manure and other organic goodies. Because mine are so deep I did have to fill the bottom with stuff to just take up volume. It's very easy to keep weed free, either by just pulling or by using plastic sheeting. Soaker hose makes watering a breeze.

I used cedar so I don't have to worry about rot. I used 1 x 8's because Lee Valley had corner brackets to make things easy. Otherwise I would have used thicker wood. It's an added bonus to be able to see the veggies growing closer to eye level.

Victor,
Good to know. Thanks so much.

They're starting to get ripe!! I can't wait until I can make
"Blueberry Dumplings" and blueberry pie, muffins, cobbler, bread, ect.....

Yum, Pixie! How old are your blueberries, and how much do you get off the plants? I have 5 but I think I should be planting more. Do you freeze some? They freeze well.

Some of my bushes have been there for over 50 yrs. so i don't know the names. I'm not sure how much I get off them.....enough to do some baking and freeze the rest. We have 10 bushes in all.

The birds get most of ours: we've had three this year! It's the fall color of them that's so gorgeous.

Maine blueberries are a slice of heaven no matter how they're served.

I think I need a few more. I do put netting over mine, or I wouldn't get any.

And the fall color is great.

I love them as well. I'll be adding more. Fall color is incredible. Celeste, since you have the room, try Serviceberry. Supposed to be right there with Blueberries for taste. Great flowers and Fall color as well.

Can all berries be frozen? I might have lore Blackberries than we can eat this year - can I freeze them? Thanks.

My daughter makes jam out of our wild serviceberries, and strawberries, and currants, together.

Currants are very easy to grow here, also. I have the red, black and white ones. Very prolific. One plant of each supplies a lot.

I still have frozen blackberries from last year's crop. I cut the number of canes back this year so I don't get blackberry nightmares - again.

Too funny Yank....you have some strange nightmares!

Victor, DH & I are going to look into serviceberries, thanks for the tip!

I just put in a serviceberry - I think it was a serviceberry - I have to go home and look at the receipt. Thank goodness I saved it! Anyone get berries from Viburnum? I'm still looking for more understory shrubs and trees.

Celeste - 'Princess Diana' is a good one.

Cat - I have a number of Viburnum that get berries, but no edibles.

Hi, y'all. I just found this thread, lol. I get so busy with what I have already responded to I fail to 'look around'.
Pixie, you are ahead of me with the Broccoli. Mine needs a couple more weeks.
I've been eating Boc Choi for weeks.
Andy P

I hit the wrong button ~ "Haste makes waste".

Kohlrabi is ready, (Last years pic)

What time is dinner?

My 'Reliance' grape is loaded at age 4. These are a pink seedless, should be ready in September.

Cat, this was taken this morning. First tomatoes ~ 4th of July.
Andy P