Share your homesteading projects
Make new homesteading friends
Ask homesteading questions
Blog your homesteading journey
Debbie Pribele
439 posts
and
18 followers
in about 2 years
in about 2 years
2024 Garden Season #20: End of July update (2024)
This is
part 20
in a
20 part
series:
2024 Garden Season
Summer is zooming past and it has been an interesting one.
The weather
First of all, all winter long I predicted that we would have a drought-like summer. That couldn’t be farther from the truth.
It seems like we rarely go three days without rain and, at one point, a lot of southwestern Ontario dealt with flooding. We are on a high spot so we are very lucky here.
It seems like we rarely go three days without rain and, at one point, a lot of southwestern Ontario dealt with flooding. We are on a high spot so we are very lucky here.
Tomatoes
The most important plant in my garden is the tomato.
This year, I did a few experiments during the seed-starting and transplanting processes.
What did I learn?
This year, I did a few experiments during the seed-starting and transplanting processes.
What did I learn?
- We prefer the BONSAI dwarf tomato to the LITTLE BING
- the SWEET MILLION cherry tomato is so sweet and so delicious that it will be my cherry tomato of choice next year.
- Planting a Sweet Million plant in the hoop house early in the spring created a giant plant that was way ahead of its “siblings” in growth - but the plant in my garden (planted after May 24) had ripe fruit at about the same time. So, the risk really wasn’t worth it. Just wait.
- The tomato plants are loving the trellises and, although four plants to each trellis works, three would have been better. But - I will probably do four again next year.
- I bought some large plant clips from Amazon and I love them: they have lots of room for the plant stem plus an extra little space to go around the trellis wire or a rope.
- My labels - which I was very meticulous about using and labelling all of my plants - have all faded in the sun. Never had that happen before. Now, what variety is each? Thankfully I did jot down some notes that I can refer to. My goal was to identify my favourite varieties and only grow those next year. We will see how that goes. (I already know that I have two types of cherry tomatoes on one trellis and only one label)
- The garden is far too shaded for the tomatoes, even though they are growing.
- I have been cleaning out my pond filter (algae) in the garden beds. Is it helping with nutrients? No idea.
Cucumber
I started many cucumber plants and only two survived in the gardens and maybe two in my GreenStalk. In the GreenStalk, apparently the darned beetles damaged the stems and they have “bacteria wilt” where the fibres are so damaged and clogged that water can’t flow through to the rest of the plant. Sad.
Strawberries
The birds (I think) feasted on my first set of berries and we got none. I had them wrapped in the mesh bags and they were ripped apart and the berries trashed.
I recently cut off all the runners and I finally have a second set of flowers. Once the berries start to show pink I will be putting the insect netting overtop of the entire GreenStalk and that should protect them. Crossing my fingers
I recently cut off all the runners and I finally have a second set of flowers. Once the berries start to show pink I will be putting the insect netting overtop of the entire GreenStalk and that should protect them. Crossing my fingers
Lettuce
I planted it.
It grew.
I harvested it.
Rick didn’t eat it.
I composted it.
No lettuce for me, next year.
It grew.
I harvested it.
Rick didn’t eat it.
I composted it.
No lettuce for me, next year.
Celery
A huge success!!
I have already cut off several stems to be used in recipes and, next month, I will be harvesting it all and freeze-drying it for winter cooking.
I have already cut off several stems to be used in recipes and, next month, I will be harvesting it all and freeze-drying it for winter cooking.
Potatoes
I planted some, from seed, and we’ve harvested and eaten these already. Win
And a lot of potatoes came up from my unsuccessful planting from last year. I have yet to harvest these. We will see if I actually have potatoes under there.
And a lot of potatoes came up from my unsuccessful planting from last year. I have yet to harvest these. We will see if I actually have potatoes under there.
Garlic
Garlic scapes: so good and in abundance!
The plants are starting to die off and I will soon be pulling them and drying them.
Some garlic are from last year and, some, I planted this spring. I read that spring garlic doesn’t form cloves, just one big bulb, which will be fantastic for freeze-drying. Crossing my fingers.
And that where we are now .. waiting for the rest of the tomatoes to start turning colour and for garlic and potato plants to die off
It’s been a great summer.
- Debbie
The plants are starting to die off and I will soon be pulling them and drying them.
Some garlic are from last year and, some, I planted this spring. I read that spring garlic doesn’t form cloves, just one big bulb, which will be fantastic for freeze-drying. Crossing my fingers.
And that where we are now .. waiting for the rest of the tomatoes to start turning colour and for garlic and potato plants to die off
It’s been a great summer.
- Debbie
a simpler life
