Garden Update

First of all, sorry for the lack of posts this past week! I was traveling for work, and didn't have time before I left to schedule any auto-publish posts for you! Yikes! But I'm back, and have been busy as ever. How about a garden update!

The garden has been growing gang-busters in our upper 80s temperatures. And with the rain we got almost two weeks ago, along with the rain we're getting right NOW! ... it's only going to get bigger! Yay!

This is my older chicken coop. In front of the coop are mostly tomato plants, a couple zucchini, and some butternut squash. And a whole mess of volunteer sunflowers! I can't bring myself to pull sunflowers when they're coming up in the spring, even if they're in less than ideal spots. Like right in the walkway between two garden beds. *grin*

I got a late start with the garden this year, and we're just now starting to get little zucchinis on the plants. But we'll be harvesting in just a few days now, I'm sure.

To the right of the old coop is the rest of the garden, and the new little red barn coop.

In front of the new coop is the larger garden where I planted an assortment of squash plants, as well as 4 more tomato plants. I have tomato plants in one of the metal troughs, and cucumber, radish, and spinach in the second metal trough (which is difficult to see in this photo, since it's just behind the smaller one in front).

The squash plants are doing really well in the larger garden this year. They have a nice wind break from the new coop now, so they won't take such a beating from the wind like they used to. YAY!!! I planted a complete assortment of squash plants in this area, and since I didn't write them down it will be a complete surprise until they start producing fruit.

I set up the lower trellis for the cucumber yesterday, since they're just starting to get to the point that they're ready to start climbing. I imagine before next weekend, I'll be putting up the upper portion of the trellis so they have plenty of room to grow.

I have two big sweet mint plants, and both are growing extremely well.  I have yet to be able to keep a mint plant alive through our mid- and late-summer heat, so I have to start fresh with new plants every year. As is the case for everything, except the volunteer sunflowers.

The bed of Patty Pan (white scallop) squash I planted for Alan is growing like mad! These plants always do really well for us! And look at that small volunteer sunflower, right at the middle edge of that bed!

I planted lots of black zucchini again this year. After tomatoes, zucchini might be my favorite thing to grow in the garden.

I'm growing more bush buttercup squash again this year. Last year, the grasshoppers ate the squash before they were ready to harvest. Hopefully I have more luck this year.

Putting in the garden is a lot of work ... especially since I don't use a tiller. Everything is done with a shovel, fork, and hoe. But the reward of watching the garden grow, and the beautiful harvest we get, makes the hard work completely worth it!

Comments

[Lora]

The garden is awesome looking. I just got mine planted last week. Although,the raised beds have been planted and are producing since March.

Is there some lasagna gardening going on in your garden too? I have never used that method but am intrigued by it.

What state do you live in?

Todays card you made is very pretty.

[Jan Elmore]

Shortly after I viewed your awesome garden tour, I saw on the weather channel BIG HAIL blasting thru West Texas. I remember seeing your 'hail' video and have worried about you ever since!

[Kathy Martin]

LOVE your garden! A little slice of heaven! :)

[Lorrie]

Seeing the old (beater,rusty) troughs in your garden reminds me of the really cool light fixture we saw on the weekend at a winery here.There's had some bullet holes thru it, cut out the bottom and on the inside they had hung a gorgeous sparkly & wide chandelier in it and hung it over a 14+ ft. long, old wooden plank table and it was BEAUTIFUL!

[carol dee]

WOW, everything looks so lush and BIG! We are just getting the last plants in. The peas and beans and potatoes are up, So far not a lot of bunny damage like last year. (Better fencing!) I am so happy you have had the rains, it was too day last summer. Fingers crossed that the grasshoppers do not return. Since my garden looks about as good as it will all summer. (Freshly weeded and mulched, etc.) I should get out and take a few pics. It looks nothing like yours though!

[Kristen Catalano]

Anna, even though I don't comment a lot, I stalk your blog and face book. I LOVE all you pictures, and I have enjoyed the pics of the chickens and new coup. I am completely jealous of your garden and I can't wait to see how it all turns out. P.S. I wouldn't pull the sunflowers either :)

[Joyce B.]

What a lovely garden. How do you find the time! Thanks for sharing. I enjoyed seeing your pictures.

[Estelle Courtney]

It looks like Paradise to me. Very inspiring. We are now just heading into winter over here, so it will be pea-straw, mustard and lupin seeds in my gardens for the next few months. Keep the photos coming.... they are great for the soul. And THANK YOU.

[SueB]

Beautiful garden. I have yet to plant anything.

[S. Carter]

The new coop is blending in so nicely! Good luck with the mint. Glad you are getting rain. We got .56 tonight plus a little before I got the rain gauge out.

[Rose Kerry]

Hi Anna, your garden pictures are beautiful, so green and lush looking. Love the chicken houses, everything is so organized, awesome job.

[Carolina F.]

You garden look AMAZINGGGG!!!
I am pretty sure the vegetables you grow taste delicious... Thank you so much for sharing this photos, they are awesome. I hope one day I will have a small garden, were I live they don't let us plant anything so sad right.