The kitchen garden on May 3rd.
The kitchen garden on June 3rd {this morning}. What a difference a month makes!
The chives are in full bloom, tomatoes, peppers and cucumber plants are in the ground, the basil seeds have been planted {along the right side of the brick path} and the cabbage, celery and rhubarb are humming along.
Life is good!
I have 6 cabbage plants planted in the kitchen garden and another 12 planted down in the big garden. I have a feeling I’ll be channeling Charlie Bucket’s Mom for some cabbage recipes in another month or two. 🙂
I wish I would have planted more celery {I only planted 6} so I might have to pop by the garden center to see if they still have some as it might be a little too late to get this started from seed this late in the game.
The peonies I transplanted last spring are doing well, as are the tubers I planted last fall {although those aren’t as tall yet and are hiding behind the chives.
The fingerlings I planted in a set of grow bags are doing well. I’ve had to add more dirt to the bags twice already now.
Down at the religious family vegetable garden things are starting to take shape. The garden is about 2/3rds planted so far. All that’s left to plant now is the corn, squash and dried beans.
I’m planning on making some sort of bean screen/trellis with some scrap wood the HH found for me in the barn {wooden stakes + netting laid out in 1 long row} and then I’m going to try the three sisters method for the rest of the beans I want to dry this year.
Have you tried the three sisters method before? Basically you plant corn, wait until it’s 4″ tall, then plant your bean seeds around the corn stalks. The idea is that the bean vines will climb up the corn stalks and use them as support.
The third “sister” is the squash you plant around the border of your corn field. As the squash plants start to spread you gently guide them inwards towards the corn maximizing your growing space.
I did this once before back when we lived in Washington and it worked pretty well so I thought I’d try it again now that I have a lot more space to work with.
The plan is to get the corn and squash planted this weekend {I’m just waiting for the HH to bring more soil down to that end of the garden and till it in}.
68 tomato plants. I think that’s how many I have in the ground.
All of the tomato plants have been mulched with seaweed and my plan is to get the rest of the plants in that garden {peppers, eggplant, zucchini, beets, leeks, green beans, blueberries, raspberries and a few other things} mulched by the end of the month.
I was hoping to get 100 tomato plants in the ground this season, but I ran out of room so I tossed all my extras onto the compost heap. Which was sort of a bummer.
I’m not sure exactly how many tomato plants I need to make all my tomato dreams come true {home canned tomato sauce, salsa, stewed tomatoes, other sauces etc.} but I told the HH we’ll just have to wait and see. Who knows, maybe I’ll end up needing a commune sized garden plot to be able to grow everything I want to grow.
Only time will tell.
Round 1 of the bush beans have been planted {I’ll be planting a row of green beans every 2 weeks for the next 2 months}.
Blueberry bushes {with eggplants in between the bushes}.
Raspberry canes {with cabbage and broccoli planted between them to maximize the growing space}.
And last but not least, the Brussels sprouts. Anyone know if you can freeze them? How would they taste if you later tried to roast them {from frozen} in the oven? Would they be mushy or would the texture be similar to roasting fresh ones?
We love roasted Brussels sprouts around here and if I knew I could freeze them, I think I’d plant at least another row of them to enjoy over the winter months.
Well, that’s all that’s happening around here. What’s new in YOUR neck of the woods? Is your garden in yet? Have you harvested anything? Curious minds want to know.
Have a great weekend,
~Mavis
Nancy Settel says
I’ve bought frozen brussel sprouts and while they are “okay” to cook (have never tried roasting frozen ones) they do seem to be a tad mushy. We just aren’t a fan of frozen ones even though I buy every other kind of frozen veg.
Stephanie Z says
Mavis, please don’t throw out unwanted plants! There are many Buy Nothing and local gardening groups you can share with. It is work indeed but worth it.
I bought 1,000 bare root strawberry plants (they come in bundles of 25), used 450 and gave several bundles to friends and family and offered the rest to my local gardening group (porch pick up). 18 people responded and I gave away the rest.
I’ve met local fellow gardeners, one gifted me a homemade concrete bird bath, others offered me plants and cuttings. Its a win win.
Kari says
I did try the three sisters one year. It started out great, but eventually the beans overtook the corn and knocked it all over. I loved the idea of it, though.
Mel says
We scaled back tomato planting this year because we still have tons frozen that I need to process, but if it helps your calculations, we can usually freeze 60 lbs in a season from 24 plants. And that’s with plenty leftover for fresh eating, giving away, etc. It probably depends on the types, season length, and other conditions, but 68 plants is likely plenty for anything you want to can this season.
I didn’t start plants from seed this year, but I typically send extra tomato seedlings to work with my husband when I do so his coworkers can take them. We also sometimes plant them in 5 gallon buckets lined up on the perimeter of the beds.
Wendy says
I just got through weeding my family-sized garden and I’m beat. 🙂 We have five rows of black-eyed peas, canteloupe, watermelon, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and cucumbers. I also picked blackberries which are coming in strong here in Alabama. In a couple of weeks I will be covered up in blueberries. Yesterday I made 8 pints of blackberry jam and a blackberry cobbler. Delicious. Its supposed to rain here today which will be wonderful for the plants. Your garden looks beautiful. I can’t wait to see what you do with all those tomatoes.
MaresEdotes says
I planted blueberry plants this year for the first time and they are doing nothing. Healthy but not growing. What is wrong? Do they need more shade? Deeper soil? Less water? Or is the first year just to establish the roots?
Elle says
Well girl, the year I planted 24 tomato plants and got a bumper crop, I filled our 14cf freezer, every canning jar I had and took a bag to work every other day for several weeks. Last year I planted 14, had a poor crop and only got 18 jars of salsa and 11 qts of ratatouille. This year, I planted 30. Only time will tell.
I can’t wait for September’s harvest to see what happens with 68 plants.
I also tried brussel sprouts this year. I think 26 seeds sprouted. Should be interesting.
Margo says
Wanted to do a three sisters garden this year using sunflowers instead of corn. Planted the sunflowers in an 8×4 raised bed which is raised about 24 inches. Not smart…. If I planted pole beans I’d never be able to reach the top to harvest. So went with bush beans and acorn squash. It’s working well and I’m harvesting lots of green beans already. Just finished putting almost my entire garden on drip irrigation to save water and it seems to me a bit of work too. Love your gardens. Enjoy every day you get to spend in it.
Julia Park Tracey says
You’re my twin! I’m also doing three sisters with sunflowers, and I put wee Jack pumpkins along the fence, a la Mavis. I also just completed my drip irrigation project and it is giving my garden amazing results. I’m getting rose blooms on bushes that did nothing last year (hand watered only). And yet I am using less water, which in CA is important. We are allowed to water only 3x a week and not within 48 hours of rain. We also have had to reduce our water use by 20%, which entails buckets in the showers. I have rigged up buckets to catch rain runoff, but I think I will also investigate rain barrels for next winter. Whoever was talking about using rubberized garbage cans is my shero. Thank you!
Diana says
Be careful with the sunflowers. They exude a chemical that stunts or stops the growth of certain veg. Research it before you plant. I literally, just 5 minutes ago, saw a YT video from the Epic Garden talking about it.
Bettina says
Brussels Sprouts hold shockingly long in the fridge. I roasted up the rest of the Brussels that I bought 6 weeks ago, along with the last of the carrots and other odds and ends from the veggie drawer yesterday. They were still so good!
I don’t have a root cellar. I’ve been very curious to know how well Brussels Sprouts and Cabbage hold up in a root cellar.
Janet says
I hope you have some critter protection planned; we fight rabbits and other pests constantly and it is heart-breaking to keep losing new plants to varmints. A friend with a similar set-up to yours runs an electric wire around her religious sized garden to control deer but I think you’d have to string a lower wire for rabbits. We use ugly but effective chicken wire in the big sections. Good luck!
Jennifer says
Cabbage is mushy and watery when cooked after being frozen, but I’ve never frozen Brussels sprouts.
Annette says
If you have excess tomatoes, etc do you think you might open your own veggie stand?
Kathy says
I retired this year and started a small garden with plans to greatly increase it next year. I have loads of green onions (my favorite!!), several types of tomatoes, miniature peppers, jalapeño peppers, strawberries and many herbs.
I would like to have raspberries and blueberries next year and my question is, what kind to get and do you get fruit the first year planted or does it take a couple of years before getting any fruit.
I love your garden and I also want to learn to can.
Carol says
Sauerkraut is an excellent way to store excess cabbage. Homemade sauerkraut is tastier and healthier than any on supermarket shelves, except for my favorite, Bubbies.
Katelyn says
When you upgrade to the commune size garden, you might check if your community has a “grow a row” program in which local gardeners commit a row of their garden’s bounty to the local food bank. It’s very popular in Vermont and such an easy way to increase access for folks who don’t have as much as we do.
Julia Park Tracey says
That is a super idea.
Cindy Howard says
I love this!!
Julie says
Mavis! Brussel sprouts can be stored in a cool place for months!!! And they can even be stored on the stalk in the garden for quite awhile!( January in Vermont!)
If you want an interesting garden book, look at “Garden Way’s Joy of Gardening “, by Dick Raymond it tells of tips and tricks for each vegetable, and how to get the most out of each one! And how to store them.
Mavis Butterfield says
Well January in Vermont is as cold as it is here in Maine… Then I’m going to try and leave them out there as long as I can. Thanks Julie.
Diane says
Wow! I’m so impressed!!! I struggle with 2 tomato plants!! You mentioned that you use seaweed mulch – I’m guessing that provides nutrients for the plants as well as suppresses weeds? I love how you companion plant, using every available space too.
Mavis Butterfield says
My friend Lisa in Tasmania uses seaweed as mulch in her garden and her plants THRIVE so I’m giving it a try this year. We’ll see.
Terri Lindeke says
That was the kids job at our beach place on Whidbey Island Washington. We took the wheel barrow down to the beach when the tide was out and loaded it with seaweed. That close to the water – there was wind – and lots of salt in the air AND soil. Putting the seaweed at the base of the plants kept the moisture in and added nutrients.
Kathy Wolfe says
I’m thinking You will end up with a VERY religious garden next year. I am in zone 7b down here in central Alabama and couldn’t believe you were in 6a up there. Guess it’s because of being coastal. Y’all gonna be “truck farming” before long.
Josephine Howe says
Fermented sauerkraut is a great way to go. I am in love with it. Check out the recipe on An Oregon Cottage which uses a bit of apple in it. The year I planted 52 tomato plants in Oregon, it made many many quarts of salsa, canned tomatoes, etc. plus several 5 gallon buckets full to the food bank. My husband thought I was crazy, which, of course I am. We are about 35 minutes from Gig Harbor and have had a very cool rainy spring. So my garden is way behind. Roasted tomatoes is the way I have gone lately and am partial to paste tomatoes because they have a good chance of ripening. I freeze them in 8 ounce jars because we are much older and can only eat so much. They go well in soups, eaten right out of the oven, in sauces, etc. I am excited to watch your garden journey this year.
Cathy Penner says
I’ve roasted frozen brussel sprouts many times….delicious
Vicki Fetui says
Maybe if you roast or cook (or blanch) your Brussel sprouts before you freeze them they will work better. I think I may try a couple of ways just for experimental purposes.
And about the extra tomato plants, maybe you could have sold them at the end of your drive or better yet, given them away to a good home.
wendy panozzo says
Egg Roll in a bowl, veggie stir fry are my go too cabbage recipes!
Kathleen W says
For the extra cabbage, Rachel and Todd at “That 1870’s Homestead” YouTube channel make pickled cabbage, like pickles. Mavis why didn’t you set up a little road side stand and sell your extra plants? Even on the cheap they would’ve added to your “sell stuff to pay for groceries” plan.
J In OH-IO says
I second the egg roll in a bowl recipe for cabbage- it’s a favorite here at our home!
Dianna says
I’m surprised the duck lady did not want your extra tomato plants! We’re in zone 7a and have been enjoying salads with snow peas, radishes, and aspabroc for a few weeks. I also picked rhubarb this week and made your cherry crisp — delicious!
Mavis Butterfield says
The Duck Lady was trying to give me hers! 🙂
Linda Practical Parsimony says
Birdseye freeze Brussels sprouts.
Linda Sand says
I was taught that the three sisters get planted together. The beans grab onto the corn stalks for support which helps them grow taller while sending more energy into producing beans and the squash leaves shade the ground so the plants don’t need as much water. In the demo I watched at a living history site they also put a fish in the hole before the seeds to fertilize the plants.
C says
Why didn’t you put an add on Craigslist Free Stuff and set the extra tomato plants out by the road? What a waste. Someone would’ve been right by to pick them up.
Sue D says
If you want to freeze Brussels sprouts, they need to be blanched first. I’ve roasted frozen ones and they roast okay. Brussels do last a fairly long time in the fridge. They also taste better if left to harvest after a good frost.
I was taught the three sisters need to be planted together and if you have a fish head, that goes in the hole for fertiliser.
Stacie says
What a difference a month makes! What are you going to do to stake the tomato plants?
Dee Patterson says
I know your winters are much more severe than mine ( Devon, England ) but sprouts can be pulled off even after a frost , some veg like parsnips really do benefit from a bit of frost and become sweeter.
It’s ok ish to freeze sprouts , they are a bit mushy but they’re ok and a welcome green in mid winter .
Your garden is looking really good.
Do you plant rhubarb?
Mavis Butterfield says
Yes, I planted 6 rhubarb crowns this year in the small kitchen garden. 🙂