Today's harvest

cherie8525
cherie8525 Posts: 109 Member
I get so excited when I get vegetables ready to harvest.
a handful of cherry tomatoes, string beans, cucumbers.. plenty of green peppers if I wanted to make a salad..
we have rain and more rain
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Replies

  • cherie8525
    cherie8525 Posts: 109 Member
    cucumbers are piling up, time to make some pickles. Today I will go down and see what has shown up. .One of my favorite things is getting into the garden after being away from it for a day or two.
    What is is 1 of your favorite things in gardening?
  • cherie8525
    cherie8525 Posts: 109 Member
    Yesterday I pulled the veg from two raised bed, Today I well get to two more along with the border flower bed .. After playing with my horse.. LOL if the heat doesn't wipe me out first.. suppose to be in 90s today.. So pasha first, then into the garden
    one of the beds I cleared yesterday had so many crazy invasive jumping/snake worms, it took me hours to go through all the dirt and remove them.. there were so many even the ducks couldn't eat them all. second bed had only 10ish.. difference is we didn't add any new compost to it this spring because I had planted beets and radish.

    My tomato are ripening on the vine, I love seeing the color and the taste of a fresh tomato warm from being kissed by the sun.. sun gold cherry tomato are amazing. So full of flavor and sweet.

    Tip- harvest tomato in the afternoon after the sun has been on them for hour.. the moisture has decreased which increases flavor.. Pick before watering the beds. Pick any blushing before rain storm.

    Have an amazing day! Happy harvesting/ gardening
  • Nipchkin
    Nipchkin Posts: 207 Member
    We are still getting lots of zucchini, string beans, corn, and tomatoes - the main crops we planted. Started harvesting some spaghetti squash. Acorn squash are coming along nicely but not quite ready to pick. Just picked the first 2 pumpkins that were about half orange. Grandson was thrilled to do that. Hubby has to go over and pick cucumbers at a friend's garden while they are out of town. We didn't get any planted this year, hopefully will next year. Hubby has been doing all the work at the garden plots we rent from the park district. I watch my grandson, which makes it more difficult. Plus they have a gate across the entrance that is locked, and for the past few years they only allow one key (and you have to pay a $25 deposit which you get back when you turn the key in after the season is finished in October). Used to be able to get multiple keys. Hubby usually has the key with him, I don't even know where he keeps it. This year grandson started all day kindergarten, so I actually have time to go there during the day to help, but won't until it cools down a bit. Don't like working in the garden in full sun when it's in the 90s!
  • cherie8525
    cherie8525 Posts: 109 Member
    I am jelly of your pumpkins. :) How old is your grandson? my grand-kids use to garden with me, it does add extra work but keeps them very busy and excited about food. Now they have moved almost 2 hr away and I no longer have garden partners. Last year I grew so much winter squash.. I grew them on a trellis. 1t5kt0j4nmiy.jpg
    :D original goal was group photo up top.. well, guess what that photo is missing. all the leaves, which never crossed my mind till my arch was buried in leaves. Pretty funny really.. a ding dong moment for sure.
    Last year I harvested over a 100 winter squash and 20 Hugh pumpkins.. I doubt I will get any this year, lack of sun.
    it is amazing how much the vine will grow once they get a day of sun.
  • fancyqtr
    fancyqtr Posts: 183 Member
    My big harvest today. Guess I got my 2 heirloom tomatoes reversed. The other plant, with the piggy back tomato, is obviously my Cherokee Purple and I am hoping it has other tomatoes ripen. These are Lemon Boys and I need more of them to ripen, too. This is all my ripe ones except for the piggy back Cherokees and I don't think they are any good. I am not sure when to harvest the cucumber since I tried tonight and it won't give. I also have a very small eggplant that is near ready.
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  • Nipchkin
    Nipchkin Posts: 207 Member
    My grandson is 5 1/2. He used to be afraid of every kind of bug, including moths. No longer afraid of moths, but seems to still be afraid of most other bugs. But it seems that when he's at the garden helping, he forgets about the bugs.
  • fancyqtr
    fancyqtr Posts: 183 Member
    Last night we had a little rain and it was a cooler day after I had watered the plants. Today I got outside and the cucumber plant was all wilted. I didn't expect that. I watered it again and it perked up. So I might cut the one cucumber off tomorrow. I still don't know how to tell on them.

    I also gave my fuscia some more water. It looks terrible and I don't think it will bloom anymore. The pansies and petunias keep coming back, though, as do the marigolds that really looked dead.

    I cleaned up all the rest of the limbs from the yard and cleaned up after Annie. Then we enjoyed a couple hours just sitting on the porch back there.
  • cherie8525
    cherie8525 Posts: 109 Member
    I haven't figure out how to put pictures here from my phone, which is where my garden photos are.. How do you find groups when your on the phone app? I have been spending most of my time in flower beds.. I love the color of your tomato fancyqtr, how did it taste? I can't resist saving seeds from all of them.. we have been harvesting HUGH slicers. so tasty and juicy, meaty. I will keep trying to get photo up.
    Nipchkin, My grand are scared of spiders, both of there parents are.. once they see one now, they are done in the garden.. sad really.. when there were little they would just move onto a different spot.

    yesterday I Found the dreaded squash bug.. have mercy they must come in as an army.. one day nothing, next the whole hugh leaf is covered, ewwwwwwwwww.. i stick them in a bucket of water and pretty much kiss the plants good bye.

    I found a few horn worms, I can't bring myself to do them in, I toss them over the bank with the tomato stems I pruned

    I miss having grandkids to play in gardens with


  • fancyqtr
    fancyqtr Posts: 183 Member
    Cherie, I don't know how to use a phone for this site at all. Do you also have a computer that you can forward the photos to? That is how I get mine posted. I couldn't get them posted from phone to SP, either. Actually, couldn't make any posts that way, either.

    The yellow tomatoes pretty much taste like any others to me, I think. They are supposed to be less acidic. I've read that people think the heirlooms are sweeter, which they might be. I can't tell.

    You are lucky to get big slicing tomatoes. Mine are all small all the time except for the Romas got really big one year. I am going to try to find a way next year to plant earlier. Somehow put some kind of plastic over them like a greenhouse and see if that will work.

    When you all finish harvesting, do you do any preparations for next year, like rototill everything under? I am just wondering if something like that would help with mine.
  • fancyqtr
    fancyqtr Posts: 183 Member
    I cut one of my cucumbers off the plant and ate it today. The first one ripened I left too long. There is another one on there and it is really small yet. One of my spaghetti squash is mostly yellow now, so should be ready to harvest soon. I have a couple yellow tomatoes to pick and soon a couple of Cherokees, plus I have 4 small Anaheim peppers and one small eggplant that I should pick tomorrow. My second spaghetti squash isn't close to ripe yet, but it has grown quite a bit and should be a perfect size for me.
  • Nipchkin
    Nipchkin Posts: 207 Member
    Today's harvest: 40 pumpkins, 12 zucchini, 17 acorn squash, 17 spaghetti squash, and a bunch of tomatoes. Corn is now done, except for finding some dried out ears on the stalks that we give to the squirrels in the backyard. Beans are about done - bunnies have been nibbling at the tops of the plants. Tomatoes are slowing down. Still have over a dozen pumpkins left to pick, not including some immature ones that might mature before the season is over. When we went to our garden plots, there were 2 young deer laying down against a neighboring gardeners fence. We tried not to scare them, but they decided they didn't want to be around while we were there. I'm sure they will be back. There are still some spaghetti squash left to pick that aren't ripe yet, and a couple immature acorn squash that I'm not sure will get large enough to pick. Pulled the rest of the acorn squash vines and threw them over the fence for the deer to eat if they want to (they definitely like eating any pumpkin vines that wander outside the fence, so they might enjoy the squash vines too, as well as the tomatoes that the bunnies had nibbled on that we also threw over the fence).
  • fancyqtr
    fancyqtr Posts: 183 Member
    Cathy, how big is your plot? You are getting a lot from it.

    I picked one Lemon Boy today. I guess something got to the other ripe one. Something also got to my piggy-back Cherokee. I have two Cherokees almost ready to pick (probably tomorrow). I hope nothing gets to those two. They are high up, but the Lemon Boys were, too. When I watered the cucumbers today I noticed that I have 4 more little tiny ones on the plant. They are about the size for sweet gherkins, one even for minis.
  • cherie8525
    cherie8525 Posts: 109 Member
    @Nipchkin
    I am super Jelly on your pumpkins, I love growing and carving them for fall.. I might get 3ish this year.. zero winter squash.. although, it is amazing how 3 day s of sun has encouraged the plant to finally spread out and cover the compost heap.
    @fancyqtr
    I think flavoring on tomato is very slight.. I do think home grown tomato have amazing taste.. As Jess says on Roots and Rescue "Store bought tomatoes, taste like disappointment"
    I do love the little sun globe cherries, the burst of intense favor is super yummy.

    I am in awe of the size of my slicers this year.. I was trying to find a picture.. I have grown some HUGH ones
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    LOL once again wrestling with finding the right photo


  • cherie8525
    cherie8525 Posts: 109 Member
    This years prep will be attempting to sift all the soil in the raised beds, I will try to remove all the crazy jumping/snake worms.. Hopefully it will slow downs next years reproduction of them.. They have eaten most of the soil, the beds are pretty much worm casting, gritty sand.
    Last year I added in goat and rabbit poo balls, which is considered a gold fertilizer, It isn't hot and can go directly in the garden.. This spring I planted Roses, The area I planted in, I am pretty sure those worms had already gone through because the soil feels like sand. So I added in the rabbit poo and hay they had gone potty on. I still have roses blooming. I am shocked and in awe at the same time. .I thought Rose only bloomed once. Maybe it is the variety.. I do not know a lot about roses due to not having a lot of luck up here in the snow belt.. The dread japenese beetle finds them before the bloom even gets to open all the way.
    I took these pictures yesterday.. I had been away horse camping last week and enjoyed my garden stroll to see who was still here and blooming
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    I love blooms, this spring there were a few flowers I would love to have inside to admire, but couldn't get myself to cut them to bring in.. I made the decision to create a cut flower garden next year, then the more I thought about it, I decided to start a cut flower / bouquet business. If I sell a few a week It will help pay for my fun of growing LOL




  • cherie8525
    cherie8525 Posts: 109 Member
    yesterdays walk about cq5lzk075oh7.jpg
    I am in LOVE with zinna, I found them last year.. so many variety, colors, shapes, sizes
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    cupcake variety
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  • cherie8525
    cherie8525 Posts: 109 Member
    couple of hibiscus in bloom
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    I love the flower pods, details are stunning

  • cherie8525
    cherie8525 Posts: 109 Member
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    these are a cohosh, Om word, I would love a perfume that smells like this! !
  • cherie8525
    cherie8525 Posts: 109 Member
    4ns1brjtwghr.jpg
    many moons back I got determined to grow holly hocks.. the stems, blooms feel so regal to me.
    I have yellows and peach and these one above was suppose to be the black. I planted the seed this spring and was happily shocked to have it bloom this year.. it shouldn't have till next year

  • cherie8525
    cherie8525 Posts: 109 Member
    new find this year I am in love with and the variety, shapes, colors and size's enthrall me
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  • cherie8525
    cherie8525 Posts: 109 Member
    4njmgrfh7an4.jpg
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    I learned this year that sunflowers have an large amount of pollen, and if you cut yourself a bouquet, where ever you place it will quickly have a sheet of yellow pollen beneath it. :D
    I learned someone has created strands/ variety of sun flowers that are pollenless.. huh, imagine that and I have to wonder HOW
    they are called Pro-cut.. I am going to grow 8 of these next year if the sun shines long enough in succession so I can have and sell bouquet weekly.. wish me luck
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  • cherie8525
    cherie8525 Posts: 109 Member
    Finally a full day of sun, I was able to pick all the tomatoes.. 3 , 5 gallon buckets.. time to make some sauce
  • fancyqtr
    fancyqtr Posts: 183 Member
    Cherie, your flowers are beautiful. Mine are all pretty much kaput now.

    Went down to the garden today and got this produce. Cherokees are almost ready to pick too (2 or 3 of them, very small). I hope the spaghetti squash was ready to pick. It looked like it was completely yellow, but had a little green on it when I got it picked.

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  • cherie8525
    cherie8525 Posts: 109 Member
    How did it taste Fancy? it has been raining here almost daily which affect tomato taste.. to much water in it.. I try to wait for a hot day to harvest..
    I do have abundance of green peppers on the bush.. I am attempting to wait them out to turn red..

    Next year, I AM switching to flowers, Cutting flowers to be specific .. this spring i wanted to cut some of my bloom to bring inside, I couldn't bring self to do it. I decided to create cut flower beds. well once I started researching, I decided to to take the next step and sell bouquet too! ! Why not make some money off my passion! this winter I will be taking a few course on the how to

    Flowers make me so happy, Now I can share it with the world, well, lol maybe not the world but nearby :)
  • fancyqtr
    fancyqtr Posts: 183 Member
    I cut a Cherokee tonight on a salad with some chicken. That tomato was the best tasting thing on my plate. I should go cut a Lemon Boy and see how I like it. I keep reading about people eating tomato and mayonaise sandwiches, but I can't eat the mayo. Can't wait for the others to ripen now that I have some lettuce to make salads with. They have some new cut up lettuces and I got the chopped romaine. Makes it a lot easier to fix my salad. I don't think I would be successful growing lettuce here.

    Cherie, that sounds like a great idea to sell bouquets from your garden.
  • cherie8525
    cherie8525 Posts: 109 Member
    Tomato sandwiches, YUM what do you use for dressing? ranch? you could use that.. I have
    Last night temp dropped into the 40's thinking it is getting close to time to harvest and pull gardens..we often get our first frost in Oct and even first snow fall that thankfully doesn't stay
  • fancyqtr
    fancyqtr Posts: 183 Member
    I got some Smart Balance Mayonaise and am hoping I can use it. Otherwise I don't know what I could use. I use vinegrette dressings. I can't have anythinng with milk in it unless I make it myself unless I can manage just a small amount. Apparently that is what has been giving me so many IBS problems.

    Yesterday I got another Lemon Boy, one Italian tomato and two Celebrities. I have another Lemon Boy close, a few Cherokees that aren't quite as ready. I doubt if I'll get any more Italian or Celebrities.
  • cherie8525
    cherie8525 Posts: 109 Member
    I have been dehydrating cherry tomato, roasting large, gearing up for sauces. I sliced this one tomato and the color was so pretty it looked like a yummy peach.. Color was the best part, not a lot of smell or taste. I still have a kitchen full of tomato, and have only harvest 1/3 of what is in garden.. time to get moving LOL
  • fancyqtr
    fancyqtr Posts: 183 Member
    Yesterday I was able to get about 7 tomatoes and bring them in. One isn't quite ripe, but I think it is ripe enough for picking. Everything else was completely ripe. There are several totally green ones out there, too.
  • cherie8525
    cherie8525 Posts: 109 Member
    Fall temperatures are in the air, it is enjoyable to putter around outside in the gardens and shutting them down. collection all the bric brac that goes along with it. I am still harvesting tomato galore.. LMAO next year goal is to NOT replant all the suckers from trimming tomato. I love experimenting and popping them in everywhere.. my thoughts go to, I wonder if it will survive here.. the answers is YES. Tomato will survive just about anywhere and Thrive! ! ! My zinnia flowers are still in full bloom and adds massive punch of color all over the yard.. I am fighting to not dread the winter temperature
  • Nipchkin
    Nipchkin Posts: 207 Member
    @cherie8525 I hear you about reigning in the tomatoes. One year I planted 70 plants! Mostly because I had lots of different varieties of colorful heirlooms, but there were still lots of red ones as I liked to can too. I haven't canned for a few years now, as I watch my grandson and it wasn't safe to be doing that while he was underfoot. Now that he's in school, I'll probably grow more next year so I have enough to can.

    We decided to put the garden to bed today. Picked the rest of the tomatoes off our 20 plants. Ended up with about 3 bushels, mostly green ones. Will be sharing tomatoes with friends, some will like the larger green ones for frying. Also picked the last of our 60-70 pumpkins. Have managed to give away most of them to the kids in the neighborhood, but still have plenty left to carve myself as well as cook up for pies.
    Pulled the tomato cages and pulled down the top row of fencing. Deer can now get in and help themselves to the plants, and then we can till it up and haul mulch and horse manure to get it ready for next year. The deer already jumped the tall fence a couple of times and helped themselves to the beans. They were about done anyway, but the deer made sure of it!
    Now I have to cook the zucchini to make puree for zucchini bread and freeze it (I use a pumpkin bread recipe, which calls for puree, so that's how I process those). Currently turning 6 quarts of ripe tomatoes into sauce.
    We harvested all the spaghetti squash and acorn squash, but fortunately those can just sit downstairs in the bushel baskets until we're ready to cook the.
    Hubby got a couple bushels each of indian corn and field corn from a friend who knows we feed the squirrels in our yard. Going to share some of the indian corn with friends to use for decoration, and get all the yellow corn in buckets to help protect it from any rodents that may sneak in the garage looking for food.