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Lacey’s Garden – Lessons Learned

October 7, 2009 in updates by Jason | No comments

Summer has officially ended! Autumn is here – cool nights, beautiful leaves, pumpkins and scarecrows. What does an autumn garden look like? Well, I am determined to find out. I have pulled up everything and planted turnips, beets, lettuce, garlic, radishes, and carrots. This is definitely a learning process for me as I have never planted any of these things in the fall. Learn with me – I will keep you updated on the fall growth (or not, as the case may be! J)

Things I have learned this summer:

1) Straw mulch is awesome!!! This was the best thing I have ever done for me and my garden. It kept even the Bermuda grass from taking over my garden. Usually by July I have thrown in the towel and totally admitted defeat to the Bermuda grass, but not this year!

2) Rain is good is small measured amounts. Too much or too little is not good.

3) Gourds grow really fast.

4) My kids will eat anything that comes from the garden, and most friends who visit will at least try it.

5) I still like to garden.

These pictures are the last of the summer garden and the beginnings of the fall garden. Next posting will be about the fall garden completely. This will be an adventure!

Happy gardening.

Tags: fall, flowers, garden, gardening. lessons, gourd, vegetables

Lacey’s Garden – Pictures

September 17, 2009 in updates by Jason | No comments

Here some pictures of my very lush and verdant garden….it has really liked the rain!

Tags: artichoke, cantaloupe, cosmos, garden, gardening, gourd, tomatoes, vegetables

Lacey’s Garden – Gourds, Tomatoes, Herbs and Fall Vegetables

September 15, 2009 in updates by Jason | No comments

It’s been a while since the last post – so sorry!

Things here are very wet. I think this must be how folks in Seattle feel. It is not flooding; it just rains a little every day and stays gray and cloudy. Yuck!

What is left in the garden is thriving! I have three gourd vines that have taken over the whole back half of the garden completely. They grow so quickly that I have to trim them back in some places so I can pick tomatoes, but then they grow even more vigorously where they were trimmed! I think there are about 20 gourds out there so far and more coming on each day! Gourds anyone?

The tomatoes still have never ripened on the vine. I have been picking them when they first start to change from a darker to a lighter green, and letting them ripen on the window sill. This seems to be working but it just isn’t the same as seeing lovely red tomatoes on the vine. Oh well!

I have been harvesting herbs to dry for the winter and seeds to plant next spring. I have all sorts of sunflower seeds and zinnias. I have saved a few squash and will try to save some of the black cherry tomato seeds too. I have some moon and stars watermelon seeds and cantaloupe. Oh and I am pretty sure I will have plenty of gourd seeds to share too!

I planted some radishes and lettuce and will be planting turnips, beets, and cabbage as soon as I clear out the okra and melons. I want to see how these things do over the winter. I really want to plant garlic, too, if I can find some.

Well even though it is the end of season there is still plenty to do – keep at it and happy gardening!

Tags: garden, gardening, gourds, herbs, seeds, tomatoes, vegetables

A Rainy Week In The Garden

August 21, 2009 in updates by Jason | No comments

It has been a rainy week! It started raining the day after I posted about not getting any rain! And, it has not stopped. It has rained or stormed for about a week a little each day. I have not been in the garden very much what with the rain and school starting for the kids. One would think that with the girls out of the house for most of the time, I would be able to work in the garden! The few times I have been out there I pulled up overgrown marigolds and checked for ripe tomatoes. Still no ripe tomatoes! Oh well! My fall tomatoes look great and I think they will ripen before the ones that have been in the garden all summer will.

The community garden is coming along. We have a meeting with the city to request a donation of a water meter; after that meeting we will start entering grant proposals. Then we wait….

So long and good gardening in your neck of the woods!

Tags: community garden, fall tomatoes, rain, tomatoes

Lacey’s Garden – Heirloom Tomatoes, Beans and Gourds

August 10, 2009 in updates by Jason | No comments

Well. It has been sweltering couple of weeks here! No rain to be had in Claremore anyway. We have had thunder storms all around but none that come over us. The garden is still looking good, but it sure has not produced very much. I do not know why…maybe I do. Heirlooms do not produce as prolifically as hybrids; all of my plants are heirlooms. They sure are tasty and I like to think that I am contributing to posterity, but they would not be very helpful in feeding the family. All I can say…thank goodness for the Red White and Blue. We live in a land of plenty and for that I am grateful.

I have picked beans this week. Some finally came up and took off. I thought they had drowned in the flood. I also have a lot of gourds coming on. Those things grow really fast!! The black cherry tomatoes have just taken off…they are about 6 feet tall and bushy all around. I have a couple of other tomatoes that are about 6 ½ feet tall too! The pictures show the garden from the back fence. There is a whole other garden back there!! I will be pulling up some of the vegetables and planting more lettuce and other fall crops like broccoli and cauliflower by the end of August. Happy gardening to you.

Tags: beans, garden, gardening, gourds, heirloom, tomatoes, vegetables

Lacey’s Garden – Tomatoes, Squash, Butterflies and Hummingbirds

July 28, 2009 in Lacey's Garden by Jason | 1 comment

Howdy folks. It has been a while. Not too much to report…my garden is growing lush and green. I think some of the tomato plants are as tall as I am! I planted fall tomatoes for the first time ever. So far so good. I tilled up an area of the yard that had been covered by a brush pile. I added compost from my compost pile and manure to the soil so they should be happy there.

I am getting one squash about every four days; though they are starting to produce a little more now. Still no big ripe tomatoes; the black cherry has been giving one or two ripe ones every week. Today there were five ripe ones on it for the first time. Those do not even make it to the table…they are so tasty we eat them immediately! The girls found the watermelons that are coming on; Clara is very excited about them.

We have had some of the most beautiful butterflies visiting- swallowtails of all colors. Whenever I run out there with the camera, they fly off, so no pics yet. I do have a photo of a swallowtail caterpillar that ate up all my dill (which is one of the reasons I planted dill). Hummingbirds have been showing up, too, after the bee balm. Yesterday, one hummingbird flew within 3 feet of my oldest daughter while she stood quietly in delight watching it. It was not afraid of her at all. It was a marvelous thing to see and share with her. And all because of our garden!

I have a few different volunteers coming up and I am going to leave them to see what’s what. One is a pumpkin and the other is either a squash or a cucumber.

I hope all of you are receiving a bounty of goodness from your gardens.

Tags: garden, gardening, gourds, growing, squash, tomatoes, vegetables, watermelons

Veggie Kabobs

July 24, 2009 in garden by Jason | No comments

Check out http://www.karensgardentips.com/recipes/recipe-vegetables-kabobs/ for some great suggestions on grilling veggie kabobs.

Tags: cooking, garden, gardening, grilling, kabob, vegetables

Lacey’s Garden – Dragon Heirloom Carrots

July 14, 2009 in Lacey's Garden by Jason | No comments

Hello to all! The garden is looking real good. I picked some carrots the other day. They are a purple heirloom variety called Dragon. I have few pictures to show you of me harvesting and cleaning them. I have beautiful lush foliage and only a few fruits on just about everything. There are lovely green tomatoes on every vine. If they ever ripen we will have tomatoes out our ears! I have a picture of the one watermelon ripening on the vine; it is getting bigger everyday. Also some pictures of okra. Enjoy the pictures and be sure to take the time to enjoy the beauty and bounty that God provides every day.

Tags: carrots, dragon, garden, gardening, growing, heirloom, squash, vegetables, watermelons

July Gardening Advice By Region

July 7, 2009 in Tips, garden by Jason | No comments

Here is a link to advice on what you should be doing and watching for in your garden in July.

http://learn2grow.com/regional/2009/07/regional.aspx?markref=rotor3-July3-9

Here are a couple of examples of what you will find (these are for the Southeast Region):

Continue to harvest vegetables in your garden as they ripen, and remember to share any excess produce – perhaps with a food co-op or shelter. (This is a thoughtful act of kindness, as well as a great lesson for the kids!)

Replace any annuals that perform poorly in high heat and humidity with more tolerant annuals. But be warned: Heat-tolerant plants don’t exhibit such tolerance until they’re well-established, so be sure to care for them well after planting!

Bugs are a big problem this time of year. This site has a list of what bugs to watch for in each region as well.

Tags: advice, garden, gardening, Tips

Lacey’s Garden – Video Tour

July 6, 2009 in Lacey's Garden by Jason | No comments

Here is the video Lacey mentioned last week that I forgot to post. Be ye warned! The video is about 10 minutes long.

-JP

Tags: cucumbers, garden, gardening, peas, squash, tomatoes, vegetables, watermelons

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