Gardening Gardening

Things in the garden will be at a standstill for the next week with the arrival of much colder weather, but at least it is not dry anymore.


Spring onions


Strawberries and garlic


Lettuces, radishes and spinach


Peppers and squash nursery along the south side of shed


Rhubarb row has really filled in. I have chopped the seed heads twice so far.


Grape vine on arbor, and black raspberries

 

My dad used to make the best rhubarb pie. Man, it's been years since I've had any.

 

When I make rhubarb pie or jam I usuall add some strawberries for color. Mostly because I made rhubarb jam one year without and it was brown jam. Tasted good but not pretty to look at.
I made some rhubarb simple syrup one year without any strawberries and I was surprised it came out pink instead of brown.

 

I use equal parts +/- of rhubarb and strawberries. I quarter the strawberries and cut rhubarb into 1-2 inch pieces.

With a splash of water in a saucepan, to avoid scorching, I cook them together, reserving 1/3 of the strawberries until everything is cooked down and unrecognizable. I'll sprinkle in some tapioca to absorb the liquid. Add remaining strawberries, just for texture and cook a few more minutes. A drizzle of honey for sweetness. I like it on the tart side. Cool and enjoy.

It's a good "fruit" for breakfast as is. If you spoon it over vanilla ice cream, or add squirt cream on it, I won't complain.

I'll cut up the rhubarb and freeze it as is. Nice change in the dead of winter.

 

Dad's were on the tart side for sure, but not overly. Y'all are making me want pie!!

 

Pie crust is just extra.

I saw rhubarb at the grocery store. $6/lb. It's nice to go out in the yard and just pull my own.

 

Finally got started in the garden. Was a mess. Well it's still half a messs, but the beds are at least weeded. Got a couple tomato and pepper plants in. I decided to scale back and not to go overboard this year. So Im only doing maybe 4 tomato plants, a few peppers, and a couple zucchini plants. I will plant heavy on cucumbers, because it's a pickle year for me.

 

This one is pretty tame after watching me walk around and around the yard and gardens so that now I can walk within 10’. He likes to stretch out while leisurely eating clover.

 

Doesn’t eat your garden?

 

Got one full layer of grass clippings as mulch/weed control today.


Lettuce came up quick.


Cabbages doing fine.



Tomato’s are beginning.

 

Do the grass clippings get quite warm as they disintegrate? In this area, piled grass clippings get moldy in the centre of the pile. It takes quite a while for them to disintegrate. It could be because they are always so wet.

 

The layer isn’t thick enough to get to moldy stage. Sometimes dirt will start showing through till I mow again. I know exactly what you mean though. When the garden is finished, I just pile up clippings in a mound and that will get funky.

 

We have learned to live together, which is much less stressful for all involved. I utilize fencing, tree guards, strategic planting and tolerance of some mild losses here and there. I have had more problems with squirrels digging in newly panted beds lately, and am currently on a trapping campaign to thin them out a bit.

 

Now that it is staying above 50f at night things are really taking off.

 

My garden is doing great. Tomatoes will be happy this week, we’re going to see high eighties.

 

Looking great Jason!!

 

I had to cut this guy loose from some deer netting he got tangled in. I think he semi appreciated it. He only rattled at me once before lunging at me once. He was about 5' or maybe a little more.

 

Broccoli, first time growing it. Am I supposed to do anything at this point to prune?

 

Why is it purple?