Vegetables from our garden...do you grow your own too?
@Perspectives (7131)
Canada
September 23, 2007 1:19am CST
Well this will probably be my last gardening post for this year...but I just had to share our bountiful amount of produce with you before putting this topic and the garden to 'bed' for another year. As you can see from the colors in the background our perennial garden is getting ready to go into its deep winter slumber. The rich yellows are a treat for me because that is my favorite color!
Fellow Mylotters had a great chat earlier in the season about our gardens and why we love them as a place to relax, commune with Nature, take our minds of everything but being outside and using the landscape as our personal canvasses. All that is wonderful alright...but for us one of the last perks of the season is to be able to gather our cucumbers and zucchinis and eat them fresh form the garden...and to share the crop with others.
We always let a few of the zucchinis grow really large because our next door neighbor makes a wonderful cake with hers. We use ours in stir fries and fresh salads. The cucumbers are great in sandwiches and salads as well. My hubby took a photo of me proudly displaying our bumper crop. Two cucumber plants produced this amount of 'cucs' twice this year...and the same is true of the zucchinis.
So I was curious how many other gardeners are starting to reap rewards from food
grown in your gardens. Fresh from the garden always seems to taste better than ones bought in the stores. At least that is true up here in Canada where produce from the South has to travel a way before it reaches us...especially in the winter.
So here is my photo...and the produce..and I'd be happy to hear about yours if you
have any stories to share.
Hope you are enjoying your Fall days as much as we are...in a couple of months we'll be knee deep in snow. If you want to see how much I have pictures in my photo section for those of you who never get it. How lucky you are! lol
Well hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend...we intend to. We're planning to go out and shoot more photos and sit around an open fire tomorrow evening. If you don't want to chat about produce...I'd be interested in how you're weekend is going.
Warmest regards to all,
Raia
4 people like this
10 responses
@peavey (16936)
• United States
23 Sep 07
I'm ready to put the garden to sleep, but it's not ready yet. At least the tomatoes aren't! I picked almost all the dry beans today, still have a few acorn squash on the vine and some late potatoes, and that's about it.
The picture of you and your produce is great! I love the big zucchini baked with a spicy meat and rice stuffing.
I love this time of year, finishing things up and looking forward to the cold weather. We get snow here in Colorado, too, and I love it.
3 people like this
@Perspectives (7131)
• Canada
23 Sep 07
Thanks so much for sharing your bountiful harvest stories with me. Thanks I am glad you liked the picture. Hope you enjoy your tomatoes before the first frost. Hmmmm your idea of zucchini, spicy meat and rice stuffings sounds yummy! We've never done that with it...but might just try it. See...the fun of mylotting...always something new to share and learn!
We went through Colorado in the summer on our way to Moab, Utah on our honeymoon. It is beautiful country. I agree there is something about getting into Fall clothing and looking forward to some snow for the holidays.
I appreciate your input...
Raia
1 person likes this
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
23 Sep 07
I have a tomatoes vine that is high as my head but no tomatoes on it . Got 2 earlier but the rotted befoer They turned red lol
the rose bushes are getting better no that it is getting cooler and the sedums just grow all year round so glad it rained wheil I was in the hospital so they got water .
hugs and blessings
2 people like this
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
24 Sep 07
We still get blooms on them but then they fall off Linda wants to know why we keep it growing I told her to watch it she looks discussed lol.
all seems to be going well here I will see Doc tomorrow. and find out more . I wonder if he can tell me where this cancer came from what one thing he is going to blame it on lol. will let ya know.!
hugs and blessings
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@Perspectives (7131)
• Canada
24 Sep 07
See here you go again..having that wonderfully optimistic and persevering attitude...even around your tomato plants!LOl
It is good to know that you are progressing satisfactorily...and I await news after you have spoken to your physician. Wishes for all good things and a long, happy, healthy, prosperous life.
Bright blessings and much love,
Raia
@Perspectives (7131)
• Canada
24 Sep 07
Sorry to hear your tomatoes didn't produce..will they before the season is over or are they done for this year? Good to know you had some rain...we have had a very dry season this year. I hope we get some rain before the first frost the plants always do better when their roots are supported before our long winter sets in.
Blessings and big hugs to you...hope you are sleeping well and not in too much discomfort.
My thoughts are with you and candles are still burning every day.
Raia
1 person likes this
@Nardz13 (5055)
• New Zealand
24 Sep 07
Hi there. Yes we do grow our own veges and fruits... This season our fruits are thriving, our veges are so healthy and growing well, we have already started to eat our fruit and vege, as here in new zealand we are going into our spring-summer seasons... All the best...
@Perspectives (7131)
• Canada
24 Sep 07
Oh I rather envy you...just going into your spring/summer season as we are saying goodbye to ours. By the end of October we'll have snow and the frost will have put all the perennials into hibernation...and the annuals and vegetable plants will be killed off. So...enjoy your wonderful season and all your fresh produce and just know that most of us over here will be paying to have ours shipped from down South from October until we can plant again sometime in May.
Oh well..we have our 4 seasons...and I do love that...so everything in life involves exchanging one thing to have another. Thanks for sharing your veggie stories...much appreciated.
Raia
1 person likes this
@nmhschic2004 (1238)
• United States
24 Sep 07
Yeah we have our own garden every year. My mom even cans a lot of stuff so we have enough to get through. We always have a lot of tomato plants so we have enough to make juice and can it. I dont know what i would do if we didnt have a garden. Produce is so expensive at the grocery store. Why is it that healthy food always seems to be so much more expensive?
2 people like this
@Perspectives (7131)
• Canada
24 Sep 07
How fortunate that your mom does preserves for your family...that is a labor of love from her to you. You are so right about fresh produce being more expensive...especially in the winter up here because everything has to be shipped in from down south.
I guess it is the labor costs of producing it, picking it and shipping it that adds to the cost. That is why we love having our own produce all summer long and miss it so much in the winter.
1 person likes this
@jcj_111776 (3216)
• Philippines
23 Sep 07
I've tried to grow some vegetables in our vacant lot two years ago. But the problem was, we had two dogs at that time. And they kept on trampling the plants.
I tried to grow some bellpeppers, some herbs, and I even planted some papaya seeds. The papaya seeds survived and from the many, many seeds that I've planted, only one tree sprouted from the ground!lol That's how an amateur farmer I was.
For the others, I just had to say goodbye. When my sole papaya tree slowly grew, it did produce something. But I only got to use one fruit, and that was that! After that, the tree got to producing premature small fruits and it will automatically fall off and just drop to the ground. I guess, the soil was not that very good.
So, that was my brief experience with my attempted vegetable garden. I failed and that's why I just resort to growing roses instead.
2 people like this
@Perspectives (7131)
• Canada
28 Sep 07
When I was visiting your site one of the times I was there I the photo of you kneeling in your your raised beds. the soil looks different than the type we have here. Southwestern Manitoba is largely an agricultural area so the soil is rich and black. Our roads are mainly shale and sometimes it can make create some acidity. Compost really amends the soil and would probably help any further future fruit trees you might plant.
The fact that you are an 'au natural' gal does't surprise me...you always seem so tuned into others, your child...your garden...a real 'Mommy Earth' in action! LOL
Fun to hear what you are up to as always...best wishes to you all of you there!
Raia
1 person likes this
@Perspectives (7131)
• Canada
28 Sep 07
Oh my goodness....so sorry...hope I didn't offend you. You see I am often digging out in our back yard with a baseball cap turned backwards too...so maybe I projected my image of myself onto you! Anyway I am glad you put a lol after your comment instead of beaning me for my mistake! Well at lease our friendship includes laughter and fun..and it is all part of gal-palling on line.
Anyway, adding compost to any soil makes an amazing difference to how things grow. We found that out this year when we didn't amend the soil in our planter pots...the annuals grew...but lacked the lush, strong look they've have in the past. So next spring we'll be turfing all the soil into the garden and filling them up with quality soil with compost.
So I am sure we will share more gardening stories because I expect all of us to still be keying ine the Spring. We have Fall and then the holiday season coming up for us in the next few months. Should be fun chatting about Christmas and New Years for those who celebrate it.
Thanks for coming back...I love the way we add to each other's ideas...what a great friend you are!
Luv Ya..
Raia
1 person likes this
@jcj_111776 (3216)
• Philippines
28 Sep 07
Oh no!That wasn't me, Raia!lol
It's actually a man I hired to build plant boxes around the yard.^_^ My back is prettier than his.lol!
But seriously speaking, the soil here in our area is not really compatible when you want to grow plants. I think that's why my papaya tree didn't grow well. I even have to buy a sack of good soil that's almost black. It's already mixed with natural compost but it's a bit pricey. So, you have inspired me to start making my own compost. And I started two days ago.
1 person likes this
@Perspectives (7131)
• Canada
24 Sep 07
Wow alamode I hope JC reads this...I hadn't read your post when I suggested what you did to her as well. Do great minds think alike or what?
Your system sounds great and I have seem more veggies available for container pot growing each year. Spinach, cucumbers and of course tomatoes all do well in this type of gardening. What great fun to hear about what you grow...maybe if we ever get out to B.C. we'll be able to chat in person some day. The more we visit on the line the more parallels in our thinking show up.
Great having you as a friend...so long for now..
Raia
1 person likes this
@Perspectives (7131)
• Canada
24 Sep 07
anuj...
Mango picking fresh from the tree sounds wonderful. I love mangos...and bet they taste spectacular freshly picked. Yummmy...my mouth is watering just thinking about it.
Cheers,
Raia
1 person likes this
@alamode (3071)
• United States
23 Sep 07
We had a nice garden for many years, but I can't take care of one any more, so I plant in big pots... I even have a fig tree in a pot! And I grow three kinds of mint; herbs like basil and cilantro and marjoram; tomatoes, green onions... I have grown tiny cucumbers and strawberries in hanging pots and one zucchini plant on a trellis. As long as you have some dirt, something will grow, with not much water and NO weeding!
@ssh123 (31073)
• India
11 Oct 07
I was staying in an apartment on rental and hence there was no chance of growing vegetables or plants. Now we have shifted back to parents house (since the parents have passed away). There is a lot of open space, but the floor is already done with granite, so to get the mud, I will have to remove some slabs. My brother has a farm, where he growsvegetables and I use them. If an opportunity is available, I would like to grow the vegetables of my choice.
1 person likes this
@Perspectives (7131)
• Canada
13 Oct 07
Sorry to hear about the passing of your parents. However, I am sure it gives them a sense of peace in the next realm to know you and your family are living in their home. Such is the cycles in our lives...changes and endings lead to other new beginnings.
Good that your brother can grow vegetables and that you are hoping to do the same. In my view nothing compares to wandering out in the yard and gathering fruit and vegetables to eat fresh with every meal. It is Fall here now...so that is over for another season...and we are preparing for shorter days of light...and a long, cold winter.
Oh well, spring will come again...and that is the beauty of divine order...there is a certain amount of predictability that lets us know winter will be gone!
Take care..thanks for adding your comments again.
Raia
@Perspectives (7131)
• Canada
24 Sep 07
It is always fun to hear the passion gardeners have for the results of their handiwork. I agree with you that part of that enjoyment comes from being able to share our bountiful blessings with friends and neighbors...thanks for adding that to the topic.
Raia
@rosie_123 (6113)
•
23 Sep 07
Well without a doubt fresh, home-grown vegetables are the best. I would like to grow them, but, frankly, we just don't have the time at the moment. Maybe when we both retire - especially as we'll probably retire to Spain where the weather is better for growing fruit and vegetables. An old friend of my Father's has an allotment, where he grows all his own vegetables, and since he has retired he spends most of his time there. He is a divorcee and his son lives quite far away, so I am often the recipient of his produce which is much better than we can buy in the shops. I love his marrows and courgettes (probably squash and zucchini to you I think!), and his baby tomatoes too. As for the Autumn - well - yes we are enjoying it - it is a very beautiful time of year with all the trees changing colour etc. Not cold enough to have fires here yet though........ in fact we went to Wimbledon (tennis) yesterday to watch Tim Henman's last match before his retirement, and it was warmetrand drier there than it ever is during the main ournament in June! LOL!
@Perspectives (7131)
• Canada
23 Sep 07
Yes there is definitely a difference in the flavor of the veggies from home to market grown. This year has been a bountiful year for both our cucumbers and zucchini as you can tell by the photo.
Spain sounds like a wonderful place from those we know who have visited there. Great to have someone who will provide you with fresh produce from their garden.
It is enjoyable to hear first hand about someone attending Wimbledon...we hear about it on the news...but chats with friends like you on line truly puts a more personal face to events like that. It is another glorious day in Sunny Manitoba too...so I am going to catch up on responses..and head outside.
So enjoy the season and I know we'll be chatting soon.
Cheers,
Raia
1 person likes this
@Aussies2007 (5336)
• Australia
23 Sep 07
As much as I would like to grow my own vegetables... I can't... because we never get any rain.
Sometimes I don't even have enough water for the house.
@Perspectives (7131)
• Canada
23 Sep 07
Yes, I remember you mentioning that. That would be a tough thing to adapt to for me...but you have other benefits from the sound of your lifestyle...and as long as you are happy with it...that is all that matters. Every place has benefits that others do not. Too bad you weren't closer as you can see from the photo we have way more than we can eat...I'd be happy to share them...but I doubt if they'd be anything but mush if we mailed them!LOL
Cheers,
Raia
1 person likes this
